The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that car accidents happen roughly every ten seconds in the United States, with a fatal car accident happening every fifteen minutes. While many car accidents happen as a result of weather conditions or vehicle malfunctions, such as brake failure, a great number of accidents can be easily avoided. Many of these avoidable accidents happen due to distracted driving.
In 2011, an estimated 387,000 people were injured in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. Additionally, 3,331 people died as a result of distracted driving accidents. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident caused by a distracted driver, an experienced Fayette County car accident attorney at Shane Smith Law can evaluate your case and help you receive a fair settlement.
Though you cannot control the actions of other drivers, you can make sure that you do not participate in distracting activities while driving. There are three main types of distractions while driving: manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions remove your hands from the wheel, visual distractions take your eyes from the road, and cognitive distractions interrupt your concentration. Some distractions, just as texting or personal grooming, fit into all three categories and are the most dangerous. According to a survey by the NHTSA, nearly one-third of survey participants admitted to sending or reading text messages or emails at least once in the past thirty days. Younger drivers under the age of twenty may be at an increased risk – not only do they generally send and receive more text messages than older drivers, but they have less appreciation for the danger involved in texting and driving, and their relative inexperience behind the wheel does not allow them to react as quickly to dangerous situations or an impending accident.
While you can avoid distracted driving yourself, you cannot change other drivers' behaviors on the road. Therefore, even if you are not a distracted driver, you are not necessarily safe from accidents caused by other drivers. If you are involved in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact an experienced car accident attorney at (980) 246-2656. Shane Smith will provide you with a free consultation and assistance throughout each step of your lawsuit, and can help hold distracted drivers liable for their actions.