In early September, our Bloomfield Hills car accident attorneys presented information about the anti-texting campaign being run by AT&T. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said distracted driving has become an epidemic on America’s roadways, and he applauds the work the company is doing to raise awareness of the dangers associated with texting and driving. The recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seem to support LaHood’s theory.
The NHTSA studied all traffic accidents in 2010 to determine the impact distracted driving had on crashes that year. The NHTSA researchers found that distracted driving caused nearly 10 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in 2010. In the United States, 1 in 10 fatal accidents were due to a driver that was not paying full-time attention.
Although cellphone usage is the primary target for campaigns urging drivers to stay attentive, the report found that other distractions can also lead to accidents. Researchers looked at distractions including those caused by adjusting audio and temperature controls, reaching for objects in the car, eating or drinking, smoking, or a passenger in the car, as well as others.
In 2010, according to the NHTSA, 3,092 people were killed and 416,000 people were injured in traffic accidents involving distracted drivers. 408, or 13 percent, of the fatalities occurred in crashes in which at least one of the drivers was using a cell phone. 24,000, or six percent, of the injuries were attributed to cellphone usage.
Young drivers were more likely to be distracted. Eleven percent of all drivers under age 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. Of those, 19 percent were distracted by the use of cellphones.
Our Bloomfield Hills car accident attorneys have seen the impact a distracted driving accident can have on a family. The physical, emotional and financial toll can leave the family overwhelmed. We encourage all drivers to put all distractions aside when getting behind the wheel and focus on arriving safely at your destination.
A Michigan Car Accident Attorney Can Help
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver in Michigan, you have a legal right to seek compensation. But you have limited time to file a lawsuit, so it’s important to contact a Michigan car accident lawyer without delay. We will handle the necessary paperwork to make sure you don’t miss important deadlines. If you have been injured in a car accident, we can help you obtain a fair settlement.
We respond promptly to telephone calls and report regularly on developments in your case. Call The Michigan Injury Lawyers at 866-577-7215, or contact us online. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.