Can you believe it’s October already? We hope all of you are safe and enjoying the early fall weather. With schools back in session (both remote and in-person learning), football back on TV, and many activities starting this fall, life is returning to some sort of normalcy. Traffic seems to be picking up in many areas too, and an increase in traffic almost always correlates with an increased chance of car accidents. Many times, the culprit is distractions.
Over the past decade, distracted driving has become a hot topic and a major public safety concern not only in Massachusetts but across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving causes serious and fatal injuries to thousands across the United States every year. This is true here in the greater Boston area and throughout Massachusetts. With all of the electronic gadgets we have today, it’s not surprising that there are more distractions than ever before.
One study that sheds light on the dangers of distracted driving is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They conducted studies that demonstrate how sending—or even reading—a text message takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. Their experts found that a 5-second distraction traveling at 55 miles per hour is comparable to driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. This is absolutely amazing and just goes to show how dangerous texting and driving can be.
Specializing in personal injury law in Massachusetts, both Joe and I have noticed a steady increase in car crashes and injuries that involve some sort of distraction. Many of our clients tell us that the driver who crashed into them was texting or messing around with some sort of electronic device at the time of the accident. These types of accidents have serious and sometimes life-changing consequences, so we all need to do our part to try and keep our roads safe.
I’ve written an article on our website that offers some tips to prevent distracted driving accidents and injuries, and I hope you’ll take a look. While these tips may seem like common sense, we’re are all guilty of being distracted behind the wheel from time to time, and we all need to try hard to keep our focus and attention on the road and other traffic. It may just be the difference between having a normal, productive day or ending up in the hospital with serious injuries—or severely injuring someone else.
Unfortunately, regardless of how careful we are, we cannot control other people. If you’re hurt in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses. Why should you bear the burden of paying thousands of dollars in medical bills, losing time and money from work, and suffering for something that wasn’t your fault? We can help get you the financial compensation you deserve and hold the distracted driver accountable. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in this type of situation, but if you do, remember that we’re here for you.
Stay safe, enjoy the fall season, and have a great October!
—Chuck Pappas
