Car accidents caused by distracted driving—behavior of a driver causing them to take their attention off the road—are on the rise. But it isn’t just the number of accidents causing concern about safety on the roadways. New data indicates that when distracted driving is a factor in a car crash, the results are often far worse than other types of crashes.
Ways a Driver Can Be Distracted
People think first of texting and driving as distracted driving. Indeed, that behavior is incredibly dangerous; and despite PSAs and huge campaigns to get people to stop participating in this risky behavior, texting and driving continues. But there are many ways a driver can be distracted. Distracted driving not only means a driver takes their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel, even for a second or two, but also means cognitive distraction. A driver can be talking on a phone while looking at the road, but the cognitive distraction causes them to lose focus on the road and hazards ahead.
There are numerous causes of distracted driving, including:
- Any use of a mobile device while driving, including talking (including hands-free talking), texting, using a GPS system, looking up an address or business on the internet, and interacting with an app to post to social media
- Eating and/or drinking while driving
- Interacting with passengers and/or children
- Fatigue/drowsy driving
Car Accident Consequences
Each year, more than 3,400 people die in crashes where distracted driving is a factor, and 391,000 are injured. No matter what behavior the driver was participating in at the time of the crash, serious consequences arise from these accidents. If you take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds while driving at 55 mph, you will cover more than a football field’s worth of yardage with your car. With eyes off the road, you can’t see those last-minute things you need to watch out for, such as debris in the road; motorists hitting their brakes, turning, entering or exiting your lane; animals or children that might dart in front of your car; cyclists and more.
Researchers at Ohio State University have been studying these crash statistics, and they believe the consequences are often far worse when a crash occurs due to distracted driving. Simply put, distracted driving increases your risk of serious injury or death. This behavior must stop. And when it causes grievous harm, it should be punished.
Seeking Justice for Victims
You cannot get those seconds back or take back life that has been taken in a fatal car crash. The consequences of causing such an accident are not only legal, but emotional, following you and those impacted by the crash for the remainder of the life of everyone involved.
If you or someone you love has been hurt or injured by a distracted driver who caused a crash, you are entitled to seek justice through the court system to be compensated for your loss.
Though no amount of money can heal the pain of major injuries or death, you should look for a car accident lawyer who is passionately dedicated to obtaining justice for those who have been harmed. A distracted driving accident lawyer should have a proven track record of success in cases like yours and be able to describe that experience to you. They should be able to show how they will handle every detail of your case through its entire duration, from the beginning up to settlement, or even trial, if that becomes necessary.
Choosing a Car Accident Lawyer to Help You
Finding the right lawyer can be a challenge. If you are going through a tough time medically or emotionally because of a distracted driving accident, you should feel like they understand your situation and are sympathetic, while simultaneously demonstrating how they plan to aggressively fight for just compensation for you and your loved ones.
In that meeting, you can confidentially discuss the details of your case and they should be able to clearly explain what to expect in your quest for justice.
