Islip Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Distracted driving is one of the greatest dangers to safety on the roadways today. According to the New York State Police, driver distraction is the number one cause of injury-related collisions in the state. It can occur any time a driver performs another activity while driving, though texting is one of the most common offenses.

When you suffer injuries in a distracted driving collision, you will need to find sufficient evidence that shows the other driver became distracted behind the wheel, leading to your collision.

Reach out to a distracted driving accident lawyer in Islip if you need legal guidance to build your claim or case in Suffolk County, New York. The team at Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. is ready to take your call at (631) 451-7900.

Distracted Driving Behaviors

Multiple actions can fall under distracted driving, whether it is taking your eyes off the road or just letting your attention wander. Even just taking your hands off the wheel to grab an item from the back seat can be enough to distract you from driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to these as visual, cognitive, and manual distractions, respectively. Examples of common distracted driving behaviors include:

• Texting
• Eating and drinking
• Moving or searching for items
• Adjusting a navigational or sound system
• Talking on a cellphone or with passengers
• Interacting with young children in the back seat

The use of electronic devices, such as cellphones, has become one of the most notable causes of distracted driving. It has led many states to enact laws that prohibit texting while driving, or the use of handheld devices entirely. New York is no exception, having banned the use of handheld electronics while driving in 2001.

Yet, according to the CDC, even the use of hands-free devices is not entirely risk-free. If a driver’s full attention is not on the road, it can lead to critical mistakes with fatal consequences.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Many drivers fail to realize how far their vehicles can travel in the time it takes to glance at a text message. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the five seconds it takes to read a text, a vehicle traveling at 55 miles per hour could cross an entire football field.

Within that time, a wide variety of events can occur that can lead to a collision with another vehicle, pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist. For example, a driver may fail to notice vehicles slowing down up ahead and rear-end the driver in front of them.

Distracted driving collisions can be especially devastating because the driver who causes the collision often does not have enough time to slow down or take defensive measures. The speed at which a collision occurs has great effects on the severity of injuries and fatality rates, with faster speeds causing significantly more damage.

If you experienced a collision and believe another party’s distracted driving played a role, consider contacting a distracted driving accident lawyer in Islip with Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. We offer free consultations on personal injury cases, so call (631) 451-7900 to schedule yours today.

Proving a Distracted Driving Claim

Since distracted driving behaviors happen inside of the negligent party’s vehicle, it can be difficult to pinpoint distracted driving as a factor. Unless the driver readily admits to driving while distracted, you will need to collect evidence to support your claim. Examples of relevant evidence in a distracted driving case include:

• Video or images taken from traffic cameras
• Time stamps from texts or calls on the negligent party’s cellphone
• Testimony from law enforcement officers at the scene
• Eyewitness testimony

Proving that the driver involved in your collision was distracted is important, because it can help determine fault. While it may not be the main reason your collision occurred, your attorney can argue that it played a significant enough role to hold the driver liable for your injuries and losses.

Seeking Compensation

Determining the at-fault party for a collision is the first step toward recovering damages. Once you prove this, a lawyer can help you calculate the value of your losses and injuries to determine a fair settlement. This value is what you will need to present to the insurance company with your claim.

After examining your claim, the insurance company will offer a settlement. If this offer does not account for all of your injuries and losses, you can attempt to negotiate for a better settlement. If you are unable to do so, you may choose to take your case to trial.

Whether you are hoping to settle, or you need to prepare for a trial, hiring a legal team for your distracted driving collision case can be beneficial. You will not have to investigate the case or negotiate for a fair settlement on your own, which can take some pressure off of you while you recover from any injuries you suffered.

Get Help from a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer in Islip

You do not have to shoulder the burden of your collision alone. If you believe another driver’s distracted driving behaviors caused your injury or losses in a collision, you deserve just compensation. An attorney may be able to help you secure relevant evidence, prepare your claim, negotiate a settlement offer, and fight for you in a trial when necessary.

Contact Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. if you suffered in a distracted driving collision in Islip or elsewhere in Suffolk County. Our team will schedule your free consultation today when you call (631) 451-7900. We can even assist in Spanish if needed.