Distracted Driving and Car Accidents: What You Need to Know
With drivers’ attention pulled in countless different directions, staying focused on the road ahead can be difficult. Whether you’re sending a text, handing a snack to a backseat passenger, or changing your playlist, distracted driving is more common than most people would like to admit. While it may seem like a perfectly innocent practice, distracted driving claims thousands of lives each year.
Types of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can take several different forms, including the following:
- Visual: Taking your eyes off the road (checking on children, looking at an accident on the side of the road, reading a billboard)
- Manual: Removing your hands off the steering wheel (sending a text/email, eating, drinking)
- Cognitive: Allowing your mind to wander from the task at hand (talking to a passenger, daydreaming)
Effects of Distracted Driving Car Accidents
Distracted driving accidents can make a devastating impact, potentially even resulting in fatality.
After a wreck, you may experience the following:
- Physical injuries (concussion, whiplash, bruising, fractures)
- Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety)
- Property damage (damage to vehicle or possessions inside)
- Finance losses (medical bills, vehicle repairs)
Prevention and Awareness
Because human error is responsible for many car accidents, modern vehicles’ driver assistance technology can help keep families safe on the road. Features like blind spot monitoring, emergency braking, and forward collision warning can be incredibly beneficial – especially to drivers who may be tempted to take their eyes or attention off the road.
Teen drivers are particularly susceptible to distraction, so education is key. Initiatives and organizations, like Students Against Destructive Decisions, can help remind teenagers about the risk of distracted driving. Parents can play their part by setting a good example.
Plus, many states have put laws and regulations in place to discourage smartphone use, issuing fines to drivers who use mobile devices at the wheel. State and local government leaders have made it their mission to raise awareness, working hard to prevent distracted driving accidents in the communities they call home.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident
After your accident, follow these steps:
Step 1: Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical care if needed. (Note: Even if you do not think you are injured, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms may not be evident right away.)
Step 2: Document the distracted driving accident scene by taking photos and exchanging contact information with everyone involved. Record vehicle details (make, model, license plate) and insurance information too, and jot down any relevant observations.
Step 3: Contact your auto accident attorney. Because the insurance company is not on your side, it is best not to make a statement. Let your lawyer handle all communications moving forward.
Contact Ross Moore Law Today!
Here at Ross Moore Law, our personal injury attorneys know the life-changing impacts of car accidents all too well. We have extensive experience handling distracted driving cases like yours, so get in touch! Our team is eager to put our experience to work for you.
Call us today or book a free consultation online!
Conveniently located in the heart of Atlanta, GA, we are proud to serve clients throughout the surrounding areas of Athens, Alpharetta, Peachtree Corners, Marietta and more! In addition to Georgia clients, we welcome Tennessee clients as well! Get in touch today.
Attorney Ross Moore and our personal injury team handle a wide range of personal injury cases, including:
- Wrongful Death
- Catastrophic Injury
- Car Accident
- Pedestrian Accident
- Bus Accident
- Rideshare Accident
- Bicycle Accident
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