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 driver.
Consulting a Coweta 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 Coweta County you should discuss your case with an auto accident attorney at Shane Smith Law.
Recent studies have focused on handheld devices, passengers, GPS systems and even stereos as sources of distracted driving. But there has been little mention of another common cause of distracted driving: unrestrained pets.
According to a survey of dog owners conducted by the Automobile Association of America (AAA), over 20 percent of drivers admit they permit their pets to ride in a vehicle unrestrained. Some states now have regulations requiring that pets be restrained while traveling in a vehicle.
Pets that are not restrained may move suddenly or make a sound in response to something they see outside the vehicle. This, in turn, can cause the driver to divert his focus away from driving. In an accident an unrestrained pet can be a projectile that can cause serious injury.
If you or someone you know has been hurt by a distracted driver, meet with a Coweta County auto accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law.