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The dangers of distracted driving in North Carolina

On Behalf of | Nov 21, 2014 | Car Accidents |

The incidents of death and injury resulting from distracted driving have reached substantial levels in the United States. The recent increase in popularity of cellphones and other mobile devices has allegedly been responsible for a marked increase in loss of life and accident injuries. The Federal Communications Commission has created the FCC Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse for sharing and collecting information for the purpose of advancing technology to help reduce the problem.

Statistics show that 11 percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who survived automobile accidents were admittedly texting at the time of the crash. According to a Pew survey, 40 percent of teenagers in the U.S. admit to having been in a vehicle while a driver was putting people’s lives in danger by using a cellphone while driving.

Texting while driving is reported to be responsible for a crash risk that is equal to 23 times the average risk for non-distracted drivers, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Driver distraction in 2010 was responsible for 18 percent of all fatal accidents, with 3,092 people killed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Their studies also show that 416,000 people were injured due to distracted driving that same year.

When distracted driving results in car accidents, the victims or their families could choose to file a claim for compensation, as they may find themselves in a position where they have mounting medical bills, final expenses or loss of income to contend with. An attorney could help them by examining the evidence in the case and advising them of their rights and of how to proceed with building a viable case for pursuing compensation.

Source: FCC, “The Dangers of Texting While Driving“, November 19, 2014

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