Distracted driving accidents killed 3,092 people in 2010 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additionally, it is estimated that 18 percent of auto accidents that year involved distracted drivers. It is estimated that an additional 416,000 people were injured in automobile crashes involving a distracted driver.
Consulting a Clayton County attorney after an auto accident involving a distracted driver enhances a victim's ability to receive a reasonable settlement. If you have been injured in an automobile accident involving a distracted driver in Clayton County you should discuss your case with an auto accident attorney at Shane Smith Law.
Georgia's prohibition on texting while driving is named the "Caleb Sorohan Act for Saving Lives by Preventing Texting While Driving." The law's namesake was 18 years old when he was killed when he lost control of his car while texting. The law prohibits drivers from "writing, sending, or reading" a text-based message while driving. Offenders can receive a fine up to $150 and a one point penalty on their driver's license.
According to an estimate by the nonprofit National Safety Council (NSC), there are over 100,000 auto accidents a year involving texting. It also determined that distracted driving by texting increases the likelihood of an accident by eight times. As a point of comparison, that is twice the likelihood of being in an accident with a legally intoxicated blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent.
A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that 45 percent of high school drivers 16 years old or older texted while they drove in the 30 days prior to the survey. The CDC study also showed that more teenagers are killed due to distracted driving than from DUI.
If you or someone you know has been hurt by a distracted driver, meet with a Clayton County auto accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law.