People who take to the roads in Texas in any capacity should also be cognizant of how many distracted driving crashes there are. This can be important after an accident when thinking about the possible steps toward making a full recovery.
Texas ranks 13th for the worst distracted driving states
Using statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, MoneyGeek did an analysis of distracted driving, its causes and how it impacts people. Overall, the number of people who lost their lives in a distracted driving crash had increased by 21%.
At the time of the study, the number of distracted driving deaths were at their worst level in five years. In Texas, nearly 10% of fatal crashes were due to distracted driving. That came to just over 1,000 deaths among the 10,125 fatalities that occurred. This placed it 13th in the nation.
While there are many ways in which people can face the prospect of an accident in Texas including speeding, recklessness, drowsiness and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distraction has been getting worse since technological advancements and availability gave people so many options to multitask.
Drivers must be aware that looking away from the road for even a few seconds can lead to deadly consequences. It is especially problematic for the more vulnerable people on the road. Specifically, that refers to children, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Since they have relatively little protection when compared to a person in an automobile, they can be catastrophically injured and killed.
Law enforcement is more vigilant about informing drivers as to how distracted driving can be deadly, but people still do it. Police cannot catch everyone. With that, people should think about how being distracted can reduce their ability to safely operate a vehicle and take steps to reduce the temptation. That includes putting cellphones out of reach, setting a vehicle’s navigation systems beforehand and avoiding other potential distractions.
Navigating the aftermath of a distracted driving crash
It takes only a second for a distracted driving accident to happen and people’s lives can be changed – and lost – because of it. Given the challenges people will face if they have been injured or lost a loved one in a distracted driving auto accident, it is vital to think about how best to move forward.
To cover for all that was lost personally, financially and emotionally, it is wise to think about all options. That might include pursuing legal alternatives to hold distracted drivers accountable for their behavior. Since this can be complicated, particularly when people are thinking about other issues, having advice is a wise decision from the outset.
