At Patterson Law Group, many people come to us for assistance after they’ve been in an auto collision with someone who was driving distracted. It pains us to see scenario after scenario where distracted driving has caused great injury and suffering to an individual or family. As professionals who love our state of Texas and witness so many cases of distracted driving, we’ve made it our work to help put this dangerous behavior to an end.
What is Distracted Driving?
Sometimes, the most dangerous obstacles to arriving safely at your destination are right inside of a car. Drivers are taking risky actions while behind the wheel of a vehicle, and it’s time that we expose these dangers. Some of the hazardous behaviors that drivers are engaging in include:
- Checking email or texting
- Checking social media
- Browsing the internet
- Streaming video content via Youtube or Netflix
- Drinking and eating in the car
- Putting on makeup and grooming
- Reading books or Kindles
- Programming or switching music
- Talking on the phone
- Navigating their GPS
Distracted Driving in Texas
Sadly, as of November 4th, 2016, at least one person has been killed on a Texas road every day since the turn of the millennium. This unfortunate statistic is just the start of a horrible distracted trend record in our state. The issue in its entirety is quite mind blowing and troublesome.
Since November 7, 2000, 55,578 people have died on Texas roadways, all the direct result of a traffic collision. This number equates to almost 10 people per day killed on Texas roads.
We have a huge problem in Texas and it needs to be addressed. Texas residents have to look at their own driving behaviors and challenge others to stay self-aware as well. Distracted driving is negatively impacting individuals’ abilities to drive safely, becoming a leading cause of car collisions and deaths in the state.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, “Nearly 1 in 5 traffic crashes in Texas are caused by a distracted driver.” DOT’s statistics report as of April 2015 that 468 people were killed that year due to a distracted driver. The number was up from the previous year. This increasing uptick is concerning to say the least.
What to do if You’ve Been Hit by a Distracted Driver
It can be tough going up against insurance companies by yourself. These huge corporations have millions of dollars to spend on lawyers who will defend them. You need your own attorney who will look after your best interests if you’ve been involved in a distracted driving case.
Even if you’re only dealing with your insurance company because the other party was driving without insurance, you need to hire a personal injury attorney to help you attain compensation for your injuries and any suffering.
How to Avoid Driving Distracted Yourself
We can only do so much to influence the behaviors of others, but we can definitely control our own actions. Whenever you’re tempted to do something in your vehicle the keeps you from paying full attention on the road, think about the potential dangers at hand.
Some ways that you can avoid distracted driving include:
- Letting kids choose the radio station and get their own snacks
- Using your cell phone for emergencies only, after you’ve pulled over
- Pulling to the side of the road if you feel tired or overly emotional
- Eating before or after a car trip, or stopping for food mid-journey
Let Us Help You
Patterson Law Group’s personal injury practice has a special focus on distracted driving. We help victims of distracted drivers, and we offer professional assistance navigating a personal injury case. You need the right team of lawyers on your side to get you fair compensation for any pain suffered due to negligent and distracted driving. Contact us to receive a free consultation and get the process started today.
