April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in America. From our perspective, it remains an incredibly important awareness issue. As experienced accident attorneys, we speak to accident victims every day, some of them injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers. Although phones and other electronic devices are major sources of distraction, it’s certainly not the only way motorists get distracted:
- Sending, typing, or reading a text
- Talking to someone on the phone, whether handsfree or handheld
- Arguing with passengers
- Breaking up fights between kids in the backseat
- Eating
- Applying cosmetics or other personal grooming
- Using a map or navigation
Distracted driving has always been dangerous because it takes your mind, eyes, and hands away from the task of driving, sometimes all at once. Although driving feels commonplace, it’s important to recognize it for what it is: A skill. It takes experience, concentration, and good judgment to drive safely. Distracted driving is unfortunately poor judgment, and is not at all uncommon. You probably see someone texting while driving at least once a week. While laws may help to curb the activity, distracted driving causes crashes regularly.
During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we hope that you’ll take the opportunity to commit to distraction-free driving. If you have children, teach them driving skills that include eliminating distractions behind the wheel. Encourage friends and family to drive without distractions. If we are going to reduce these crashes as a society, we must actively take steps to recognize what constitutes distracted driving and how we may engage in these behaviors despite our good intentions.
Can You Hold a Distracted Driver Accountable?
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else and you are unsure of what to do next, we encourage you to call the experienced lawyers at McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum, LLP. We have decades of experience advocating for the victims of catastrophic personal injury. For a case review, please call us in New York at 518-792-1174, or in Florida at 305-751-8556. If a careless, reckless, or distracted driver caused the crash, you may be able to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.