Distracted Driving Accidents: Your Legal Rights in Georgia

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of serious accidents across Georgia, especially in busy urban areas like Atlanta. Whether it’s a text message, a quick glance at GPS, or eating behind the wheel, these seemingly small distractions can lead to life-altering injuries in seconds.

If you’ve been hurt in a crash caused by a distracted driver, a qualified distracted driving accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and recover the compensation you deserve.


What Counts as Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. These distractions fall into three main categories:

  • Visual: Taking your eyes off the road (e.g., checking a phone or turning to talk to a passenger)

  • Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel (e.g., adjusting controls, eating, reaching for items)

  • Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving (e.g., daydreaming, talking on the phone)

Common behaviors that lead to distracted driving accidents include:

  • Texting or checking notifications

  • Using GPS or apps while driving

  • Eating or drinking

  • Grooming (applying makeup, fixing hair)

  • Talking to passengers or using voice controls

  • Managing children or pets in the back seat


Georgia’s Distracted Driving Law

In 2018, Georgia passed the Hands-Free Georgia Act, which prohibits:

  • Holding or supporting a phone with any part of the body while driving

  • Writing, reading, or sending text messages or emails

  • Watching videos or recording video while driving

  • Using phones for any purpose without hands-free technology

Violating this law can lead to fines, license points, and most importantly—civil liability if the distraction causes an accident.


Injuries Caused by Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents often involve sudden braking, swerving, or rear-end collisions—leading to injuries such as:

  • Whiplash

  • Broken bones

  • Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

  • Back and spinal injuries

  • Internal bleeding or organ damage

  • Emotional trauma and PTSD

Even low-speed distracted driving accidents can cause long-term damage.


What to Do After a Distracted Driving Accident

If you suspect the driver who hit you was distracted, follow these steps immediately:

  1. Call 911 and request a police report
    Be sure to mention any signs of distracted driving (e.g., phone in hand, sudden swerving).

  2. Seek medical attention right away
    Even minor injuries can worsen without treatment.

  3. Document the scene
    Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any distractions (like open apps or food wrappers).

  4. Get witness statements
    They may have seen the driver using a phone or looking away from the road.

  5. Contact a distracted driving attorney
    Proving distraction requires a thorough legal investigation—and an experienced lawyer can handle it for you.


How an Atlanta Distracted Driving Lawyer Proves Negligence

At Karma Injury Law, we take a strategic, evidence-based approach to prove the driver’s distraction. We may:

  • Subpoena cellphone records or app usage logs

  • Secure dashcam or surveillance footage

  • Use vehicle data to analyze braking and steering behavior

  • Interview witnesses and reconstruct the accident

  • Analyze police reports and citations issued

We build a strong case to ensure insurance companies don’t minimize your claim.


Compensation You May Be Entitled To

As a victim of distracted driving, you may be eligible to recover:

  • Medical expenses (current and future)

  • Lost wages and diminished earning capacity

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress

  • Property damage

  • Rehabilitation or long-term care

  • Wrongful death damages (for surviving family members)


Contact a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer in Atlanta

If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver in Atlanta, don’t wait. The sooner we begin building your case, the stronger your chance of receiving maximum compensation.

Call Karma Injury Law today for a free consultation. We’ll take it from here—so you can focus on recovery.

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You must file your claim within two years from the accident date.
Failure to meet this deadline may result in losing your right to recover damages.

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