That quick glance at a text while driving may seem short-lived and harmless, but even a few seconds of diverted attention can result in a life-altering disaster. Distracted driving claims about 3,000 lives each year, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). Even if you survive an accident due to distracted driving, you’ll be faced with several types of costs that could have long-lasting implications.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any behavior that interferes with safe and appropriate driving behaviors. The NHTSA identifies the following activities as driving distractions:
- Eating and drinking
- Interacting with a GPS or the radio
- Talking to passengers
- Texting or talking on the phone
To be completely attentive while driving, you must be physically, visually, and cognitively engaged. Otherwise, as experts explain, looking at a text on your phone for five seconds while going 55 miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
In addition, there are financial and other costs associated with distracted driving. Here are the most significant consequences:
Medical Expenses
When you drive with distractions, you risk incurring medical expenses such as emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitative therapy. These accelerated costs affect you and add to society’s economic burden through a strained healthcare system.
To contextualize the medical costs, one year of crashes can kill about 36,500 people, injure 4.5 million, and damage 23 million vehicles. The total cost of these outcomes is more than $340 million.
Legal Consequences
Except for Missouri and Montana, all other states in the U.S. have laws against texting while driving. This increased crackdown nationwide has resulted in heftier fines and other consequences. In Ohio, a first offense for texting while driving is two points on your driver’s license and a $150 fine. A second offense results in another three points on the license and $250 in fines. With three or more offenses, you get more points and fines, plus a possible 90-day suspension of your license. Also, your fines double if you break this law in construction work zones.
Insurance Claims and Rates
You likely know that accidents can cause your car insurance rates to increase. If you cause a car wreck because of distracted driving, you might see your premiums go up by hundreds of dollars. Driving safely can reduce your risk of an accident and keep you in good standing with your insurance carrier.
Property Damage
There’s also the damage to your car and other property when distracted driving goes unchecked. There are repair costs and personal injury claims from other property owners affected by someone’s distracted driving.
Lost Wages and Work Productivity
Suffering a car accident can mean being away from work and experiencing a dip in your income. In turn, if you are liable for an accident caused by distracted driving, the other party could file a personal injury claim against you and seek compensation for lost wages and other damages.
Relational and Psychological Costs
What may be more devastating than the financial consequences is the emotional toll. Because distracted driving can claim lives and result in long-term injuries, lives can be changed forever.
Preventing Distracted Driving
The car injury attorneys with Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, LPA, Co., help many clients in the Cincinnati area affected by the consequences of distracted driving. Because of the significant financial, emotional, and physical toll of these instances, we strongly encourage the following steps that can help you stay engaged and attentive when behind the wheel:
- Do your pre-ride checks, like checking mirrors and adjusting climate controls, before—not while—your vehicle is in motion.
- Before you drive, make sure children and pets are seated or secure. If you must make adjustments, pull over before doing so.
- Continually scan the road for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Avoid drinking or eating while driving.
- Reserve mobile phone use for emergencies.
- If an item drops or rolls around, wait until you are completely stopped before attending to it.
- Leave the personal hygiene and dressing at home.
Putting away your phone and other distractions while driving can save your life and keep you from incurring significant costs. If you’ve been injured by someone else’s distracted driving, call us for personal injury representation as soon as possible. We’re here to provide you with the legal guidance and support you need as you seek compensation.