With an ever-increasing amount of traffic on West Virginia roads, many drivers may face a variety of potential hazards nearly every day. While motor vehicle accidents can take place under a multiple circumstances, some causes tend to be more prevalent than others. With the harm that can come from just a moment of inattention, one of the most dangerous scenarios drivers might face is the likelihood of encountering a distracted driver.
According to a study conducted over the previous year by the National Safety Council, fatal accidents involving distracted drivers saw a 13 percent increase in the state of West Virginia alone. While this increase is alarming enough as is, experts suggest that determining the actual percentage of distracted driving incidents can be challenging, as many of these incidents go unreported due to the fact they are difficult to prove. While experts may do their best to warn of the dangers of distraction, many may cling to confidence in their ability to multitask.
While it may only take a couple of seconds to read a text or change a radio station, it also only takes this long to travel several hundred feet in a car. Drivers who divert their attention from the task at hand may have no control over what happens during this short period. Such negligence can leave a person incapable of responding to a variety of driving scenarios, and accidents involving distracted drivers can be exceedingly dangerous and, in some cases, fatal.
Individuals who suffer serious harm in motor vehicle accidents due to the decisions of a distracted driver may wish to hold the responsible party accountable in civil court, but they might need assistance in the process. When facing a similar circumstance, a person could choose to retain the services of an experienced attorney for assistance. An attorney in West Virginia can evaluate the incident, along with the client’s injuries and financial needs, and assist in pursuing the full amount of compensation entitled through a claim against the party deemed culpable.
Source: wboy.com, “Increasing number of distracted drivers on the road“, Paige Hopkins, April 12, 2018
