Now more than ever, there is a barrage of distractions all vying for your attention. Unfortunately, these distractions can follow an individual anywhere, even behind the wheel. Shocking statistics from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety show that 53 percent of all traffic crashes involved a distracted or suspected distracted driver. Additional data suggests that at least one of every five Georgia drivers may be distracted at any given time or location.
Distracted driving has become a significant problem in Georgia and across the country. Learning about the most common causes of driving accidents can help protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming another Georgia distracted driving statistic.
What Is Distracted Driving?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts a driver from the safe operation of their motor vehicle. While most people think about texting or mobile devices, driver distractions come in all shapes and sizes, and understanding distracted driving dangers and statistics can highlight just how serious and widespread the problem is.
Three categories of distractions can divert a driver’s attention and prevent them from focusing on the road. These distractions include:
- Visual Distractions – Visual distractions keep a driver’s eyes off the road. Electronic devices, like phones and navigation systems, are the most common visual distractions. Data from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety indicates that using a mobile device while driving makes an individual nearly four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Other common visual distractions include billboards, signs, external objects, and looking for things inside a vehicle.
- Manual Distractions – A manual distraction takes a driver’s hands off the steering wheel. Eating, drinking, grooming, adjusting controls, texting, and reaching for loose objects are examples of manual distractions that can lead to car accidents.
- Cognitive Distractions – Drivers need more than hand-eye coordination to operate a vehicle safely. They also need good judgment and to pay close attention to their surroundings to react to changing conditions when necessary. Cognitive distractions take a person’s mind off the road, like daydreaming or engaging in animated or intense conversations.
Top Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents
The number one cause of distracted driving-related accidents comes down to driver error. The actions of careless drivers, ignoring their surroundings and failing to pay attention to what is going on around them, cause disastrous accidents across Georgia. Some of the most common driver-related errors that lead to distracted driving accidents include:
- Making phone calls or talking on the phone
- Texting
- Checking or sending emails
- Using a GPS or navigation system
- Eating
- Drinking
- Grooming or putting on makeup
- Adjusting the radio
- Listening to loud music
- Smoking or vaping
- Talking to passengers
- Reaching for loose objects
- Loose pets
- Daydreaming
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, some of the most common distracted driver convictions reported to the Department of Driver Services in Georgia include:
- Failure to use due care
- Unlawful use of a wireless device
- Unlawful use of a wireless device in a commercial vehicle
- Operating a vehicle while text messaging
In recent years, Georgia has expanded its Hands-Free Law, making it illegal for motorists to hold a phone or mobile device or touch any part of their body while driving. Penalties for violating the Hands-Free Law include fines and points added to an individual’s driver’s license.
The Impact of Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving kills. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that at least nine people per day lose their lives in accidents involving a distracted driver, amounting to more than 3,000 lives lost annually and hundreds of thousands of injured individuals.
Physical Consequences
The unfortunate reality of distracted driving accidents is that a person can be left with lifelong consequences in the blink of an eye. When someone ignores their surroundings, they often don’t have the time or reflexes to react to changing road conditions, which can easily cause a dangerous accident that puts everyone at risk. This inattention means that they cannot take meaningful actions to prevent or mitigate the consequences of an accident, increasing the intensity of a collision.
Distracted driving accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, scarring, disfigurement, and disability. Numbers from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety show that in Georgia, 30 percent of all serious injury crashes involved at least one suspected distracted driver. Serious injuries can impact a person’s health and overall quality of life, leaving them struggling to enjoy the activities they once loved.
Financial Consequences
Serious injuries from distracted driving accidents can also impact a person’s financial stability. In the short term, missing work while recovering can make it challenging to pay the bills and stay afloat. Injuries may also be so significant that they prevent a person from returning to work in the same capacity as before the crash or from returning to work, leading them into an even more significant financial pit.
Emotional Consequences
Beyond the physical and financial impact of a distracted driving accident, these types of collisions can also lead to significant mental health issues for surviving victims. The repercussions of driver inattention can cause distracted driving accident victims to suffer depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The impact of a Georgia distracted driving accident cannot be overstated. These traumatic events affect nearly all aspects of a victim’s life, from their physical and mental health to their financial situation. There is a good reason more states are passing and enforcing distracted driving laws. It’s because taking your eyes, hands, or attention off the road, even for a few seconds, can change your life and the lives of others forever.
Please read more about Fatigue Affecting Truck Accidents: How Does Fatigue Affect Truck Accidents?
A Georgia Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Knows How to Help
The distracted driving car accident lawyers in Georgia at Chris Hudson Law Group understand what’s at stake. When a careless, distracted driver shatters your life, we are here to help you pick up the pieces, pursuing compensation for your injuries and holding the distracted driver accountable for their actions. Our team is here to help you understand your rights and take the first step toward securing the necessary benefits.
Contact us online or call us at (706) 863-6600 to arrange a free legal consultation to discuss your situation. Let our legal team help you understand your rights and options for seeking fair compensation.
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