Distracted driving has become a much more common phrase in discussions about road safety all over the United States, and there have only been more concerns about how well we are all paying attention to the road because of the development of the smartphone and numerous other personal devices. The bottom line remains that there are more inventions and gadgets than ever to occupy people’s attention, so it is not uncommon for some drivers to think that they can multitask. If you are hurt by a distracted driver, you should contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer as soon as you can.

 

No matter how great people believe they are at multitasking, the truth remains that no person ever can perform two tasks at once as well as they would individually because multitasking actually slows down a person’s ability to accomplish either task. All people need to be aware that they must invest complete attention to the road whenever they are behind the wheel.

Common Risks of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can vary depending on a person’s activity, but it will usually involve a person either taking their hands off of the wheel, taking their eyes off of the road, or simply taking their mind off of driving. Checking roadside billboards, looking at oneself in the mirror, or focusing on roadside crashes can all take a person’s eyes off the road, activities such as grooming, reading maps, reaching for fallen objects, or texting while driving can all involve taking eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, eating, drinking, adjusting car stereos, and using a cell phone can all take a person’s hands off the wheel, and talking with passengers, using a hands-free device, or simply daydreaming can take a person’s mind off driving.

 

The problem with distracted driving is that it can only take a single moment of inattention for a person to cause a traffic accident because a distracted driver may miss a major event or a critical object in the road. While there are several statistics relating to specific age groups and distracted driving, the truth is that all drivers are susceptible to multiple kinds of distractions and need to make an active effort to remain focused on the road.

Distracted Driving Injury Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,142 fatalities relating to distracted driving in 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that nine people in the United States are killed every day by a distracted driver.

 

NHTSA reported that 2,880 of 35,766, or 8 percent, of fatal crashes were distraction-affected, with 354 or 12 percent involving a cell phone in use. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), 3.7 percent of drivers 16 to 24 years of age use handheld cell phones, 2.5 percent of drivers 25 to 69 years of age use handheld cell phones, and 0.7 percent of drivers 70 years of age and over use handheld cell phones.

Call Us Today to Speak with an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer

Did you suffer severe injuries or was your loved one killed in a motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver in Atlanta Do not wait another moment to get Slappey & Sadd on your side because we can aggressively seek maximum compensation for your losses.

 

Our firm understands how complex these types of accident claims can be but we also know how to prove another driver was distracted so people can recover the compensation they need and deserve. Call 888.474.9616 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with our distracted driving accident lawyer.