New York Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

Let Us Fight for Your Right to Fair Compensation

Common sense tells us that in order to drive safely, we need to keep our eyes – and attention – on the road. All too often, people try and multitask while they are behind the wheel, and this causes motor vehicle accidents and put the lives of others at risk. Distracted driving significantly increases the likelihood of a car accident, and if you are involved in a wreck due to a distracted driver, you deserve to be compensated.

For a free legal consultation with a distracted driving accident lawyer in New York, call (646) 692-0204.

The Problem with Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can be defined as an activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the main task of driving. Every distraction can endanger the safety of drivers, passengers, and bystanders and can lead to devastating consequences in the event of an accident.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019 alone, over 3,100 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes that involved distracted drivers. Another 424,000 drivers were injured in distracted driver crashes. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reports that at any given moment in the U.S., about 660,000 drivers are using their phones or texting while driving, a number that has remained steady since 2010. 

Types of Distractions

When it comes to safely operating a motor vehicle, distractions come in a variety of forms. There are three main types of distractions when you get behind the wheel:

• Cognitive.  These distractions happen when your mind isn’t focused on what you are doing. An emotionally-charged conversation with a passenger or refereeing a fight between your children in the back seat can all be cognitive distractions.
• Manual.  These distractions occur when your hands are not on the steering wheel. Eating or putting on makeup while behind the wheel are examples.
• Visual.  When you take your eyes off of the road due to a distraction, you can strike other motorists, pedestrians, or stationary objects. Taking a look at your cellphone or reading a map while driving are prime examples of visual distractions.

Any activity that diverts a driver’s attention when operating a vehicle can lead to distracted driving. Some of the most dangerous – and most common – distractions include:

• Talking on a cell phone
• Texting
• Using a navigation system or another in-vehicle technology
• Tuning the radio or selecting a song on an iPod
• Tending to pets or children
• Talking with other passengers
• Shaving, brushing hair, or other personal grooming tasks
• Drinking and eating
• Reading directions and maps
• Smoking

If you were involved in a distracted driving accident and were injured due to someone else’s negligence, it is important that you have your claim evaluated by an experienced personal injury attorney.

Texting and Driving – One of the Worst Distracted Driving Culprits

According to New York State law, it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone or other portable electronic device while you drive. Illegal activities including holding the device and one of these other activities:

• Talking on a handheld phone
• Composing, reading, sending, accessing, or reviewing electronic data, including text messages or email
• Transmitting, viewing, or taking images
• Playing games

One of the biggest problems involving electronic devices and driving is texting. Texting is thought to be the most dangerous of all distracted driving activities because it combines all three types of distractions. Text messaging also causes some of the most violent car crashes, including head-on accidents, and younger drivers are more likely to be the culprits of this type of distracted driving.

Contact us today if you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver in New York.