We see it all the time on the roads of Ontario – someone stopping a little too close to the car in front of them during rush hour or someone waiting too long when the light turns green at a traffic light. These are just a couple of the many symptoms of a distracted driving problem that only seems to be growing thanks to the ubiquity of cellphones. New legislation harshly punishing distracted drivers has just come into law but its efficacy has yet to be adequately measured. Regardless of the law, there are some who would rather check their messages than keep their eyes firmly on the road. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers and dangerous drivers always end up hurting people.
If you’re ever injured by a distracted driver here are three things you should do.
Seek Medical Attention
If you have an obvious or immediate physical injury this will likely be the only thing on your mind. It is important to get yourself checked out even if you feel fine at first as symptoms of trauma may take time to reveal themselves fully. If this ends up being the case, you’ll want to have medical records verifying this. Do not attempt to tough out the pain – even if you don’t plan to seek compensation from the driver ignoring medical issues may end up making your health far worse.
Talk to the Police
Chances are if there was a collision of some kind the police will already be involved. Find out what they know and assist them in clarifying the truth of the situation. They may be unaware, for example, that the driver that hit you had their face lit up by the light of their cellphone’s screen. Distracted driving is a crime, and you should report that crime.
Consult a Lawyer
In order to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injury it’s important to hire an experienced injury lawyer to advocate on your behalf. They will be able to make sure that your best interests are taken into account and that you’ll have a settlement or judgement that will see proper recompense for your suffering.
If you have already been injured by a distracted driver, one who was in another car, or even perhaps driving the one you were in, contact Conte Associates at 1-877-614-0008. Based in Vaughan, Conte & Associates works with clients in Vaughan and in the surrounding cities of: Thornhill, Woodbridge, Concord, Kleinberg, Maple and Richmond Hill.
