What You Need to Know About Las Vegas Distracted Driving
Driving through Las Vegas is a thrilling experience for residents and visitors alike. Bright lights, large casinos, the Bellagio water fountains, and many other attractions line the roads, making for a unique driving experience around the city. But while plenty of attractions are on the side of the road, there can be many distractions inside a car. Unfortunately, it’s common for drivers to be distracted in Las Vegas and around the country. Distracted drivers cause many different accidents, leading to injuries and even death. Let’s learn more about distracted driving in Las Vegas and what you can do if affected.
What is Distracted Driving?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies distracted driving as doing anything that diverts attention away from the road. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has broken distracted driving into three main types of distractions:
- Manual – Any act that causes the driver to take their hands off the wheel is manually distracted. This includes adjusting the stereo, texting, eating, or reaching for an item. Manual distractions prevent the driver from fully controlling the vehicle.
- Visual – When drivers take their eyes off the road, they are visually distracted. Actions such as reading a text message, looking at your GPS navigation system, or assisting a child in the backseat are examples of being visually distracted.
- Cognitive – A cognitive distraction is anything that takes your mind off the task of driving. This can be as simple as singing along to music, talking on the phone, or even being overly attentive to a passenger without paying attention to the road.
Some distracted driving combines all three distractions, such as texting or calling while driving. Cell phone use is commonly known as being one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving.
Common Examples of Distracted Driving
Driving through the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas can be distracting, and adding distracted driving to it can only cause problems. Some of the most common forms of Las Vegas distracted driving are sending a text message, placing a phone call, scrolling through social media, using an app, or any other type of phone use. You’re also considered distracted if you eat, drink, do makeup, or enter an address on your navigation system. Unfortunately, there are many ways to be distracted while driving. While operating a motor vehicle, drivers are legally obligated to pay attention to the road. Failure to do so risks causing an accident and being liable for negligence.
Have You Been Injured by a Distracted Driver in Las Vegas?
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers who use handheld devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Unfortunately, distracted driving is becoming increasingly more common. As more drivers drive distracted, the chances of injury due to another’s negligence are common. If the distracted driving of another person has injured you, you may have the option of filing a personal injury claim to cover any expenses that may have incurred.
Consulting with an experienced Las Vegas law firm like Hennes & Haight will help you determine if you will have a case against the person who injured you.
How Much Can You Get for a Distracted Driving Claim?
Victims of distracted driving crashes often find themselves with substantial medical expenses because of the extent of their injuries. In many cases, the victims also cannot work due to their injuries, which means they have lost wages. Being a victim of a distracted driver can be an overwhelming experience, and you may not know how much your case is worth.
An experienced lawyer will help you determine what you can recover by considering any medical bills, future medical expenses, lost income, reduced capability of earning any income, loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, loss of consortium, property damages, and punitive damages.
Speak with Our Las Vegas Law Firm Today
Whether you’ve been injured by a distracted driver inside a personal vehicle, commercial vehicle, or semi-truck, our accident attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve. For more than 23 years, our attorneys have been tackling Las Vegas distracted driving cases and much more. Learn more about Las Vegas distracted driving. We operate on a contingency basis, meaning we won’t get paid unless you do. Help is here—contact us for your free case evaluation today!