Monmouth County Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are often the result of a driver taking their eyes off the road, even if just for a second. Driving is such second nature to most people that they think nothing of allowing their attention to wander. But this attitude can prove costly to other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians who share the road with a distracted driver.
Indeed, distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in New Jersey. And if you have been injured due to such reckless behavior, you have the right to seek monetary compensation for your damages. The skilled Monmouth County distracted driving accident lawyers at Poulos LoPiccolo PC can help.
How Distractions Can Lead to Serious Accidents
“Distracted driving” is a broad term that refers to any behavior that causes a driver to take their attention away from the safe operation of their vehicle on a public roadway. Perhaps the most common form of distracted driving is using a smartphone to talk–or even text–while driving. This is actually illegal in New Jersey. The Garden State prohibits the use of any wireless telephone or electronic communications device while driving unless it is used in a “hands-free” mode.
But aside from texting while driving, there are many other seemingly innocuous behaviors that can lead to a distracted driving accident. Here are just a few examples:
- eating or drinking;
- personal grooming;
- adjusting a car stereo or entertainment system;
- turning around to talk to passengers in the back of the car; or
- reaching for an object below the seat or in the glove compartment.
While a distracted driver may not intend to cause an accident, they can nevertheless be held legally responsible if someone is injured due to their negligence. An accident victim can sue a distracted driver for a wide variety of economic and non-economic losses, including medical bills, lost income, and ongoing pain and suffering.
It is also critical to understand that distracted driving does not automatically prove a driver’s negligence. Proof of distraction can certainly go a long way to proving reckless or dangerous driving. But a defendant may argue that the plaintiff was also distracted or somehow contributed to the accident. New Jersey follows a “modified comparative fault” rule in personal injury cases. This means that if a plaintiff is found partly at-fault, that will reduce the amount of compensation owed by the defendant–and if the plaintiff is found more than 50 percent responsible, they recover nothing at all.
Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Serving Ocean, Monmouth & Middlesex County
It is not always obvious when an accident is the result of distracted driving. This is just one reason it is crucial to engage a skilled New Jersey distracted driving accident lawyer as soon as possible following a crash. The team at Poulos LoPiccolo PC can assist you by conducting a thorough investigation into your accident and determining all of the potential factors that led to your injuries. So if you need to speak with an attorney, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
