Personal Injury Law

Texting While Driving Deaths Continue to Rise in New York

Distracted driving can be defined as any non-driving activity that a person engages in, which has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving. Needless to say, distracted driving can increase the risk of a car accident in Long Island and throughout the state of New York. Distracted driving not only puts the driver in danger, but also endangers the lives of other drivers and pedestrians on the roadway. There are three main types of distraction: visual (focusing your eyes on something other than the road); manual (removing your hands from the wheel); and cognitive (taking your mind off what you're doing). All the above distractions are dangerous. But texting is the most hazardous because it involves all of these three types of distractions.

So far, eight young people from Western New York have lost their lives in car accidents involving texting-and-driving, according to a report in Buffalo News. In New York, although texting while driving is banned, a police officer cannot stop someone primarily for that offense under state law. Texting and driving is what is known as a "secondary offense," meaning that a driver can be penalized only after having been stopped for a primary offense such as speeding or going through a red light.

It is important to understand that distracted driving is negligent driving. If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver in New York, please contact an experienced NY accident lawyer at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro LLP for a free consultation. As an injury victim, you could seek compensation to cover injuries, damages and losses. Call 212-986-7353 to find out how we can help.

Full post as published by New York Injury Talk Blog on May 14, 2010 (boomark / email).