Distractions are a leading cause of car wrecks on American roads. According to Distraction.gov, they injure more than 400,000 people every year. Victims face skyrocketing medical expenses, and many cannot return to work. This is where an accident attorney may be able to help.
Distracted driving is often a form of negligence. If you were injured due to another driver’s negligent or reckless behavior, then a personal-injury lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for health-care bills, lost income and other damages.
Modern technology has introduced a multitude of distractions – from cell phones to navigation systems. However, one of the most common and overlooked distractions is the passenger.
Chatting to drivers, talking on cell phones and horseplay can all distract a driver’s attention just long enough to cause a serious crash. Fortunately, there are steps that passengers can take to help drivers avoid collisions.
If you were the victim of a negligent driver in Texas, then contact the Robson Law Firm. You should not have to pay for health-care bills and lost income out of your own pocket. Call 512-345-8200 to discuss your legal options. You can also visit the USAttorneys website to learn more about personal-injury lawsuits in Texas.
Here are four ways that passengers can help drivers avoid accidents:
1. Do Not Use Cell Phones
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of motorists regularly use their cell phones while driving. Unfortunately, this behavior increases the likelihood of a serious accident significantly. What most people do not realize, however, is that passengers who use cell phones can also distract drivers.
Ringing phones, notification alerts and game noises can draw a driver’s attention from the road. In particular, passengers should avoid playing games, watching movies or having loud conversations with others. Never ask the driver to look at images or text messages on your phone while he or she is behind the wheel.
2. Minimize Unnecessary Stress
It is vital that passengers trust the ability of the driver to make decisions, regardless of the situation. If, for example, you are moving through heavy traffic, you should stay calm and avoid creating additional stress. Backseat drivers can cause anxiety, which can hinder a driver’s response time.
It is important for passengers to respect the driver by remaining calm. This is particularly crucial if the driver is young and inexperienced. Never encourage faster travel than the driver is comfortable with and do not create unnecessary anxiety about the driver’s decision-making ability.
3. Use Your Eyes to Help
While no one can deny the dangerous distraction of backseat driving, there is an advantage to it in certain situations. If the driver fails to notice a critical or imminently dangerous hazard, then it is important to speak up. This often happens when drivers are reversing.
4. Be Respectful
Driving can be stressful – especially in Austin’s heavy traffic. When passengers are loud and obnoxious, the risk of an accident increases.
It is important to respect the driver and stay as quiet as possible, especially if he or she is transporting multiple passengers. Everyone should settle down and avoid loud conversations.
If you were the victim of another driver’s negligence, then call the Robson Law Firm at 512-345-8200 to discuss your options. An Austin personal-injury lawyer can handle the legal side of your case so you can focus on physical recovery.