Distracted Driving Car Accidents

Rhode Island law bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Even though this distracted driving law has been in effect since 2011, Rhode Island State Troopers report the number of citations given out in 2016 nearly doubled since 2015.This shows an augmented effort being put forth by Rhode Island to decrease distracted driving accidents in Bristol and beyond. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1,000 people are injured in U.S. distracted driving accidents per day. Attorney David Tapalian is a Bristol distracted driving accident lawyer helping those injured in distracted driving crashes recover compensation for their injuries.

Distracted driving is the act of driving while engaging in another activity- such as texting, using a cell phone, changing the radio station, applying makeup, eating, drinking, or talking with passengers. It can be any activity, or distraction, that takes the drivers attention away from the road. Distracted driving is a serious problem not just in Bristol, Rhode Island but all over the United States, and is a frequent cause of car crashes. Distracted driving is a grave concern for motorists as we can’t avoid being on the road to commute to work, pick up groceries, drop the kids off to activities, and run errands. We must share the road with vehicle operators who are texting and using their phones and the more time we spend in the car, the higher the risk of getting injured in a car crash. The Bristol distracted driving lawyers at Tapalian Law know how serious the injuries can be in a car accident and the life-long repercussions they can have on the injured and their families.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) reports that close to 3,500 lives were lost in 2015 due to distracted driving accidents. Clearly, texting or using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, even fatal. Although texting while driving is banned in Rhode Island and many other states, it still occurs and is considered one of the top concerns of drivers on the road. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Culture Index shows that over 80% of drivers consider distracted driving a serious problem and an issue that makes them feel less safe on the road. The AAA research discovered that distraction “latency” lasts approximately 27 seconds. This means that even after the distraction ceases, the driver puts down the phone or stops fiddling with the radio station, the driver is still not fully engaged with the task of driving. As a Bristol personal injury lawyer, Attorney David Tapalian knows how abruptly a collision can happen. For example, just reading or sending a text takes approximately 5 seconds. This is about equal to driving the length of a football field at 55mph with your eyes closed. These results can be fatal or cause severe injuries if a crash ensues.

If you, or a loved one, have been hurt in a car crash, seek out the guidance of a skilled Bristol injury attorney for help with your auto accident. An experienced lawyer like David Tapalian can help victims who are injured by a distracted driver seek compensation for their damages. As vehicle operators, we are required to drive with a “duty of care”, which means following Rhode Island traffic laws and operating our vehicles so as not to cause harm to another. However, sometimes drivers breach this duty of care and cause an accident resulting in injury to others on the road. Victims of car crashes may miss work and experience a financial set back due to the loss or decrease in wages as well as unexpected hospital bills, medical expenses, and other related costs they would not have incurred if they had not been injured in a crash caused by another driver. If a family member has been killed due to the fault of a distracted driver, certain members of the family may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. No amount of money can ever return a loved one to their family. Seeking compensation for their loss however, may assist the family with burial costs, and living expenses after their loss. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of a personal injury attorney for your Bristol, Rhode Island auto accident. At Tapalian Law, we offer a free consultation. We only get paid if, and when, you are awarded damages for your accident case. Call us today at 401-552-5000 or reach us online, and let us begin helping you today.