Drivers who are are not focused on the road and what is going on around them are the cause of numerous auto collisions in Connecticut and elsewhere. Sadly, these car accidents result in quite a few injuries and deaths every year. Those who have been negatively affected by this type of behavior, including the surviving families of victims who lost their lives, may be entitled to legal recourse.
On average, nationally, nine people are killed every single day in auto accidents that are believed to be caused by distracted drivers. Another 1,153 individuals suffer injuries in such incidents. Over the course of the year, this adds up to a pretty significant number of people whose lives are forever changed due to others’ poor driving habits.
There are three basic types of distracted driving, which are visual, manual and cognitive distractions. Some forms of this behavior can actually fit into all three of these categories, such as texting. Texting takes a person’s eyes from the road, hands from the wheel and mind from the task at hand. While texting is certainly one of the main causes of distracted driving accidents, there are many other distractions that a driver may face, including:
- Talking on cell phone
- Use of other technologies
- Talking with passengers
- Eating
- Grooming
If car accidents are attributed to distracted driving, the driver believed responsible for the crash may be held accountable for any damages. Victims or — in the event of fatality — surviving family members may pursue civil claims in an effort to seek relief from their losses. Monetary judgments may be awarded if these claims are litigated successfully in a Connecticut civil court.
Source: cdc.gov, “Distracted Driving“, Accessed on Dec. 6, 2015
