Warren County Car Accident Causes Two Deaths
A Warren County car accident on September 25, 2020, resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. The two-vehicle crash occurred on Route 27 in Pittsfield Township southwest of Youngsville.
According to reports, a 72-year-old man driving a 1976 Dodge Dart failed to recognize that traffic in front of him had stopped. He was traveling east on Route 27. He tried to stop to avoid a collision, but the vehicle skidded into the westbound lane of traffic. The Dodge Dart hit a 2013 Ford F-250 traveling westbound.
An 80-year-old woman in the Dodge Dart died at the accident scene. Emergency services airlifted the man driving the Dodge Dart to UPMC Hamot. He died at the hospital. The person driving the Ford F-250 and a passenger in the truck sustained minor injuries.
Distracted Driving Continues to Kill and Injure Thousands Each Year
Distracted driving accidents killed 2,841 people in 2018. Over 400,000 people sustained injuries in accidents involving distracted drivers in 2018. The numbers could be higher because most drivers do not admit to being distracted at the time of the car accident. They do not admit that they were looking at their cell phones or looking through a bag for an item instead of watching the road.
Common distractions that can cause deadly traffic accidents include:
- Texting while driving
- Using a cell phone
- Programming vehicle controls
- Reaching for objects
- Reading, writing, or sending emails and other messages
- Watching videos
- Grooming and changing clothes
- Eating and drinking
- Interacting with passengers
- Caring for children or pets
- Things outside of the vehicle
- Daydreaming
Any action that takes your attention away from the road or the act of driving is a distraction. A car accident caused by a distracted driver can cause catastrophic injuries for other motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. No one is safe when a driver operates a vehicle while distracted.
Injuries and Damages Caused by Distracted Driving Accidents
A car accident caused by a distracted driver can result in severe injuries. In some cases, a victim sustains permanent impairments and disabilities because of a distracted driving car accident. Common injuries in a distracted driving accident include broken bones, brain injuries, back injuries, whiplash, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. Life-threatening and critical injuries are also possible.
The damages caused by a distracted driver can be substantial. Damages that are common after a distracted driving accident include:
- Medical bills and expenses
- The cost of personal care and help with household chores
- Loss of salaries, wages, benefits, and other income
- Physical pain and suffering
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Mental trauma and emotional distress
- Reduction in earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life or enjoyment of life
A distracted driver can be held liable for damages caused by a car accident. The victims need to take steps to protect their legal rights, including seeking medical treatment and learning about the legal rights from an Erie car accident lawyer.
Contact a Warren County Car Accident Attorney for More Information
If a car crash injured you or your loved one, take steps now to protect your right to fair compensation from the negligent driver who caused your injuries. Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to request a free legal consultation with an Erie personal injury attorney.