You were injured in a car accident in New Jersey, and perhaps it has become clear that more than one party was to blame. This is often the case when a slow driver is involved. This driver may have been breaking the law by impeding traffic flow, but another driver may have been negligent as well.
Slow driving is dangerous
Driving far below the speed limit is dangerous, then, largely for the response that it can awaken in other drivers. Some may follow too closely to the slow driver as a way to get him or her to change lanes, and some may angrily pass on the right.
Why do some drivers travel slow?
It helps to understand why drivers go slow. The majority are no doubt distracted by something that has caused them to become oblivious to their speed. Phone use can do this. The National Safety Council says that the parietal lobe, which is engaged in certain actions essential to driving, becomes 37% less active with phone use. Other drivers may be tourists who slow down to see the sights and are unfamiliar to the area’s speed limits.
Some of the slow drivers out there are newly licensed and lacking in confidence. While you might think newly licensed teens are more likely to speed, this is not always the case. Lastly, there are seniors whose worsening vision may prevent them from seeing the posted speed limit. Arthritis may also have stiffened their joints, making it harder to press on the gas pedal.
Legal representation in a third-party claim
Perhaps you yourself share a percentage of fault for the accident you were in. Still, in a two-car crash, a plaintiff who’s 50% at fault may still file a personal injury claim. Now, you may be wondering if you can file such a claim in the first place because of New Jersey’s no-fault rule. This is where a legal evaluation could come in handy. A lawyer may also help negotiate for a settlement on your behalf.