Former Prosecutor | Former Insurance Defense Attorney

Click To Call : Free Consultations

Criminal Defense
View Practice Areas

Personal Injury
View Practice Areas

Naples, Florida

Is distracted driving a public health crisis?

On Behalf of | Dec 1, 2017 | Blog

Florida readers know that distracted driving is a serious threat to the health and safety of every person on the roads. Often, people associate distracted driving with texting and driving, but that is not the only way that a driver could face the temptation to look away from the road while operating a vehicle.

More vehicles come with built-in technology than ever before, and more people than ever have access to distracting applications and features on their cell phones. In short, distracted driving is not a problem that will be going away any time soon. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, as many as 52 percent of drivers admitted to participating in distracting behaviors while driving, despite knowing its dangers.

An honest look at the facts

Most drivers know that distracted driving is extremely dangerous. However, this knowledge does not necessarily curtail this type of negligent behavior. In this study conducted by Consumer Reports, they asked 622 drivers various questions about their driving habits. This study revealed the following:

  • Forty-one percent of drivers admitted to manually texting while driving.
  • In addition to texting, 37 percent of drivers admitted to using their phones to play music, while 8 percent admitted to watching a video while driving.
  • Texting started as the main problem, but drivers now have the entire internet within access while they are operating a vehicle.

With the increase in distracted driving and other factors that increase the chance of an accident, the number of vehicle accident fatalities was over 37,000 in 2016 alone. Consumer Reports considers this a public health crisis.

You may think that distracted driving is a daunting problem. While it is a major issue, there are ways that individuals can combat this trend. One thing that you can do is to hold distracted drivers accountable for accidents caused by their negligent behavior. If an accident caused by a distracted driver injured you, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses.

What should victims do?

Due to the startlingly high number of drivers who admit to texting while driving and engaging in other distracting behaviors, it is possible that the accident that left you injured is the result of this issue. You have the right to fight for the full protection of your interests.

After an accident, it is useful to seek a complete evaluation of your case in order to better understand the legal options available to you. This can help you know the steps you should take in your effort to claim rightful restitution after a distracted driving accident.

Categories

Archives