April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time of year dedicated to educating drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and ways to avoid it. drivers in February of 2022 were 30% more distracted than they were in February of 2020,. according to The Zebra,. The more distracted drivers on the road, the higher the risk of suffering a personal injury in a car accident becomes.
Let’s talk about the facts.
What is Distracted Driving?
While texting and driving is the most commonly discussed form of distracted driving, it is far from the only one. Distracted driving involves anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off of the task at hand. Below are some of the most common examples.
- Eating or drinking.
- Reaching for an object.
- Watching videos.
- Taking pictures.
- Daydreaming.
- Talking on the phone.
Why Is Distracted Driving Dangerous?
Unfortunately, many drivers don’t see the “big deal” with taking their eyes off the road to glance at a text, pick up something that fell, snap pictures, or other forms of distracted driving. These statistics prove exactly what the big deal is.
- About 20% of personal injuries from car accidents are caused by a distracted driver.
- Over 400,000 drivers were injured in distracted driving accidents with 2,800 resulting deaths.
- The risk of a car accident becomes 8 times higher when the driver reaches for an object while the vehicle is in motion.
- The risk of a collision becomes 3 times higher when the driver is eating or drinking behind the wheel.
- Distracted driving costs roughly 40 billion dollars.
- On average, 8 people die every day due to distracted driving, and more than 1,000 suffer personal injuries daily for the same reason.
- It takes the brain 13 seconds to refocus on driving after looking at a cell phone.
- It only takes 3 seconds for an accident to happen if the driver was distracted.
Missouri Law & Insurance
What are Missouri’s laws regarding distracted driving?
Currently, Missouri bans commercial vehicle drivers and drivers under the age of 21 from sending text messages while driving. However, according to St. Louis Public Radio, this might be changing soon. The state Senate’s transportation committee recently approved bipartisan legislation that has the potential to make texting and driving illegal for drivers of all ages.
As of now, Missouri drivers can be issued $200 citations if distracted driving laws are violated. If state laws and the above statistics weren’t enough to deter distracted drivers, insurance consequences will be. According to Trusted Choice, drivers in Missouri are charged an average of $131 more on their insurance rates within one year after getting into a car accident caused by distracted driving.
Call a Trusted Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, it’s important to call a trusted, local personal injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. What can a personal injury lawyer do for you?
- Gather the necessary evidence to prove that the other driver was distracted and at fault for the collision.
- Calculate the value of your personal injury including all injury related expenses such as medical bills, prescriptions, lost wages while in recovery, pain and suffering, and future costs.
- Guide you through the legal process.
- Handle communications with the insurance company.
- Negotiate a fair settlement or if necessary, file a lawsuit on your behalf.
Often, the big TV advertising and billboard law firms don’t even have an actual office near you. And your case is handled by a paralegal or assistant or associate and not a real trial lawyer.
If you’ve suffered a personal injury due to another party’s actions or negligence, you deserve to be compensated. Contact us today and schedule your initial consultation for free legal advice from a compassionate Columbia attorney near you.
