We all know that kids these days seem to have their smartphone or tablet attached to their hands. No matter where we go, we see them firmly focused on them, often not paying attention to where they are walking or even people who are trying to talk to them. While we have seen an occasional viral video of someone tripping while messing with their smartphone, it seldom ever leads to anything more serious than embarrassment and a bruised ego. But when the driver of a car is focused on their smartphone, things could get serious.
The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released statistics showing an alarming trend running amok throughout the United States, including Quincy, Massachusetts and the surrounding area – distracted driving. And the statistics are troubling. In 2015, there were 3,477 deaths on the roads as a result of distracted driving. While smartphones are to blame for many of these accidents, there are other ways a driver could become distracted.
Drinking or eating while driving, messing with the radio, or even talking or interacting with other passengers are also common forms of distracted driving. According to the recent findings, teenagers were the leading age group when it comes to distracted driving accident fatalities, and many of them can be attributed to smartphone usage.
Although state and local authorities are starting to crack down on texting and driving and creating laws that require drivers to use hands-free devices, distracted driving remains a serious concern for drivers throughout the country. If you have been involved in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damage. You may want to reach out to firm familiar with personal injury to learn how to proceed.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Distracted Driving,” Accessed on July 3, 2017
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