by 
More and more areas across the U.S. are placing restrictions and bans on cell phone use while driving, often using fines and other penalties to enforce these restrictions. But if you use your cell phone when you’re behind the wheel, these penalties may be the least of your worries. You may find a car accident lawyer coming after you for damages.
When a driver and their car accident lawyer sue another driver for damages related to a collision, it usually falls to the person bringing the lawsuit to prove that the other person’s negligence or carelessness caused the accident.
Cell phone use can be held responsible for a crash in several instances. Cell phone users may drive with only one hand on the steering wheel, or look away from the road to find a phone or dial a number. A conversation or other distraction on a cell phone can also cause accidents.
Cell phone use has proven to be a double-edged sword in recent accident cases. Some courts have ruled in favor of the plaintiff (the person bringing the lawsuit) because the defendant (the person being sued) was using a cell phone at the time of the crash. In other cases, plaintiffs have had their cases thrown out because they were using a cell phone and contributed to the crash.
Car accident lawyers have also been known to go after employers if an employee was making a work-related call when they got into an accident. Legal precedents have also been set for holding parents liable if they supply a minor child with a cell phone that causes them to crash.
And it’s not just auto accident attorneys you have to worry about. Insurance companies have closely monitored the connection between cell phones and distracted driving in recent years, and if you’re found at fault for a car accident where a cell phone was involved, your premium will probably rise.
If you’ve been in a crash involving a cell phone, it’s crucial to call the best personal injury lawyers in your area to make sure you’re protected from legal backlash. But if you really want to be safe, try not to use your cell phone in your car at all. Research more like this.
