You glance in the rearview mirror and see another vehicle approaching quickly behind you. Before you have time to react, the driver drifts into your lane and crashes into your vehicle.
After the accident, the explanation becomes clear. The other driver was looking at a phone, sending a text, adjusting a GPS, or simply wasn’t paying attention.
You may be shaken, injured, and wondering what happens next.
If you believe a distracted driver caused your car accident in Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. But proving that the other driver was distracted can sometimes be more complicated than it seems.
At Price & Randle Injury Attorneys, we understand how frustrating it can be when someone else’s lack of attention leaves you dealing with medical bills, missed work, vehicle damage, and pain. Understanding how distracted driving claims work can help you protect your rights.
What Counts as Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving happens whenever a driver’s attention is taken away from the task of safely operating the vehicle.
Many people immediately think about texting, but distraction can take several forms.
Common examples include:
- Texting or reading messages
- Looking at social media
- Using a GPS or navigation app
- Talking on the phone
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Reaching for something inside the vehicle
- Looking at passengers
- Grooming or applying makeup
- Looking down at a device
- Trying to find something in the vehicle
Some distractions are visual, meaning the driver takes their eyes off the road. Others are manual, taking their hands away from the wheel, or cognitive, taking their attention away from driving.
In many crashes, more than one type of distraction occurs at the same time.
A driver who looks down to read a text, for example, may have their eyes off the road, one hand away from the steering wheel, and their attention focused on the phone instead of traffic.
Texting and Driving in Missouri
Cell phone use is one of the most recognizable forms of distracted driving.
Missouri has laws addressing electronic communication while driving, but the exact rules and exceptions can depend on the driver’s age, license status, and circumstances.
Regardless of the specific legal violation, a driver who is looking at a phone instead of the road can create an extremely dangerous situation.
Consider a driver traveling through Jefferson City who receives a text message.
They look down for only a few seconds.
In that short period, the vehicle can travel a significant distance without the driver watching the road. Traffic can stop. A pedestrian can enter a crosswalk. Another vehicle can change lanes.
By the time the driver looks back up, it may already be too late.
For the person in the other vehicle, the consequences can last for months or even years.
Why Proving Distracted Driving Can Be Difficult
One of the biggest challenges in a distracted driving accident in Missouri is that the other driver may simply deny it.
They may tell the police:
“I wasn’t using my phone.”
Or: “I don’t know what happened.”
Even if you strongly suspect the driver was texting, suspicion alone may not be enough to establish what happened.
That’s why evidence matters. A successful claim may require an investigation into what the driver was doing immediately before the crash.
What Evidence Can Prove a Driver Was Distracted?
If you believe another driver was distracted, try to preserve as much information as possible.
Witness Statements
Did anyone see the other driver looking down at a phone?
Passengers, pedestrians, other motorists, or nearby witnesses may have seen what happened.
Get their contact information if possible.
Photos and Videos
Take pictures of the accident scene, vehicle positions, road conditions, and damage.
If you can safely document what the other driver was doing immediately after the collision, that information may also become relevant.
Police Reports
Tell the responding officer what you observed.
If you saw the driver holding a phone or looking down before the crash, make sure that information is communicated.
The officer may document statements from you, the other driver, and witnesses.
Traffic or Security Cameras
Businesses, intersections, parking lots, and homes may have cameras that captured the accident.
Unfortunately, these recordings aren’t always kept indefinitely.
An attorney may be able to identify and preserve relevant footage before it disappears.
Cell Phone Records
In some cases, phone records may provide evidence about whether the driver was using their device around the time of the crash.
This can be especially important when the other driver denies being distracted.
An attorney can determine whether obtaining these records may be appropriate based on the circumstances of your case.
What Should You Do After a Distracted Driving Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a crash and believe the other driver was distracted, your first priority should always be safety and medical care.
1. Call 911
Report the accident and request emergency assistance if anyone is injured.
- Get Medical Attention
Some injuries aren’t immediately obvious.
Whiplash, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and back injuries can develop or become more noticeable hours or days after a collision.
Don’t assume you’re fine simply because you can walk away from the crash.
- Don’t Argue With the Other Driver
You may be angry, especially if you believe their phone use caused the accident.
Stay calm.
Avoid confrontation and don’t make accusations at the scene.
Instead, tell the responding officer what you observed.
- Gather Evidence
If it’s safe to do so, photograph:
- Vehicle damage
- The roadway
- Traffic signals
- Skid marks
- Nearby businesses or cameras
- Your injuries
- Collect Witness Information
Names and contact information can become extremely valuable later.
- Be Careful With Insurance Companies
You should report the accident as required by your policy, but be cautious about providing statements or signing documents that you don’t fully understand.
Before accepting a settlement, consider speaking with an attorney.
How Distracted Driving Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim
If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for damages related to your injuries.
Depending on your circumstances, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The value of a distracted driving personal injury claim depends on the specific facts of the accident and the severity of your injuries.
That’s why it’s important not to assume that an insurance company’s first offer represents the full value of your claim.
What If the Other Driver Blames You?
Distracted drivers don’t always accept responsibility.
The other driver might claim:
- You stopped suddenly.
- You changed lanes unexpectedly.
- You were speeding.
- You weren’t paying attention.
- The weather caused the accident.
Missouri follows a comparative fault system, meaning an injured person’s recovery can potentially be reduced based on their percentage of fault.
That makes evidence particularly important when liability is disputed.
If the other driver is trying to shift blame, don’t assume you have to accept their version of events.
An attorney can investigate the accident and help determine what actually happened.
Insurance Companies May Question Your Claim
After a crash, the insurance company may begin investigating almost immediately.
An adjuster may ask questions about:
- How the accident happened
- Your injuries
- Your medical treatment
- Whether you had previous injuries
- What you were doing immediately before the crash
These questions may seem routine, but your answers can affect your claim.
Insurance companies may also attempt to minimize injuries or argue that a particular condition wasn’t caused by the accident.
That’s why documentation is so important.
Keep your medical records, bills, accident reports, photographs, and other evidence organized.
How Price & Randle Can Help
Proving that another driver was distracted isn’t always straightforward.
At Price & Randle Injury Attorneys, we investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident rather than simply accepting the insurance company’s version of events.
Our team can help:
- Investigate the cause of the crash
- Review police and accident reports
- Identify potential witnesses
- Look for available video evidence
- Evaluate evidence of cell phone use
- Collect medical documentation
- Communicate with insurance companies
- Calculate the full value of your damages
- Negotiate for fair compensation
- Prepare your case for litigation when necessary
You shouldn’t have to investigate your own accident while trying to recover from your injuries.
Don’t Let Someone Else’s Distraction Become Your Burden
You were paying attention. They weren’t.
Now you’re the one dealing with medical appointments, missed work, vehicle repairs, and uncertainty about what comes next.
If a distracted driver caused your accident, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.
Take your injuries seriously. Document what happened. Preserve evidence. And don’t let an insurance company pressure you into accepting less than your claim may be worth.
Talk to Price & Randle Injury Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident in Missouri, Price & Randle Injury Attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
Our experienced team serves injury victims throughout Central Missouri and is committed to providing compassionate guidance while fighting for fair compensation.
Call Price & Randle at (573) 993-3494 to schedule your free consultation.
You focus on your recovery. Let us focus on protecting your rights.
