Being distracted by a cell phone while behind the wheel is not just dangerous but also illegal in Pennsylvania and just about everywhere else in the United States. Despite that, far too many drivers still focus on their phones instead of the road, and as you may have unfortunately learned, that sometimes leads to traffic accidents with serious and even life-changing consequences.
When you have been seriously injured in a texting while driving car accident in Reading that was someone else’s fault, you may likely have standing to file suit against the texting driver and hold them civilly liable for your damages. Even in situations like this, where fault for the wreck seems obvious, it can still be crucial to have help from a seasoned auto accident attorney to help you navigate the legal process.
In Pennsylvania, it is against the law for anyone operating a moving motor vehicle on public roads to read, write, or send text messages using an interactive wireless communications device (IWCD). This term applies to cell phones, smartphones, and other mobile electronic devices like laptops or tablets.
However, it does not apply to people using dashboard-mounted GPS systems or other communications devices in hands-free mode. Limited exceptions are made for police officers using such a device during their job duties and for people who need it for a legitimate emergency. When a person is unsure of the applicable laws in Reading as they apply to a texting while driving car accident case, our attorneys could investigate the details of the claim.
When someone causes a car crash in Reading specifically because they were texting while driving, they have met all the criteria to be considered legally negligent. More specifically, they have violated the duty of care all drivers have to obey the law and act responsibly behind the wheel. The fact that they caused an otherwise avoidable wreck through that misconduct makes them legally liable for all injuries and losses the incident causes to any other person.
This liability can include economic forms of harm, like medical bills and lost work income, as well as non-economic forms of harm, like physical pain and emotional distress. As a qualified attorney could explain, there may be limits on an injured person’s right to file suit after this sort of crash, depending on what type of auto insurance they have and the severity of their injuries.
It is also worth emphasizing that 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 5524 gives people injured by someone else’s negligence two years to file suit against the negligent person. This deadline generally applies even if the injured person filing suit sustained permanent injuries. It is always wise to contact a skilled lawyer sooner rather than later following a texting and driving car wreck.
No one deserves to be hurt in a car crash solely because another driver was acting irresponsibly, and certainly not because that other driver was texting behind the wheel. Anyone who has sustained harm through this wreck likely has grounds to demand substantial civil compensation from the person at fault for injuring them.
You have help available in the wake of a texting while driving car accident in Reading from a knowledgeable lawyer ready to fight tenaciously on your behalf. Schedule a consultation by calling our firm today.