Over the years, a lot of attention has been paid to distracted driving. Much of this is due to cellphone use. Many states have instituted laws prohibiting the use of handheld devices in the car.
Despite this awareness and these legal changes, distracted driving accidents continue to happen. They lead to thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Why is it that this danger won’t seem to abate?
Cellphone addiction issues
There are many potential reasons, starting with the fact that many people have cellphone use disorders that border on addictions. They’re so accustomed to using their phone all the time that they may just react instinctively and pick it up if they get a notification. It seems simple enough for someone to turn their phone off if they have to do a half-hour drive, but that feels like an inordinate amount of time to many people. They may decide to do things like checking their notifications at red lights or even trying to text and drive.
There are other kinds of distractions
On top of that, distraction itself continues to be an issue because it extends beyond cellphone use. Even if someone doesn’t decide to text and drive, they could be distracted by their GPS, the music on the radio, adjusting the mirrors, talking to passengers, talking to children, looking at a map or trying to eat and drink in the car. All of these distractions can cause serious accidents.
Have you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by another negligent driver? If you have, be sure you know what legal steps you can take to seek financial compensation.