Distracted Driving Accidents

One of the biggest dangers for Boston drivers and pedestrians is distracted driving. There are many types of conduct that could constitute distracted driving, but a large proportion of these situations involve cell phone usage behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that almost 4,000 people died as a result of distracted driving accidents during 2015, and nearly 400,000 suffered injuries. Although these are national statistics, they directly impact Boston residents. The dangers of distracted driving are even greater in bustling cities with heavy traffic and busy crowds of pedestrians. The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein and Affiliates P.C. have handled many different types of distracted driving cases. Our Boston car accident lawyer knows how to investigate this type of crash to establish that the driver was acting negligently behind the wheel. Contact us today to start learning more about your legal rights.

There are many different activities that qualify as distracted driving, such as eating, talking with passengers excessively, reading, grooming, adjusting the radio, or using one’s cell phone. This includes many different types of cell phone related tasks like perusing social media, emailing, texting, or taking calls. A University of Utah study concluded that using a cell phone while you are driving can reduce your reaction time to the same degree as if you were driving over the legal intoxication limit of 0.08 percent. Despite this, many drivers continue to use cell phones behind the wheel believing that it has zero impact on their ability to drive safely. The dangers involved with using a cell phone behind the wheel increase when there is inclement weather, heavy traffic, or construction. Although Massachusetts prohibited texting and driving in 2010, it has still been an issue with police departments issuing over 18,000 tickets since the law was enacted through April 2016.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle crash, it is important that you explore your legal rights as soon as possible, including speaking with a personal injury attorney about your case and options. To recover compensation, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant was not using reasonable care and skill behind the wheel at the time of the crash and that this caused you to suffer injuries. Distracted driving is often considered a form of negligent driving because a reasonable and prudent driver would keep his or her eyes on the road. After showing that the defendant driver failed to exercise reasonable care, the plaintiff must prove that there is a sufficient causal connection between the crash and his or her injuries. In other words, the plaintiff must show that he or she would not have become injured but for the defendant’s distracted driving activity. When it comes to damages, the plaintiff can recover compensation for a variety of expenses including past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and more. A seasoned personal injury attorney can help you seek the full amount of compensation that you deserve.

Whether you have suffered minor injuries or devastating conditions that will impact the rest of your life in a distracted driving accident, you deserve compassionate and dedicated legal counsel. We ensure that each client receives personal attention and timely responses throughout the legal process. We are available to assist car accident victims and their families in areas around Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, Waltham, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Dedham, Norwood, Brookline, and Peabody. To schedule your free consultation call us at 1-800-262-9200 or contact us online.