Hartford Attorney Represents Victims of Distracted Drivers
Distracted drivers, defined as any driver who becomes distracted while operating a motor vehicle, are now one of the leading causes of automobile accidents in the United States. Distracted drivers cause injuries to more than a thousand people every day and are among the top causes of fatal car accidents. There are three ways a driver can be distracted:
- Visual – A driver who takes his eyes off the road is considered to be visually distracted.
- Cognitive – A driver whose attention is not 100% focused on safely operating his motor vehicle is considered to be cognitively distracted.
- Manual – A driver whose body is not properly engaged in the act of driving, such as a driver who has taken his hands off the steering wheel, is considered to be manually distracted.
At the Law Offices of Andrew J. Cates, LLC, our Hartford motor vehicle accident lawyer represents victims of distracted drivers. Attorney Cates will evaluate your case for free and will represent you on a contingent fee basis – no recovery, no fee. If you were injured by a distracted driver in Connecticut, please call us today toll free at (800) 330-4988 or (860) 522-7044, or contact us online.
Distracted Driver Caused Accidents
When you are driving, even the slightest distraction has the ability to lead to a major collision. For this reason, it is important that drivers obey all driving laws and make safety their primary concern. There are numerous causes of distracted driving, but following are a few of the most common ways that drivers become distracted, potentially causing injury to themselves and others:
- Cell phone usage while driving – Despite the fact that the national media continues to make us more aware of the dangers of texting and using our cell phones while driving, many Hartford residents continue to engage in this dangerous practice. Nationwide, thousands of teenage drivers have lost their lives due to texting or playing with their phones while behind the wheel.
- Taking your eyes off the road to look at GPS device – While GPS is a great tool to help us navigate to our destination without having to memorize a map, it is still important to make sure that you keep your eyes on the road while using a GPS device. Also, GPS systems are not always updated properly and may instruct you to go down a street that is no longer there, or to turn the wrong way down a one-way street. Though difficult, it is always best not to train your attention on the GPS while operating a motor vehicle.
Not using a proper GPS car mount is another dangerous practice, which can also lead to a serious car crash. Obviously, every time a driver takes his eyes off the road he is in danger of causing a major accident. A driver who chooses to use a GPS system should use it with a proper car mount so that he can keep his eyes on the road.
- Playing loud music while driving. Everyone likes to listen to music in their vehicles from time to time, but it becomes dangerous when your music hinders your ability to hear sounds outside your car. Emergency vehicles use horns and sirens to alert drivers of dangerous situations. If your music is too loud you may not be able to hear these warnings, which can result in a major collision.
While most Connecticut drivers put safety first and try their best to obey all traffic laws, some drivers allow themselves to become distracted, and put others’ lives at risk. If you or your loved one has been in an accident due to the negligence of a distracted driver in Connecticut, please contact our office today. Our Hartford attorney will answer all your questions and represent you in lawsuits involving distracted driver caused accidents. Call our office today toll free at (800) 330-4988 or (860) 522-7044, or contact us online.