Distracted driving accidents killed 3,092 people in 2010 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is estimated that an additional 416,000 people were injured in automobile crashes involving a distracted drivers.
Consulting a Fayette 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 a Fayette Countyauto accident involving a distracted driver you should discuss your case with an auto accident attorney at Shane Smith Law.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, a majority of drivers admit to being distracted while they drive. Over 50 percent of surveyed drivers admit to being distracted in at least one of the following ways:
- Talking to passengers—Over 98 percent of survey participants admitted to taking their eyes off the road while having a conversation with passengers.
- Texting—Nearly 53 percent of people surveyed admitted they had texted while driving within 60 days of taking the survey. Of those with children, almost 90 percent said they expressly prohibited their children from texting while they drove.
- Using a cell phone—Over 84 percent of those surveyed said they had talked on the phone while driving in the last 60 days. Over 50 percent of those 21 years old or younger admitted to talking on the phone while driving despite it being illegal in many states.
- Eating or drinking—Over 75 percent of the survey participants admitted to eating or drinking while driving. Nearly 40 percent said they drank hot beverages like coffee while driving.
- Applying makeup—Over 40 percent of those surveyed admitted they had applied makeup or groomed (brushed their hair) while driving.
Texting and driving is illegal in the majority of states including Georgia. In Georgia, it is prohibited pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated section 40-6-241. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported that enforcement of Georgia's texting and driving ban is nearly nonexistent. In over two years since the law went into effect there has been an average of less than 50 convictions per month. In 2011, nearly 4,000 accidents in Georgia were attributed to distracted driving and cell phone use; nearly 1,000 accidents resulted in injury, and nine were fatal crashes. Fayette Countyconvicted only 20 people for distracted driving.
If you or someone you know has been hurt by a distracted driver, meet with a Fayette County auto accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law. We can assist you in every stage of your case including obtaining the available evidence.