Smartphones, smartwatches, tablets and other technological gadgets all contribute to distracted driving accidents and when they do, a personal injury lawyer will be sure to take note of it. When an accident occurs and there is any sort of device used during the accident, the user will likely come at some fault, if not full fault. As technology continues to advance and becomes more of a staple in our modern world, it has, unfortunately, lead to the development of more distractions and ultimately embossed the number of auto accidents. Approximately nine people are killed and another 1,000 are injured in car accidents caused by a distraction every day.
That number is shocking, but with the staggering volume of drivers that use their cell phones while behind the wheel, some of that shock might dissipate. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 660,000 drivers are using their cellphones in broad daylight across the nation every day. When hundreds of thousands of drivers are driving distracted, it’s no wonder the number of accidents is so colossal.
To better understand how to stop distracted driving, it’s imperative to understand what distracted driving is. While many people associate distracted driving with technology, there are other forms of distracted driving.
Understanding What Constitutes “Distracted Driving”
Distracted driving doesn’t exclusively mean texting and driving; a personal injury lawyer will tell you that it can be anything from making a phone call to eating lunch while attempting to drive at the same time. Other examples include talking to other passengers in your vehicle, messing with the radio and anything else that may take your attention off the road for any amount of time.
It’s impossible to drive safely unless your full attention is set on one thing: driving. To put things into perspective, you may think that taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds is no big deal, however, taking five seconds to do something such as send a text or change the radio station at 55 miles per hour is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blind. To break that down, a distracted driver can cover a stretch of 160 feet of road in a matter of seconds.
What You Can Do to Help
The distracted driving epidemic won’t dissolve on its own. It’s important for every driver to make an effort to drive with their full attention on the road. The best way for you as a driver to pave the way for a safer road is to lead by example. If you’re driving and you get a phone call or a text you need to take, look for a safe place to pull over and park to answer said text or call. This will help other drivers see what they should ideally do when they are in a similar situation.
If you’re driving with other passengers, show them how its done. Set rules for yourself and your passenger to ensure that everyone stays safe while in the vehicle. Let them know that you need to focus on the road and that they should avoid distracting you at any cost. Setting the standard for safe driving is the first step in the right direction.
What Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Do to Help
Our personal injury lawyer team is aware that not everyone will follow the law when it comes to distracted driving. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, contact a personal injury lawyer at Robert J. DeBry and Associates. We’ll help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, damages and lost wages.
Sources:
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving