New York City Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
It seems like the more technology that exists to make our lives easier, the more complicated it actually becomes. Just consider your typical daily commuter in New York City. How many times have you seen a driver looking at their phone, eating breakfast, or just chatting with their passengers instead of keeping their full attention on the road?
Distracted driving is particularly dangerous because it only takes a split-second to cause a serious accident. Indeed, New York City officials estimated about 30 percent of all motor vehicle accidents in the five boroughs are the result of distracted driving. If you have been the victim of one of these accidents, the offices of Michael Gunzburg, P.C., can help. Our New York City distracted driving accident lawyer has 37 years of experience in building–and winning–personal injury claims on behalf of accident victims.
What Is Considered “Distracted Driving” in New York City?
Distracted driving is a broad term that encompasses three broad categories of behaviors that divert a driver’s attention:
- Cognitive Distractions: The driver is mentally distracted because they are thinking about something other than driving.
- Visual Distractions: The driver takes their eyes off of the road to look at something else.
- Manual Distractions: The driver physically removes one or both hands from the steering wheel.
Some distracted driving behaviors, such as texting while driving, cover all three categories. Some other examples of distracted driving include:
- talking with friends on the phone or who are in the car;
- changing the radio station;
- singing along to music;
- fidgeting with the air conditioning or other controls unrelated to steering;
- eating or drinking;
- looking in the mirror; or
- reading a map or looking at a GPS.
The important thing to remember is that distracted driving is negligent. It may not draw the same criminal penalties as drunk driving, but it is often more likely to lead to a serious accident. A skilled New York City distracted driving lawyer can help a victim determine whether distracted driving was an underlying cause of an accident. Our team can subpoena a driver’s cell phone records, review any available surveillance footage, and even work with accident reconstruction experts to identify what distractions, if any, took the driver’s attention off the road in the seconds before a crash.
Let Our New York City Distracted Driving Lawyers Help You Today
New York is a no-fault state. So in most car accident cases, your own insurance company must pay for your medical bills and other out-of-pocket losses following a crash, even one caused by a distracted driver. But if you sustained a serious injury, you are no longer restricted by the no-fault rules and may sue the distracted driver for additional damages, including compensation for your ongoing pain and suffering.
It is therefore best to speak with a qualified New York City distracted driving lawyer who can review your case and advise of your options. Call the offices of Michael Gunzburg, P.C., today at 212-725-8500 to schedule a free initial consultation.
