Texting bans for teen drivers have been shown to reduce distracted driving and potentially save lives. Research indicates that implementing such bans can lead to a decrease in car accident fatalities among teenage drivers. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, states with texting laws in place experienced a 2.3 percent drop in overall car accident fatalities for drivers of all ages. Moreover, the bans were most effective when officers were permitted to enforce the law proactively, leading to a 3 percent reduction in traffic fatalities. This data suggests that texting bans can promote road safety and safeguard teen drivers from distracted driving.
Texting Ban Law
Research has shown that texting bans can decrease car accident fatalities among drivers of all ages. Proactive enforcement of these laws is particularly effective in reducing traffic fatalities. With the success of texting bans for teen drivers and the recent Hands-Free Law in Tennessee, it’s clear that addressing distracted driving through legislation is crucial. Full implementation of texting bans nationwide could significantly promote road safety and prevent accidents caused by texting and driving.
The Hands-Free Law, also known as the Hands-Free Act, which aims to reduce distracted driving by prohibiting handheld electronic devices. This law makes it illegal for drivers to hold a phone or other electronic devices to make a call, use any app, or read or write a text while their vehicle is in motion. The law allows for using hands-free technology, such as Bluetooth or voice-command features, to make calls or send messages while driving. Implementing this law is part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted driving in Tennessee.
All states’ texting bans aim to reduce distracted driving by prohibiting drivers from texting while their vehicle is in motion. It makes it illegal for drivers to hold a phone or other electronic devices to make a call, use any app, or read or write a text while driving. The ban allows for using hands-free technology, such as Bluetooth or voice-command features, to make calls or send messages while driving. Proactive enforcement of these laws is particularly effective in reducing traffic fatalities.
The Problem Remains
Even though these bans show that progress is possible, Queener Law understands that no amount of distracted driving is acceptable. Until texting while driving is completely eradicated, accidents such as those seen in McMinn County, Tennessee, will continue to occur. NBC affiliate WRCBtv Chattanooga reports that a 17-year-old boy was allegedly texting as he drove on State Route 39. He drifted into the oncoming lane, occupied by a McMinn County deputy, and failed to notice because he was engrossed with his phone. The two vehicles crashed head-on with enough force to push the deputy’s vehicle back nearly 10 feet. The deputy suffered broken ribs and damage to one of his ankles.
Dangerous accidents will likely continue to occur until drivers learn to focus on driving. Those who have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver should contact Henry Queener for assistance with seeking compensation for their injuries.
As if being injured in a car wreck isn’t bad enough, now you are bombarded with medical appointments and bills, needing time off work, enduring daily pain, needing a rental car, and so many other stresses. It’s just too hard! Trust me, we get it. No one ever wants to go through a situation like this, and that is why we do what we do—to help you get through it. At Queener Law we take care of the communications with insurance companies, juggling health insurance and liens, and negotiating your best available settlement amount while you focus on what is most important: your recovery.
If you’ve never experienced a situation like this and you are overwhelmed and scared, that’s ok! We are here to help. We can break down the steps of the process for you along the way.
What happens first?
Once you hire us to represent you, we immediately hit the road running. All involved insurance carriers receive letters of representation from us directing them to provide our office with the policy and limits information and preserve any and all evidence. What is the best part of this? We also direct them not to contact you. Let us deal with the insurance company while you rest and take care of your injuries.
Then what?
What happens next depends on your treatment plan. You keep us up to date with your appointments, and when you have completed treatment, we will request your complete files from your medical providers. Once everything is in, we create a demand package including a summary every appointment you attended, out-of-pocket expenses, medical bill ledger, mileage reimbursement, and a thorough description of the impact this incident made on your lifestyle. We want to make you a human in the eyes of the insurance adjuster, not just a run-of-the-mill claim number.
Once the demand package has been submitted and the insurance adjuster has had time to review it, negotiations begin. We will keep you updated with the offer amounts and explain what that number means for your in-pocket amount. With your permission, we continue negotiating until we have the absolute maximum offer possible for your claim! A few signatures here and there, and you’ve got yourself a deal.
How much is my case worth?
We frequently get asked at the beginning of cases: How much is my case worth? How long will my case take? These are very open-ended questions, and all vary on a case-by-case basis. Some factors that go into the value of a car wreck case are: seriousness of injuries, liability, cost of medical treatment, permanency, and of course, the insurance policy limits. It is in your best interest to not begin negotiations until after your treatment has been completed and all the medical records and bills are in. Insurance companies prefer to see treatment records and bills rather than recommendations for treatment. Unfortunately, this sometimes puts us at the mercy of the medical providers when it comes to a time frame. Our job is to do what is in your best interest, and that means not sending out your demand package until everything is in.
We know that this is not a fun process for you, but we do our best to make it as easy as possible. We will do our best to expedite this process as much as possible but will always keep your best interest first and foremost so all you have to worry about is healing, recovering, and getting back to normal life!
