Distracted Driving Is a Major Problem in Stockton
Safety experts describe distracted driving behaviors as falling into one of three categories: visual, cognitive, and manual:
- Visual distractions are where a driver takes their eyes off the road, say to look at their smartphone or GPS navigation.
- Manual distractions involve the driver physically taking their hands off the wheel for any reason, such as eating food or replying to a text message.
- Cognitive distractions include any behavior, including unconscious behaviors daydreaming, that takes a driver’s mind off the task of driving itself.
In some cases, distracted driving is itself a violation of California traffic laws. State law forbids any adult driver from using their smartphones (or other mobile devices) to call or text while operating their vehicle on a public roadway unless they use a hands-free device. Drivers who are still minors cannot use their phones at all when driving.
Even without a traffic infraction, however, any form of distracted driving can still be considered negligent if the driver causes a car accident. Under California personal injury law, an accident victim need only prove the driver failed to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. So even if a driver was distracted for a split-second, that can be sufficient grounds to hold them civilly liable for an accident victim’s injuries.
Seeking Compensation for Distracted Driving in Stockton
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of preventable motor vehicle accidents in the Stockton area. As with any accident, California law allows the victims to seek compensation from the at-fault distracted driver. This compensation includes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages address measurable financial losses–medical bills, loss of income, et al.–while non-economic damages cover pain and suffering and other difficult-to-quantity losses.
Let Our Stockton Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Help
It is often not obvious that distracted driving was a direct or contributing factor to a car or truck accident. A qualified Stockton distracted driving lawyer can review the circumstances surrounding your own accident and conduct a full investigation to determine what role, if any, a diversion of the driver’s attention played in your injuries.
If you need to speak with a Stockton distracted driving lawyer, call Venardi Zurada LLP today at (833) 893-6763 to schedule a free confidential consultation.
