Distracted Driving Accident Attorney

McMinn Law Firm leaves no stone unturned in distracted driving crashes. Discovery, or gathering evidence in a case, is an important part of every personal injury case. Phone records can reveal whether or not an at-fault driver recklessly used their phone leading up to a serious auto crash.

Austin Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

While a lipstick tube can’t detect whether the driver is behind a wheel, a cell phone can. The average text takes 5 seconds to read. If moving at 55 miles per hour, that’s the equivalent of traveling the span of five football fields. New data collected from actual device use shows that cell phones are used during 88 percent of trips.

Reckless drivers must be held accountable. Experienced personal injury attorneys can help victims of distracted driving get the cash settlement they deserve after a crash with a distracted driver.

Lawyers Know Rideshare (Uber or Lyft) App Operators Drive While Distracted

McMinn Law Firm has joined others in suing technology companies such as Apple, Lyft, and Uber for failing to restrict device users from injuring others while texting and driving.

Personal injury attorneys argue that distracted drivers and technology developers need know it is their responsibility to take action to prevent loss of life at the hands of those toying with their phones. It is a reasonable expectation that people should be able to walk, drive or cycle on Austin roadways without being harmed by others’ negligence.

A family torn apart by distracted driving

In October of 2015, the lives of the Edwards family were changed forever in a matter of seconds. On the way to her brother’s wedding rehearsal, Kate got into an Uber with her mother, father, and fiancé.

But on the way to the restaurant, the Uber driver attempted to accept a ride from Lyft rider. The driver made an unprotected left turn, causing a serious crash that killed Kate and her mother, Irene, moments before the wedding rehearsal.

McMinn Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against Lyft, on behalf of the Edwards family. The lawsuit says the driver of the Uber could have been prevented from using the Lyft while the vehicle is moving or other apps are open.

This liability question is similar to other cases filed against technology companies. It comes at a time when distracted driving is at an all time high. Personal injury lawyers like Jason McMinn call on drivers and companies to share their responsibility in tragedies like this.

Liability in Distracted Driving Cases Shared by Multiple Parties

Experts say this tragedy could have been prevented with the technology available to app developers at Lyft. A case was filed against Apple involving a Texas family that lost a daughter in a car crash because the distracted driver was FaceTiming on his iPhone while driving. And more recently, a lawsuit was filed in Minnesota when a family lost their son when a driver was texting and driving.

Lawsuits could pave new road in requiring technology companies to prevent distracted driving

McMinn Law Firm maintains that it is the responsibility of technology companies to develop products that do not cause harm to Americans. McMinn’s lawsuit against Lyft is a reminder that a safer product could have prevented the deaths of Kate Edwards and Irene Edwards.

The Minnesota case was filed after 20-year-old David Riggs was hit and killed by a texting driver. His father, Craig Riggs, has filed a lawsuit against Apple. The suit holds the Cuppertino company partly responsible for the tragedy, stating that the company has not installed available technology that could prevent drivers from texting and driving.

It is a reasonable expectation that people should not lose their lives because of the features on smart phones or in apps don’t take safety into account. Developers of apps and creators of cell phones should be held partially accountable for the thousands of deaths caused each year by distracted driving.

Apple argues that it shouldn’t be accountable for crashes caused by people using their technology. In a response to the Texas family who lost their daughter to a FaceTiming driver, Apple said that people “engage in a wide variety of distractions while driving, but these actions do not make the product manufacturers or service providers liable.”

If left completely ignored, distracted driving is a serious health issue that has little consequence for those who commit the crime. In some parts of Texas, there are no consequences for this risky behavior.

After causing a crash that killed 13, a Uvalde man admitted to a witness that he was texting and driving. But immediately following the crash the man faced no legal charges because what some call “intexticated” driving was, at that time, still legal in the area.

What do I do if I get hurt in an accident by a distracted driver?

Unfortunately distracted drivers cause devastating crashes in Texas. Reckless drivers break the rules (such as the driving-while-texting-ban) established to prevent injury. If you were injured by a distracted driver, you can sue for a cash settlement.

A personal injury attorney with experience in distracted crashes can help you get the compensation you need after a crash.