The prevalence of distracted driving on New Jersey roads has reached alarming levels, posing a significant threat to public safety. Each day, unsuspecting motorists fall victim to accidents caused by drivers prioritizing their phones over their duty of care. These incidents often have costly and even fatal consequences.
This blog explores the scope of distracted driving to help those who have suffered due to another driver’s negligence. Whether you’ve been in such a crash or want to know your rights, this blog may help you understand the impact of this dangerous driving habit.
Driver distraction: A quick look at the numbers
Distracted driving can involve anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road. While many think of phone use, it also includes eating, talking to passengers or changing the radio station. Let’s look at some numbers to see how bad the problem is:
- Distraction-related crashes made up a substantial portion of road incidents in 2022. They accounted for 8% of deadly crashes, 12% of crashes causing injuries, and 11% of all vehicle accidents reported to police.
- In the same year, 3,308 people lost their lives, and about 289,310 suffered injuries in crashes involving distracted drivers.
- Among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022, 5% were reported as distracted at the time of the incident.
- The impact of distracted driving extended beyond vehicle occupants, with 621 non-drivers, such as cyclists and pedestrians, losing their lives in traffic crashes due to driver distraction.
Distracted driving is deadly and affects the country’s economy. In 2019, car crashes cost society $1.37 trillion overall. Of that, $395 billion came from crashes with distracted drivers. These numbers show how widespread and dangerous distracted driving is. It affects safety for everyone on the road, from drivers to pedestrians.
Understanding your rights
Knowing your legal options is essential if you’ve been injured in such an accident. Consider talking to a legal professional to better understand how you can seek compensation.