Distracted driving causes more car accidents than anything else. Even though we all know how dangerous it is, we do it all the time. More than half of all drivers admit that texting and driving at least 3 times a week. Taking your eyes off the road for just 2-3 seconds is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. It’s almost as if you’re asking for an accident.
The laws in North Carolina as just as strict as every other state when it comes to texting and driving. The same goes for using hand-held devices while behind the wheel. The problem is, people just don’t think they’re going to get caught. Or, they figure if they do, they’ll pay the small fine and go about their day.
Even with progressive offenses, the fines don’t go up all that much. Once you reach the third offense, the fines had already hit their maximum. It serves as little deterrent to people who are prone to drive while distracted.
The other problem is that most distracted driving has nothing to do with a cell phone. More accidents are caused by things like daydreaming and people watching than anything else.
Here is a look at the 5 main causes of distracted driving. If you are injured by anyone who drives while distracted, you need to call a car accident lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Texting and Driving
Obviously, texting and driving is still a leading cause for distracted driving. Even if people are only ten minutes away from their destination, they’re still addicted to their phones. They just can’t wait to answer that text or listen to a voicemail. Currently, it is still legal to talk on your cell phone while driving. However, a new law has been proposed that will make this illegal as well. Whether or not this law is passed is yet to be seen. However, this is the way other states are moving so it won’t be a surprise if North Carolina follows suit.
Daydreaming
The leading cause of distracted driving is actually daydreaming. So many of us think about work and home all the time. We are constantly worried about what we have on our to-do list. We never just focus on the task at hand. This is true when we’re driving. We get thinking about something on our minds and lose track of what we’re doing. This is dangerous on the road because you have to pay attention every minute.
People Watching
A lot of people have fun watching other drivers on the road. They admire their cars or read license plates. They get upset at someone who passes them and then spend the new few minutes paying attention to the other driver. Things like this leads to thousands of accidents every year. When you’re focused on just one car, it’s impossible to pay attention to the entire road. When people get caught up in other drivers, they don’t pay enough attention to their own driving.
Social Media
When people aren’t texting or talking on their phones, they’re checking social media. People are addicted to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This doesn’t change just because they’re driving. Even if someone just looks at their social media while at a red light, it can cause an accident. If the rest of the cars in your lane think it’s time to go but you’re busy reading a post on your page, they can crash into you. So, normally the rear driver is always held liable in a rear-end collision. But if they can prove that you were engrossed in your social media, you may be deemd at fault.
GPS/Music
It isn’t illegal to change the radio station or set your GPS location. With the new law, it may be. When you’re spending time trying to get directions, you aren’t paying attention to other cars. What you should do is pull over and take care of your GPS settings. It takes about a minute out of your day. But this minute can save you a ton in headaches in legal fees.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Charlotte Today
If you’ve been in a car accident in Charlotte, you need to call a car accident lawyer in Charlotte. Your lawyer can review your file and see how much it may be worth. If the other driver was guilty of distracted driving, your attorney still needs to prove it.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. You can sit with an experienced attorney who will answer any questions you may have. And remember – you pay nothing until you win your case.
