Roundup: What Lawyers Have to Say About Distracted Driving

We all know driving distracted is bad and not to do it, but sometimes, we do it anyway.

Regardless of the consequences, we whip out our phones to quickly respond to a text, change a song, fix our makeup, or take a bite out of our snack, thinking nothing will happen. But when it comes down to it, any behavior done behind the wheel, apart from driving, is dangerous.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), at least nine people die and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes every day in America. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states over 3,450 lives were taken in 2016 due to distracted driving.

Unfortunately, accident and injury lawyers see the true damage of what a distracted driving accident looks like, often resulting in life-long impairments and even death. In honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, here is a roundup of what various accident lawyers have seen and their responses to distracted driving:

On the mindset of distracted driving:

“While many people believe they can multitask while driving, the statistics on distracted driving show otherwise. But still, many people choose this dangerous behavior. We are now living in a world where people expect instant communication and those expectations don’t stop just because an individual is behind the wheel.” Manchin Injury Law Group, lawyers in Fairmont, WV

On the prevalence in a community:

“Texting and driving is the deadliest form of distraction, as it hits all three categories: manual, visual, and cognitive. In Kansas City, there is an average of 33 fatalities and 366 serious injuries per year due to distracted driving.” Wendt Law Firm, P.C., accident and injury lawyers in Kansas City, MO

On teen distracted driving:

“More than one of every four teens admits to other forms of distraction, including changing clothing or contact lenses, putting on makeup or working on homework while driving. Although these types of multitasking are not new, the increased attention given to texting behind the wheel may lend to a greater emphasis on distracted driving as a whole. The risk of a car accident is dependent on a teen’s attention, which can be diverted by many activities and objects other than smartphones.” K.C. Williams of Williams Law P.A.

On the consequences of distracted driving:

“While it is hard to know how many drivers use their cell phones at any given time, it is safe to say it is a problem. One in four accidents is the result of cellphone use. And whether hundreds of thousands or millions of drivers are paying more attention to their phone than the road, it only takes one distracted driver to forever alter the life of a car accident victim.” Ciancio Ciancio Brown, PC, Westminster car accident lawyers

Breaking Down The Insights

Through these lawyers’ insights to distracted driving, you can see distracted driving comes in many forms and affects communities differently. Texting, grooming, applying makeup, and changing clothes are all forms of distracted driving and contribute to the ongoing problem of endangering roadways. Small and big communities alike lose valued members by negligent drivers’ decision to prioritize distracting behaviors.

While teens are most at risk for distracting behaviors, all drivers are at risk.

Concluding Thoughts

Lawyers often see the worst scenarios of distracted driving, usually ending in a fatality or life-long injuries. Lawyers are able to see the profound effect on victim’s lives after a driver decides to text and drive hence why they are active advocates against distracted driving.

In honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, learn what you can to prevent distracted driving. Doing your part can help mitigate distracted driving accidents and keep our roads safe for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Take the pledge to Just Drive today!