Northern California Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
Accidents Caused by Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving, or engaging in any non-driving activity while behind the wheel of a car, is a growing problem in the United States and has contributed to the tragic deaths of many innocent people. In 2009, statistics released by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System revealed 5,474 people were tragically killed and an estimated 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents reported to have involved a distracted driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a staggering 20 percent of crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.
Types of Driver Distraction
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are three main types of distraction: visual, manual and cognitive. A visual distraction takes a driver’s eyes off the road. A manual distraction takes a driver’s hands off the wheel and a cognitive distraction takes a driver’s mind off the road and the task at hand, safe driving. Some activities involve all three types of distraction, such as texting. Several studies have shown that texting can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In California, texting while driving is against the law. California Vehicle Code § 23123 (a) states, “ A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.”
Other types of driving distractions, include, but are not limited to:
- Talking on a cell phone
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Changing clothes
- Reading
- Using a navigation system
- Applying makeup
- Watching a video
- Changing a radio, CD or portable music player
- Looking for a dropped item on the floor
- Roaming pets.
Helping Seriously Injured Victims
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an auto accident you believe was caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to pursue monetary compensation from the at-fault driver. Before taking any legal action, we recommend you consult a skilled northern California car accident lawyer at Estey Bomberger. Frequently, our law firm will receive a call from a victim who realized too late the importance of hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer. We can prevent you from making a costly mistake, such as being pressured into signing an insurance company release form or into giving a recorded statement. Signed forms and misconstrued statements are often used against unsuspecting victims during the negotiations process. We will review any forms provided by an insurance company and will take over all talks with insurance representatives to ensure you are not denied your right to funds for medical expenses, lost wages, physical disability, mental anguish, impaired earning capacity and physical pain.
Contact a Northern California Distracted Driving Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
Because accidents can happen at anytime, the northern California distracted driving accident attorneys at Estey Bomberger offer free case reviews 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can contact our caring staff by phoning (800) 890-6722 or by submitting an online case consultation request form. Whether you call or email our knowledgeable northern California personal injury lawyers, you will not be charged a fee. We look forward to receiving your call or email and most importantly, look forward to helping you on the road to recovery.