In the early morning of November 21, 2016, a recent graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s International Relations Graduate School was struck by a 2004 Subaru Outback as she attempted to cross River Road. The driver of the Outback stayed on the scene until help arrived, at which time the victim was transported to the hospital where she received emergency surgery, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. Now, her family has gone to court to seek justice over their daughter’s death.
Is There a Lesson to Be Learned from This Distracted Driving Case?
When police arrived on the scene of the crash, they charged the 49-year-old driver of the Subaru with failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. They also cited him for careless driving and driving with an obstructed view. According to Teaneck Police, inattention may have been the main contributing factor to the crash.
No details were immediately available as to what could have distracted the driver of this vehicle, but distracted driving has become a major issue in not only New Jersey, but the entire United States. And as more of these incidents occur, more people are trying to do something about it.
What Are State Officials Doing to Combat Distracted Driving?
The Office of the Attorney General here in New Jersey is running an anti-distracted driving campaign called “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” For the first offense, you will pay a $200-$400 fine. The second offense will result in a $400-$600 fine. If you are caught driving while distracted a third time, you will be fined $600-$800, receive 3 motor vehicle license points, and you could have your license suspended for up to 90 days. But the victims and survivors of these crashes also have options at their disposal.
In the case of this young woman who lost her life, her family filed a lawsuit against the driver’s insurance company. That case recently settled for $900,000.
This has been a message from the civil trial attorneys at Keefe Law Firm—in the eyes of the law, there is always something you can do.