Information and resources related to Southlake distracted driving accidents

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

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

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 2016 there were 23 fatalities and a total of 8,210 crashes caused by distracted drivers in Tarrant County alone. Statewide, there were 455 fatalities from crashes involving distracted drivers. These are staggering numbers to contemplate, and the economic cost to the crash victims, and to the government agencies responsible for responding to these collisions, runs in the billions of dollars per year.

What is the cost of car crashes to the government agencies in Southlake and across Texas?

According to the State of Texas Department of Transportation, the cost of motor vehicle accidents statewide was $38,600,000,000 in 2016. This is a staggering amount when you consider that in comparison, the annual cost to end world hunger is estimated to be $30,000,000,000. In this context, it is easy to see why Southlake and Texas government agencies work hard to improve safety and to reduce dangers on the area's roadways. Sadly, they still have a long way to go.

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

Recent statistics show clearly what we have always known - that drunk driving and distracted driving are two main causes of Southlake 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 Zendrive, which conducted a large-scale Distracted Driving Behavior Study to look at the frequency and duration of phone use behind the wheel, the data from 3.1-million anonymized drivers, who took 570-million trips, covering 5.6-billion miles nationwide between December 2016 and February 2017. The top finding shows that drivers used their phones during 88-percent of the 570-million trips analyzed. Clearly, we have a long way to go to end these dangerous and selfish driving behaviors that are wreaking havoc on Southlake streets and freeways.

Teens are particularly vulnerable to injury and death from distracted driving collisions 

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.

Teens 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 in Southlake.

Distracted driving accidents in Southlake are a common cause of injury and death for residents

After a serious injury accident caused by a distracted driver, contact the Southlake Police Department, the Southlake Fire and Rescue Department, the Texas Highway Patrol to get copies of any reports created during an accident investigation.

What is being done to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by distracted drivers in Southlake 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 an experienced Southlake accident attorney to help

No matter how much we eradicate dangerous driving behaviors like drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other actions that put Southlake 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 Mullen & Mullen Law Group attorney.