A new study reports that car accidents caused by distracted driving tend to be more severe than other car accidents and that the severity also depends on the type of setting the car accident occurs in. Protections are available to help victims of distracted driving-related car accidents because of how serious those accidents are.
Distracted driving increases the odds that the car accident will result in injury or death when compared with other types of car accidents. This can be especially true of distracted driving-related car accidents that result in a rear-end accident or that take place in work zones or on interstate highways. By contrast, roadway configurations that require drivers to pay attention can reduce the severity of distracted driving-related car accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nine percent of fatal car accidents during 2016 were the result of distracted driving. Serious distracted driving-related car accidents continue to happen throughout the country and can result in serious harm and damages for victims and their families. As a result, personal injury protections are available to help victims seek compensation for their physical, financial and emotional damages. Damages victims may be able to recover can include medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering damages.
A personal injury claim for damages against a negligent driver, such as a distracted driver, is an important resource for car accident victims and their families to be familiar with. Legal resources and options serve to protect victims who have been harmed by a negligent driver and also to hold negligent drivers accountable when they have engaged in negligent behaviors such as distracted driving resulting in harm.