Most of our readers in Atlanta have seen the signs of distracted drivers on the roadways in the metropolitan area. They slowly swerve out of their lanes, jerk the wheel back to correct and sometimes, as you pass by them, you see them staring at their phones instead of watching the roads.
The danger these drivers present to themselves and all others on the roads is substantial.
April has been declared “National Distracted Driving Awareness” month, as a recent news article mentioned. However, the statistics seem to show that distracted driving is a problem that may not be solved anytime soon.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of all the deadly motor vehicle crashes that occurred in one recent year – 2021 – approximately 8% involved distracted drivers in some way.
The recent news article pointed out that these days drivers can get special apps on their phones to block calls and text messages while driving. And, of course, if drivers don’t want to get a special app, they can always take the precaution of simply pulling off of the road if they need to make a call or send a text message.
Safety first
Even though raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is obviously a good thing, it doesn’t help those who have already been injured by this type of negligent and reckless conduct. Anyone who has been injured by a distracted driver may have legal options to consider.
A successful personal injury lawsuit could lead to an award of financial compensation that could cover expenses such as medical bills and lost wages from work, among other expenses.