Modern technology has made many aspects of our lives easier, but it has also created fresh problems. Distracted driving is one such issue; when people use their phone while behind the wheel, they put every other road user around them at risk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving claimed over 3,300 lives in the United States in 2022, and also contributed to almost 290,000 injuries.

Many distracted drivers never face criminal consequences. In many cases, personal injury representation is the only way to hold a negligent driver to account for their actions. This process is complex, though, so it’s important to work with a car accident lawyer you can trust. The attorney you choose should be able to deal with both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits.

If driver distraction played a role in your crash, you owe it to yourself to seek compensation. Call (800) 969-4400 to schedule a free initial consultation with our firm and learn what’s likely to be involved in your case.

Why Work with a Philadelphia Distracted Driving Lawyer?

As the saying goes, it’s not what you know that matters – it's what you can prove in court.

You must assume that representatives of the distracted driver (or their insurance company) will do whatever they can to argue that their negligence did not substantially contribute to your accident. They might even try to argue that you were negligent and caused the crash. A Philadelphia distracted driving lawyer can help you push back against such claims. Our job is to find all the available evidence and use it to make clear that the other driver was responsible for your suffering.

Throughout this process, your attorney can also ease the burden of stress that so frequently accompanies car accident cases. You’ll know what to expect through every phase of this process. Your attorney will handle the hard work of gathering evidence, negotiating with car insurance companies, and, if necessary, fighting on your behalf in court.

Your distracted driving lawyer will be mindful of key deadlines. These arrive quickly in Philadelphia, which has a statute of limitations of just two years for personal injury cases.

It can be surprisingly difficult to extend this deadline, even under extraordinary circumstances, so it’s always prudent to get in touch with a Philadelphia distracted driving attorney as soon as possible after you’ve had an accident.

What Makes the Cochran Firm Stand Out?

There are plenty of car accident attorneys practicing in Philadelphia. Unless you work in the legal industry yourself, you likely won’t know where to start when it comes to picking the right person to handle your case.

However, you don’t need to be an expert to see that The Cochran Firm in Philadelphia has a top-class reputation. We go into the advantages of working with our trusted law firm in detail in this section.

Exceptional Track Record

Boasting over four decades of success, The Cochran Firm is an esteemed name in personal injury law. We’re part of a nationwide law firm that was founded by the famed Johnnie L. Cochran — and we carry on his legacy today.

We’ve secured seven-, eight-, and even nine-figure settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. No matter how big or small the case, though, our team is always committed to fighting for the best possible outcome.

Examples of our previous successes with motor vehicle accident cases include the following:

  • We helped a jogger’s grieving family secure $25 million in a wrongful death suit after he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. We filed suit against the driver (who had a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit at the time of the accident) and the bar that served the driver.
  • A client was injured after a New York ambulance ran a red light. This case ended with a $5.75 million settlement.
  • We won a landmark jury verdict of $100 million after a mother and child were struck by a car while walking.
  • In what was the largest personal injury verdict ever in the state of New York at the time, we secured $197 million for plaintiffs who struck a disabled tractor-trailer truck. At the time of the accident, they were using a rental car that was not properly equipped with seatbelts. Truck accidents like these pose specific legal challenges, so it’s important to have an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side if you’re involved in a case like this.

Empathetic Client Consultations

No matter your role in your car accident, you deserve both respect and compassion as you discuss your case with your lawyer. A little empathy can go a long way toward helping you trust your attorney. At The Cochran Firm, we pride ourselves on our ability to develop strong attorney-client relationships.

This ultimately paves the path to higher-quality representation, as trusting clients are more likely to share the details that matter. A compassionate approach also makes the legal process a lot less stressful for clients, who should feel confident that their attorneys actually care.

Detail-Oriented Discovery

Through extensive research, our team is able to gain insight into every detail that could possibly impact your distracted driving case. We take the discovery phase seriously.

This part of the process can determine whether you’re ultimately able to achieve the positive outcome you desire. It may incorporate the following sources of evidence:

  • Police reports
  • Healthcare records
  • Photos of the accident scene.

Witness statements are especially important when distracted driving is suspected. It’s often difficult to prove cases like this using only the evidence from accident investigations; it’s much easier when there are witnesses willing to testify that an at-fault driver was using their phone.

Additionally, we may call on expert witnesses (such as accident reconstruction consultants) who can provide additional insight into the circumstances surrounding your case.

No Win, No Fee

We opt for a contingency approach to pricing to better serve the needs of our clients. This allows you to proceed without paying anything up front. We only take a fee as a percentage of a successful settlement or jury verdict; if you don’t get paid, neither do we.

What Happens During a Philadelphia Distracted Driving Case?

The process involved in fighting a car accident dispute varies broadly from one case to the next. However, there are a number of stages that generally arise during our lawyer-client relationships.

Consultation

During your free initial consultation, you’ll get to share your side of the story and ask any questions you may have about our legal approach. We’ll provide honest feedback about your legal prospects. We won’t sugarcoat your situation; we’ll cover every potential roadblock so that you know exactly what you’re getting into.

The Case-Building Process

Once we collectively decide to pursue your case, it’s time to examine the available evidence to decide on the wisest course of action. We’ll look at photo and video evidence from the crash scene, consider witness testimony, and look for any other potential sources of evidence (such as from traffic cameras).

Once we’ve built a clear, verifiable picture of what happened, we’ll be in a good position to file an insurance claim or pursue a lawsuit.

Spending 5 seconds on your phone while driving at 55mph is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. By now, the courts are well aware of how risky distracted driving is; if you can prove that the at-fault party in your case wasn’t paying proper attention, you’ll have a much easier time collecting compensation. This is where we come in.

Insurance Negotiations

In Philadelphia, insurance negotiations are largely shaped by Pennsylvania’s status as a no-fault state. Essentially, this means that all drivers are required to invest in personal injury protection (PIP).

Insurance carriers typically pay medical expenses arising from vehicle-related injuries. If, however, your injuries are particularly serious and another person (such as a distracted driver) was at fault for the accident that caused them, personal injury damages may be available.

However, not every type of insurance policy allows for the pursuit of personal injury damages along with insurance benefits. We’ll examine your policy during your initial consultation and advise you on the best course of action in light of your circumstances.

Settlement or Court

If you’re able to pursue a personal injury claim and you stand to benefit from doing so, we’ll file a lawsuit on your behalf.

This doesn’t mean you’ll have to go to court. Most road accident lawsuits reach out-of-court settlements, meaning both parties decide on a resolution privately, without involving a judge and jury. This outcome is less stressful and more cost-effective for all concerned.

Whether your case ends up in court or not, you can count on our team to represent your best interests.

The Cochran Firm: Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Resource for Distracted Driving Representation

If you’ve fallen victim to a distracted driver, let us help you pursue the compensation you need to get your life back on track. We know what it takes to build the strongest possible case in your favor.

If you’re ready to get started, get in touch today to schedule a free initial consultation. Call (800) 969-4400 or fill out our online contact form to learn more.