Delaying medical treatment after a car wreck could jeopardize your health and car insurance claim. Seeking prompt medical care is crucial for several reasons:
Any apparent injuries could get worse
You may have suffered “delayed” injuries that are not apparent immediately after a car accident
If you have suffered delayed injuries, further delaying treatment could exacerbate your symptoms and lead to a slower and longer recovery period, long-term disability, or death
Seeking immediate medical attention demonstrates that you were concerned that you may have been injured at the time of the accident
You will create a record of your medical evaluations, diagnosis, and treatment, which may be necessary for your financial recovery
How Can Delaying Going to the Hospital Hurt My Claim, And Will I Lose My Right To File a Car-Wreck Claim?
No. Even if you waited several days after an accident to go to the hospital, you may still file a claim for damages. Most states (like Kentucky) provide a 2-year window after an accident to file a personal injury claim. However, Tennessee provides a shorter statute of limitations period of only 1 year.
However, do not think that because you have 2 years to assert your claim, it is okay for you to delay seeking medical attention. You should begin recording evidence of your injuries right away. Therefore, it is critical for your physical health and ability to succeed in your personal injury claim to obtain medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying going to the hospital does not prohibit your claim, but it makes it more difficult to prove that you were injured in the accident.
To succeed in a claim for damages, you must be able to show that any injuries for which you are seeking compensation actually occurred during the accident. The longer you wait to obtain medical confirmation that you have suffered an injury, the more likely the negligent party will claim that you did not sustain your injuries in the accident but rather by engaging in some other activity after the accident.
To car insurance companies, it makes more business sense to pay out a minimal settlement amount rather than work with you to resolve your claim. Insurance adjusters may try to coax car wreck victims into settling their claims quickly with low-ball offers or quick checks. Having your claim open costs the insurance company time and money. Bottom line: Don’t fall for a quick check from your insurance company. It may cost you later.
Unfortunately, what most car wreck victims don’t understand is this:
When car wreck victims sign a quick check, they have entered a binding contract representing themselves. They have settled both their bodily injury and property damage claim for one lump sum.
Often, car wreck victims will start seeing unresolved issues, like unpaid medical bills. They may begin to receive collection notices for past medical bills for which they are responsible. Their health insurance company may refuse to pay due to injuries sustained in a car wreck. Their medical treatment may be more intensive than initially thought.
When car wreck victims represent themselves, they may find themselves in a trap they didn’t know existed with car insurance companies. Even a minor accident with minor injuries can result in a financial downfall when uninformed decisions are made. Hiring a personal injury lawyer like Henry Queener will ensure that car wreck victims get the best outcome. Let our highly experienced legal team work for you while you focus on recovering.
Contact Queener Law today for a free consultation.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney After a Car Wreck
How Much Does It Cost?
Hiring a personal injury attorney after a car wreck should be the first thing you do. With Queener Law, you’ve got a great team who’s going to work for your best interest against the insurance company. When we take your case, we handle everything. We gather evidence and hire experts to prove your case. When finish your medical treatment, we gather medical records and bills to submit to the insurance company.
Don’t try to figure out the rules of the crazy insurance game by yourself when you can have a team of professionals that know how these insurance companies work.
All you need to do is focus on your medical care so that you can get back to where you were before the car wreck happened. Hiring Queener Law after a car wreck allows you to not worry about dealing with lost future earning capacity or the reduced ability to earn a living for yourself and your family. Remember, the insurance adjuster only wants to close your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. This could be very detrimental to your physical, mental and financial health.
Leave it to Queener Law to play the car wreck game and take care of the insurance companies for you.
We work on a contingency basis, meaning that we handle all the upfront costs and only get paid when you receive a settlement. This depends on the amount of the settlement and case expenses. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and with any question.
Car wrecks in snow and ice happen in the mountains, on highways, and even on your way to work.
Drivers have important duties when driving in snow and ice. All drivers have a duty to drive at a safe speed for the conditions, even if that means going well below the posted speed limit. Drivers also have a duty to maintain control of their vehicle, even if they hit an icy patch. And equally importantly, drivers must follow at a safe enough distance to stop without hitting the car in front of them, regardless of the road conditions.
When people get in car wrecks in snow and ice, the at-fault party almost always blames the weather.
They say it’s the ice’s fault they crashed into you and caused you injury. That’s not how the law sees it. When a driver hits you during snow and icy conditions, they are still responsible for the injuries and damage they cause.
At Queener Law, we regularly represent people who have been injured in car wrecks in snow and ice.
The injuries from these types of wrecks can be severe and long-lasting. We will ensure that the insurance company for the responsible party takes accountability. The team at Queener Law will get you compensated for the harms and losses you suffered because another driver failed in their duties.
