It can be hard to ignore a text or phone call. We may feel like, in the age of smartphones, that we must always be immediately available to those trying to reach us. However, some people in the Olean area will try to engage in the dangerous practice of texting and driving. Texting and driving causes many serious car crashes every year. For this reason, November has been designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
How big is the distracted driving problem?
AAA reports that over 22% of distracted driving accidents involve a person using a smartphone while behind the wheel. In fact, texting and driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. On average, every day across the U.S. nine people will lose their life in a distracted driving accident, and 1,000 more will be injured. Even taking your eyes off the road for a mere two seconds could increase the chance you could be involved in an auto accident goes up two-fold.
How can you avoid distracted driving?
While the simple answer may be to simply ignore your phone while driving, this may be difficult or even impossible for some. For this reason, keeping your phone out of sight in the back seat or even the trunk of your vehicle could be a way to avoid texting and driving. In addition, utilizing the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” setting on your phone can make it so that you are not distracted while driving.
Seek legal advice if you are in a distracted driving crash
If you were injured in a crash involving a distracted driver, you may find your whole life has been turned upside down. You may be coping with hefty medical bills, lost wages from being unable to work, pain and suffering, mental anguish and more. For this reason, some people involved in distracted driving accidents choose to seek compensation from the responsible driver through a personal injury lawsuit. Attorneys in the Olean area may be a good source of information for those who want to learn more about their legal options following a distracted driving crash.
