Kingston Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer
Texting while driving has rapidly become one of the biggest dangers on roads around the country. In fact, according to New York State traffic safety officials, distracted driving is the “number one contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes in the state.” Texting while driving is the most common, and among the most dangerous, form of driver distraction. In 2018 alone, there were over 1,200 traffic accidents in the State of New York directly connected to drivers using cell phones while driving.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt or killed in a texting while driving crash or other traffic accident anywhere in the Hudson Valley area, including Kingston, Marlboro and Ulster, contact a seasoned distracted driver accident attorney at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, for a consultation with one of our attorneys. We will pursue your claims against any and all parties who should be responsible for compensating you and your family for your injuries, your pain and suffering, your medical expenses, and other legal damages.
The Dangers of Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is considered one of the most dangerous driver distractions. Texting is so dangerous because it combines the elements of all forms of driver distraction, greatly reducing a driver’s ability to respond to the unexpected on the road and greatly increasing the chances of an accident.
Safety experts group driver distractions into three categories: visual, manual, and cognitive. Texting while driving, or otherwise engaging with a smartphone, triggers all three: The driver is visually distracted because their eyes are on their phone, instead of on the road; the driver is cognitively distracted because their intention is focused on the conversation, instead of on the task of driving; and the driver is manually distracted, because their hands are on the phone, instead of on the wheel.
Safety officials estimate that it takes around five seconds to read and respond to a text on average. If the driver is traveling at 55 mph, a low estimate for freeway driving, the driver’s car will travel upwards of 300 feet during the text–that’s the length of a football field, while the driver is essentially blind to the road with their hands off the wheel.
Texting while driving is dangerous, and drivers who cause an accident because they were texting should be held accountable for any harm they cause. A dedicated New York car accident lawyer can help you hold negligent and reckless drivers accountable for the devastation they cause you and your family.
Recovering Compensation After a Distracted Driving Accident
If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident due to a driver’s texting, you have the right to seek compensation. The car crash attorneys at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP will help you maximize your recovery, seeking all available damages. Depending upon the nature of your injuries, you could be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills, including past costs and anticipated future costs
- Lost wages due to time spent in recovery
- Anticipated loss of future wages due to temporary or permanent disability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death
If the defendant’s conduct was especially egregious, you might even be able to recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded on top of “compensatory damages” and are meant to punish a defendant for particularly wrongful conduct. Talk to a seasoned car crash attorney to find out what damages you may be able to collect in your case.
Contact Dedicated Kingston Car Crash Lawyers
The car accident injury legal team at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, is ready to help you pursue your claims for damages after a Kingston traffic accident. We strive to be responsive, communicating with clients about developments in their cases and helping clients recover for their medical bills, property damage and all aspects of the automobile accident. We ensure that our representation is tailored to the needs of our clients, and no one falls through the cracks. Our number one priority is securing the compensation that our clients deserve after a serious car accident.
If you were hurt in a distracted driving crash in the Hudson Valley, contact our Ulster County auto accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation at our offices in Kingston (8450331-4100) or Marlboro (845-236-4411). Evening and weekend appointments are available, including home and hospital visits.
