If you asked most people what likely caused nearly 150,000 injuries in the course of a year on the highways, they would probably guess that the cause was drunken-driving. While drunken-driving does cause far too many accidents every year, there is another threat out there that is not as widely discussed but that is almost as dangerous. Distracted drivers have been in the news a lot lately. Drivers who text while they are behind the wheel, who are more engaged in conversing with their passengers than they are in driving and drivers who may be lost and forget to pay attention to the road are all significant threats.
Why It Matters
People have a tendency to overestimate their own driving abilities. In fact, when people become very comfortable behind the wheel, they tend to forget how fast their vehicles are going. Most drivers who have only been behind the wheel of a passenger vehicle would be very surprised to feel how fast 35 miles per hour feels on a motorcycle!
When you’re driving around a large city like Dallas, in particular during dangerous times such as during commuting hours, there is a risk that many of the drivers around you are distracted. It doesn’t matter what their distracted by, the risk comes from the fact that they’re not paying attention to the road. If you’re traveling at 60 miles per hour, for example, you’re traveling 88 feet every second. This means that you need to maintain a distance of approximately 175 feet between you and the vehicle in front of you at that speed to even have a chance of reacting to anything that happens. If you’re not paying attention, those 175 feet are not going to be enough.
When people are traveling at slower speeds, they tend to travel far too close to one another. A driver who looks away from what’s happening on the road for even a second may rear end someone, causing serious injuries or even death. Distracted drivers can sometimes be successfully sued for negligence.
If you end up being struck by a driver who was distracted and suffered financial or physical damage – or both – make certain that you speak with an attorney. Most personal injury lawyers will be willing to meet with you for a free consultation, at which time you can tell them what happened and they can determine whether or not they may be able to help you by filing a lawsuit.
