As law enforcement, legislators and research agencies seek methods to improve safety on the roads and convince drivers to adhere to the law, various strategies are used. Massachusetts drivers should know that April has been dubbed Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Safety Council. While the attempts on the part of the NSC and insurance companies to ramp down distracted driving is a worthwhile endeavor, the backstory behind the need for it is the number of drivers who are texting and driving and behaving as a distracted driver when on the road.
According to the NSC, there were more than 40,000 deaths on U.S. roads in 2017. That is the second year in a row where the fatalities surpassed that number. There were also approximately 4.57 million who suffered serious injuries in car accidents. A representative from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America says that the use of smartphones while driving is one of the most prominent causes of accidents across the nation. Given the advancement in safety technology in vehicles, it is a contradiction that there are still so many accidents and injuries. The growing number of people who have devices and use them while driving is a major cause for that disparity.
TrueMotion, a software developer, says that 71 percent of drivers text and drive. Ninety-two percent are using the smartphone in general when behind the wheel. That includes talking, checking email, surfing the web, using apps and social media. The goal of an endeavor like Distracted Driving Awareness Month is to highlight how risky the behavior is and convince drivers to stop doing it.
For those who have been in an auto accident, they are justified in thinking that it was due to a distracted driver. With the injuries and expenses that accompany such a crash, it is wise to understand how important a legal filing is to recover compensation. Medical costs, lost wages, the need for extensive care and other issues can place a strain on a person in every way. A lawsuit can help to cover the costs and provide compensation after a car accident. Knowing if the crash was due to a distracted driver can be integral to a case. A legal professional can help with pursuing a claim.
Source: claimsjournal.com, “Distracted Driving Awareness Month Highlights Changes Needed to Modify Habits,” April 2, 2018