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