What is the Most Common Car Accident? A Distracted Driver Car Accident

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More than 2.5 million people are involved in car crashes each year. While many Americans assume that reckless driving or drunk driving is to blame for the majority of wrecks, the real culprit is distracted driving. Indeed, distracted driver car accident cases are increasing – and it’s only getting worse.

Some studies estimate that as many as 1,000 people are injured daily in distracted driving car accidents. This comprises about a quarter of all crashes in the United States – and accounts for more that 3,000 deaths each year.

Charleston residents will agree that local traffic can be a hassle, with traffic jams causing a headache for commuters. One distracted driver and one wrong move could cause a serious wreck – as we have seen time and time again.

There are three main types of drive time distractions:

Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road
Manual distractions: Taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive distractions: Taking your mind off of driving

If you have been involved in a crash caused by a distracted driver, the Charleston car accidents lawyers at Hoffman Law Firm can help! To learn more about filing an injury claim, legal advice and getting the compensation you deserve, schedule a free consultation today.

As your trusted Charleston law firm, our South Carolina attorneys have outlined some common causes of distracted driving. Check them out!

Cell Phones and Other Electronics

Today’s vehicles are equipped with all the latest technology, from advanced infotainment to navigation. These innovative features are convenient, but can also be incredibly distracting. Changing your playlist or setting a new destination takes your focus off the road – and puts you and other drivers at risk.

Cell phones are also major distractions. Texting while behind the wheel, for instance, causes you to engage in all three types of distracted driving. In fact, texting and driving is now considered six times more dangerous than drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Passengers

Passengers can distract you from the task at hand, especially when you are driving with children. Whether you are trying to soothe a crying baby or settle a backseat argument between siblings, kids shift your mindset away from the road. As it turns out, parents report a high percentage of distraction when transporting their precious cargo.

Fully-grown passengers can be distracting as well. From deep conversation to car karaoke, there are distractions at every turn.

Multitasking Mistakes

Our Charleston auto accident attorneys warn against multitasking while in the driver’s seat. Wait until you reach your destination to do the following:

Eat and drink
Trying to juggle a snack and the steering wheel gives you less control of your vehicle. You are not only more likely to spill, but to get in a car accident. Plus, because your natural reaction is to clean up spills quickly, your hands and eyes are now not where they should be.

Personal grooming
Doing make-up or styling hair in the car is tempting when you are running late. But it is not worth the risk!

Reaching for items in the vehicle
Even though reaching for something may only take a few seconds, it takes your eyes off the road and can have serious repercussions.

Distractions Outside of the Vehicle

While the distractions listed above are all inside your vehicle, the environment around you poses a threat as well. You may be tempted to glance away from the road to view:

Billboards, advertisements
Other car accidents
Construction sites

Taking pictures of something you see is even more dangerous.

Need An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Near Me in Charleston? Call Hoffman Law Firm.

Our Charleston law firm of personal injury attorneys encourage everyone to ditch the distractions. Keeping your focus on the road ahead is the best way to avoid a car crash.

But if you find yourself a victim of a careless distracted driver, trust our team to handle your car accident case. Hoffman Law Firm will fight for the compensation you deserve, provide experienced legal advice and gather all the evidence necessary to hold the distracted driver accountable.

Plus, you only pay us when we take your case – and win!

In need of a skilled car accident lawyer near me, you can schedule your free consultation with our South Carolina attorneys today!

Our personal injury law firm offers trusted legal representation in a wide variety of cases here in the Lowcountry, including:

Longshoreman & Maritime

Medical Malpractice

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