The recent news about the devastating school bus accident in Tennessee is a horrible reminder to everyone about the impact careless driving can have. When accidents happen because of road conditions or weather events it is slightly easier to process the loss. When accidents happen because of human recklessness, however, the injury or loss of life is difficult to handle. And while the word accident may lead some people to think that no one is to blame, when someone else’s carelessness may have caused injury to or the loss of a loved one, it may be time to seek the advice of a car accident lawyer or legal team.
It is an unfortunate fact in America that in the year 2014 motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for individuals age 11 and also for ages 16 through 24. And while some newly imposed driving laws attempt to put restrictions on the youngest of drivers, some families still suffer from the carelessness of others. Personal injury attorneys and car accident lawyers can help families decide if they may be able to seek financial compensation for these losses.
Car Accident Attorneys May be Able to Help Families Find Resources for Dealing with Injury of Loss of Life
It is an unfortunate truth that drivers who engage in visual-manual subtasks associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increase the risk of getting into a crash by three times. These visual-manual tasks include everything from simply reaching for a phone, as well as dialing and texting. And while many Americans enjoy all of the benefits that cell phone technology has brought to their lives, it is important to hold people accountable for accidents that are caused by their distracted driving, especially those caused by technology. When courts, insurance companies, and car accident lawyers hold people accountable for their reckless actions, a strong message is sent to society.
A November 15, 2016 article in The New York Times recently reported on the biggest spike in traffic deaths in the last 50 years. According to the article, cell phone Apps are to blame. From ridiculous stories of Pokemon Go drivers paying more attention to searching for virtual characters than the road, to Apps that reward drivers for reporting traffic problems, today’s drivers are tempted by a variety of distractions. Even the seemingly innocent navigational Apps can be a distraction if they are not used correctly.
A driver who solely relies on a navigational App to reach a destination is not being responsible. Although these GPS directed Apps are meant to provide step by step guidance to a location, it makes sense that a driver would also take the time before starting the car to make sure that he or she understands the overall directions. If not, the continual and constant reliance on the App can lead to distracted driving.
By requesting the cell phone records of a driver, a car accident lawyer may be help determine the cause of an accident. An experienced accident law firm, in fact, may understand many avenues for determining what may have caused a distraction that lead to an accident. Car and truck accident attorneys help families find resources for recovering from an accident that was caused by a distracted driver.
Consider some of these statistics about vehicle accidents in America:
- 333,000 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes in America during 2012.
- 80 is the number times a drunk driver has driven before their first arrest.
- 333,000 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes during 2012.
- 32,675 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2014. This was a 0.7% decrease from the previous year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- 32,894 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013, according to the same NHTSA study.
- 90 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in the year 2014.
- 6,400 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the year 2014.
A car accident that is caused by the carelessness of another driver can be a life changing event. Injuries can require years of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and loss of time from work. The decision to seek the advice of a car accident attorney is a decision to search for recovery resources.
