The Top 5 Causes of Distracted Driving

One of the biggest causes of motor vehicle accidents in Georgia is distracted driving. We all know how dangerous it is, yet we continue to do it. About 80% of all drivers admit that driving distracted at least once a week. If you take your eyes off the road for just a few seconds, you can end up hurting someone or even killing them. It’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. It’s like you’re begging to get into a car accident.

The law in Georgia is similar to most other states. They are pretty strict. The law does not allow you to text and drive. You can’t use hand-held devices when you’re behind the wheel. The only problem is people don’t always pay attention to the law. Everyone figures they can get away with it just one more time. Sadly, that one more time can be what kills another driver on the road.

The penalties for distracted driving simply aren’t harsh enough. They don’t serve as a deterrent to driving while distracted. People know they can pay a fine and go about their business. The penalties for multiple offenses aren’t much higher than first offenses. This is why people have no fear of getting pulled over for texting or driving. And nobody’s afraid of getting stopped for eating while driving. They don’t realize that a ticket is the least of your concerns.

The five leading causes of distracted driving may surprise you. But if you’re the victim of a distracted driving accident, you know how costly it can be. If this happens, contact an auto accident attorney in Athens, Georgia.

Texting and Driving

It’s no surprise that texting and driving is one of the major types of distracted driving. Despite the strict laws against it, people still text and drive constantly. It’s not as if any text is so important that it’s worth risking your life.

Daydreaming

Another leading cause of driving while distracted is simple daydreaming. We get lost in our thoughts. Work causes us to worry about something. Or perhaps our spouse is cheating on us and we can’t get our minds off it. Sadly, these things occupy our minds when we’re supposed to be paying attention to the car in front of us. These things can cause a serious car accident.

People Watching

You’d be surprised to know how much time we spend watching other drivers on the road. We may be admiring their car. We may be looking at someone on the road we find attractive. Also, we all spend way too much time looking at other drivers and wondering about what’s going on in their lives. This can be the reason why we end up getting into a car accident. It can be just as dangerous as speeding or texting and driving.

Social Media

We are all obsessed with social media, so we check Facebook a hundred times a day. We worry about how many people have liked our pictures or comments, and we let it distract us. So many people end up getting into a car crash because what’s going on with social media consumes them. This is why it’s so important to put our cell phones down when we’re supposed to focus on the road.

GPS/Music

Another one of the top causes of distracted driving is using your GPS. Laws allow you to set your GPS while on the road. But I think you should do this before you start the car. If you know where you’re going, why wouldn’t you want to program your GPS beforehand? You cannot pay attention to the road if you’re worried about entering your destination into your GPS. It only takes a minute to do this while you’re parked. It’s a lot harder to do this when you’re going 55 mph.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Athens Today

If a distracted driver has caused an accident for you or your loved one, call an Athens car accident lawyer immediately. He can review your case and tell you what it may be worth. He can also tell you details regarding a personal injury lawsuit.

Schedule your free initial consultation today. Your lawyer can answer any questions you may have. He can also make sure the insurance company handles your claim correctly. The defendant will have a lawyer working for him. You need to do the same. And, remember – you pay nothing until you settle your case.