Distracted Driving Accidents Lawyers in New City, NY, Helping Victims Through the Difficult Time of Recovery While They Pursue Compensation
These days there is no shortage of potential distractions for drivers on the road. Whether it be technology like cell phones and digital car dashboards, eye-popping advertisements on the side of the road, or talking with people while commuting to work, there are always constant demands for our attention, and we are asked to do multiple things at once. The problem is that operating a motor vehicle demands enough attention as it is, which means that mistakes can happen, and we can become distracted while driving.
Distracted driving accidents can be deadly or result in serious injuries for everyone involved.
If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, or you have lost a loved one in such a crash, you should speak with experienced distracted driving attorneys immediately. Just as you have legal rights to pursue compensation from negligent or drunk drivers, you also have the right to file a lawsuit against a distracted driver who was responsible for causing an accident.
At the New York law firm of Greenspan & Greenspan, our lawyers and associates have over three decades of experience serving clients with all manner of personal injury and car accident claims. To discuss your unique case in more detail, please contact our law offices to schedule a free initial consultation.
What are Common Distractions for New York Drivers?
Seemingly the more people there are and the busier the city, the more apt people could be to end up in distracted driving accidents. However, the roads don’t need to be busy and full of people for such accidents to occur. Sometimes in remote areas, when there is seemingly nobody around, drivers feel like they can let their guards down and drive more casually. They might think that they are alone enough on the roads to check a text or use a search engine. But of course, we’re never as alone on America’s roads as we think we are, and an accident can come out of nowhere.
Common examples of distractions for drivers include:
- Applying makeup
- Changing clothes
- Checking traffic or weather conditions
- Distractions in the landscape or exterior of the car, such as another accident, eye-catching imagery, advertising, and numerous examples of ‘rubbernecking’
- Drinking
- Driving while sleepy
- Eating while driving
- Handling children in the backseat of the car
- Live-streaming video or audio
- Looking at one’s own reflection in the mirror
- Online shopping
- Operating the GPS or studying a paper map
- Personal grooming, such as fixing hair or addressing a blemish
- Reaching for something that requires the driver to take their eyes off the road
- Reading a book
- Speaking on the phone
- Taking pictures
- Talking with passengers
- Texting and driving
- Using social media like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
- Using the radio
- Watching videos
- Writing or reading emails
A fear of missing out, an addiction to social media, running behind schedule and needing to multitask, or a short attention span are usually to blame for such accidents occurring.
Does New York Have any Laws Against Distracted Driving?
The state of New York does indeed have regulations to limit distracted driving. However, these laws are limited in scope and do not cover every type of distraction for drivers.
In New York, it is illegal to perform certain activities on your digital device while your motor vehicle is in motion, and you are the driver behind the steering wheel.
Examples of unlawful activities include:
- Browsing the internet
- Playing videogames
- Taking pictures while driving
- Talking on your phone
- Texting
- Viewing pictures
- Writing emails
These laws do not apply when the driver is using hands-free options, such as speech-to-text or speaker phone. Additionally, the law does not apply to emergency situations, such as instances where a driver needs to call 911.
What are the Statistics on Distracted Driving Accidents in the State of New York?
Recent studies indicate that texting and driving are responsible for nearly 6% of recent car accidents across the country. Other research suggests that distracted driving is now the single leading cause of traffic accidents in the state of New York.
Close to 10% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities are caused by distracted driving. And an average of 600 pedestrians are killed each year in distracted driving accidents.
Though every age and demographic could be responsible for distracted driving accidents, teens and other young people are among those most frequently involved in such crashes. This is likely because they’ve never lived in a time before cell phones and their devices are such a constant part of daily life to them.
How can Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Help Your Case?
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by distracted drivers, you have the right to seek financial compensation for your anguish. Filing a successful claim is not always a straightforward process, however, and it is advisable that you hire attorneys experienced in the legal matters of distracted driving cases.
At our firm, our New City injury lawyers have helped recover maximum compensation for clients in personal injury and motor vehicle accident cases. Our legal team can help you recover a fair settlement that can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact our NY Law Firm to Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Distracted driving remains a common problem on New York’s roads. If you were injured by a negligent driver, it is possible to hold them financially accountable for that negligence.
As your attorneys, we will pursue the facts, gather evidence, and speak with witnesses in order to help you towards the most satisfactory outcome for your case.
To schedule your free case evaluation, call our New City, NY, law office at (845) 422-8060.