Around the world, up to 50 million people get injured in road crashes per year. To make matters even worse, about 1.25 million of those people die.
In the United States, more than 37,000 people die annually in road crashes each year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that distracted driver contributes to nine deaths and more than 1,000 injuries per day in the U.S.
Clearly, distracted driving makes the roads less safe for everyone. Since it poses such a great risk, you should know about the effects of driving distracted and what to do when another driver crashes into you.
Distracted Driving Creates as Much Risk as Drunk Driving
When you think of the most dangerous driving situation, you probably imagine a drunk person behind the wheel.
You may want to change your idea of a dangerous driver. When it comes to the number of injuries, driving distracted does more harm than driving while intoxicated. According to statistics from Arrive Alive, distracted driving causes about 391,000 injuries per year. Drunk driving injures about 290,000 people.
Driving drunk does, however, contribute to more deaths (about (10,000 per year) than driving while distracted (about 3,500 per year).
What Makes Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
Many drivers seem to think that they can operate their vehicles well while diving their attention among several tasks. Unfortunately, they over-estimate their abilities. When driving, you should focus on driving. Nothing else.
Distracted drivers cannot give their full attention to the road, so they aren’t prepared when something out of the ordinary happens. Distracted drivers often can’t react fast enough when other cars cut them off, they encounter cyclists on the street, or someone steps onto the street suddenly.
Drivers spend so much time behind the wheel that they think they can do it automatically. When put to the test, though, any distraction can lead to an injury. It doesn’t matter how many hours a person has spent behind the wheel.
Common Distractions That Prevent Drivers From Paying Attention
As of February 2019, 81% of Americans own smartphones. More than 95% of Americans own some type of cellphone.
Unfortunately, many drivers have become addicted to their smartphones. The average person admits to checking their smartphones 52 times per day. That’s more than three times per hour during the waking day.
Smartphone dependency becomes such a problem for some people that they feel anxious without their devices. Separation anxiety happens often enough that it has earned the name “nomophobia.” With such a high level of dependency, it’s not surprising that some people can’t resist using their phones while driving.
Smartphones aren’t the only sources of distraction, though. Some of the most common distractions include:
- Using the stereo.
- Talking to other people in the vehicle.
- Using GPS devices and apps.
- Eating and drinking.
Even roadside billboards can distract you long enough to crash into someone.
What to Do When a Distracted Driver Injures You
When distracted driving causes personal injury, you need to take the right steps to protect yourself and get the compensation you deserve.
If you get injured in any vehicle crash, you should:
- Document the scene by taking pictures and talking to bystanders.
- Get the other driver’s contact, license, and insurance information.
- Call the police so they can create an official report.
- Go to the nearest emergency room to have your injuries treated.
- Contact your insurance company to report the incident.
Once you have addressed your physical injuries, you need to start thinking about how you will get compensated for your personal injuries.
In some cases, a personal injury will not disrupt your life. Depending on your job, you can still probably go to work with a broken foot. When this happens, you probably just need the other driver’s insurance company to pay for medical bills.
If the crash causes serious injuries, though, you may have to spend weeks or months away from work while you recover. When this happens, someone needs to pay for your lost wages and other expenses.
Injured by a Distracted Driver? A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Insurance companies don’t always want to compensate injured drivers as well as they deserve. Litigation with help from a personal injury lawyer will make it easier to get your full compensation.
The insurance company has a team of lawyers on its side, so you need legal representation from a law group with years of litigation and personal injury experience. Contact Bennett Injury Law to learn more about your legal options and get the litigation representation you need.
