Distracted driving is a serious problem in New York State and across the country. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in car crashes involving a distracted driver, and another 416,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
New York State has a primary ban on the use of handheld cell phones and texting devices behind the wheel, but far too many drivers break the law and engage in this dangerous behavior. Other forms of distracted driving also pose a real threat on roads around Syracuse and throughout New York.
Texting and using a smartphone\ are top ways drivers allow themselves to become distracted, but driver distraction can also include:
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
- Reading (including maps)
- Using a navigation system
- Watching a video,
- Adjusting a radio, CD player or other equipment on the car.
People who suffer injuries because of a distracted driver’s negligence deserve compensation for their losses. If you have been injured in a car accident and driver distraction was a factor, you need an experienced Syracuse car accident attorney. The law firm of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, represents clients in Syracuse and surrounding areas, including Elmira, Watertown, Rochester and Binghamton.
Let our Syracuse distracted driving accident lawyers put their experience to work for you. Call our office in Syracuse toll-free or contact us via our online contact form for a free case review. We also make house calls.
Know the Numbers: Distracted Driving Facts
Distracted driving is high on the list of causes of car accidents in and around Syracuse, New York. Distracted driving was a contributing factor in 133,747 accidents in New York State during one recent year. Roughly 535 people involved in those crashes sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Of the people who suffered a TBI, 29 percent had to stay in the hospital at least overnight, according to New York State Department of Health data. Driver distraction is also the most costly of contributing factors in car accidents. The average total cost of a distracted driving accident is over $37,000, according to NYSDOH.
Drivers who use handheld devices when operating their vehicles are four times as likely to crash as drivers who aren’t distracted, according to a Monash University study. Another study reports that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers who focus on the road. People who text while driving – particularly those sending messages – look away from the road 400 times more often than someone not texting.
New York Distracted Driving Laws
New York State’s law bans the use of handheld mobile devices behind the wheel, but it does not specifically address other forms of distraction, such as reading or even watching videos while driving. The absence of a law against something doesn’t make it an acceptable behavior.
Regardless of the type of distraction, you deserve full and fair compensation if you were injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver. Even if the at-fault driver was not charged with breaking a traffic law, evidence of distracted driving could still be used to show that the driver was negligent.
Contact Our Syracuse Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
At the law offices of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, our highly qualified distracted driving car accident attorneys have helped many injured Syracuse residents get the compensation they deserve. Whether we resolve your case by negotiating successfully with an insurance company or proceed to trial, we can help ensure that your case is treated with respect and that you receive the maximum amount of damages allowable by law.
If you or a loved one has suffered because of a distracted driver in Syracuse, call our New York personal injury attorneys at (315) 314-5390 or contact us via our online contact form for a FREE case review
Resources:
- FCC – Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse
- Distraction.gov – US Dept. of Transportation Distracted Driving site
- Safe-NY – NY Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Comprehensive information on New York’s distracted driving laws, and prevention
Last updated: October 2nd 2015