More than 15% of all young people admit to texting and driving. Of course, Buffalo car accident lawyers know that this statistic only includes people aged 18 to 24 who admit to texting and driving. This number doesn’t include the number of people who deny ever doing it or any other forms of distracted driving. A lot of people don’t like to admit that they ever do something illegal. And most drivers understand that it’s against the law in New York to text and drive. Almost half of all drivers surveyed said that they knew it was illegal to text while behind the wheel of a car.
Yet, despite the fact that only 15% of drivers admitted to doing it, texting and driving account for at least 14% of all traffic fatalities. Some people may look at this number and say it makes perfect sense. The same number of people admit to texting and driving as the percentage of people who are killed in texting and driving accidents. However, when it comes to distracted driving in general, the numbers are even scarier.
Texting and driving aren’t the only types of distracted driving. If you’re injured in any sort of car accident in Buffalo, make sure to call and talk to one of our skilled car accident lawyers right away.
What are the Most Common Causes of Distracted Driving in the U.S.?
It is true that a lot of people text and drive. Of, if they aren’t texting, they’ll still looking at their phone or fiddling with a digital device. The good news is that a lot of phones now have an app that lets you talk and text. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t still typing other information on their phones. Their phones shouldn’t even be out when they’re behind the wheel.
The other thing is that texting and driving isn’t the only type of distracted driving. Anything that takes your eyes off the road for more than a second can be dangerous or even deadly. To put this into perspective, when you take your eyes off the road for just a few seconds, it’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Your Buffalo car accident lawyer can tell you that the most common types of distracted driving includes the following things:
- Eating and drinking
- Fiddling with the radio
- Reading or searching for directions
- Talking to other passengers
- Grooming
- Daydreaming
- Watching other drivers on the road
Some of these may seem trivial. However, what most people don’t realize is that these last two may be the leading causes of dangerous car accidents. It’s hard to keep people from thinking about their day or problems they’re facing. It’s also impossible to prove this sort of thing. That’s what makes your Buffalo car accident lawyer’s job hard.
What is Distracted Driving So Dangerous Anyway?
One of the reasons distracted driving is so dangerous is that you don’t see it coming. If someone is speeding or tailgating, you can move into another lane. Or, if you see someone swerving in and out of lanes ahead of you, there’s the option of slowing down. But when someone is distracted, they could go from driving perfectly fine to being out of control. Driving a car blind is no different from flying a plane blind. People get hurt and even killed.
Your Buffalo car accident lawyer understands this. That’s why they’ll fight so hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
Can Your Buffalo Car Accident Lawyer Get You Compensation for Your Injuries?
If you are seriously injured in your New York car accident, you may be entitled to damages. This is the reason why you hire a Buffalo accident attorney in the first place. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to some or all of the following in Buffalo:
- medical bills – This includes current, past and future medical bills Your attorney will submit copies of any out of pocket expenses you incurred. They can also have your doctor testify as to what sort of future medical treatment you may need.
- Lose wages – If you miss more than a few weeks from work, you may be entitled to lost wages. Your Buffalo car accident lawyer will provide copies of your payroll records to demonstrate this sort of loss.
- Property Damage – Obviously, if your car is damaged or destroyed in the wreck, you can demand to be reimbursed.
If you aren’t sure what your case is worth, you should call and talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Buffalo. The initial consultation is free, and you don’t pay anything until your case is resolved.
