Key Takeaways
Distracted driving risks:
- High fatality rate: Distracted driving incidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities, especially among nonoccupants like pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Insurance implications: Fault determination by insurance companies can affect compensation for damages, highlighting the financial risks of distracted driving.
- Preventive measures: Paying full attention to the road, avoiding distractions, and educating teens about the dangers can significantly reduce accidents.
Check out our auto accident lawyers.
Have you ever sent a text while you were driving? How about reading an email? Maybe you’ve turned around to push your dog back into the seat behind you or had an argument with your child. While you might have thought that you were still paying enough attention to the road while you were doing these activities, studies show that you cannot pay attention to the road and other things around you at the same time.
In 2021, there were 44,518 non-fatal crashes in the US which involved a distracted driver. Even more damning, nearly 12% of distracted driving incidents lead to the death of at least one person involved in the crash. Cell phone use and engaging in activities like eating and drinking while driving cause significant risks to yourself and those around you on the road.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you need to reach out to a skilled Carson City auto accident lawyer. The team at Kilpatrick Bullentini has years of experience seeking compensation for our clients after they have been harmed by distracted drivers.
Distracted Driving Incidents Claim Lives
One of the most significant and meaningful statistics that are related to distracted driving incidents is that they cause an overwhelming number of deaths. In many cases, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other bystanders are the ones who die as a result of someone’s distracted driving. There were 644 nonoccupants of cars that were killed in 2021 due to distracted driving.
Many insurance companies determine fault before paying out on car accidents. If you have been found to be at fault for driving distracted, you might not receive the necessary compensation to pay for property damage or damages to other vehicles in the crash. Even if no one is severely injured or dies as a result of your inattention to the road, you might still find yourself in a serious financial situation related to the accident.
Studies have indicated that many drivers prioritize their lack of attention on the road incorrectly. Many drivers believe that their lack of attention is more likely to contribute to small car crashes than major ones.
Humans struggle with the correct assessment of the risks associated with driving because we are so complacent about the associated danger of this activity.
How to Prevent Distracted Driving Deaths
The most obvious solution is to pay better attention to the road. Don’t be tempted to read an email, turn around to look in the backseat, or try to eat fast food while you are driving. Always be sure that you pull over before taking a call, texting, or looking in the backseat at people or pets. Remember that you cannot possibly pay attention to more than one thing at a time, and that includes the road in front of you.
While your car might have integrated technology that allows you to navigate to a destination or talk on the phone while you are driving, you might still be distracted from the road. Many people cannot retain full cognitive attention on the road in front of them and engage in other activities, significantly increasing the chances of an accident.
Cell phones, in particular, take your eyes off the road, at least one hand off the wheel, and your mind off the road in front of you and what you are doing.
Teenagers are the most likely to cause accidents related to distracted driving, and the risk associated with these behaviors increases as they near the age of 18. Adults should lead by example and discuss with their children the dangers of driving while distracted or driving without proper attention on the road. At the end of the day, teens and adults alike need to remember that there is an inherent risk associated with being on the road, even if most of the time you go out for a drive, you come home safely.
Passengers in the car with someone who is distracted should always speak up and point out to them that they are not paying attention to the road. It is easy for us to become complacent when we drive and to believe that there is no way that we will get into an accident when we are driving distracted. The studies do not reveal that this is the case, however, and everyone who is driving distracted is at risk for causing a serious accident.
Distracted Driving Incidents Can be Deadly
A significant number of studies indicate that drivers believe that being distracted behind the wheel isn’t that risky. You might believe that you are an excellent driver and unlikely to make a grave error in judgment behind the wheel, but the statistics show that drivers of all ages and skill levels who drive distracted are at equal risk of causing a significant accident as well as loss of life.
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver, you need to reach out to an experienced Carson City auto accident lawyer. The team at Kilpatrick and Bullentini can help you seek the compensation that you deserve after your accident.
We have years of experience representing clients who have been harmed by distracted driving incidents. Let us help you to get back on your feet after your accident.
