Accidents Due to Distracted Drivers

Distracted drivers often fail to notice when traffic is slowing down or stopping, resulting in collisions on a regular basis. Drivers who are not paying attention also commonly miss people who are walking, jogging, or cycling, and can cause deadly, often tragic injuries.

The United States saw more pedestrian deaths in 2018 than it had in the past 30 years. 6,227 people died across the country, with 83 of those happening in New Mexico. Experts have stated that an increase in smartphone usage and distractions is a major contributor to the rising number of pedestrian deaths, and that the thousands of automobile collisions caused today are due to a distracted driver.

Injuries Caused by a Distracted Driver

People walking do not have seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, roll bars, or other safety features of cars and trucks. They do not even have helmets like a motorcyclist or bicyclist might wear. Instead, pedestrians are generally vulnerable from head to toe in a traffic collision, which means they can suffer a wide range of traumatic injuries, including being struck by a rig, truck, tractor trailer. All of these can cause catastrophic injury to the victim. Some common injuries to pedestrians include the following:

● Broken, crushed, or shattered bones

● Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

● Spinal cord injury

● Neck and back injuries

● Compound fractures

● Internal organ damage

● Loss of limb or amputations

To make matters worse, pedestrian accidents often involve multiple impacts. For example, a car may hit a pedestrian’s legs, which them throws the pedestrian over the vehicle, causing them to hit their back and shoulder, and then they land on the ground, causing severe injuries. Distracted drivers may also cause you, the victim, to suffer compound leg fractures, a spinal cord injury, a dislocated and torn shoulder, and/or a severe traumatic brain injury all at once.

Because these injuries are often severe and disabling, and due to the high risk of multiple injuries, victims of distracted drivers face extensive losses after an accident. These losses can include ongoing medical expenses, lost earnings, permanent impairments, pain and suffering, and more.

Proving a Driver was Distracted

Proving a driver was distracted can be more difficult than you might think, especially because drivers generally will not openly admit they were texting or looking away from the road. Instead, at David C. Chavez Law Firm, we will conduct an extensive investigation to gather evidence to prove the driver’s negligence. Evidence of distraction may include:

● Witness reports

● Records that show text messages sent right before the crash

● Social media posts right before the crash

● Video surveillance footage showing the driver looking down

Call Now and Speak with an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in at The Law Firm of David C. Chavez at 505-865-9696

Consult with an experienced trial attorney who has collected millions for our clients. Call us now at 505-865-9696 or contact us online today.