What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted Driving is when a person operates a motor vehicle while engaging in activities that divert attention from driving tasks, such as:
- Talking on a cell phone
- Using a navigation system
- Texting or emailing
- Eating
- Adjusting hair or makeup
- Using the audio system
- Texting
What is Distracted Driving?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Distracted driving is any activity that…takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.” Studies have shown that texting while driving significantly increases the likelihood of a crash or near-crash event. The detrimental effects of distracted driving can range from minor fender-benders to severe accidents resulting in life-altering injuries or fatalities.
Understanding the risks associated with distracted driving and adopting safe driving practices can help mitigate its adverse impacts on road safety and overall public safety.
More information about Distracted Driving
Phone-related driver distraction still on the rise
Cellphones have been a root cause of distracted driving since they first became popular in the 1990s. However, cellphone manipulation while driving continues to change. A 2018 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Virginia found that drivers were 57% more likely to be found manipulating or using a cellphone than a survey conducted in 2014. According to the IIHS, cellphone use was a contributing factor in over 800 crash deaths in the United States in 2017 alone. But while drivers were less likely to be seen simply holding or talking on a cell phone in 2018 than 2014, they were more likely to be observed actually manipulating their phones.
In 2014, only
2.4% of Virginia drivers were observed using their cellphones. However, in 2018 this number rose to
3.4%. This is compared to the 4.1% of
Virginia drivers observed talking on a cellphone in 2014, […]
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It’s resolution time: Four ways to be a better driver in 2019
It’s that time
of year again, when the beginning of a new year motivates people to make
resolutions and work hard to better themselves.
These resolutions often include eating healthier, working out more
often, and spending less time on social media.
But one thing that is often, quite unfortunately, overlooked is the
desire to practice safer driving habits.
These resolutions do not have to be complicated, and can simply focus on
being a more vigilant, responsible driver when behind the wheel. Here are a few easy resolutions to help you
become a safer, better driver in 2019.
Always keep your focus on the road and your surroundings. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), thousands of people are killed each year via accidents caused by distracted driving. Make a promise to yourself to put down your phone, avoid letting passengers distract you, […]
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Travel Safely This Thanksgiving!
According to AAA, the number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving will increase 11% as compared to last year. This means that almost forty million people will be reaching their holiday destination by driving. With more vehicles on the roads, travel risks increase. Poor weather conditions and distracted driving can cause serious accidents. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys offers these tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday travel season.
Know your route and the risks before you leave your home. Make sure you know the latest weather forecasts and road conditions along your route. Have your directions mapped out in your mind, as well as plugged into your GPS. This will keep you on the most direct, traffic-free path, which can reduce your risk of being in an accident.
Before you get on the highway, prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel. […]
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Truck crash on I-81 claims two lives
Yesterday, a tractor trailer crash on Interstate 81 killed two people and seriously injured two others.
A family from Canada was traveling on I-81 northbound in Scott Township near the Fleetville exit. They were stopped in traffic when they were rear-ended by a tractor trailer operated by JVM Transport. The truck crash killed the 45-year-old father and 10-year-old son; the mother and daughter were taken to the hospital in Lackawanna County. The driver of another tractor trailer that had been stopped in traffic was also taken to the hospital.
Via WNEP: “According to investigators, the big rig did not stop in time and hit the car which was stopped in traffic from an earlier crash.”
Dan Munley, former chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group, states that “we have handled other cases in our area where a tractor trailer failed to stop in traffic and either killed or seriously injured another driver. […]
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Hazleton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
You were walking or jogging in Hazleton and, in an instant, everything changed. Something happened and all of a sudden you were on the ground in pain, wondering how you would be able to provide for your family.
You were injured in a pedestrian accident that wasn’t your fault.
Now it is up to you to try to put the pieces back together.
Pedestrian accidents are an all-too-common occurrence. From driver negligence to poor crosswalk engineering, there are numerous factors that can create circumstances in which pedestrians are helpless to avoid being injured. While pedestrian accidents can – and generally should – be avoided with safe driving, they continue to occur on a routine basis. Those who are at fault deserve to be held legally and financially accountable.
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, […]
