When New Yorkers hit the road, most drive carefully. They go at an appropriate speed and watch for traffic around them. But it’s tough to keep that up from start to finish. Horns blare, phones ring, stray thoughts cross the mind. If these moments come at the wrong time, even the safest drivers can find themselves in a car accident.
These moments happen more than people might expect according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has found that drivers spend about 30 percent of their time distracted by non-driving activities. Some of these distractions are high-tech like using a cell phone or playing with a vehicle’s apps and gadgets. Others have been around for decades like smoking, talking, eating and drinking.
Though these distractions are common, they should not be taken for granted. Indeed, they are one of the biggest dangers New Yorkers face on the road. How dangerous? According to the NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved distracted driving.
New Yorkers hurt in these accidents have legal options. One is a personal injury lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit can provide New Yorkers the compensation they need and deserve. They can receive compensation for an array of damages. Some common forms of damage include medical bills, lost future wages and pain and suffering. Getting compensation for these damages can be pivotal for New Yorkers suffering through the aftermath of a car accident.
But getting that compensation can be difficult to do for many New Yorkers. To improve those chances, New Yorkers may want to discuss their case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Source: DMV.org, “How To Drive Distraction Free,” Accessed Dec. 12, 2014
