Monmouth County New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

Far too many people mistakenly believe that mobile devices are the only real source of distraction on the road. In reality, distraction can take infinite forms for drivers. In some cases, it isn't even a tangible distraction, but rather something in their head that they focus on instead of the task at hand.

Understanding the various forms of distraction that drivers occasionally engage in can help you avoid these forms of distraction. You can also be on the lookout for individuals showing telltale signs of various kinds of distracted driving.

For many motorists in New Jersey, the desire to stay safe while traveling is something most have in common. As such, many people do their part to make sure they are observing the rules of the road and allowing extra time for situations that could be dangerous if not observed. However, they cannot control the actions or decisions of other drivers who may not be as responsible. In these situations, sometimes tragic outcomes can happen despite the incident's having been entirely preventable. 

A community in Northville, Michigan is reeling with the devastating loss of a notable family after a drunk driver slammed into their vehicle in a violent head-on collision. The man responsible for the crash had been driving the wrong way on the highway for several miles before he encountered the family. The two parents, three children and the drunk driver were all killed in the impact which was described by first responders as a horrific scene. 

The violent force of a car wreck can lead to serious injuries for the victims. One of these is a concussion, which is possible in just about any crash. Understanding some basic information about this type of injury might help you to spot the signs if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident.

One of the troublesome factors of concussions is that the symptoms might not be present right away. You may think that you escaped the accident unscathed only to realize later that you did have an injury. This is one reason why anyone who is involved in a crash might choose to have a medical evaluation. It might not find everything that is amiss right away, but it may help you to learn what to look for in the following days.

Most in Monmouth County likely understand that the decision to drink and drive is a personal one. Still, in the wake of a drunk driving accident, victims might rightly wonder how is that the drivers that hit them were allowed to reach the intoxicated states they were in in the first place. That may prompt further inquiry as to whether or not those who serve alcohol to drivers that cause accidents should share in the liability for the incident. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drunk driving accidents result in over $44 billion in losses annually in the United States. Having other avenues of liability may help accident victims in recovering the compensation needed to adequately handle their expenses.

Many states have adopted what is known as a "dram shop" law. These laws do indeed allow accident victims to assign vicarious liability to the establishments that had a hand in allowing a driver to get drunk. "Dram shop" refers to any commercial establishment that serves alcohol (the word "dram" is actually a unit of measurement once used in the sale of gin). Such an establishment may include any of the following: 

• A restaurant
• A bar or tavern
• A concessionaire