Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
After a preliminary investigation, New Hampshire officials have concluded that neither speed nor alcohol were factors in Tuesday morning’s fatal crash.
While the incident remains under investigation, Brookline Police Chief William Quigley said that excessive speed and intoxication have been ruled out as possible causes, however “driver inattentiveness” remains the most likely factor of the three-car accident that killed one person.
The accident occurred when a female driver who was trying to take a left hand turn was rear-ended and pushed into traffic, causing an oncoming car to strike her car.
Unfortunately this accident is an example of a distracted driving accident. Accidents caused by driver inattention account for nearly one fifth (18%) of all motor vehicle collisions in the United States. In 2011, 3,331 people were killed and 387,000 people were injured in as the result of driver inattention and distracted driving incidents.
Texting and driving, while against the law, remains a big issue throughout New England. A person who is texting while driving is 23 times more likely to get into an accident than someone who is not distracted. According to the Ad Council, 5 seconds is the average time a person’s eyes are taken off the road while texting. At 55mph, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field, blind!
Texting is not the only type of distraction people face while driving, and there are three other types of distractions including visual: taking eyes off of the road; manual: taking hands off of the wheel; cognitive: taking mind off of driving (e.g.; day dreaming).
Some Common Examples of Distracted Driving Include:
• Cellphone or smartphone use
• Eating or drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Daydreaming
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting the radio
Many states have legislated laws that ban texting and the use of cell phones while driving, and have adopted graduated licensing systems to prevent and raise awareness of distracted driving. Though states have taken positive initiatives to discourage drivers from unsafe driving practices, the best way to decrease distracted driving accidents is for drivers to avoid distractions altogether. In most cases, driving accidents are 100% preventable. With the winter in full force it is imperative for drivers to stay vigilant on the roads to prevent serious accidents from occurring.
If you or a loved one was involved in a distracted driving accident in which you were the victim, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Boston Car Accident Attorney to discuss your rights and potentially file a car accident claim. At the law offices of Altman & Altman, our team of seasoned attorneys has nearly 50 years of experience handling all types of car accident cases in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We have a proven track record of success and we promise to help you get the highest possible compensation for your injuries. Call or email one of our attorneys today for a free and confidential case consultation. Our attorneys are available around the clock to answer any questions you may have about your case.
