Buffalo, New York, Car Accidents Caused By Eating While Driving

Contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. if You Were Injured in an Accident That Involved Eating While Driving in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester or Throughout New York State.

Thanks to drive-thru restaurants and hectic American lifestyles, eating on the go has developed into a routine activity for many. Eating behind the wheel has become such a normal part of some drivers’ lives, that many never even consider it a distraction or the grave dangers behind it. Afterall, who has not taken a bite of food or sipped on a drink while driving? Nevertheless, eating while driving is considered a form of distracted driving, similar to using a smartphone behind the wheel.

In 2017, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,166 people died in car crashes caused by distracted driving. According to the National Safety Council, at least nine Americans suffer fatalities and roughly one hundred more are injured because of distracted driving each day. Studies have found that drivers’ reaction times while eating decreased by over 40% compared to non-distracted drivers. Similar to other distracted driving accidents, eating-related crashes are 100% preventable. Drivers can easily choose to eat before starting their trip instead of placing themselves, their passengers, other drivers and pedestrians at an increased risk of being involved in an accident.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of eating while driving accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York have witnessed firsthand how people’s lives can drastically change because of injuries caused by a distracted driver. After a serious car accident, a victim’s number one priority should be restoring their health, and our team is here to assist with everything else. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. team possesses the expertise and experience necessary to methodically investigate your accident and make certain that you are in a position to obtain the highest possible recovery for your injuries.

Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has battled to obtain over $175 Million in verdicts and settlements for people who are injured because of someone else’s negligence. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced Buffalo, New York distracted driving accident attorneys will strive to obtain the best result possible for victims of distracted driving accidents. We are committed to exceeding your expectations and delivering an excellent outcome. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

While behind the wheel, even the slightest distractions can result in catastrophic accidents. At 55 mph, a car can drive the length of an entire football field in just 5 seconds. Although many drivers believe that they can take a sip of coffee or bite into a hamburger without getting distracted, the fact of the matter is that every second counts when you are driving. Eating while driving is known to cause visual, manual and cognitive impairment. Some elements that make eating while driving extremely dangerous include:

1. Multitasking: Focusing too much on eating, avoiding a mess and brushing away food crumbs can force drivers to multitask, which makes it much easier for drivers to lose focus on driving and leads to slower reaction times.
2. Eyes off the road: Drivers cannot adequately observe the road when they are busy looking down at their food. With a driver’s eyes off the road, even slight changes in road conditions or important warning signs can easily be overlooked.
3. Hands off the steering wheel: Whether holding a bottle of pop or unwrapping a sandwich, it is impossible to keep both hands on the wheel. Not having both hands on the wheel is particularly dangerous if a driver needs to make a split-second maneuver to avoid crashing.

According to NHTSA estimates, eating while driving amplifies the chances of a collision by roughly 80%. Research conducted by Lytx, a driver risk management firm, found that drinking or eating increased the risk of drivers crashing by 3.6 times.

If you, or a loved one, were injured in a Buffalo, New York car accident, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our team of highly experienced eating or drinking while driving injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York will fight for the compensation you deserve for the injuries you suffered.

ExxonMobil conducted a study of 1,000 drivers and discovered that over 70% of the drivers admitted to eating behind the wheel, while 83% admitted to drinking beverages. It is crucial for drivers to give their total attention to the road. Distracted drivers not only put their own lives in jeopardy, but can also cause severe injuries or even death to others. Here are a few tips to avoid eating while driving:

1. Eat before you leave: A majority of accidents involving eating take place in the morning. Wake up a few minutes earlier and eat a quick snack before getting into your car. If you are really hungry in the morning or need the extra few minutes of sleep, do some meal prep the night before.
2. Make your car a meal-free zone: If you do not have any food in your car, you will not be tempted to eat while driving.
3. Eat in the parking lot: If you pull over for fast food, take the extra time you need to eat it in the parking lot before pulling away.

For those who refuse to give up eating behind the wheel, it is vital to make the deed as least distracting as possible. This may include using convenient and easily accessible containers, only eating at red lights, keeping trash to a minimum and avoiding messy foods altogether. The NHTSA has determined the most dangerous food and drinks pertaining to distracted driving. Below is a list of the worst foods and drinks drivers can consume while behind the wheel:

1. Coffee;
2. Hot soups;
3. Tacos;
4. Chili;
5. Hamburgers;
6. Barbecued food;
7. Fried chicken;
8. Powdered or cream filled donuts;
9. Soft drinks; and
10. Chocolate.

If you suffered a serious injury in an accident caused by someone else eating behind the wheel, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York driving while distracted accident attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for a free consultation. Our team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form. We are the aggressive, tenacious and hardworking Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyers who are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve!

Distracted driving is considered negligence, regardless whether the distraction is a smartphone, radio, cup of coffee or burrito. All drivers are legally obligated to exercise a reasonable duty of care. Often in cases where a driver eating behind the wheel gets into an accident, it is because the driver was too distracted or failed to keep a proper lookout. All drivers have a duty to pay attention to their surroundings and they can be held responsible if they fail to do so.

Victims of car accidents caused by an eating driver’s negligence may be entitled to monetary compensation for their injuries. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s highly experienced, aggressive, tenacious and hardworking team will thoroughly investigate your claim to gather evidence to prove that:

1. The driver owed you a duty of care;
2. The driver breached that duty of care by eating or drinking while driving;
3. The breach of the duty of care caused your injury; and
4. You suffered actual damages as a result.

After a car accident you may spend time in a hospital, seek pain management treatment, undergo physical therapy, or be unable to work as a result of your injuries. Being unable to earn a living may result in bills piling up and added stress. If you were injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be able to recover some of your losses through a personal injury lawsuit. This may include compensation for:

1. Property damage;
2. Lost wages from missed work;
3. Reduced earning capacity;
4. Medical costs;
5. Pain and suffering; and
6. Mental anguish.

If you lost a family member in a collision, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims help support surviving family members with financial compensation that can assist them in obtaining a sense of closure and financial security after the loss of a loved one.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!