Distracted driving accidents killed 3,328 people in 2012 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data show that drivers under age 20 are among the highest risk group.
Consulting a Clayton County attorney after an auto accident involving a distracted driver enhances a victim's ability to receive a reasonable settlement. If you have been injured in an automobile accident involving a distracted driver in Clayton County you should discuss your case with an auto accident attorney at Shane Smith Law.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving distractions are broken into three groups:
- Visual: A distraction that causes a driver to take his eyes off the road.
- Manual: A distraction causing the driver's hands to be removed from the steering wheel.
- Cognitive: A distraction that occurs when the driver's mind is not focused on driving.
Texting while driving is considered the most dangerous distraction because it combines all three groups.
The NHTSA considers it distracted driving when any activity diverts the driver's attention while he is driving.
The most common distractions include:
- Text messaging
- Talking on a cell phone
- Using in-vehicle technologies such as GPS maps
- Tuning the stereo, CD player or iPod
- Smoking
- Eating and drinking
- Personal grooming including brushing hair, applying makeup or shaving
- Picking up dropped objects from the floor
If you or someone you know has been hurt by a distracted driver, meet with a Clayton County auto accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law.