Car Accidents, Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving Awareness Month Delayed though Risks Remain

In previous years, the National Safety Council (NSC) has observed Distracting Driving Awareness Month in April. In 2020, the NSC announced it was postponing this awareness month until October due to the main focus of our population on the COVID-19 pandemic. While the specific educational programs planned by the NSC have been postponed, it is important to remember that the risks of distracted driving still exist on our roads and cause injuries on a regular basis.

Distracted Driving Dangers

According to NSC statistics, about 700 people sustain injuries in distracted driving accidents on nearly a daily basis in the United States. Distractions can include activities that take your eyes off the road, remove your hands from the wheel, or even just cause you to think of something other than driving. Some common distractions include:

• Using a smartphone to read or send messages
• Looking up directions or online information on your smartphone
• Using in-vehicle infotainment systems
• Taking care of children in the backseat
• Eating or drinking

In some cases, even daydreaming or focusing on the day ahead can be distracting enough to cause an accident. Many people might believe that smartwatches or your vehicle’s Bluetooth system are much safer than looking at a smartphone, though this is a misconception. These devices give drivers a sense of false security, as they still can create enough distraction to cause accidents.

COVID-19 Does Not Eliminate Distracted Driving Risks

Just because awareness programs – and most other activities – are currently put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak does not mean that distracted driving accidents and other traffic crashes do not still happen. There are still drivers on the roads, whether it is a delivery driver, an essential employee reporting to work, or someone heading out to get groceries. As long as there are drivers on the road, there is a chance for them to be distracted and cause accidents and injuries.

Risks of Distraction

When a driver loses focus for even a couple of seconds, many dangerous things can happen. Some common crashes caused by distracted drivers include the following:

• Rear-end accidents – Distracted drivers often fail to notice traffic slowing down or stopping in front of them, and they can crash into the back of another vehicle.
• Side-swipes – Distracted drivers often depart their intended lanes, and this can cause them to hit cars in adjacent lanes.
• Head-on collisions – Some drivers who depart from their lanes might even cross over into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on collision, which is often deadly.

There are many ways that distracted drivers injure others, and these drivers should be liable for the losses of injured accident victims.

Contact Our Austin Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Today

No matter how safe and alert you might be behind the wheel, other drivers might cause crashes because they are distracted. You should not hesitate to seek help from the Austin distracted driving accident lawyers at Terry & Kelly, PLLC. Contact us online or call (512)-910-2000 for a free discussion and case evaluation.