One of the biggest causes of motor vehicle accidents is 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. You aren’t allowed 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 really serve as a deterrent to driving while distracted. People know they can just pay a fine and go about their business. The fines for multiple offenses aren’t all that 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. What they don’t realize is that a ticket is the least of your concerns.
The 5 main 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 to you, 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 all the time. It’s not as if any text is so important that it’s worth risking your life over.
Daydreaming
Another leading cause of driving while distracted is simple daydreaming. We get lost in our thoughts. Maybe we’re worried about something at work. Or perhaps our spouse is cheating on us and we can’t get our minds off it. We just aren’t able to get these things off our mind 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 just 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. We check Facebook a hundred times a day. We’re so worried about how many people have liked our pictures or comments, we let it distract us. So many people end up getting into a car crash because they’re consumed with what’s going on with social media. This is why it’s so important that we put our cell phones down when we’re supposed to be focused on the road.
GPS/Music
You are allowed to set your GPS while on the road. But you really should do this before you start the car. If you know where you’re going, why wouldn’t you want to program your GPS ahead of time? There’s no way you can 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 you or your loved one have been hit by a distracted driver, you need to call an Athens car accident lawyer right away. He can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. He can also tell you what’s involved in a personal injury lawsuit.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. Your lawyer can answer any questions you may have. He can also make sure your insurance claim is handled properly. 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.