Statistics and Injuries due to Distracted Driving

 

Distractions while driving are often fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there had been about 5, 474 who got killed in vehicle crashes across the United States due to distracted driving in the year 2009. This does not include the 448,000 other individuals who got injured in such accidents. This meant that distracted driving brought around 16 percent of the fatal traffic crashes in that same year.

These staggering numbers include little children, the elderly and young adults. Los Angeles, not surprisingly, is one of the cities with the leading number of fatalities. According to the NHTSA records, in 2009 this highly urbanized location recorded the most number of accidents. 

Distraction while driving occurs when the driver of the motor vehicle attempts to do two things at the same time. Some of the samples of this nasty driving habit include using the cell phone (texting or calling), grooming, reading, or even thinking about other things aside from driving itself. Most of the time, such acts lead to collisions which should have been prevented.

During crashes, those inside the vehicle are susceptible to traumatic injuries. Two of the most common forms of this include the following:

·         Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – During impact, crashes there are instances where the brain is pushed to the skull. Such action will cause bruising which will impede the brain from performing its functions. In extreme cases, the brain is pierced by the pieces of the cracked or broken skull and will induce internal bleeding.

Victims of this kind of ailment will be mentally impaired. Their mood and mental instability will cause them to have problems towards social dealings. Many who were afflicted of this ailment tend to withdraw from social functions.

·         Spinal Cord Injury (SPI) – The trauma crushes some parts of the nerves on the spine. This will impede the transmission of the messages sent by the brain. More than that, the victims of this ailment were oftentimes paralyzed. They in the long run suffer from urinary and bowel incontinence since they cannot move their muscles.

Many drivers are guilty of distracted driving. In case then an accident had already taken place, the defendant would need a handful of help during litigation. He or she would certainly need to hire the services of an adept Los Angeles accident attorney. Through this person, the damages awards for expensive treatments of the complainant will be lessened through comparative negligence.