What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Distractions that take a motorist’s attention off driving can make a driver miss critical events, objects and cues the could all potentially lead to a crash. They put not only themselves at risk, but everyone else on the road. Such distractions can include:
- Eating/Drinking
- Texting
- Using a cell phone
- Talking to passengers
- Reading maps
- Watching a video
- Adjusting the radio
- Personal grooming
- Reaching for fallen objects
- Attending to passengers such as babies in the back seat
- Checking self in mirror
- Looking at billboards and passing objects
Shocking Statistics & Facts
It’s no surprise that distracted driving is extremely dangerous and completely avoidable. The statistics below prove the dangers and should serve as a warning to all drivers and passengers on the road.
- Over 2.5 million people in the U.S. are involved in road accidents each year.
- Of these, 1.6 million have a cell phone involved, which is 64% of all road accidents.
- Drivers in their 20’s are 23% of drivers in all fatal crashes but are 27% of the distracted drivers and 38% of the distracted drivers who were using cell phones in fatal crashes.
- 1 out of 4 car accidents in the U.S. is caused by texting while driving.
- Texting and driving are 6 times more dangerous than drunk driving.
- Over 78% of all distracted drivers crashes that lead to severe injuries is due to texting while driving.
- Every day, 11 teenagers die because they were texting while driving
- Of all teenagers ever involved in fatal accidents every year, 21% were using a cell phone at the time of the accident
- When teens text and drive, they veer off the lane 10% of their total drive time
- Teen drivers have a 400% higher chance of being in a car crash when texting while driving than adults
The fact that one in five crashes can be avoided by simply focusing on the road should cause alarm to everyone. If you’ve been involved in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence of paying attention to the road, call car accident lawyers in Sacramento immediately. You deserve compensation for the pain you suffered.
Many states are enacting laws to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Current distracted driving laws in California are:
- Handheld ban for all drivers
- Ban on texting for all drivers
- Minors are prohibited from using wireless phones while driving
- School bus operators and transit bus drivers are prohibited from using cellphones while driving
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is critical you hire an attorney to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve to pay for your medical bills, automobile repair, and any potential earnings lost. Even if the other driver admitted to being distracted and being at fault, they could easily change their mind after the fact. By hiring car accident lawyers in Sacramento at The Weinberger Law Firm, you can ensure your rights are protected.