Texting While Driving Car Accidents in Bethlehem

Every driver in Pennsylvania has a legal duty to stay focused behind the wheel. Even a moment of distraction can lead to a serious traffic accident. Today, texting is one of the most common and dangerous distractions for drivers.

Texting while driving car accidents in Bethlehem can make for deceptively complicated civil claims. Although a texting driver should be held accountable for your losses, you will likely need help from a skilled attorney to get the compensation you deserve. Managing Partner Rich Godshall at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers knows how to fight and win in these cases.

Our team of attorneys won a $900,000 settlement for a local client injured in a crash caused by a distracted commercial truck driver. We obtained cell records to prove that the trucker was using his phone during the accident.

Laws for Texting While Driving in Bethlehem

Like almost every other state, Pennsylvania prohibits all drivers from reading, writing, or sending text messages with any “interactive wireless communication device” (IWCD) while controlling a motor vehicle in motion. In this context, an IWCD can be a cell phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet, or laptop. In some cases, answering a text message displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard screen could be considered a violation of Pennsylvania law.

Texting while driving is a “primary offense” in Bethlehem and throughout Pennsylvania. This means police officers can pull someone over immediately if they see the driver on their phone behind the wheel, rather than having to wait until they commit another traffic violation. Since texting while driving is illegal, it is considered legally actionable “negligence” if it directly causes a car accident. Your local attorney can investigate the crash for evidence that the other driver was texting to hold them accountable.

Holding Someone Liable for a Texting While Driving Crash

Proving negligence is the basis for most personal injury cases in Pennsylvania. In some cases, proving this can be as simple as referencing a police report citing a driver for texting behind the wheel after a crash. In other situations, showing that someone was texting while driving may require additional evidence, including dashboard or surveillance footage, witness testimony, and subpoenaed cell phone records.

After a texting while driving car accident, your Bethlehem lawyer can demand money for all past and future losses stemming from the incident, including:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Short-term and long-term medical bills
  • Emotional and psychological anguish
  • Lost work wages or ability to work
  • Loss of life’s pleasures
  • Vehicle damage, including repair or replacement costs and rental car fees

A seasoned attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can go into more detail about recoverable losses during a no-obligation consultation.

Contact a Bethlehem Attorney After a Texting While Driving Car Accident

Texting behind the wheel is highly irresponsible and can serve as grounds for a lawsuit if it leads to a serious traffic accident. However, getting the most out of a claim like this can be difficult, especially while recovering from severe injuries.

To maximize your claim after a texting while driving car accident in Bethlehem, talk to a winning attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. We know how to fight like hell for the payments you deserve. Call us today to get started.