NYC Distracted Driver Accident Lawyers

The phenomenon of distracted driving has become an epidemic, largely due to the wide adoption of cell phones and smartphones. Illustrating this disturbing trend, there was a 918% increase in tickets for texting while driving between 2011 and 2016 in New York State, according to data released by the Governor’s office.

Far too many people have been injured as a result of blatantly irresponsible driving behavior, such as texting while driving. If you have been hurt as a result of an accident caused by a distracted driver, the law firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy can help. Our attorneys have one of the top records in litigating distracted driving injury cases, and have recovered over $1.5 billion for our clients in total. Results include:

• $6,000,000 settlement for the passenger of a bus which was hit by a flatbed truck whose operator was speaking on his cell phone in Brooklyn
• $2,500,000 settlement after the operator of a tractor trailer, who was busy looking for paperwork in the cab of his vehicle, rear-ended another motorist in the Bronx
• $2,500,000 settlement for a woman who suffered a displaced right femur after being struck by a truck driver who was busy talking on his cell phone

Block O’Toole & Murphy has won hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of motor vehicle accidents, including results of $32 million, $22 million, and $20 million. Call 212-736-5300 or contact us online to receive a free legal consultation.

What Constitutes Distracted Driving?

For the majority of people, driving is the most dangerous thing you will ever do. The average car weighs about 4,000 pounds and can reach upwards of 100 mph, which means that every time you step behind the wheel, you are operating a weapon with the power to take somebody’s life away from them.

Driving requires your absolute attention and concentration, and anything that dilutes your focus from the road can constitute distracted driving. The New York State Government says that distractions can be personal, external or internal.

Personal distractions encompass things that a driver does that take their attention off the road. This includes mental states such as daydreaming, being impaired on drugs or alcohol or suffering from excessive fatigue. It also includes activities which no driver should ever partake in, such as:

• Texting or making a phone call
• Interacting with a GPS system
• Looking at an iPod or iPad
• Reading a map or newspaper
• Applying makeup
• Eating or drinking
• Reaching for something inside the vehicle
• Turning around to speak with someone in the back seat

Internal distractions refer to distractions that occur inside your vehicle. This could involve talking or fighting with a passenger, or petting a dog in your back seat. It also involves objects inside the vehicle, which would encompass, searching for your GPS in the center console or trying to throw away garbage in a plastic bag on the floor.

External distractions refer to distractions outside your vehicle, such as loud music, inclement weather, bad road conditions or even the scenery. You can only control your own actions, and when you are behind the wheel, that means paying attention to the road and possible hazards that may arise, as well as always driving defensively.

Statistics of Distracted Driving Injuries and Fatalities

The cost of distracted driving is obvious- it only takes one second of lapsed attention to cause an accident and ruin somebody’s life forever. There are ample stats which demonstrate the significant toll distracted driving has taken on the state of New York, and why it is so crucial that New Yorkers everywhere make an effort to stop it.

In New York alone, 160 people were killed and 33,000 more were injured in crashes where “driver inattention/distraction” was listed as a contributing factor in 2015, according to a study done by the Institute of Traffic Safety Management and Research. In that same year, 21% of all crashes which resulted in death or personal injury were caused by driver inattention/distraction.

These alarming local statistics echo nationwide trends. In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 391,000 people were injured due to distracted driving; in 2016, 3,450 people were killed due to this same reckless behavior.

The NHTSA offers an example to illustrate why distracted driving is so dangerous and unforgivable. On average, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds; at 55 mph, that’s equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

Contact an Auto Injury Attorney Today

Suffering a catastrophic injury at the hands of a negligent, distracted driver is a traumatic, life-changing experience. If you have been injured by distracted driving, an experienced car accident attorney can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

The injury attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have experience and a long history of top results in auto accident cases. If you or a loved one were harmed in a distracted driver accident, we are here to help you. Receive a free case review by calling 212-736-5300 or filling out our online contact form.

Serving all New York State including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Yonkers and Syracuse.