Jeremy, a 34-year-old man, worked in downtown San Diego and usually took his lunch break in the warm, comfortable afternoons. He would walk over to his favorite sushi place or go over to the deli where Bill made his favorite turkey and avocado sandwich. Since downtown is a bustling area with lots of cars, buses, and pedestrians, Jeremy was aware of the dangers of jaywalking and followed the traffic lights accordingly.
One day, Jeremey was standing at an intersection, waiting for the light to indicate that he was free to proceed. To his left, was a small vehicle waiting to turn. The driver of the vehicle was on her mobile phone and looking to the left, presumably waiting for an opening in which she could turn into traffic going to her right. The driver finally got the opening she was waiting for and turned right, however, at that same moment, the light in front of both she and Jeremy turned green and the corresponding white light indicated that pedestrians can cross. Jeremy proceeded to walk through the crosswalk as the driver turned right, driving the car into Jeremy’s left leg. She braked immediately and Jeremy fell onto the hood of her car, rolled off, and woke up later in the back of an emergency vehicle.
Jeremy ended up with a broken leg, a severe concussion, and several thousand dollars in medical bills.
Stories such as this happen frequently in the United States. The following facts are from the National Conference of State Legislatures:
- Nearly 303 million people in the United States have cell phones. At any given moment during the daylight hours, more than 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
- In 2013, approximately 3,154 people in this country died in crashes that involved a distracted driver, and 424,000 people were injured.
- A study by AAA revealed that electronics use is the leading source of distraction for teen drivers.
Being injured due to a distracted driver’s negligence can leave you physically, emotionally, and financially in pain. But there is help — legal help that can aid you in getting back on your feet. At the Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, we specialize in helping people who have been injured by negligent drivers. We will work vigorously to get you the compensation that may be headed your way. Call us today at (619) 233-5020 or Toll Free (888) 233-5020 for a free consultation.
