Atlanta Distracted Driver Accident Attorneys
Distracted Driver Accident
Distracted driving results in over 5,000 deaths and over 20,000 injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The problem has increased in recent years. From 2005 to 2009, for instance, the number of fatal accidents involving a distracted driver increased from 10 percent to 16 percent.
Causes of Distracted Driving
Many activities and objects can distract a driver and cause accidents. Some of the most common distractions include listening to music, talking to passengers in the car, eating, and using a cell phone or other handheld device like a smartphone or GPS system. Distractions can be cognitive, taking a driver’s mind off the road. They can also be visual, taking a driver’s eyes off the road, or manual, taking a driver’s hands off the steering wheel to reach for or manipulate an object. Some common driver distractions, like sending text messages on a cell phone, combine all three different types of distraction at once, making them extremely dangerous. In fact, texting while driving poses such a risk that many U.S. states, including Georgia, have banned the practice altogether, issuing tickets to drivers who are caught doing it without needing to pull them over for a different violation.
Types of Driving Distractions
Some types of distraction cause more car accidents in Georgia than others. According to a study by the Gallup organization, approximately one-quarter of all distracted driving car accidents are caused by drivers who are busy looking for something outside the car, like a landmark or a street sign, or are looking at billboards, store signs, animals, or other objects along the roadway. These drivers forget that their primary job is to drive the car, and unfortunately, even a split second’s forgetfulness may cause an accident. Gallup also noted that tending to children inside a car, talking with passengers, and using a cell phone while driving were also major driver distractions responsible for many accidents each year.
Sometimes, drivers attempt to substitute one kind of distraction for another, thinking that the change will make them safer. For instance, many drivers switch to a hands-free device so they can talk on their cell phones while keeping both hands on the wheel. However, the NHTSA notes, this doesn’t actually cut down on the cognitive or mental distraction. Whether the driver is using a hands-free device or is holding the phone, his or her brain is still on the conversation. The driver then pays less attention to the road and increases the chances of causing a serious accident.
Young drivers, between ages 16 and 24, are most likely to suffer a distracted-driving-related accident, according to the NHTSA. However, older drivers should not assume that they are immune. A driver at any age can cause a vehicle crash in Atlanta if he or she is not paying proper attention to the road. When a Atlanta distracted driving car accident occurs, it’s not only the distracted driver who pays. Passengers in the driver’s car and those in any other vehicles involved in the accident may also suffer severe injuries or even lose their lives to a distracted driver’s negligence.
Solid Communication, Efficient Legal Strategies
At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our Atlanta distracted driver accident attorneys understand how challenging the aftermath of a car accident is. The complexities surrounding a Georgia car collision can become even more difficult to handle when caused by a distracted driver. We are dedicated to helping individuals injured and family members of those killed in Georgia distracted driver crashes obtain the compensation they deserve from negligent parties. Get in touch with our lawyers today to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
