Nashville, Tennessee
It's a sad but true fact that most auto accidents are preventable. Over a million people die every year in auto accidents. 25 to 50 percent of these accidents are caused by distracted drivers.
Too many things are available today to keep us distracted while we drive. Cell phones, mp3 players, CD players, even DVD players, can all be found inside our cars. Some people even eat, read or do their makeup while driving. These are all dangerous practices that can lead to a preventable and sometimes tragic accident.
One cause of distracted driving accidents is cell phone use. Up to 85 percent of cell phone owners use them while driving. Unless you use a hands-free headset, using a cell phone while driving can take a great deal of your attention away from the road. Even worse, some drivers send a text message on their phones while driving, which creates an even more serious distraction.
In spite of the growing variety of technological distractions, the major distraction on the road remains rubbernecking, or reducing speed to look at other car accidents on the road. Ironically, looking at the results of other people's accidents causes the largest number of additional distracted driver accidents.
Other common distractions to driving are:
- Other passengers, such as children in the back seat
- Watching passing scenery
- Reading maps or other items
- Adjusting CD players, GPS units, the radio, or other electronics
While distracted driving is the major cause of accidents, it's not the only cause. Other major causes include:
- Fatigued drivers
- Drunk driving
- Weather
- Speeding
- Overly aggressive driving
The best way to avoid an auto accident is to avoid these behaviors, most of which are within your control. Be sure you're rested before you take the wheel, don't drive drunk, follow the rules of the road and use basic common sense to avoid distractions.
However, if another driver isn't following these basic guidelines and causes an accident, you might be in need of legal assistance to acquire a settlement to pay for damage to your car or any injuries you might sustain.
The auto accident attorneys at James R. Omer & Associates have considerable experience with auto accident cases in the Nashville, Tennessee area. If you have been involved in an auto accident and are in need of legal assistance, please contact James R. Omer & Associates. We'll fight for your case and get you the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
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