Any time you get behind the wheel in Jefferson City, Missouri, you’re faced with countless distractions — your phone, your passengers, and the sights outside of the car. Many drivers become so distracted that they cause accidents.
If you’ve been injured by a driver who wasn’t focusing on the road, our experienced Jefferson City distracted driver accident lawyers can help you hold that driver accountable.
Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers is the only law firm in Missouri focusing exclusively on motor vehicle accidents. Contact us today for a free consultation!
Injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver in Jefferson City, MO? Our skilled distracted driver accident attorneys in Jefferson City, MO, will aggressively fight for you. Call (573) 400-2046 for a free initial consultation.
How Our Distracted Driver Accident Lawyers in Jefferson City Will Assist With Your Claim
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Jefferson City, Missouri, you understand that the crash itself is just the beginning. Between severe physical pain, endless medical bills, intense emotional distress, and the inability to work, it’s easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed.
Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck have more than three decades of experience assisting people who have been hurt by distracted drivers. When you work with us, we’ll handle every facet of your case so you can focus on healing. These are some of the ways we can help.
Listening to Your Story
At your free consultation, we’ll take the time to get to know you and your story. If we think that legal action is the next best step, we will offer to represent you.
Investigating the Accident
Our next move is to start gathering evidence. We’ll take a close look at your accident and find key pieces of information, such as the following:
- The at-fault driver’s cell phone records
- Traffic camera or dashcam footage
- Photos of the accident scene
- Evidence (like broken vehicle parts) from the scene
- Your accident report
- Statements from witnesses
Proving the other driver’s negligence is important, but so is proving the severity of your injuries. With your permission, we’ll also obtain copies of your medical records.
Obtaining Expert Testimony
We work with an established network of experts to strengthen your case. These may include accident reconstruction experts and medical experts who can explain your injuries to a court.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
In most car accident cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is willing to settle outside of court. We understand how to use the evidence we’ve gathered and our considerable negotiation experience to convince insurers to settle for a full and fair sum.
Representing You in Court
In rare cases, the other side may be unwilling to settle outside of court, and the case will be decided by a civil trial.
At trial, both sides argue their cases before a judge or jury, and the court decides if (1) the other driver is liable for your injuries and (2) how much compensation they owe you.
How is Distracted Driving Defined?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity that takes your attention away from the road. The NHTSA divides possible distractions into three main categories: visual, manual, and cognitive distractions.
Visual Distractions
Visual distractions take your eyes off the road. Turning to look at a passenger during a conversation, checking your GPS, or looking at a car accident scene by the side of the road are all examples of visual distractions.
Texting is also visually distracting. However, it’s uniquely dangerous because it combines all three types of distractions: visual (looking at the phone), manual (taking your hand off the wheel to type), and cognitive (focusing on the conversation instead of driving).
Manual Distractions
Manual distractions involve taking one or more hands off the wheel. Eating while driving, adjusting your GPS or radio knobs, and grooming are all common examples.
Cognitive Distractions
You can be dangerously distracted even if you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Cognitive distractions take your attention away from the road. Talking to passengers, daydreaming, using a hands-free phone, and even being very stressed or upset are all types of cognitive distractions.
Looking for a Jefferson City distracted driver accident lawyer near me? Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers has recovered more than $105 million for our clients. Call (573) 400-2046 to speak with our skilled legal team!
Holding Distracted Drivers Liable for Your Injuries
Proving that the driver who caused your injuries was distracted could be more challenging than it seems. Fortunately, our skilled attorneys have extensive experience demonstrating that a driver’s behavior directly caused a client’s crash.
To win your case, we must be able to prove the four elements of negligence:
- The other driver owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty
- Their actions led directly to your injuries
- You have damages to collect as a result
Here’s a closer look at how we might prove each element in a distracted driving case.
1. The Other Driver Owed You a Duty of Care
A “duty of care” is an obligation to act in a way that reduces the possibility of harm. All drivers owe one another an important duty of care: to obey traffic laws and remain focused on the road.
2. They Breached That Duty
“Breaching” a duty means failing to fulfill that duty. If the other driver was texting or otherwise not paying attention at the time of the crash, they have breached their duty of care.
Often, our award-winning Jefferson City car accident lawyers will obtain cell phone records to show that a driver was texting or using their phone at the time of the crash. If they were distracted by something else, traffic camera footage or witness statements may help us prove it.
3. Their Actions Led Directly to Your Injuries
In distracted driving accidents, this element is often easy to prove. Because a distraction pulls a driver’s attention away from the road, it’s often clear that the distraction caused the accident — and that the accident caused your injuries.
4. You Have Damages to Collect as a Result
This means that you are owed compensation because of your injuries. If you have medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses because of your accident, you have damages to collect.
Missouri’s “Hands Free” Driving Law
Like most states, Missouri has enacted laws against distracted driving. The Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, passed in 2023, greatly expanded restrictions on cell phone use while driving. Previously, texting and driving was illegal only for drivers under 21, but the new prohibitions apply to all drivers.
Drivers are still allowed to use dashboard mounts, Bluetooth systems, and other hands-free technologies. However, the law bans the use of handheld devices behind the wheel for a range of activities, including these:
- Texting
- Making phone calls
- Watching videos
- Placing phone calls
- Taking videos or photos
- Browsing social media
- Playing games
- Reading emails or other notifications
- Using apps
- Facetiming or making video calls
- Typing on the phone
Enforcement of the new law started on January 1, 2025. Drivers may pay up to a $150 fine for a first violation. Violations that cause serious injury result in up to six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. If a driver violates the law and the violation leads to a fatal crash, they may face up to seven years in prison.
Getting You Maximum Financial Compensation for Your Injuries
Car accident lawsuits aren’t about trying to profit off of a tragedy. They’re about helping you get your life back. That’s what motivates our Jefferson City distracted driver accident attorneys to advocate for injured people like you.
When you work with us, we’ll fight for you to get the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, make up for your lost wages, and repair or replace your vehicle. We’ll also work hard to recover compensation for the physical and emotional pain you’ve suffered throughout your ordeal.
We understand that money will not make everything better. However, we hope that compensation can give you a sense of security as you begin your journey toward healing.
The Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Injury Claim
Each state sets its own statute of limitations for car accident claims. Most states allow victims two years or less to file a lawsuit, but Missouri has one of the longest statutes of limitations in the country: You have five years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit.
However, it’s best to contact our skilled attorneys soon after your accident. As time passes, it becomes harder to access traffic camera footage and other important pieces of evidence, so contacting us early on can increase your chances of success.
Assisting Victims of Distracted Driver Accidents in Jefferson City, Missouri
When choosing a Jefferson City distracted driver accident lawyer, you need an experienced attorney who’s ready to put their skills to work for you.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we’ve been proudly standing up for injured people for more than three decades. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, don’t wait — contact us to book your free consultation today.
In addition to Jefferson City, our knowledgeable legal team has helped victims car accidents caused by distracted drivers in Florissant, O’Fallon, St. Louis, Independence, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Doniphan, Springfield, and more.
