Distracted drivers and your rights in New York

Distracted driving is becoming an increasingly serious problem on roads and highways throughout the United States. With the increase in digital technology, drivers are turning more to their cell phones while driving instead of paying attention to the road. 

The unfortunate result to this increase in distracted driving is an increase in vehicle accidents. These drivers can easily cause serious harm and injury when they cause vehicle accidents due to their distracted driving. Whether you have simply witnessed distracted driving or have actually suffered an injury because of a crash with a distracted driver, you should know your rights under New York state law. 

Distracted driving in New York

New York takes the problem of distracted driving seriously. In April 2017, the state government stepped up patrols on distracted driving as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In fact, the state saw a 918 percent increase between 2011-2016 in tickets for texting while driving.

This is just one example of how New York is making it a priority to reduce and deter distracted driving. Governor Cuomo, in the cited article, said distracted driving is “dangerous and illegal,” and stepped up law enforcement patrols to combat the problem.

If a distracted driver hits you

With nearly 660,000 drivers using cell phones or other devices at any given moment during the day, the risk that a distracted driver could hit you and cause an accident is higher than you may think. Distracted drivers can cause crashes with other vehicles, bicycles or even pedestrians.

If a distracted driver hits you from not paying attention to the road, you have rights under the law. Especially if you suffer a personal injury, you are likely to have significant medical bills and potentially lost wages due to time off work. In short, the financial damage can be significant, not to mention the physical and psychological suffering. 

You do not have to face the fight for compensation after a crash with a distracted driver by yourself. You can consult with a qualified New York personal injury attorney who understands the laws surrounding distracted driving. A lawyer can assist you in understanding your case and your rights under the law, as well as help you determine whether you have a case.