Massachusetts drivers and distracted driving

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Car Accidents, on Sunday, January 4, 2015

Distracted driving occurs in all 50 states, including Massachusetts. Any time a driver does anything that takes their attention off the road and safely piloting the vehicle, distracted driving occurs. Some examples of such behavior include tuning a radio, reading or responding to a text message, talking on a cell phone, applying makeup, and eating or drinking. Distracted driving is one of the most prevalent causes of auto accidents and results in thousands of injuries nationally each year. Text messaging is considered one of the most common and dangerous distracted driving behavior, increasing the risk of a car accident and injury. Because of the amount of attention the action requires, texting and driving may be greater factor in automobile accidents than drunk driving. Government statistics estimate that the average time to read a text is about five seconds, which is estimated to be long enough to drive a football field from one end zone to the other at 55 mph. Drivers in their teens and 20s are particularly at risk of distracted driving. According to data cited by the U.S. Government, drivers under the age of 20 were reported as distracted at the time of the crash in 10 percent of fatal crashes, and drivers in their 20s account for 27 percent of all distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes. In an accident caused by a distracted driver, records of the police investigation and first responders would be used to reconstruct the cause of the accident. Possible compensation may include medical expenses, long-term medical care for severe injuries and financial losses from extended periods off work. Source: Distraction.gov, “What is Distracted Driving?“, December 27, 2014