Distracted driving-related car accidents can rob victims of their lives as they know them and may also result in death. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reports that there have been a total of 741 car accidents reported in Arizona that were likely caused by distracted driving. A representative from the Arizona Department of Public Safety notes that distracted driving includes any behavior that removes the driver’s attention and focus from the roadway.
Examples of distracted driving can include texting while driving, talking on the phone and eating while driving or operating a radio or air conditioning. There are generally 3 types of distracted driving including behaviors that remove the driver’s eyes from the roadway; behaviors that remove the driver’s hands from the steering wheel; and behaviors that remove the driver’s attention and focus from the roadway. Texting while driving is considered particularly lethal because it combines all three forms of distracted driving.
Though Arizona does not have a distracted driving law, city ordinances address some of the behaviors commonly associated with distracted driving including unsafe lane changes and use, speeding, driving too slow, impeding traffic, tailgating and failing to use a turn signal. Citations may be used as evidence that a driver was negligent in causing an accident. Victims of distracted driving-related car accidents may face unexpected damages including medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Personal injury legal protections are available to help protect victims of distracted driving-related car accidents and may help them recover compensation for the physical, financial and emotional harm suffered. As a result, it is important for victims to be familiar with their rights and how to pursue them when they have been harmed by a distracted driver.
Source: KTAR News, “Arizona marks 741 car crashes caused by distracted driving in 2017,” Griselda Zetino, April 18, 2017
