Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, especially when someone is distracted. Cell phones are among the most common sources of distraction, and even a glance to check a text, a Tweet, or a notification is time enough for a collision to occur.
Car accidents are serious and can cause all kinds of injuries, including whiplash, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury, among many others. Furthermore, they can be a source of physical, emotional, and financial strain as you are suddenly faced with potentially steep medical bills, lost wages, and lingering effects from any injuries you may have sustained, and a decline in your general quality of life.
Fortunately, there is help. If you or a loved one has suffered from East Hartford accidents involving cell phones, it is imperative to retain an experienced car accident attorney with Claggett, Sykes & Garza, LLC. Our East Hartford car accident lawyers are ready to give you the guidance you need to pursue the justice you deserve.
Texting and Driving Under the Law
In 2019, Connecticut declared that anyone who causes an accident while using a cell phone or any electronic device would be subject to double or triple damages. Hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth, car phones, and speaker phones are exceptions to this rule. The law allows the use of these devices, but this does not exempt drivers from their obligation to remain attentive at all times and use such technology safely.
A personal injury lawyer in East Hartford could further explain how violating this law may affect the outcome of accidents involving cell phones.
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Proving Fault in Cell Phone Accidents
In Connecticut, it is standard procedure to ask after every East Hartford accident, “Was the operator on their cell phone?” If the answer to that is yes, the defendant would have to turn over their phone records and the involvement of phones would justify discovery on that issue.
But as long as the plaintiff’s use of the cell phone or mobile device is either legal or not the cause of the accident, it has no effect on the case. Even if both drivers are found to have been using their cell phones at the time of the accident, the extent to which this finding is significant depends largely on the circumstance of the case.
In fact, for law enforcement to even be able to seize phone records, there must be probable cause, which could include witness testimony, admissions from an involved party, camera security footage, and evidence of operating a vehicle in a manner consistent with cellphone use.
A capable attorney knows what evidence to look for and where to find it, and could further explain its use and significance to a given case.
Call an East Hartford Attorney for Help After an Accident Involving Cell Phone Usage
Distraction is among the gravest threats to safe driving. Losing focus for even a moment is enough to cause accidents with life-changing, even catastrophic, consequences: medical bills, lost income, diminished quality of life, and injuries ranging from minor whiplash to paralysis. Many of these losses and injuries can have repercussions that last years, decades, or even a lifetime.
You do not have to face these things alone. Our lawyers have considerable experience with East Hartford accidents involving cell phones – and contacting us is the surest path to a favorable outcome.
