Distracted driving is dangerous and a serious concern on Kentucky roadways and roadways throughout the nation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that driver distraction is a primary factor in many car accidents. In Kentucky, during 2014, there were 53,500 distracted driving-related car accidents that resulted in greater than 14,000 injuries and 169 deaths.
Distracted driving accidents are a serious risk on the roadways, which is why it is important that distracted, negligent and careless drivers are accountable for the harm they have caused. A personal injury claim for damages may help victims of distracted drivers recover compensation for their physical, financial and emotional damages, including medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering damages.
Distracted driving includes any activity that has the potential to remove the driver’s attention and focus from the roadway. There are three categories of distracted driving, including: visual, which is removing the driver’s eyes from the roadway; manual, which is removing the driver’s hands from the steering wheel; and cognitive, which is removing the driver’s mental focus from the roadway. Texting while driving is considered the most serious distracted driving behavior because it combines all three types of driver distraction. Texting while driving is prohibited in Kentucky.
Examples of distracted driving behaviors include: adjusting a radio while driving; using a navigation device while driving; reading while driving; grooming while driving; eating while driving; and engaging in conversations with passengers while driving. Unfortunately, distracted driving behaviors are something that drivers engage in regularly, which makes it no less risky for those they share the roadways with. As a result, it is necessary for victims of distracted drivers to be familiar with the legal protections available to them.