Representing the Rights of Victims Who Have Been Injured in Distracted Driving Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that more than 1,000 people are injured every day in accidents involving distracted drivers. Crashes caused by distracted drivers can leave victims with extremely serious injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, severe soft tissue injuries, and even spinal cord injuries.
In many cases, those injured in distracted driving accidents miss weeks or months of work, incur substantial medical bills, and experience significant physical and emotional pain and suffering. Fortunately, in many cases, victims can receive compensation for these and other losses under Connecticut law. To learn whether you have a case, call Polito & Harrington for a free consultation today.
Different Types of Distracted Driving
The CDC breaks down driver distractions into three main categories. These are as follows:
- Visual Distractions – Anything that takes a driver’s eyes off of the road ahead is a visual distraction.
- Manual Distractions – Manual distractions involve activities that require a driver to remove his or her hands from the wheel.
- Cognitive Distractions – Anything that causes a driver to think about anything other than driving the vehicle is a cognitive distraction.
Some distractions can combine two or even all three of these categories of distraction, making them more dangerous than others. For example, when drivers text on a smartphone, they need to think about their texts, manipulate the devices with their hands, and look at their phones at the same time. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), texting doubles the chances that a driver will be involved in a crash or a near-crash incident.
Distracted Driving Can Take Many Forms
While texting and other smart phone use is certainly a dangerous type of driver distraction and one that has garnered significant attention from the media and state legislatures, a multitude of other things can distract drivers. Common ones include:
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Grooming Applying makeup Eating Drinking Reading |
Talking to passengers Looking at scenery Looking for items in the car Adjusting the radio Reading a map |
Even if there was no specific law against what a driver was doing at the time of an accident, distracted driving often leads to traffic violations and can itself usually be considered a form of negligence. As a result, people hurt by distracted drivers are usually able to obtain compensation for their injuries and other losses.
Call Polito & Harrington Today to Speak to a New London Distracted Driving Lawyer
Accidents caused by distracted driving typically entitle victims to compensation under Connecticut law. At Polito & Harrington, we are committed to helping our clients obtain compensation for all of their losses, including their medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. To schedule a free case evaluation with one of our Connecticut personal injury lawyers, call our office today at (860) 447-3300 or send us an email through our online contact form.