It should be a “no-brainer”; you don’t text or read texts while driving a car. However, each year more than 1.6 million accidents in the United States are attributed to texting, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, …and that number is growing each year. That’s nearly one quarter of all accidents in the U.S. Unfortunately, nearly 400,000 people are injured or killed in these accidents. In fact, you are six times more likely to be injured in an accident involving texting than one involving a drunk driver.
What you should do about texting and driving
First and foremost, don’t add to the problem by texting and driving yourself! Pull over to check and send messages or, better yet, wait until you arrive at your destination. Few things are so important that they need an immediate response.
If you find yourself in an accident you suspect was caused by a person using their cell phone, the first step is to get first aid for anyone who is seriously injured. Next, make sure to call the police and make an accident report. After you’ve spoken with the police, it’s a good idea to get your own injuries evaluated by a medical professional, even if you think they are minor. Many injuries related to car accidents aren’t initially apparent and take a few days or even weeks to produce painful symptoms. Lastly, it’s important that you consult a good Houston car accident lawyer to make sure that you have someone looking out for your interests.
Why you need a Houston car accident lawyer
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a serious car accident in the Houston area, you need someone to represent your interests. While an insurance representative may seem compassionate, you should remember that their job security depends on minimizing the amount that their company–the insurance company–rewards people like you. You need to have someone in your corner who doesn’t have such mixed loyalties.
At Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., we help people like you who have been injured in a car accident through no fault of their own get the compensation they deserve to help pay medical bills and household expenses until they can get back to work again. The aftermath of an accident is no time to be teaching yourself personal injury law so you can represent yourself. We’ve been doing this since 1964 and have the experience, training and contacts to get you the most generous settlement possible. In most cases, we won’t invoice you until we collect money on your behalf.
To learn more about our services, and to schedule an appointment for a free consultation, contact us today at (insert contact information).