Information and resources related to Midlothian distracted driving accidents

Comprehensive Information and Legal Options for Midlothian, TX Distracted Driving Accident Victims

Collisions caused by distracted drivers are the most common kind of crash in Midlothian

Everyone knows that car crashes are common, and sometimes result in fatalities, but what is truly shocking is the statistics that show how common distracted driving accidents are. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2019, there were 377 people killed in crashes involving distracted driving in Texas. This is a 6% decrease from 2018, but still a staggering number in terms of the human toll, especially given that distracted driving crashes could have been avoided.

In 2019 in rural areas, there were 191 fatal crashes involving distracted driving, and approximately 160 fatal crashes in urban areas.

What are some of the driving behaviors that cause Midlothian distracted driving accidents?

Recent statistics show clearly what we have always known - that drunk driving and distracted driving are two main causes of Midlothian car accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The most common distracted driving behaviors are:

• Cell phone and mobile device use;
• Eating and drinking while driving;
• Talking with passengers;
• Fiddling with the radio or music player;
• A dog or pet in the vehicle.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, At 55 mph, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds, long enough to cover a football field. At any given moment during daylight hours, an estimated 3.8% of drivers in the United States are using a handheld cell phone.

Teens are particularly susceptible to injury and death from distracted driving crashes 

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted video analysis in which researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers taken from in-vehicle event recorders. The study found that distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes, which is four times as many as official estimates based on police reports.

Adolescents are more likely to:

• act on impulse
• misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions
• get into accidents of all kinds
• get involved in fights
• engage in dangerous or risky behavior

Adolescents are less likely to: 

• think before they act
• pause to consider the consequences of their actions
• change their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors

Because of these factors, teens are more likely to engage in dangerous driving behaviors like distracted driving.

What is being done to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by distracted drivers in Midlothian and across Texas?

The Texas Department of Transportation runs an annual campaign called Talk, Text, Crash, which focuses on ending distracted driving by educating all Texans about the danger it poses. They offer these simple tips to end distracted driving:

• Always give driving your full attention.
• Put your phone away—or turn it off—before you get behind the wheel.
• Pull off the road to a safe location before talking on the phone or texting.
• Tell friends, family, and coworkers you won’t respond to calls or texts when driving.
• Use a smartphone app that sends auto-reply texts when you’re behind the wheel.
• Spread the word. Tell your friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving.

If you have been injured in a car collision with a distracted driver, you will need a great Midlothian accident attorney to help

No matter how much we eradicate dangerous driving behaviors like drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other actions that put Midlothian  drivers at risk, car accidents will continue to happen. When a less serious crash happens, often someone can manage the insurance claim without help. When a serious injury car accident happens, or when a fatality occurs, it is crucial to get help from an experienced Midlothian distracted driving accident lawyer.