What is distracted driving?
Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from
the task of driving. Any non-driving activity has the potential to distract
a driver from his primary task of driving and increases the risk of a
car accident. It is one of the leading causes of
Florida car accidents.
We all have busy lives and our culture encourages us to multitask. But,
multitasking while driving is never a good idea.
Common distractions include:
• Technology such as cell phones, Blackberries and GPS systems
• Children and pets
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming, doing hair, putting on make-up
• Reading, including looking at maps
• Watching a video
• Changing the radio station, CD, or MP3 player.
• Day dreaming
• Dealing with strong emotions
Driver distraction is a serious problem. In 2008, 5,870 people lost their
lives in accidents in which distraction was reported on the police crash
report. An additional 515,000 people were injured in distracted driving crashes.
Distracted Driving Facts:
•In 2008, there were a total of 34,017 fatal crashes in which 37,261
individuals were killed.
•In 2008, 16% of car accident fatalities involved distracted driving.
•The percentage of drivers distracted at the time of a fatal crashes
increased from 8 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2008.
•Drivers under age 20 had the highest proportion of distracted drivers
involved in fatal crashes (16%). The age group with the next greatest
proportion of distracted drivers was 20- to-29-year-olds (12%).
•An estimated 21 percent of 1,630,000 injury crashes were reported
to have involved distracted driving.
These numbers may be underestimates.
In naturalistic driving studies, in which vehicles are equipped with cameras
and data recording equipment, distracted driving was a factor in 22 percent
of all crashes and near-crashes recorded during the study period.
If you have been
injured in a West Palm Beach car crash caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for
your injuries, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering and other
losses. For more information,
contact West Palm Beach accident attorney Craig Goldenfarb at 1-(561) 600-5605.
Has the insurance company offered you a settlement? Don’t sign it
yet; download our free book: “What The Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know.”