Distracted Driving causes 1 out of 5 car accidents that result in injury according to a report published in 2009 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and 16% of all automobile accidents that involved a fatality. Well documented studies indicate that when a person takes their eyes off of the road for even 2 seconds, they double their risk of an accident. Worse yet, the majority of drivers that engage in distracted driving behaviors lose sight of the roadway for a long enough period of time to quadruple the risk of being involved in an accident. A report that was commissioned by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) found that when a person sends or receives a text message, the driver takes his or her eyes off of the road for approximately 4.6 seconds; to put that in easy to understand terms, it equates to driving blindly for the full length of a football field at 55 MPH. If you were injured by a distracted driver in the state of Pennsylvania, it is wise to seek the advice of a skilled Scranton car accident lawyer.

Five most common causes of Distracted Driving:

• Cell phone use – Cell phones are hands down the leading cause of driving distracted. In a University of Utah study, data indicates that using a hand held cell phone while engaging in driving creates a similar delayed reaction that a person with a BAC of .08 would experience.
• Vehicle stereos – Adjusting the radio or stereo is a common cause of distracted driving
• Passengers – According to the NHTSA, talking to a passenger was the leading distraction in close to seven thousand vehicle accidents last year. Although it may only be a cognitive distraction, it can still be deadly.
• GPS Device – Fiddling with a GPS device while driving requires manual, visual and cognitive attention; consequently they may be as dangerous and texting while driving.
• Drinking or Eating – Consumer food or beverage while driving also takes manual, visual and cognitive attention away from the road and is extremely dangerous.

Although these are the most common causes of distracted driving, many other examples including grooming, smoking, dropping an object and even reading while driving are all know to cause accidents. If you were seriously injured or a loved was killed at the hands of a distracted driver, you need sound legal advice from an experienced Scranton car accident lawyer. Punitive damages may apply, and they will advise you on a legal course of action for full financial recovery. Your Scranton car accident lawyer provides a no obligation, free consultation so CALL NOW to schedule your appointment.