Distracted driving has increased to alarming levels with the advent of new technology, and car accident attorneys are seeing new cases of distracted driving at an increased level. Drivers continue to engage in this dangerous behavior as the lure of instant, real-time information 24 hours a day, continues to take their mind off the road. Drivers do not understand the increased danger they expose themselves to when they take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel and their focus off driving.
The consequence of engaging in activities that distract you from driving such as talking on the cell phone, texting while driving, applying make-up, looking at your navigation system, or switching up your play list on your cell phone, can lead to serious injury or even death.
In 2013, 3,154 people, including individuals in South Carolina, were killed and approximately 424,000 were injured due to distracted driving (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)).
Ten percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all motor vehicle accidents were due to distracted drivers in 2013(NHTSA).
If you use a hand-held device while driving, you are four times as likely to be in a serious car accident (Institute for Highway Safety).
Ten percent of fatalities among teen drivers, ages 15-19, were due to distracted driving in 2013. Teens are the largest number of drivers who are distracted while driving.
A 2014 study by the New England Journal of Medicine confirms these statistics. The risk of crashes or near crashes among novice drivers engaged in secondary tasks while driving increased dramatically.
Despite these statistics, drivers still choose to ignore the danger they cause while driving on the road while distracted. People make excuses and believe they can do “two things at once,” such as speed dialing a number on their cell phones, or “quickly” reading or responding to a text message. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) shows that sending or receiving a text, takes the driver’s eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving blind at 55 mph for the length of an entire football field. This is why Governor Nikki Haley signed off on a law to ban texting while driving throughout the state of South Carolina.
If you or your loved ones have been involved in a distracted driving accident, you need qualified car accident attorneys to help you. The law offices of Anderson, Bailey, Moore, and Nowell are available to consult with you about your case. Please call us today for a free consultation.
This blog is intended for general informational purposes only, and is not intended to serve as a substitute for talking to one of our lawyers here at Anderson, Moore Bailey and Nowell. In fact, the first step you can take towards resolving your problem is to have a face to face conversation with one of our lawyers. Our consultations are free, they are confidential, and we can almost always schedule you an appointment the same day we receive a call.