Auto Accidents
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is not a new concept for drivers, but it remains a concern. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015, which accounted for 16 percent of all people injured in motor vehicle crashes. In addition, 10 percent of all fatal crashes were reported to involve distracted drivers.
There are two major causes categories for vehicle accidents. The first is known as driver error. The second can be a vehicle or other malfunction. The biggest driver error category, by far, is distraction. This means that the driver is trying to accomplish too many things at once. Hundreds of thousands of individuals in the United States are hurt every single year in vehicle accidents with distracted drivers and the numbers only continue to rise. The most common causes of distracted driving have to do with devices in the car. This includes:
- Texting and talking
- GPS
- Adjusting music or other controls
- Talking to passengers
- Not looking at the road
- Handling pets or children
- Zoning out
REVEALING FACTS ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING
Sadly, most people doing this behavior on a regular basis don’t realize the cost until it’s too late. Let’s take a look at the recent IIHS stats about distracted driving.
- In 2011, 3,331 people were killed nationally in crashes involving a distracted driver.
- Text messaging creates a risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
- Drivers talking or texting can miss seeing up to 50% of their driving environment, a phenomenon known as “inattention blindness.”
- Contrary to popular belief, the human brain cannot multitask. Instead of processing both cognitive tasks at once, the brain rapidly switches between the two activities.
- Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent – at 55 MPH – of traveling the length of an entire football field, blind.
- 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving at any given daylight moment in America.
- In 2012, an estimated 3,328 people were killed in distraction-related crashes. Another 421,000 people were injured.
- For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21% were distracted by the use of cell phones.
- Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%.
Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When driving at 55 MPH, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field.
None of these are acceptable when it comes to operating a vehicle safely and losing your focus for just a couple of seconds while traveling at 55 mph is the equivalent of driving across a football field without paying attention.
If you have been involved in an accident that you believe was tied to distracted driving, you need an attorney who has handled cases like this before and can help you successfully navigate the complex legal system in Mississippi. There’s a lot on the line for your future when it comes to distracted driving claim. You need someone who will investigate the situation as soon as possible to determine all liable parties.
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN!
Do not hesitate to get help from an attorney if you find yourself in the position of coping with what to do next. The Nicks Law Firm offers free initial consultations to all injury victims. Call (228) 896-6425 today!