805-962-1930 Distracted Driving Accidents
Tyrone J. Maho
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes, and eight people a day are killed in the United States because of it. Accidents caused by distracted driving happen when the driver isn’t paying attention to the road. Often, the driver is doing an activity like texting, talking on their phone, or other dangerous behaviors. This can be a cognitive, manual, or visual distraction. A cognitive distraction is when your mind is not focused on driving, while a manual is when your hands are no longer on the wheel. A visual distraction is when your eyes are not paying attention to where you’re going.
If you need representation for your settlement claim after a recent distracted driving accident, you can receive the help of an established team of legal professionals. Contact Maho Prentice, LLP today for a free consultation.
Facts About Distracted Driving Accidents
Different types of distractions can take away from the quality of driving. Some are worse than others, but ultimately all can be equally disastrous.
How many accidents are caused by distracted driving?
Over 2,800 drivers or passengers were killed due to a distracted driver not paying attention. Distracted driving accidents injured around 400,000 people. In some cases, the distracted driver hit someone who was not in a vehicle, where one in five individuals were on a bike or walking.
The number of distracted driving deaths has gone down year by year but remains steady. Many distracted drivers are between the ages of 20 to 29, making up 25% of fatal crashes. Young adults aged 15 to 19 were more likely to be distracted drivers and made up 8% of the fatalities. The younger the driver was, they were more likely to be distracted before the crash happened.
How many deaths are caused by texting and driving in 2020?
Around 390,000 injuries happen because of car crashes caused by texting and driving. Research shows that one out of every four car accidents in the U.S. was caused by texting. A total of 1.6 million crashes happen every year because of cell phone use, with texting increasing this possibility. Texting while driving creates a 400% probability that the driver’s eyes won’t be on the road. When drunk, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause a car collision.
What causes the most distracted driving accidents?
While texting is a common culprit for causing a distracted driving accident, talking can also be blamed. This can include talking on the phone or to other passengers in the car. Other reasons include the following:
GPS Navigation
While you are trying to get to an unknown location, using GPS may be the best means of navigation. Many don’t realize that GPS usage can be just as dangerous as texting and takes the driver’s attention off of the road. You can be glancing down at your phone or the map on the car screen instead of seeing obstructions in front of you. When you look at the screen, you are increasing the chance of an accident.
Interacting With Other Passengers
Often, it’s impossible to ignore what’s going on around you inside the car. Children and pets can cause major distractions for drivers, as they are important, and their needs often have to be met. Children and pets are also loud and may make you worried while you are driving. Instead of pulling over, many drivers try to multitask and take care of them while driving.
Drugs, Alcohol, or Medication
Sometimes a distracted driver is incapacitated and may not be fully capable of maneuvering a car. Intoxicated drivers cause many accidents because they cannot see the road properly, and their other faculties are impaired due to the effects of substances like alcohol. This impairment may also be due to a medication, as some prescription drugs have side effects, like drowsiness, fatigue, and dizziness.
Fatigue or Zoning Out
Distracted drivers may simply be daydreaming and not paying attention to the road. If you drive while fatigued, it can greatly diminish your ability to handle an automobile on the road. Some drivers doze off while driving due to sheer exhaustion.
Learn More About Distracted Driving Accident Compensation
If you recently got into a distracted driving accident, you can receive compensation for your damages. You can work with a knowledgeable team of car accident lawyers who can help fight for you. Contact Maho Prentice, LLP today for a free consultation.