Posted on Monday, August 1st, 2016 at 4:24 am
Distracted driving has become one of the most common reasons for traffic accidents and traffic fatalities in America. During 2014, 10 percent of traffic fatalities and 18 percent of injuries from traffic crashes were caused by distracted drivers. A total of 3,179 fatalities and 431,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents that year.
Have You Been Injured In A Distracted Driving Accident? Call Our Office Now For A Free Case Evaluation From A Sacramento Car Accident Attorney.
Many experts blame the increase in distracted driving accidents on the use of smart phones. Talking on a cell phone and texting while driving are common causes of distracted driving accidents; however, they are not the only cause of distracted driving accidents. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), other reasons for distracted driving accidents include:
- Distracted by other occupants in the car
- Distracted by an object moving in the car
- Adjusting the audio and/or climate controls
- Distracted by a person, object, or event outside of the vehicle
- Eating and/or drinking
- Smoking
- Grooming
- Lost in thought/daydreaming
Any activity that takes your attention and focus off the task of driving is considered a “distraction.” Texting and driving is one of the worst forms of distracted driving because it requires you to focus your eyes, hands, and thoughts on something other than the road ahead of you. However, as you can see, texting while driving and other cell phone use is not the only forms of distracted driving.
Consequences of Distracted Driving Accidents
Unfortunately, the consequences of a distracted driving accident can be devastating. The distracted driver can suffer serious injuries; however, innocent victims in other vehicles can have their lives turned upside down by the careless and reckless decisions and behaviors of another driver.
A victim of a distracted driving accident suffers financial damages in addition to physical injuries and emotional stress. For injuries requiring ongoing medical treatments, personal care, and/or rehabilitation, the cost for the accident victim can quickly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the person is unable to return to work due to the injuries sustained in the crash, the damages can reach into the millions of dollars.
Insurance companies do not want to pay these types of damages. If the insurance company does agree to pay damages, the coverage the person has may not cover all of the damages. In that case, you may need to file a claim against your own insurance policy if you have underinsured coverage. You may need to file a lawsuit to recover compensation from the driver if he or she has substantial assets.
Because distracted driving accidents can involve complex legal issues, you need a car accident attorney with experience handling these types of cases. You need attorneys who aggressively fights for their clients. You need us!
Call a Sacramento Car Accident Law Firm
Call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000. You can also chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free case evaluation. Our accident attorneys want to help you recover the compensation you deserve from the distracted driver who caused your traffic accident.
