Along with the convenience and flexibility afforded by mobile communication devices comes the increased probability of a driver being distracted from the road, possibly causing an accident that results in injury to a bystanding party. Statistics provided by the Federal Communications Commission highlight how driving has changed in recent years due to cellphone use. New York readers may be interested in the numbers provided by the FCC in order to protect themselves as they travel on the roads.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, driver distraction caused 18 percent of all crashes that led to injury or death. In those crashes, 3,092 people were killed and 416,000 were wounded. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that text messaging while driving creates an accident risk 23 times greater than non-distracted driving.
Government agencies are communicating in order to educate and inform the public of the problem and take preventative measures to prevent accidents and injuries. Parents have been encouraged to set a good example and to talk to any teen drivers in their families about the dangers of texting and driving.
Distracted drivers are a danger to the passengers in their cars, other motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and themselves. When a person has been injured in a car accident caused by the behavior of a preoccupied driver, the injured party could seek compensation to help with medical bills, rehabilitation and any lost wages that resulted from the crash. The injured person might consult with an attorney to learn what actions could result in a financial recovery.
Source: fcc.gov, “The Dangers of Texting While Driving“, September 12, 2014
