Distraction causing a car accident may come in many forms

As technology evolves and social media and interactive gaming expands, it seems to get harder for safety advocates to keep up with warnings. Once, cell phones were the main culprit of distracted driving. Soon texting, social media and other apps took drivers’ eyes off the road. The latest distraction is Pokemon Go, a reality video game causing accidents among pedestrians as well as drivers. Sadly, it may take causing a car accident for some people in Pennsylvania to understand the danger of distracted driving.

Reportedly, eight people die each day in accidents caused by distracted drivers, but this number is likely higher since some drivers do not admit they were using a phone at the time of the accident. The National Safety Council says that, based on observation alone, cell phone use accounts for about 25 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. One study estimates that reading one text is like driving blind for the length of a football field and may increase by six times a driver’s chances of causing an accident.

Surveys reveal that many teens are still denying the danger of distractions behind the wheel, and many admit that they check their social media while driving. Interestingly, the more conscientious a teenager is, the more likely he or she is to text behind the wheel. Psychologists speculate that these dependable young people feel that responding to a message is the conscientious thing to do, even if it is dangerous.

Of course, all the statistics and surveys in the world do not comfort a family who has lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a distracted driver. People whose parents, spouses, siblings or children died because a driver was checking a social media page are left struggling to put their lives back together. Although no amount of money can fill the void, those in Pennsylvania who face this kind of tragedy may contact a personal injury attorney for guidance in pursuing compensation for their loss.

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: cnn.com, “Distracted driving: From texts to ‘Pokemon Go’“, Kelly Wallace, August 1, 2016