Each year, thousands of people are killed, and many more are seriously injured, in car accidents caused by distracted driving. The rate of these accidents has increased significantly since the invention of cell phones, but phones are just one cause of these all too common accidents. Each year the Levin & Malkin team handles several distracted driving cases, and we have seen many different types of distractions.
Drive Me To Distraction
Under New Jersey law, distracted driving can be any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Over the years, Levin & Malkin’s attorneys have been asked to represent accident victims who were injured by drivers that were:
- Messing with the radio or adjusting some other sort of audio entertainment device
- Using a GPS navigation system, reading directions, or looking at a map
- Talking to other passengers
- Taking care of children or pets in the car with them
- Putting on makeup, shaving, doing their hair, and grooming themselves
- Eating and drinking
With the invention of cell phones, we have seen a huge increase in the number of distracted driving accidents. Policymakers noticed this too and even outlawed the use of cell phones behind the wheel. Unfortunately, that seems to have done little to stop drivers from taking their eyes off the road to make calls, respond to messages, watch videos, or even play games!
The seductive ping of a phone notification has far too many drivers taking their eyes off the road. This is incredibly dangerous because looking at a screen for just 5 seconds is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed if you are going 55 miles per hour.
Holding Distracted Drivers Accountable
If you have been injured in an accident, and you suspect the person who caused the accident was distracted, you have the right to be angry and want them held responsible. However, New Jersey is a no-fault state. You and the other driver will be relying on the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage your insurance policies provide to compensate you for your injuries.
If your injuries exceed the available PIP coverage, and they are considered permanent — like scarring, lasting pain, or a disability — you may also want to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. A lawsuit can get you additional compensation, and make sure the person who injured you is held accountable.
Levin & Malkin’s experienced attorneys know how to gather the evidence that proves distracted driving played a role in an accident. We interview witnesses, gather available video footage, and may even be able to take a look at cell phone records that show a phone was in use at the time of the crash.
Millions Won For Our Clients
If you are a Hackensack area resident who has been injured in a car accident, and you believe the person who caused the accident was messing with their phone or was otherwise distracted, the Levin & Malkin team is here for you. Our experienced New Jersey personal injury attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for injured New Jerseyans and their families. If you would like to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team, please contact us today.
Posted in: Car Accidents