Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Canoga Park, CA

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving distracted driving, please reach out to a Canoga Park, CA distracted driving accident attorney. Lawyer Barry P. Goldberg has been settling these types of accidents for years. Guided by our knowledge and experience, we are confident in our ability to get the results you deserve. To learn more about your legal options, call Barry P. Goldberg now. 

According to a study published in a 2019 Bloomberg article, drivers are distracted by their phone at least 24-26% their driving time. Although phones are the primary type of distraction while driving, there are other ways for this to happen. Talking with other occupants, changing the radio, helping children in the back, eating or drinking, navigating, or applying makeup. The result of being distracted while driving can be devastating. In 2018, 2,800 people lost their lives. Another 400,000 people were injured. This equates to an average of 8 deaths per day. Sadly 1 in 5 of these people were running, walking, or cycling. 

Even though California has strict laws on using a phone while driving, the problem is only growing. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, and believe distracted driving was the cause, an auto accident attorney in Canoga Park, CA would like to talk with you. Please reach out to Barry P. Goldberg. 

Filing a Distracted Driving Claim

In California, personal injury claims are based upon a theory of negligence. This means that a person must have failed to use reasonable care to prevent harm to others or theirself. If the alleged at-fault driver did not adhere to the standards of reasonable care, and an accident happened, they could be responsible for damages. 

It will be up to you, or your Canoga Park, CA distracted driving lawyer to prove the following:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care (which was to operate their vehicle safely)
2. The defendant breached that duty (such as by using a phone while driving)
3. The breach of duty was the proximate cause of the accident
4. You suffered damages as a direct result

If the above can be proven, the defendant will likely be financially liable for any related losses you incurred. Lawyer, Barry P. Goldberg has successfully represented clients who sustained injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Broken neck or spine
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal bleeding
• Collapsed or punctured lung
• Lacerations
• Paralysis
• Scarring
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Coma 
• Death

If you are the family member of someone who lost their life as a result of a distracted driving accident, it may be possible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This claim allows family members to recover compensation, such as loss of income, lost benefits, loss of consortium, funeral and burial costs, any medical bills, and more. 

Even if the other driver was not cited by police for distracted driving, your Canoga Park, CA distracted driving accident attorney may be able to locate and introduce evidence that proves they were indeed distracted. To learn more about your case, please call Barry P. Goldberg as soon as possible. 

Types of Distracted Driving Accidents We Handle in Canoga Park

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents in California, and Canoga Park residents are not immune to its consequences. If you were hurt by a driver who was not paying attention, a distracted driving accident lawyer Canoga Park, CA can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you may be owed.

• Cell Phone and Texting Accidents: Reading or sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, which at highway speed covers the length of a football field. These cases often involve phone records and data as key evidence in establishing fault.
• Rear-End Collisions Caused by Inattention: A driver looking at a screen, adjusting music, or reaching for something in the car may not notice slowing traffic ahead. Rear-end crashes are among the most common outcomes of distracted driving and frequently result in whiplash and spinal injuries.
• Intersection Accidents: Distracted drivers often fail to notice changing traffic signals or vehicles already in an intersection. These crashes can cause significant side-impact or head-on collisions depending on the speed and direction of travel involved.
• Pedestrian Accidents: When a driver is not focused on the road, pedestrians crossing streets or walking near traffic are especially vulnerable. Canoga Park has active commercial corridors where foot traffic and vehicle traffic regularly intersect.
• Bicycle Accidents: Cyclists share the road with little physical protection, making a distracted driver particularly dangerous. A momentary lapse in attention at the wrong time can result in catastrophic injuries for a rider.
• Lane Departure Crashes: A driver distracted by a passenger, food, or a handheld device may drift out of their lane without realizing it. These accidents can involve sideswipe collisions or head-on crashes depending on which direction the vehicle drifts.
• School Zone and Residential Area Accidents: Distracted driving in lower-speed zones does not necessarily mean lower-severity injuries, particularly for children. These cases draw additional scrutiny because drivers are held to a higher standard of care in areas with known pedestrian activity.
• Commercial Driver Distraction Accidents: Truck drivers and delivery drivers who use in-cab devices, GPS systems, or phones while operating a vehicle create serious risks for other motorists. When a commercial driver is at fault, liability may extend to their employer as well.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents Triggered by Distraction: A single distracted driver can set off a chain of collisions involving multiple vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed over 3,000 lives in a single recent year in the United States.
• Parking Lot and Low-Speed Accidents: Not all distracted driving accidents happen at high speed. Backing out of a space while looking at a phone or cutting through a parking lot without attention can still cause meaningful injuries, particularly to pedestrians and cyclists nearby.

Proving distraction requires building a clear picture of what the other driver was doing at the moment of impact, and that process takes time and the right resources. Goldberg Injury Lawyers represents injured clients in Canoga Park and works to hold distracted drivers accountable for the harm they cause. If you were hurt in this type of accident, reaching out to discuss your situation is a practical first step.