Texting and driving accidents in McKinney claim lives and shatter families every day, with distracted drivers causing some of the most preventable yet devastating crashes on Texas roads. When a driver chooses to text behind the wheel, they transform their vehicle into a weapon, often leaving innocent victims with life-altering injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertain futures.
If you or someone you care about has been injured by a texting driver in McKinney, Dale R. Rose, PLLC understands the devastating physical and financial consequences these accidents have on victims and their loved ones. Our firm has dedicated 27 years to fighting for accident victims across Texas, and we know how to hold negligent drivers accountable for their dangerous choices. We may be able to help you secure the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing and recovery.
Understanding Texting and Driving Laws in Texas
Under Texas law, texting while driving is illegal statewide, and for good reason. When motorists take their eyes off the road to read or send a text message, they become dangerously distracted for an average of five seconds. At highway speeds, that’s equivalent to driving the length of a football field completely blind.
Texas prohibits all drivers from using portable wireless communication devices to read, write, or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle. The penalties become even more severe in school zones and for drivers under 18, who face the complete outlawing of handheld device use while driving. Despite these clear laws, many drivers continue to text behind the wheel, putting everyone on the road at risk.
When texting drivers cause accidents, they may face criminal charges, but those penalties do little to help victims recover from their injuries. Civil lawsuits allow injured parties to seek compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from these crashes.
Common Injuries in Texting and Driving Accidents
Accidents often result in severe injuries because distracted drivers frequently fail to brake or take evasive action before impact. These crashes tend to occur at high speeds, creating tremendous forces that may cause devastating harm to victims.
Brain injuries are some of the most serious consequences of texting and driving accidents. The sudden impact may cause victims’ brains to strike the inside of their skulls, leading to traumatic brain injuries that may affect cognitive function, memory, and personality.
Some brain injury victims require years of rehabilitation and may never fully recover their pre-accident abilities.
Spinal cord injuries also occur frequently in these accidents, particularly when vehicles collide at high speeds. These injuries result in partial or total paralysis, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care. Victims may need wheelchair-accessible homes, modified vehicles, and continued physical therapy to adapt to their new circumstances.
Other Serious Injuries May Include
Broken bones and fractures often require multiple surgeries and extended recovery periods. Internal organ damage may be life-threatening and may not become apparent until hours or days after the accident. Severe cuts and lacerations may cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, affecting victims’ quality of life and self-esteem.
Proving a Texting and Driving Case
Successfully proving a texting and driving case requires a thorough investigation and compelling evidence. Phone records serve as crucial evidence in these cases, showing when calls were made or texts were sent in relation to the accident time. However, obtaining these records often requires legal action and court orders.
Police reports may include observations about driver behavior at the scene, witness statements, and citations issued for texting while driving. Traffic cameras, security footage from nearby businesses, and dashboard cameras from other vehicles may provide visual evidence of the defendant’s distracted driving behavior.
Witness statements may be particularly powerful in texting and driving cases. Passengers in the defendant’s vehicle, other drivers who observed the texting behavior, or pedestrians who witnessed the accident may provide crucial statements about the driver’s actions immediately before the crash.
Expert witnesses may also play important roles in these cases. Accident reconstruction specialists may demonstrate how the collision occurred and why defensive driving measures weren’t taken. Medical professionals may explain the extent of injuries and their long-term impact on victims’ lives.
Compensation Available in Texting and Driving Cases
Those who have been injured or suffered losses may be eligible for compensation. Medical expenses often represent the largest component of damages, including emergency room treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation services, and ongoing medical care. Future medical expenses must also be considered, particularly for victims with permanent disabilities or chronic conditions resulting from their injuries.
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity may devastate families financially, especially when primary income earners suffer serious injuries. Compensation may include lost salary, benefits, bonuses, and the decreased ability to earn income in the future. Self-employed individuals and business owners may recover lost business income and opportunities.
Victims are compensated for their physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by injuries through pain and suffering damages. These damages recognize that accident victims endure more than just financial losses—they also experience physical discomfort, anxiety, depression, and the loss of activities they once enjoyed.
Property damage compensation covers vehicle repairs or replacement, as well as personal items damaged in the accident. In cases involving extreme negligence or reckless behavior, punitive damages may also be available to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.
Contact Dale R. Rose, PLLC for Your Texting and Driving Accident Case
Texting and driving accidents cause preventable tragedies that forever change victims’ lives, but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Dale R. Rose, PLLC, brings 27 years of experience and over 165 first-chair jury trials to every case we handle. We understand the complex legal issues surrounding distracted driving cases and know how to build compelling arguments that hold negligent drivers accountable for their choices.
Our firm has successfully represented clients in personal injury cases throughout McKinney and the surrounding areas, securing substantial recoveries for accident victims and their families. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Don’t let insurance companies minimize your claim or rush you into an inadequate settlement. Contact Dale R. Rose, PLLC today at (972) 634-ROSE (7673) or through our contact form to schedule your free consultation and learn how we may help you pursue justice and compensation.
