Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog
According to the United States Department of Transportation, 1.6 million automotive accidents occur each year as a result of distracted drivers on their cell phones. All of these accidents resulted in approximately 500,000 injuries and 6,000 deaths. According to Verizon Wireless, those who read or compose text messages while driving are 23% more likely to be involved in a car accident than other drivers. The facts on the perils of texting and driving speak for themselves, but people continue to engage in this risky conduct despite the threat it can pose to not just you, but also other drivers. If you or a loved one has been harmed in an automobile accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should contact an experienced Upstate New York car accident lawyer immediately. DeFrancisco & Falgiatano’s expert accident and injury attorneys may be able to assist you to obtain the conclusion you deserve. We help clients throughout Upstate New York, with offices in multiple convenient locations. Our extensive experience in the personal injury field is reflected in the results we have achieved for our clients.
According to studies, around 660,000 drivers try to use their cell phones while driving every day. While this statistic includes texters, it also includes those who check their email, make, receive, or check phone calls, and use mobile apps. Texting and driving statistics are concerning, with some surveys indicating that the risks are even larger than drinking and driving. This activity is six times more likely to result in an accident than drunk driving.
Texting and driving is especially dangerous for juvenile drivers since it is combined with novice driving. When texting and driving, teen drivers are four times more likely than adult drivers to be involved in major car accidents. Cell phones were used by approximately 21% of young drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents. Despite the fact that the majority of teen drivers indicated they were aware of the dangers of texting and driving, 35% acknowledged doing so. Texting while driving impairs a person’s ability to drive safely. When a person responds to a text, he or she takes his or her eyes off the road for around five seconds. This distraction lasts long enough for the motorist to go the length of a football field if the individual is moving at 55 miles per hour. Texting while driving is the most dangerous type of distracted driving since it takes a person’s eyes off the road, distracts his or her mind, and takes his or her hands off the wheel.
You are not permitted to use a hand-held mobile phone or portable electronic device while driving in New York State. Holding a portable electronic device and talking on a handheld mobile phone, composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages, viewing, taking, or transmitting images, and playing games are all examples of illegal activity. If you use a portable electronic device while driving, except to phone 911 or contact medical, fire, or police personnel about an emergency, you may incur a traffic ticket, fine, and penalty. A conviction for cell phone, portable electronic device, or texting will also result in points being added to your DMV driving record. Your driver’s license may be suspended if you collect 11 points in 18 months. Individuals injured in car accidents caused by a careless driver texting while driving have the legal right to seek compensation for their injuries and other damages. Injured drivers and passengers may sue for pain and suffering, often known as non-economic damages. Several of these car accidents could have been avoided if the careless driver had not acted negligently. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are frequently the victims of distracted driving incidents. Lawsuits hold these individuals accountable for the harm they create and aid in compensating victims for their personal and financial losses.
You claim you’re not going to do it, but you just can’t stop texting and driving? Here are a few pointers to help you overcome this potentially fatal behavior. Try turning your phone to quiet or off completely. That way, when you hear the notification ding or phone ring, you won’t feel forced to pick it up, respond to a text, or answer a call. Put your phone in the trunk or in a bag that you place in the back seat. This way, even if the phone rings, you won’t be able to answer it. You’ll also be less distracted by the steady barrage of notifications on your screen. Respond to any required calls or texts before leaving your driveway or parking lot, so you don’t have to do so after you’re on the road. Likewise, if you’re going somewhere unfamiliar, set your GPS while the car is still in park so you don’t meddle with it while driving. Many modern vehicles will not even allow you to use GPS when the vehicle is not in park. If your message or text message cannot wait, pull over to respond. If the road is quieter, pull over and activate your hazards. Wait for a rest stop or text stop if you’re on the highway. There are numerous apps available to help you prevent texting and driving. Some block text messages and phone calls while you’re driving, while others send automatic reply messages stating that you’re driving and can’t answer right now. Some apps even reward you for not texting and driving by tracking your movements and providing coupons and discounts based on how far you travel without touching your phone.
Automobiles can cause immense harm if not operated safely, and focusing on a text message instead of the road ahead is a textbook example of unsafe driving. If someone else injured you in a wreck by acting this way, taking legal action against them may be key to protecting your best interests now and well into the future. If you have been injured in a texting and driving accident or another type of distracted driver injury, call our Syracuse-based distracted driver accident lawyers at 833-200-2000 or contact us online. We offer free consultations as well as off-site visits and weekend appointments. You will not pay any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. The attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers represent injured clients and their families throughout Upstate New York, including Syracuse, Rochester, Elmira, Binghamton, Auburn, Ithaca, Oswego, Norwich, Herkimer, Delhi, Cortland, Lowville, Oneida, Watertown, Utica, Canandaigua, Wampsville, Cooperstown, and Lyons.