If you are injured in an accident in New Jersey, it could be because the driver was distracted. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2018, more than 2,800 people died because of distracted driving, and in 2019, that number went up to 3,142. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, over half of motor vehicle accidents involving teens had a distracted driving element.
Reducing distraction
It is not possible to eliminate every type of driving distraction, but some can be reduced. A distraction is anything that takes your concentration away from driving, your hands off the wheel or your eyes away from the road. This means that something as mundane as trying to settle an argument between your children can be a distraction. While it is not realistic to try to drive without talking to your children, you may want to consider pulling over if you need to make them stop fighting, adjust your GPS, or eat something. Modeling good behavior in front of children can be important. Teenagers whose parents are distracted drivers tend to be distracted drivers themselves, and they are at a greater risk of a car accident when distracted than adults.
Cellphones and distractions
Cellphones remain a major source of distraction. Unfortunately, even awareness of this does not eliminate the behavior. Although the vast majority of drivers who participated in a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said that they thought drivers should not text while driving, more than one-third said that in the past month, they had texted or emailed someone while driving.
Distracted driving can lead to serious injuries. People who are injured in a motor vehicle accident may be eligible for compensation if the other driver is at fault, whether that is because of distracted driving or another reason. There might be situations in which it is necessary to file a civil lawsuit.