When we think of car accidents, we often think of dramatic scenarios out of an action movie. We forget that something as simple as leaning over to change the radio station can cause an accident. The scary reality is that one in four car accidents is directly caused by a driver that is distracted behind the wheel. Here’s what you need to know about this road hazard, how it threatens your safety and what to do if you end up in an accident with a distracted driver!
Six Facts A Distracted Drivers Attorney Wants You To Know
1. Eight people die every day in the US because someone drives distracted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), eight people will die every day in a car accident caused by a distracted driver. Over 1,100 people in that same day will be in an accident with a distracted driver. In a recent year, over 3,000 people were killed in accidents with distracted drivers and over 400,000 were injured. The rate increases every year as drivers have more and more ways to busy themselves on the road.
2. There are three main types of distracted driving; manual, visual and cognitive impairment.
All forms of distracted driving are dangerous. Here are the three main types of distracted driving.
- Manual distractions are where someone’s hands are pulled away from the actions needed to drive. For example, reaching for morning coffee, a cell phone or going to change the radio dial.
- Visual distractions are described as those actions which take your eyes off the road. Like, dropping a french fry and looking down at the cushion for it, checking on your child in the back car seat or checking out your makeup in the mirror.
- Cognitive distractions are when your mind is occupied with something else besides driving. For example, a fight you had with a loved one, stress at work or paying your credit card bill.
3. Cell phones are the most dangerous weapon in your car!
Research shows that talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples the risk of an accident. This is the same risk as if someone were driving drunk! This risk doubles yet again if you are texting! This means the risk of getting into an accident is eight times as likely if a driver texts behind the wheel!
It’s not just cars that are a danger when texting, but also trucks and commercial vehicles! A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that text messaging increases the chance of a truck crash by 23 times! Think of all that power and force barreling towards your car while a delivery person has their eyes on a cell phone!
4. People care but they don’t DO anything about it!
A study done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety explains that, while 90 percent of drivers know there is a risk when using their cell phone while driving, 35 percent of the same people admit to having read or sent a text message while driving in the last month! 88 percent of folks in the same group admitted to having used their cell phone for talking even though they knew it made them a less safe driver.
5. Texting and driving is, statistically, more dangerous than driving drunk!
Research shows that when you text and drive you are six times as likely to get in an accident as you are when driving drunk. Shocking! Intoxicated drivers on the road are less of a threat to you than people who text while driving!
It takes, on average, five seconds for a person to read a single text message. It only takes three seconds of distraction for an accident to occur!
6. If a distracted teenage driver hits you, their parents can be held responsible.
Distracted teenage driving is a huge problem! Each day, 11 teenagers in the United States die from accidents directly related to texting while driving. According to South Carolina law, parents can be responsible for the actions of their child if that child causes malicious or willful injury, theft, destruction or damage of property while behind the wheel. Also, the adult or guardian who signs a minor’s drivers’ license can be jointly and severally liable for any negligent act of a minor while driving unless insurance is in place that provides the proper coverage.
If You’ve Been Involved in an Accident, Let a Distracted Driver Law Firm Help!
If someone has hit you while
- Talking on the phone,
- Sending or reading a text,
- Using email,
- Putting on makeup or fixing their hair,
- Eating or drinking,
- Talking to passengers in their car,
- Navigating using a phone or map, or
- Looking away,
Then they are a distracted driver and can be held liable for your accident! South Carolina follows the law of comparative negligence when it comes to liability for auto accidents. This means that a person can be up to 50 percent responsible for their accident and still receive compensation and damages.
The greater degree that someone is responsible for your accident, the more compensation one is likely to receive. Are you concerned your actions may have contributed to the accident you had with a distracted driver? Call Green Law Firm today for a totally free case review! We will review the details of your accident carefully and offer you advice based on our years of hands-on experience. Remember, we are paid only based on the compensation that you receive; there is no financial risk to securing our services.
A diligent car accident attorney at Green Law Firm will fight to get you the compensation you deserve! We will work tirelessly to present a detailed, well-documented case on your behalf. Whether your case settles outside of court or “goes all the way,” we won’t stop till you receive fair and due compensation that is needed to return your life back to normal!