Greenville Texting and Driving Accident Lawyers

Some drivers are busier texting on their phones than paying attention to the road. If a texting driver in Greenville has caused a crash that injured you, get the legal representation you need to hold them accountable for their negligent behavior. Our car accident lawyers are ready to help you seek maximum compensation for your losses.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm now for a free initial consultation with a texting while driving accident lawyer to learn how we can help you demand compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, pain, suffering, and other related losses.

Why You Need Our Law Firm After a Crash with a Texting Driver

Unfortunately, drivers who make the selfish decision to text while driving rarely admit that they did so. You need an experienced car accident attorney who can stand up for you, prove the other driver was texting behind the wheel, and demand they compensate you accordingly.

For over a decade, injured victims have turned to the texting while driving accident lawyers of The Melonakos Law Firm because:

• We are known for the caring and compassionate climate we foster for our clients.
• Our goal is to support you throughout your recovery.
• Our team provides every client personalized attention so no one feels like just another number.
• You will have direct access to our attorneys.
• We limit the number of cases we handle so that every case receives our total effort.
• Mike Melonakos has extensive experience in personal injury law, having litigated more than 50 trials over the past decade.
• As a former insurance defense lawyer, Mike knows how insurers fight injury claims and can use that intel to prepare case strategies to secure maximum value for his clients.

South Carolina Law on Texting Behind the Wheel

Under South Carolina’s motor vehicle code, a driver may not use a wireless electronic communication device to write, read, or send a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle. The law allows drivers to text behind the wheel only while:

• Lawfully parked or stopped
• Using a hands-free wireless electronic communication device
• Summoning emergency assistance
• Receiving or transmitting data from a digital dispatch system
• Using a GPS navigation device or feature of a wireless electronic communication device for navigation or obtaining road and traffic conditions

Public safety officials may also text behind the wheel while performing their official duties.

Motorists who violate South Carolina’s texting-while-driving law may receive a citation that imposes a fine of $25. However, fines can increase to $50 for second or subsequent violations.

Dangers of Texting While Driving in Greenville, SC

Texting while driving significantly increases the risk of causing a motor vehicle accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says holding a cell phone to read, write, or send a text-based message combines all three types of distraction:

• Manual distraction – A driver must take one or both hands off the wheel to hold and manipulate a cell phone to read or send text messages.
• Visual distraction – Drivers must take their eyes off the road to look at their cell phones to read or write a text message.
• Cognitive distraction – Drivers must shift their mental focus from driving to reading a text message or thinking about what to say when writing a text message.

The CDC further notes that a vehicle traveling at 55 miles per hour can cover the length of a football field or more in the time it takes a driver to read or send a brief text message. In other words, drivers who choose to text behind the wheel can travel over a hundred yards with their eyes effectively closed to the road around them. Texting while driving may also increase the severity of a collision since a distracted driver may not notice the imminent crash and fail to brake or swerve.

The CDC reports that approximately 3,100 deaths and 424,000 injuries occur annually nationwide due to distracted driving. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety also reports that texting while driving contributes to over 20,000 motor vehicle accidents annually in the state.

How We Can Determine If Texting Caused Your Crash

Distracted drivers who cause accidents while texting are unlikely to admit to what they were doing. Instead, our firm must thoroughly investigate a car accident to prove that the other driver’s texting led to the crash. We can do this by gathering and reviewing evidence like the following:

• Accident scene photos and videos, including photos showing that the other driver had ready access to their cell phone (such as a cell phone sitting in a cupholder)
• Cell phone tower logs, which can show whether the driver sent or received text messages
• Posts on the driver’s social media accounts timestamped right before the crash
• Metadata from the driver’s cell phone, which can show whether the driver had their phone screen on and what apps the driver may have used in the moments leading up to the crash
• Surveillance, traffic, or dashboard camera videos showing the driver using their cell phone right before the crash
• Eyewitness testimony
• Logs from the car’s event data recorder which may show that its driver failed to brake or swerve before the crash, indicating that texting may have distracted the driver

Damages Available in a Greenville Texting and Driving Accident Claim

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by a texting driver, that person and their insurance company could owe you money for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, pain management, physical therapy, and occupational therapy
• Long-term disability care expenses, including home health services, housekeeping assistance, or disability accommodations
• Lost wages due to missed time from work or reduced earnings while on part-time or light-duty
• Lost future earning potential and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job or other forms of work
• Physical pain and anguish from your injuries and subsequent medical treatment
• Emotional trauma and distress, including from lost quality of life caused by severe disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement

Get Help from Our Experienced Greenville Texting While Driving Attorney

Were you hurt in an accident caused by a driver distracted by texting? You deserve to seek financial compensation and justice for your injuries and losses. Contact The Melonakos Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a texting while driving accident attorney to discuss your legal options for pursuing financial recovery.