Distracted Driving Accidents in San Diego
Distracted driving accidents are increasingly common, resulting in over 3,000 deaths nationally every year, and over 400,000 people are injured annually according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If you’ve been involved in a distracted driving accident, it’s paramount to discuss your situation with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney immediately. Whether you’re the victim of distracted driving accidents or whether you may have caused one, Keith J. Stone is ready to handle your case with his knowledge and expertise in California distracted driving law.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Keith J. Stone handles dozens of distracted driving accident cases each year in California. Common distracted driving accidents include:
- Wiping something off of the dashboard or windshield
- Swatting at a bug
- Combing hair or applying makeup
- Reaching for an object in the glove compartment
- Trying to get something that has fallen on the floor of the vehicle
- Reading and writing
- Managing the radio or other display settings on the vehicle
- Eating or drinking
- Texting while driving
- Daydreaming or simply not paying attention
- Paying attention to storefronts, billboards, or pedestrians outside of the vehicle
- Pets roaming about the car
- Smoking, lighting, and extinguishing cigarettes while driving
- Speaking to passengers who are also in the car or managing children in the vehicle
Injuries in Distracted Driving Accidents
Some injuries caused by distracted driving only affect the driver, such as crashing into a telephone pole on an empty road. However, many distracted driving accidents are more serious, causing death or injury to pedestrians and other drivers.
Fifteen percent of injury crashes, fifteen percent of crashes reported by police, and nine percent of crashes resulting in a fatality originate from distracted driving.
Because distracted drivers often don’t see an obstacle before it’s too late, they can do a lot of unintentional damage. For example, they could incur property damage by driving into a storefront; they could cause whiplash by rear-ending a car stopped in front of them. Worst of all, a distracted driver can veer into oncoming traffic, causing an unmitigated head-on, fatal collision.
Many distracted driving accidents result in hospitalization or even death. This causes pain, injury, suffering, loss of wages, and substantial emotional grief for the victim of a distracted driving accident. There are many, many expenses to account for when it comes to distracted driving, and no amount of money can return someone to their family if they have passed away as a result of a distracted driver.
Compensations and Penalties
California distracted driving law classified distracted driving as negligence, which means anyone harmed in a distracted driving accident may seek compensation from the driver at fault. Privately, your insurance may also provide you with a penalty or fine if you are issued any sort of citation for distracted driving, even if it did not result in an accident. If you’re caught with a texting ticket, you could see an increase in your insurance premiums from 12-45 percent in the state of California.
Whether you’ve become the victim of a distracted driver or whether you simply made a mistake as a distracted driver, Keith J. Stone can help. Your case will involve dealing with auto insurance, police tickets and reports, reviewing 911 calls, consolidating medical bills, and corresponding with the other party involved, all while managing day-to-day activities which may also involve recovery from serious injury or loss of a loved one. Rely on a trusted San Diego personal injury lawyer, Keith J. Stone to handle your case with compassion, care, and concern.
