After decades of a reduction in roadway fatalities, U S. traffic deaths jumped in 2021, with the rate remaining high since then. According to a survey from Travelers Insurance, distracted driving appears to be the primary cause. The latest data from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration backs up this claim.
Some motorists admit to being distracted behind the wheel
The 2024 Travelers Index surveyed over 1,000 consumers and business managers about how they perceived driving risks in their daily lives. Four in 10 respondents experienced “near-miss” car accidents because of their own distracted driving. Another 12% admitted they had been involved in a crash due to their own distraction. Almost another third reported being in a crash due to other drivers’ inattentiveness.
Typical driving distractions involve:
- Updating or checking social media
- Texting or emailing
- Talking on a cell phone, even if hands’-free
- Recording videos or taking photos on a cellphone
The survey also indicated that drivers believe that voicing their concerns about the issue and offering financial rewards for safe driving may contribute toward better practices. Distracted driving can be prevented by calling attention to others’ driving habits and not performing dangerous tasks behind the wheel.
Injuries resulting from distracted driving
Distracted driving is a form of negligence. Injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents can run the gamut from nagging to debilitating. Crashes represent a negative turning point in victims’ lives, sometimes staying with them permanently. For multiple severe injuries, victims may spend considerable time in the hospital, followed by months or years of rehabilitation. During recovery, many remain unable to work.
Filing a claim against distracted drivers causing an accident can help victims pay for medical care, living expenses and lost wages if the lawsuit is successful. They will need to show that their negligence, if any, was not as great as that of the defendant.