Be Safe For Everyone’s Sake
Most people own or at least know how to operate a vehicle on the road. Motorized vehicles are such a central element of our society, even to the point of some cities not having much in the way of public transportation, because everyone gets around in their own car, for the most part. However what some people do not always keep in mind, is how dangerous traveling on roads can be. Here is a motorized vehicle, often weighing at least two tons, speeding much faster than any human can move, and only as safe as its driver is attentive, and even then, there are still unexpected or unavoidable accidents that can result in serious damage. It is that point that you will probably want to call a car accident lawyer, or a professional who specializes in cases involving personal injury.
Why the demand for a car accident lawyer remains high
Yes, there are laws regulating the use of cars on the road. There are speed limits, and seat belt laws, and laws against drunk driving, but that does not mean that the roads are always completely safe. There will always be people who disregard these laws, whether intentionally or through some sort of neglect. And with the advancements in portable technology, the distractions only seem to grow for drivers. Texting while driving is quickly becoming as much of a troubling issue as driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. People become too comfortable behind the wheel, and that comfort turns into carelessness. Car accident lawyers are not going to be left wanting for work any time in the near future.
The unfortunate frequency of accidents
A car accident lawyer can help you to understand just what your rights are if you are involved in some sort of collision or accident. Accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers are often able to settle cases outside of court, reaching an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties. When those at fault own up to their mistakes and take responsibility, the process can often be a bit smoother, but in some instances that is not quite enough. For every two minutes that pass, another individual is injured in an accident involving a drunk driver. That is an accident, and potentially injuries or deaths, that could have been avoided altogether, had the person who decided to drink not gotten behind the wheel. And yet, each and every day, there are around 300,000 cases of people driving drunk, while only 4,000 or less of those drunk drivers are actually arrested. What is perhaps even more disturbing than that is the fact that a typical drunk driver has already driven intoxicated about 80 times before he or she is arrested for the first time.
Alcohol is not the only dangerous element
While drunk driving is a very well known factor on the roads, there are other aspects that people need to keep in mind as well. While people may think that checking their phones or texting while driving is nothing like drunk driving, it can be equally as distracting and dangerous. During the daylight hours at any moment across the country, there are about 660,000 people driving while using their cell phones or operating some sort of electronic device. And what you may not realize, is that manipulating a device or engaging in that type of subtask that is both visual and manual, as most operations on a portable device are, actually increases the risk of being involved in some sort of crash by three times. Add to that the high rate of motorcycle accidents. While you might be adept at keeping track of normal sized vehicles while you check your phone, it is far more difficult to spot a motorcyclist in general, let alone if you are not even keeping your eyes on the road. In just one year, there were 8.4 million motorcycles out on the road, and each one was around 26 times more likely to die in a crash than a person in a car, and five times more likely to sustain an injury.
It’s quite simple: pay attention on the road, and we can all make it a safer place.
