Distracted Driving Accidents in Seattle
According to the U.S. Government, in 2011 there were 387,000 people injured in various motor vehicle collisions that were caused by some form of distracted driving. In that same year, there were 3,331 fatalities also due to those driving while distracted. What constitutes distracted driving? It involves any type of action that takes the driver's focused attention away from the road and places it elsewhere. It is the responsibility of every driver on the road to keep themselves, their passengers and other drivers safe by remaining attentive to their primary task of driving. While many distractions may seem minor to the driver, they can actually end up causing catastrophic injuries, even resulting in death. Consult with our Seattle distracted driving lawyer if you have been a victim of this kind of accident.
Types of Distractions that Frequently Cause Accidents
Many people feel somewhat invincible when driving as if the car could almost drive itself without the help of a driver. They take their hands of the wheel, look at their phones or turn to talk with their friends without considering the fact that sudden changes can occur on the road at any second. Looking away from the street ahead could easily cause a vehicle to miss seeing that a light has changed from green to red, that a car has merged in front of them or that the highway is coming to a quick stop.
These common distractions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Drinking and eating
- Grooming (ie: fixing hair, applying makeup, flossing teeth, etc)
- Talking on the phone
- Texting
- Having conversations with other passengers
- Reading a map or even a book
- Looking down to adjust the radio, iPod, CD player, air conditioning controls or other controls
- Using a GPS system
Those that choose to take their eyes off the road or act in a careless manner endangering the lives of others around them should be held accountable for their actions. Always speak with a knowledgeable lawyer after a car accident related to distracted driving.
The Danger of Handheld Devices
All of the above can be the cause of a horrible accident, yet texting is by the far one of the most dangerous. There were 196 billion text messages sent throughout the U.S. in just the month of June 2011. Additionally, when drivers choose to use any sort of handheld device or phone on the road, they are 4 times more like to seriously injure themselves in a crash. Even those that choose to use a headset and keep both of their hands-free, which is legal, it still reduces the amount of brain activity that is utilized most when driving by 37 percent, according to Carnegie Mellon.
Overall, it comes down to common sense and realizing that performing any other type of task while trying to drive can quickly become a dangerous situation. For those that have been the victim of injury or lost a loved one due to texting and driving, please contact our firm right away. With our compassionate legal team, we are prepared to seek justice on your behalf.
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Achieves Millions for Past Clients
Our lead injury advocate, Attorney J.D. Smith, has been named one of the Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers for the entire state of Washington. This is a prestigious achievement given to only those with the highest level of dedication and record of successful case results. Highly trained in trial cases and more than qualified to take on any personal injury case, our legal team has obtained millions of dollars in settlements for past clients throughout Seattle.
Contact our Seattle attorney to learn more about how we can best help you!
