Every driver has the responsibility to drive in a manner that is reasonably safe in order to prevent causing accidents and injuries. When a driver engages in any type of activity that takes their attention from the road, they are no longer driving in a safe manner and are acting negligently. Distracted driving has become an epidemic in today’s society of multitasking and over-engagement, so much that the United States government has created a division1 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) devoted to combating distracted driving behaviors. Despite increasing awareness and education regarding the dangers of distracted driving, 424,000 people suffered injuries and 3,154 died2 due to distracted driving accidents in the U.S. in 2013 alone.
According to Distraction.gov, a distracting activity is anything that causes your eyes to leave the road (visual distraction), your hands to leave the wheel (manual distraction), or your focus to stray from the task of driving (cognitive distraction), or any combination of the three. Some of the most common driving distractions that lead to accidents include the following:
- Talking on a cell phone
- Talking to passengers
- Texting, emailing, or messaging
- Watching videos
- Programming a navigation system
- Reading, including directions or maps
- Eating or drinking
- Changing the radio or music player
- Listening to podcasts or audiobooks
- Personal grooming
- Checking on children in the backseat
- Reaching into other parts of the vehicle.
While all of these activities are risky, the ones that involve more than one type of distraction are considered to be the most dangerous. For example, texting involves all three types of distractions and is widely thought to be the most dangerous kind of modern driving distraction because of the high risk of accidents and injuries.
Contact an Experienced St. Louis Auto Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and any distracted drivers should be held liable for any injuries they cause. The experienced personal injury attorneys at The Bruning Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri are committed to helping injured victims receive the maximum amount of compensation they deserve, so please do not delay in calling us for a free consultation at 314-735-8100 today.
LET US GET STARTED ON YOUR ST. LOUIS CAR ACCIDENT CASE TODAY
If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured in an auto accident, contact The Bruning Law Firm today. We provide the comprehensive, professional legal representation you deserve at a time when you need it most.
Call or contact our office online today to schedule a free consultation.
References:
- http://www.distraction.gov/index.html
- http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html
