Distracted Driving Accident

Multitasking can help a person be more productive throughout the course of the day. It is like killing two birds with one stone, especially when one is busy with work, school, family and other important obligations. However, there is a major downside. Multitasking while driving can be extremely dangerous and even cause a distracted driving accident.

A distracted driving accident is a car crash caused by a driver who is distracted while driving. More than 1,000 people are injured and 9 people are killed daily due to a distracted driver, in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, the only way to help prevent more tragedy from happening is to enforce stricter laws.

In the State of New Hampshire, the distracted driving laws are pretty clear cut. The fine for violating the law is currently a minimum of $100. If a distracted driver is involved in a car accident, that results in an injury of a pedestrian or damage of another vehicle, the person’s driver’s license may be suspended for 1 year with a penalty of $1,000.

It is illegal to talk or text on a hand-held device while driving, including eating food and applying make up. Cab drivers, limo chauffeurs and school bus drivers are prohibited from talking on a wireless device or texting while driving. These laws may sound a little over the top, but they have been put in place to help combat against car accidents.

If it wasn’t for so many distractions, many car accidents would not happen. The following is a list of common distractions that cause drivers to take their eyes off the road while driving. The percentages of these types of accidents are also included in the governmental research statistics below.

• Drivers are distracted when drinking or eating (2%)
• Wireless phone use has caused fatal car accidents and deaths (12%)
• Smoking or lighting a cigarette 1%
• Friends, family and other occupants can cause distractions while driving (5%)
• When drivers reach for a wireless device, such as a cell phone or a tablet, they become distracted (2%)
• Adjusting seat belts or adjusting rear view mirrors while driving (1%)
• Adjusting the climate control or audio (2%)
• Daydreaming (wandering mind) has caused fatal car accidents (62%)
• Objects moving around in a car, such as pets can be very distracting (1%).
• Wireless phone use has caused fatal car accidents and deaths (12%)

These are just a handful of common distractions that drivers experience while on the road - there several more that aren’t mentioned.

When a driver keeps his/her eyes off the road while driving, it increases his/her chances of being in a car accident. If you become a distracted driver, who’s involved in an accident, you may be held liable for injuries you have caused. You may also run the risk of being cited by the police for negligence. You will need a good New Hampshire car accident attorney to help protect your rights.

You will need an experienced New Hampshire car accident lawyer to help fight for the compensation you deserve. To schedule for a free consultation, contact the Anzalone Law Firm, PLLC at: 603.548.3797.