Over 3,000 are Killed from Distracted Driving Annually
A recent study on the human brain showed that when drivers listen to conversations while they are behind the wheels of their vehicles, the capacity of their brains to concentrate on spatial processing is greatly diminished. This brain function is necessary while operating a motor vehicle. Engaging in a conversation or other act of distracted driving can pose a hazard to oneself and others in or near the roadway. Sadly, a Texas car accident due to distracted driving is far from unusual.
According to data from 2010 statistics, there were approximately 3,092 people killed in motor vehicle accidents across the nation that year that involved distracted driving. Among teenagers who drive, studies show that at least 40 percent of them have admitted to using cellular telephones while driving motor vehicles. Talking on a cell phone and sending text messages while driving are two of the most significant factors that cause distracted driving accidents.
These and other distracted actions inhibit a person’s focus when he or she is driving a motor vehicle. Attention is led away from the road and drivers are not as capable of appropriately reacting to changes in traffic patterns when they are looking down to send a text message or engaging in conversation on a phone. Often, this type of behavior behind the wheel leads to accidents that result in personal injuries or, worse, fatalities.
Contact a Texas Attorney to File a Claim Against a Distracted Driver
Telephone mogul AT & T recently launched a campaign to deter drivers from texting behind the wheel. As part of the campaign, stories of families who have suffered the untimely deaths of their loved ones, as well as victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries and other serious wounds in accidents where a driver was talking on a phone or texting, were publicized to raise awareness and encourage motorists to leave their cell phones untouched while driving their motor vehicles. In Texas cases where a car accident results in a personal injury, the injured victim may file a legal claim against the party deemed responsible in order to seek compensation for damages such as medical bills, emotional pain and suffering and/or necessary long-term living assistance that has become necessary in recovery.
Source: safemotorist.com, “When To Pay Attention – The Consequences of Distracted Driving“, Accessed on July 7, 2015
