A few scattered groceries, along with a baby stroller and a few other items, remained in the intersection after a negligent truck driver struck four people in a Las Vegas crosswalk.
The wreck occurred near the intersection of Maryland Parkway and Katie Avenue. Authorities speculate that a combination of speed and distraction caused the accident. Speaking of the spike in pedestrian accidents, Metropolitan Police Department traffic Capt. Nick Farese said that they are “senseless, preventable deaths.” This particular wreck killed a 4-year-old boy and sent the other three members of the family – a mother and two younger girls – to the hospital. “And if the public isn’t getting sick and tired of children losing their lives and coming together to change the erratic and disgusting driving behavior that is part of our community, I don’t know what else we can do,” he added.
Distracted Driving in Las Vegas
Just like they apparently caused the crash in the above story, distracted drivers who are also speeding usually cause these wrecks.
In 2013, distracted drivers killed or seriously injured over 400,000 people. Distracted driving is an umbrella term which includes any of the following:
- Manual distraction (taking a hand off the wheel),
- Cognitive distraction (taking your mind off driving), and/or
- Visual distraction (taking your eyes off the road).
Note that hand-held cell phones involve all three types of distraction. So, both negligence theories may apply here. These theories are outlined below. Also note that hands-free phones are not much better. In fact, some experts believe they are even worse. Hands-free gadgets still involve cognitive and visual distraction. Moreover, they give drivers a false sense of security.
Many distracted driving cases involve negligence per se, or a violation of a safety law. In Nevada, it’s illegal for any driver to talk or text on a phone while driving. Tortfeasors (negligent drivers) who violate this law are usually liable for damages as a matter of law. Other distracted driving cases involve negligence. For example, it is definitely distracting to surf the web or take selfies while driving. These activities arguably constitute a lack of ordinary care.
Nevada Car Crashes and Speed
Excessive velocity is a factor in about a third of the fatal car crashes in Las Vegas. Speed increases the risk of a collision and also the injuries in a collision.
Velocity multiplies stopping distance. That’s the amount of ground that a vehicle covers in the time it takes the driver to safely stop it. At 30mph, stopping distance is about six car lengths. At 60mph, stopping distance triples to about eighteen car lengths. Other factors, such as vehicle weight and weather conditions, may make stopping distance even greater.
Speed also multiples the injuries in a wreck. That’s especially true in pedestrian crashes, because these victims have no protection from oncoming cars. At 30mph, the pedestrian death rate is less than 10 percent. But at 40mph, the death rate skyrockets to 90 percent.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer
A speeding driver who’s also a distracted driver is a very dangerous driver. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Las Vegas, contact Naqvi Injury Law. We routinely handle cases in Clark County and nearby jurisdictions.