Realizing that distracted driving was becoming a constant and looming danger on the Georgia roadways, the state took steps in 2018 to compel drivers to pay attention to their driving. The state’s Hands-Free Law went into effect and outlawed using a handheld device for sending emails, text messages and using social media while driving.
Despite this, the issue is still causing accidents. Recently, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety joined with the Georgia Department of Public Health in releasing a report as to the prevalence of distracted driving auto accidents for the last year in which there are comprehensive statistics available, 2022. The numbers say that people still need to be wary of distracted drivers and be cognizant of the signs of when a driver was distracted in a collision as they decide how to proceed.
More than half of the crashes in 2022 cited distraction as a factor
The Georgia Traffic Safety Fact Sheet stated that 53% of the accidents that occurred in 2022 was related to distracted driving. Although most equate this with using a cellphone or other handheld device, anything that removes the driver’s focus from the road is considered distracting. Emory University conducted its own study in 2023 in which researchers simply watched drivers as they were on the road and found that one in five was distracted in some way.
A major concern is that around 75% of the 2022 distracted driving accidents that were assessed involved people who were not in a vehicle of their own as bicyclists and pedestrians were hit. Thirteen percent of people who suffered serious injuries or lost their lives were in this category.
Even the World Health Organization has sounded the alarm on the dangers of distracted driving saying that those who are using a cellphone have quadruple the chance of being in an accident than those who are not using one. Their reactions are hindered as they are less likely to hit the brakes in time or adhere to traffic signals.
The state has been vigilant in its enforcement of the distracted driving law, but the problem persists. It is most likely to affect younger drivers. Those between 15 and 24 had more than one-quarter of the distracted driving collisions. One in three citations were given to these drivers.
Determining the cause is crucial after an auto accident
After a person is injured or a family has lost a loved one in an auto accident, the odds of it being due to a distracted driver are substantial. This is true even with the state cracking down on the practice. Medical costs, lost wages, the need for extensive care and the emotional impact are just some of the problems people face after any type of auto crash.
Since gathering proof that the accident was due to a distracted driver often hinges on the evidence, it is essential to have caring, qualified and aggressive assistance to pursue a claim. This can help with maximizing the compensation to cover for all that was lost.