April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in America. Although texting leading to car accidents may be the first thing that springs to mind, there is a virtually endless number of activities and behaviors that can be dangerously distracting.
Despite everything we know about the dangers of inattentive driving, it continues to be a widespread problem. Consider the following facts from AAA:
- 1 in every 10 deadly accidents involves distracted driving
- Distraction is involved in about 18 percent of accidents resulting in injury
- Hundreds of thousands of people are injured in crashes involving distracted drivers
- More than 3,000 people are killed as a result of distracted driving annually
- Looking away from the road for more than 2 seconds doubles your accident risk
When you think of distraction as anything that occupies your mind, requires your hands, or takes your eyes off the road, you realize that even daydreaming or getting lost in your thoughts can be dangerously distracting. Other distractions include:
- Texting
- Cell phone and personal device use
- Screens and dashboard systems
- Eating and drinking
- Personal grooming, styling hair, applying cosmetics, etc.
- Arguing or getting overly involved in a conversation with passengers
- Dealing with fights, crying, or other situations with children in the backseat
- Thinking about a work deadline, a conversation you had earlier, things you need to do, or any distracting thoughts that take your mind off the road
The situation on the road can change in the blink of an eye. A calm and peaceful commute can have the switch flipped on it with unexpected situations like tire blowouts, someone running a red light, an animal in the road, or someone driving the wrong way. That is why as motorists we must always have our attention on the road and the task of driving.
When You Are the Victim of a Distracted Driver
Even if you do your best to be an attentive and thoughtful motorist, you may find yourself or a loved one injured in a car accident caused by a distracted or reckless driver. If that is the case, we hope you will call the experienced Chicago lawyers at Sklare Law Group, at 312-759-1616. We are passionate advocates for people who have been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence. We are here to provide you with answers and to look out for what is best for you during this bewildering time.