Distracted driving isn’t a new problem in America. Ever since there have been cars on the road there have been drivers who stop paying attention to what they are doing in order to talk to others in the car, eat, put on makeup or mess around with the radio or, in recent years, tap away at the “infotainment” system. But, these days, we all know what the biggest distraction of all is: cellphones.
In fact, using a cellphone for texting while driving is considered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be the most concerning form of distraction. Why? Well, it is because texting distracts drivers in three different ways: cognitively, manually and visually. The NHTSA reports that cellphone use while driving is the most common form of distraction for drivers in America.
Deadly results
Some people may not think it is a big deal to check their cellphone quickly while driving. But, the fact is that doing so can have deadly results. NTHSA statistics show that from 2013 to 2022 over 32,000 people died in America in car accidents that involved distracted drivers. In the last year of that time period, 2022, over 3,300 people died due to distracted driving. Those numbers are completely unacceptable for one simple reason: distracted driving is completely avoidable.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Illinois that involved a distracted driver, you may have legal options. Injured victims can pursue financial compensation from negligent or reckless drivers, and that compensation can be used to cover medical bills and other costs associated with the accident, among other financial concerns. Be sure to review your potential legal options in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.