Distracted Driver Accident Lawyer in Orange 

When a Driver's Distraction Changes Your Life 

You can do everything right behind the wheel and still end up seriously injured because another driver was not paying attention. A driver checking a text message on I-10, looking down at a navigation app on Highway 87, reaching for something in the passenger seat, or letting their attention drift through an intersection can cause a serious crash in seconds. In Orange, those risks matter even more given the mix of local, regional, commercial, and industrial traffic moving through the community. 

Orange sits along I-10 near the Louisiana border, making it an important connection between Southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The city also relies on routes including U.S. 90, Highway 87, and FM 1006, which serve residential areas, businesses, commercial development, shipyards, the Port of Orange, and surrounding industrial areas. 

At Anderson Alexander (A2X), we help people injured because of others' negligence. If you believe a distracted driver caused your accident in Orange, Texas, reach out to learn more about your options. If you're unsure whether distraction played a role in your crash, let us take a look. 

What Is a Distracted Driving Accident? 

Distracted driving occurs when a driver's attention is diverted away from the task of safely operating a vehicle. Distraction is not limited to texting. A driver can be distracted visually by looking away from the roadway, manually by taking their hands off the wheel, or cognitively by focusing on something other than driving. Sometimes, all three happen at once. 

A driver who looks down at a phone for only a few seconds may travel a significant distance without watching the road. At highway speeds on I-10, that brief lapse in attention can be enough to cause a devastating collision. 

Distracted driving can contribute to: 

• Rear-end collisions 
• Intersection crashes 
• Unsafe lane changes 
• Sideswipe accidents 
• Failure-to-yield crashes 
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents 
• Motorcycle accidents 
• Truck and commercial vehicle collisions 
• Multi-vehicle crashes 
• Serious and fatal accidents 

The important question after a crash is not simply whether the other driver had a phone in their hand. It is whether the driver's conduct was negligent and contributed to causing your injuries. 

Common Forms of Distracted Driving

Texting While Driving 

Texting is one of the clearest examples of how a driver's attention can leave the road. A driver may believe that quickly reading or responding to a message is harmless. But even a moment of looking away can mean missing stopped traffic, a changing traffic signal, a motorcycle, a pedestrian, or another vehicle entering the driver's path. 

Looking at a Phone or GPS 

Drivers increasingly rely on smartphones for navigation. Adjusting a route, checking directions, changing music, or looking at an incoming notification can take a driver's eyes away from the roadway. This can be particularly dangerous on unfamiliar roads or while navigating Orange's highway and frontage-road system. 

Eating or Drinking 

Reaching for food, opening a drink, or trying to eat while driving can reduce control of the vehicle and limit attention to surrounding traffic. 

Talking to Passengers 

Passenger conversations can become a serious distraction when a driver takes their attention off the road or focuses on the conversation instead of driving. 

Adjusting Controls 

Changing the radio, adjusting climate controls, searching for something in the vehicle, or interacting with a vehicle's infotainment system can all divert attention. 

Daydreaming or Cognitive Distraction 

Not every distraction is visible. A driver can stare straight ahead while mentally focusing on something other than driving. When a driver fails to recognize changing traffic conditions because their attention is elsewhere, that distraction can be just as consequential. 

The Impact of a Distracted Driving Accident 

The damage caused by a distracted driver does not necessarily end when the vehicles stop moving. A collision can result in: 

• Broken bones 
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Neck and back injuries 
• Internal injuries 
• Severe lacerations 
• Permanent nerve damage 
• Amputations 
• Chronic pain 
• Permanent disability 
• Emotional trauma 

Some injuries are immediately obvious. Others may take time to understand fully. You may initially think you have only minor soreness, only to discover that you need imaging, physical therapy, surgery, or ongoing treatment. 

The financial consequences can also accumulate quickly. You could miss work while medical bills keep arriving. You may need rehabilitation or medication. You may have to repair or replace your vehicle. If your injuries are permanent, your ability to earn income in the future could be affected. A serious personal injury claim should consider the broader impact of the accident, not simply the first medical bill. 

Proving a Distracted Driver Was Negligent 

One challenge in these cases is that drivers do not always admit they were distracted. A driver may tell police they never touched their phone. An insurance company may argue that the crash happened because of something else. A witness may have seen the driver looking down but cannot say exactly what the driver was doing. That is why evidence matters. 

Depending on the circumstances, investigating a distracted driving accident may involve: 

• Police reports 
• Witness statements 
• Photographs from the accident scene 
• Surveillance footage 
• Dashcam or traffic-camera footage 
• Cellphone records 
• Vehicle data 
• Accident reconstruction 
• Statements made by the driver 
• Medical records 
• Physical evidence from the vehicles 
• Other evidence showing what happened before the collision 

A2X can help investigate the circumstances surrounding your crash and determine whether evidence supports a claim that another driver's negligence caused your injuries. 

What If the Driver Says They Were Not Distracted? 

A driver's denial does not necessarily end the investigation. People involved in accidents may remember events differently. A driver may not want to acknowledge that they were using a phone or otherwise distracted. Sometimes the available evidence tells a different story. For example, a witness may have observed the driver's behavior immediately before impact. Video footage may show what happened. Vehicle or phone evidence may provide additional information. The point is not to assume that the other driver was distracted. The point is to investigate what actually happened. If you are unsure what caused your accident, you do not have to solve that question yourself. Let A2X take a look. 

What Compensation May Be Available? 

The compensation available in a distracted driving case depends on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of your injuries, the evidence supporting your claim, available insurance coverage, and other factors. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to pursue compensation for emergency medical care, hospital and surgical expenses, rehabilitation and physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical treatment related to your injuries. If the accident prevents you from working, you may also have a claim for lost wages and the loss of future earning capacity. 

Compensation may also address the less visible ways a serious accident can affect your life. Depending on the circumstances, this can include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, property damage, and other losses supported by the evidence. If your injuries are permanent or require long-term treatment, future losses can matter even more. 

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim in Texas? 

Timing matters after a distracted driving accident. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, a person generally must bring a personal injury lawsuit within two years after the cause of action accrues.  That does not mean you should wait two years to speak with our team. Evidence can become harder to obtain over time. Video may be overwritten. Vehicles may be repaired or sold. Witnesses may become difficult to locate, and memories can fade. Exceptions and different rules can also apply depending on the specific circumstances of a case. Claims involving governmental entities, minors, wrongful death, and other situations can raise additional timing and notice requirements. For that reason, the two years should not be treated as a personal deadline without evaluating the specific facts of your case. If you were injured in a distracted driving accident in Orange, it is worth finding out where you stand sooner rather than later. 

A Distracted Driver's Mistake Should Not Become Your Lifelong Burden 

A distracted driver may have looked away for only a few seconds. For you, those few seconds may have changed everything. 

You cannot undo the moment another driver stopped paying attention, but you can take steps to understand what happened and what options may be available. Whether your crash happened on I-10, Highway 87, U.S. 90, FM 1006, or a local street in Orange, the location is only part of the story. The important questions are what happened, why the collision occurred, whether another driver was negligent, and how that negligence has affected your life. 

At Anderson Alexander (A2X), we understand that you may be dealing with far more than a damaged vehicle. You may be facing medical treatment, lost time at work, mounting expenses, physical pain, or uncertainty about what the future holds. Our team can investigate the circumstances of your crash, examine the available evidence, and help you understand whether you may have a claim and what pursuing it could involve. 

If you were injured because a distracted driver was texting, using a phone, looking away from the road, or otherwise failing to pay attention, contact A2X to learn how we may be able to help. If you're unsure whether you have a claim, let us take a look.