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The connection between distracted driving and car accidents

On Behalf of | Mar 17, 2016 | Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Car drivers have a responsibility to keep everyone on the roadway safe. They do this by giving their full attention to the roadway and by following traffic safety laws. It is important for drivers to follow these rules in order to avoid devastating car accidents.

However, not every driver follows these very important rules. In fact, in today’s technology driven society, many individuals succumb to distracted driving. Distracted driving occurs when individuals try to split their attention between driving and some other task. This often includes texting while driving, talking on a cell phone while driving, using social media while driving and other uses of a cell phone in a car.

Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. Statistics from the United States government show just how dangerous distracted drivers are. According to data, 3,179 people were killed in 2014 by distracted drivers. In additional 431,000 people were injured by distracted drivers that year. These are sobering numbers and should not be taken lightly.

Younger drivers — between the ages of 15 and 19 years old — are particularly susceptible to distracted driving. According to data, 10 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes between the ages of 15 and 19 were distracted at the time of the crash. This is the largest proportion of distracted drivers among all of the age groups.

Sadly, this is not a problem that is getting better. In fact, data shows that distracted driving is only getting worse on U.S. roadways. According to one study, drivers who were texting while driving increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014. Additionally, data suggest that at any given moment on United States roadways, at least 660,000 drivers are operating a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Distracted drivers are extremely dangerous for everyone on Washington roadways. These drivers can easily cause a fatal or life-threatening car accident. When a family has been affected by a fatal car accident caused by a distracted driver, they should understand their legal rights. A wrongful death suit may help these families recover compensation for their losses. An attorney can help to explain these rights and their legal options following a fatal car accident.

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