Usually when one reads about a car accident involving a distracted driver, it is related to texting or talking on the cell phone. However, there are other forms of distractions that drivers in Manhattan and other areas should be aware of. Anything that will take a driver’s eyes off of the road for even a moment is a distraction that should be avoided. This includes young children, pets, an unusual sight in the sky or activities occurring off of the road such as street performers or a gathering of people.
One driver learned this lesson the hard way when he crashed into a couple of parked cars, injuring himself and his passenger. The cause of driver distraction in this case is said to be his dog. It is not clear what exactly the dog did but the impact was so forceful that it caused the vehicle, a 2001 Volkswagen, to actually flip and land upside down.
The passenger was taken to the hospital with a head injury and no doubt, the owners of the vehicles found significant damage was done to their property. It is not known whether the passenger’s injury is a serious one but generally any type of head injury is going to require days of rest. If it is a serious injury, it is likely that the passenger will incur significant medical bills.
The passenger and the owners of the vehicles damaged should discuss the matter with their attorneys to ensure that the expenses of this distracted driving accident are covered by the driver’s insurance company. Manhattan drivers should also take this accident as a lesson to eliminate distractions as best they can when they are behind the wheel of their vehicles.
Source: Tarrytown-SleepyHollow Patch, “Bedford Road Rollover: Distracted by Dog,” Krista Madsen, Dec. 20, 2012