Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of injuries and deaths on roads in South Dakota and throughout the U.S. When a person is injured by a distracted driver, it is natural for the victim to want answers. How did this happen? What was the driver doing when he or she struck me? While it’s not always possible to reconstruct all of the events leading to a motor vehicle accident, investigators employ sophisticated techniques that can fill in many of the details.
Examining the accident scene
The location of an accident often contains many clues that can point to distracted driving. Skid marks may indicate panic braking. If the victim’s car was at a stoplight and struck from behind, panic braking is a strong indication the at-fault driver was not paying attention to the road. Experienced accident reconstruction experts can glean such valuable information from the accident scene. This can play a pivotal role in the outcome of a personal injury case.
Investigating the phone
Smartphone technology has added numerous potential driving distractions to our world, not the least of which is texting. Was the driver composing or reading a text message at the time of the accident? A thorough investigation of text message records can tell the story. If police officers arriving at the scene find a smartphone loose in the car, it may also point to distraction as the cause of the accident.
Talking to witnesses
One important thing to do after getting in a car accident is to gather the contact information of eyewitnesses. Whether they were walking on the street or were in a vehicle, they serve as a potential source of information pointing to distracted driving.
The importance of gathering the facts
Victims of car accidents need all of the financial compensation they can get after suffering serious injuries. Finding evidence of distracted driving and other dangerous behaviors puts pressure on the at-fault party’s insurance provider to treat victims fairly. If you have been injured in a car accident, talk with a personal injury attorney who knows how to find the facts and knows how to help victims maximize their financial recoveries.