Why Should You Hire a West Jordan Car Accident Lawyer?

It is April which means it is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During this month everyone, especially the police, will be spending more time focused on distracted driving. So watch out, you may get a ticket.

Distracted Driving by the Numbers

In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and another 431,000 injured as a result of car accidents involving distracted drivers. Among car accidents involving teenage drivers, ten percent admit to being distracted at the time. Drivers ages 20 to 29 compose 23 percent of all drivers but account for 38 percent of distracted drivers in fatal car accidents. Distracted driving is an increasing cause of car accidents.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving, contrary to popular opinion, encompasses more than cell phones and texting. Every time you change the radio, turn your head to chat, glance at your navigation, or reach down to pick up something, you are distracted. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) denotes three classifications of distracted driving:

1. Visual distractions that pull your eyes away from the road, like looking for something you dropped.
2. Manual distractions that take your hands off the road, like reaching for the radio.
3. Focus distraction that redirects your attention from the road, like speaking to someone on a Bluetooth.

Why is it Dangerous?

It takes the average person five second to read a text message. It takes a car traveling 55 mph five seconds to move 120 yards, or the length of a football field. According to the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), people who text and drive are 23 times more likely get into a fatal car accident.

The number of distractions continues to increase every year. Cars are “smarter.” Smartphone use is way up. In 2014, 80 percent of drivers reported owning a smartphone. Furthermore, smart devices, like watches and fitness trackers, keep increasing in sales. The 21st Century driver is surrounded by distractions from phones, to video billboards to navigation.

The Law

So far, there is no national ban on texting and driving however most states, including Utah, a ban is in some form. Utah first banned texting and driving in 2009. In 2013 the law was updated to ban any phone use, other than hands-free, while driving. Distracted driving is dangerous. Keep your eyes and focus on the road. Stay safe.

A Solution to an Unfortunate Accident

Should you be the unlucky enough to be the victim of a car accident due to a negligent driver, there is a solution in the Symco Injury Law, based in Salt Lake City and near West Jordan. Our committed and experienced team of lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve. We encourage you to contact us today and come in for a free consultation. And of course, if we don’t win your case, you pay us nothing.