New Jersey residents may be unaware of a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning distracted driving. According to the federal agency, distracted driving can be caused by a number of circumstances, including using a cellphone, texting while driving or eating in the car. Texting while driving may be one of the most dangerous types of distractions.
Every day in the United States, over nine people are fatally wounded in vehicle accidents involving distracted driving, and over 1,153 people are injured. The problem has become major in the U.S. In 2012, over 3,328 people were fatally wounded in accidents involving distracted driving, and over 421,000 people were injured in the same way, a 9 percent increase from reported injuries in 2011. Because of the increasing numbers related to distracted driving, many new laws and regulations have been passed in order to address the dangers associated with it.
Some people may be unaware of how risky distracted driving is; others may understand the risks but choose to text while driving anyways. One of the biggest mistakes a driver can make is to believe that the statistics to not apply to them. An accident can occur in just a few moments and cause serious injuries or fatalities to both the distracted driver and others on the road. Drivers who are the most inexperienced, typically under the age of 20, may be most at risk of causing a distracted driving accident.
If an individual is injured in a car crash that was caused by a distracted driver, they may hire an attorney to assist in recovering compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. If it is proven that distracted driving caused the accident, the at-fault driver may be required to compensate the other parties.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Distracted Driving“, January 03, 2015