Greenville Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer

How Distracted Driving Causes Crashes

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of serious car accidents in the United States. During 2012, more than 3,000 people died in crashes that involved a driver who was distracted at the time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

photodune 2847116 teenage girl texting and driving

The injury count for the same year is also alarmingly high, with more than 420,000 people sustaining minor to serious injuries in car accidents involving at least one distracted driver. This represents a 9-percent increase in the number of distracted driving injuries from the previous year.

If you sustained injuries in a car crash due to a negligent or distracted driver, there is a possibility that you may be able to claim for damages. If successful, you could receive compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, or medical treatment.

At the Churdar Law Firm, we specialize in representing clients who have suffered injuries due to another company or person’s negligence. We have achieved successful outcomes in injury cases involving a wide range of circumstances, and we may be able to do the same for you.

Call us today at 864-233-0203 to schedule an appointment so a Greenville personal-injury lawyer can look through your case and determine if you may have a valid claim. Read on for more information regarding distracted driving:

What is distracted driving?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define distracted driving as the point at which something or someone takes your attention off the road in front of you. The CDC claims there are three main forms of distraction in cars. These are visual, which is when the driver takes his or her eyes off the road, manual, which is when the driver takes his or hands off the steering wheel, and cognitive, which is when the driver may still have his or her eyes on the road and hands on the wheel but is not paying attention to the environment.

There is no limit to the variety of possible distractions in a car, but the most common forms include cell phones, eating, drinking and texting. Other technology and equipment within a car can also be a distraction, and tools such as GPS navigation systems can easily pull the driver’s attention away from the road.

What makes texting while driving so dangerous?

Of all the potential distractions, texting while driving is possibly the most dangerous. The CDC believes this is because texting falls into all three distraction categories since it requires physical, visual and cognitive awareness in order to complete. With all three components working together to cause a distraction, drivers are simply not able to focus on the road in front of them.

If you were the innocent victim of a car crash, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Call Upstate Lawyer today at 864-233-0203 to schedule an appointment and speak to a specialist Greenville accident attorney about your case.