All drivers need to pay attention and avoid causing car accidents
A common cause of car accidents in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and throughout Oklahoma is distracted driving. This is any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the task of driving. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and often leads to crashes that leave people seriously injured or killed.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” to focus on the problem and help make the roads safer.
EndDD.org is a campaign dedicated to reducing the number of accidents caused by distracted driving. It was founded by Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson after their daughter was struck and killed by a distracted driver in 2009.
A dangerous and deadly driving behavior
The campaign notes that distractions can be categorized into three types:
- Manual – Activities that move a driver’s hand away from the steering wheel.
- Visual – Activities that shift the focus of a driver away from the road.
- Cognitive – Activities that cause a driver’s mind to wander.
Examples of distracted driving include texting, talking on the phone, talking to passengers, eating, drinking, adjusting dashboard controls, looking for items on the floor, and rubbernecking. Some of these activities fall into more than one type – for example, texting is an example of all three types of distraction, which is why it's widely considered the most dangerous.
The campaign also cites troubling statistics:
- The NHTSA found that 7% of all fatal accidents in 2019 were related to distracted driving – a loss of 3,142 lives.
- In 2018, 1 in 5 people killed by a distracted driver were pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the NHTSA.
- A Cambridge Mobile Telematics study found that distracted driving occurred in more than 36 percent of trips across the country.
- According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, distracted driving is the cause of more than 58% of teen crashes.
- The CDC states that in fatal crashes, drivers aged 15-19 were more likely to be distracted than drivers aged 20 and over.
- In a survey, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 84% of drivers recognized the danger of using a cell phone while driving, but 36% of those same respondents admitted to having read or sent a text or e-mail while driving.
Talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Oklahoma
During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, advertising campaigns bring attention to this dangerous driving habit, and many law enforcement agencies increase efforts to catch distracted drivers.
A distracted driving accident can change lives in seconds. People can be left with serious injuries, which are sometimes fatal. Medical expenses can add up quickly, and if victims are unable to work, there is less income coming in. Victims and their families can struggle physically, emotionally, and financially.
Insurance companies are supposed to help when you’ve been injured in an accident. But they have adjusters and attorneys who work to pay you as little as possible. They may question the seriousness of your injuries or offer you a settlement that doesn’t come close to covering your damages.
That’s why you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. For decades, the injured in Oklahoma have been turning to Lawter & Associates. We know how to fight back against insurance company tactics and fight to help our clients recover the financial compensation they deserve.
To see how we can help with your potential legal case, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.