Nowadays the overwhelming majority of drivers own cell phones. Cell phones have changed significantly over the past two decades. While cell phones once were used only as phones, now most cell phones are used for much more than making and receiving calls. Cell phones have features that allow users to send and receive text messages, email messages, and chats. Users can also use social media, search the internet, shop, and perform countless of other activities using apps. Text messaging, however, is the most common cell phone activity. According to the Pew Research Institute, over 188 billion text messages are sent each month in the U.S. It is not surprising that most drivers at one time or another have texted while behind the wheel. Thousands of people are seriously injured or die each year in cell phone accidents. The victims of such accidents often suffer painful, devastating injuries with recovery times of weeks, months and even years. Such injuries may include a brain injury, contusions, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, paralysis, or spinal cord injury. If you were injured in an car accident caused by distracted driving, contact an experienced Queens texting accidents lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates who can help you hold the negligent person legally and financially accountable for your losses.
Texting and DrivingTexting and driving refers to using an electronic device while driving. "Texting" refers to not only send a text message. It also means sending or reading emails, chats, using social medial, taking selfies, or surfing the internet. When using an electronic device the driver's eyes are not focused on the road. A few seconds of averting eyes from the road can lead to a collision.
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1125-d it is against the law to drive while texting, using a laptop, pager, electronic game, tablet or any other portable electronic device. This means that if a driver is caught texting while driving, that driver will be fined. However, if the driver is texting while driving and as a result causes an accident, the consequences to the driver may include civil liability to the injured victim. Contact an experienced Queens texting accidents lawyer to discuss your case.
Consequences of Texted While DrivingIf a driver is not paying attention to road and instead is looking down at his or her phone, there is a good chance that that driver will cause an accident leaving another person with serious injuries. If you are injured by a distracted driver, your injuries may include soft tissue injuries such as injuries to your muscles, tendons or ligaments, scrapes and cuts, broken bones, and injuries to your head, back and neck. Serious injuries could result in extensive, expensive treatment. You may miss time at work. If you have permanent injuries, you may not be able to return to the same job that you had prior to the accident, or you may not be able to return to work at all. However, the law allows you to sue the party whose negligence caused your injuries and recover compensation for your losses. Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to recover compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. In addition if your property was damaged in the accident, you can sue to recover compensation to repair or replace the property. If a family member died in the accident, contact a texting accidents attorney in Queens to discuss recovering damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesA personal injury lawsuit against the distracted driver who was responsible for your losses will not only allow you to hold that person accountable for his or her negligent acts but will also provide you and your family with needed financial relief to help with the mounting medical expenses. To ensure that your rights are protected it is important that you are represented by someone with experience representing victims of car accidents. Stephen Bilkis & Associates has extensive experience representing clients who were seriously injured in vehicle accidents caused by another person’s negligent behavior. Contact an experienced testing accidents attorney serving Queens at Stephen Bilkis & Associates at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident. We serve injured victims in the following locations: Queens, Westchester County, Suffolk County, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, and Nassau County.