Multitasking is a skill that’s best left for when you’re not behind the wheel of an automobile. While that may seem like an unnecessary statement, statistics and recent law changes indicate that, at least for the time being, drivers are in need of that reminder. Distracted driving incidents have more than doubled across the province of Ontario in the last 15 years. It’s even been estimated that every 30 minutes, one person is injured directly because of distracted driving. There’s no other way to put it: distracted driving is dangerous driving.
Distractions come in many forms. Mostly, distracted driving is associated with cell phone use which has exponentially increased since the beginning of the 2000’s. More so than ever, without a sign of slowing down, phones are becoming increasingly attached to their users. They’ve become almost an additional appendage.
While that causes issues on the road, there are other ways to be distracted. Eating, applying makeup, rocking out to your favourite song – these are all ways you can lose focus of the task at hand. Your job is to get yourself from Point A to Point B safely. In the process you’re responsible for the safety of other drivers and pedestrians. If a driver chooses to spend his/her time on the road doing other things and causing their own distraction, then punishment by law is a definite possibility.
What Kind of Charges Can Distracted Drivers Face?
If you are deemed as driving while distracted, whether causing an injury or not, the penalties can be immense. Besides the financial ramifications (up to $1,000), drivers can also potentially lose demerit points and incur a 30-day suspension. At worst, there is even a risk of losing a driver’s licence completely.
What Can I Do if I’ve Been Involved in an Incident with a Distracted Driver?
If you have been in an accident due to someone else’s negligent, distracted driving, you must seek a personal injury lawyer in Ajax immediately. Personal injury lawyers in Ajax and the surrounding areas are there to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Steven Polak has dedicated his entire legal practice to assisting injury victims and people who have been unfairly denied disability benefits. As part of the team of over 100 Ontario lawyers at Lerners LLP, he acts as an injury and disability lawyer for victims with motor vehicle accident lawsuits, accident benefits cases, disability benefit cases, slip and falls, and other injury cases (including distracted driving).
Having someone you trust on your side makes the legal process much easier to deal with. After all, worrying about your legal case when it could be left in the hands of an experienced professional is a distraction you don’t need in any facet of your life.