New Jersey motor vehicle accidents and distracted driving laws

April 05, 2014 (Press-News.org) New Jersey motor vehicle accidents and distracted driving laws

Article provided by The Maglione Firm, P.C.
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Distracted driving remains a leading cause of accidents in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that over nine people are killed every day by a distracted driver and an additional 1,060 victims are injured. There are a wide range of activities that can fall into the category of "distractions," but the top distractions that contribute to motor vehicle accidents include:

-Texting. Reading, writing or sending a text takes a driver's focus off the road for a longer period of time than other forms of distraction. The FCC, or Federal Communications Commission, reports 11 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 who were involved in a crash admitted to sending or receiving a text at the time of the accident. This and other sobering statistics connecting texting and driving to an increased risk of involvement in a crash has prompted the FCC to push an "On the road, off the phone" campaign. The campaign is aimed at teens and is designed to encourage young adults to refrain from using their phones while driving.

-Talking on a cellphone. The CDC reports that almost 70 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 admit to talking on the cellphone while driving. According to a recent article in The Washington Post, talking on a cellphone leads to impairments similar to those found in drunk drivers.

-Navigation systems. These devices are designed to help drivers safely reach their destinations, but a driver who takes his or her eyes off the road to adjust the information in a GPS or other navigational system can increase the risk of involvement in an accident.

Although these dangers are well known, the numbers of accidents connected to these practices continues to rise. The Boston Globe recently reported that 3,267 people died in distracted driving accident in 2010 while 3,331 were killed in the same type of accidents in 2011.

It is also important to note that these are only some of the forms of distraction that can contribute to an accident. Eating while driving or attempting to discipline children in the backseat can also lead to crashes.

Distracted driving in New Jersey: Remedies available for victims

It is illegal for drivers in New Jersey to talk on a handheld phone or to text while operating a vehicle. Those who violate this law and cause injury to another can be held liable for their actions. This can lead to compensation for the victim to help cover the high cost of medical and rehabilitative care. Those injured in these accidents should contact an experienced New Jersey car accident injury attorney to better ensure their legal rights and remedies are protected.