In Virginia, and across the country, the number of motor vehicle accidents due to a negligent driver or a distracted driver are increasing rapidly. Much of the blame for this has to do with the number of ways in which a driver can have the person’s focus removed from the road. Driving is still an activity that requires strict attention and things like texting and driving contribute to the dangers on the road, and are a growing cause referenced when there is a car accident.
Statistics and expert analysis have examined the prevalence of accidents involving distractions. Twenty-three percent of crashes in the United States in 2011 — 1.3 million — involved the use of a cell phone. In that same year, 3,331 people died in accidents that involved a distracted driver. That was a slight increase from 2010 when 3,267 people died in accidents linked to distractions while driving. The issue is more prominent with younger drivers on the road. Those aged 15 to 19 who were in a fatal crash were in 21 percent of the distracted driver crashes. These cases often involved the use of a cell phone. Studies have indicated that texting and driving made a crash 23 times more frequent.
Drivers might believe that they are able to navigate driving and using a cell phone at the same time, but a driver’s focus is taken off the road for an average of slightly more than 4.5 seconds when using a cell phone. A driver who is traveling at 55 miles-per-hour will be traversing an entire football field without seeing where the person is going.
A car accident due to a negligent or distracted driver can lead to severe injuries, hospitalizations, extensive medical costs and even fatalities. Those who have been hurt need not worry about the statistics after the fact. They need to worry about their future. For litigation to be compensated for their losses, discussing the matter with a legal professional experienced in cases such as these is the first step.
Source: Forbes.com, “Why Distraction Is So Dangerous And What We Can Do About It,” David DiSalvo, Sept. 15, 2013