Georgia Injury Law Blog
There is good news for Atlanta motorists – Georgia is ranked as one of the states with the lowest rates of accidents caused by distracted drivers.
According to a recent report released by Zutobi, rates of distracted driving across the country have increased significantly in recent years. Some states have a bigger problem with distracted drivers, compared to others.
Fortunately, Georgia ranks at the bottom of the list, with a low rate of accidents caused by distracted drivers. The crash rate for Georgia was 3.1%, with just over 3 distracted driving- related accidents for every 100 fatal accidents recorded in Georgia. According to the report, Georgia had a total of 1,377 fatal car accidents in 2019, and out of these, 43 crashes were related to distracted motorists.
The decrease in distracted driver accidents in the state may be due in part to the Hands-Free Law that was passed in Georgia in 2018 that banned the use of cell phones while driving. However, cell phones are not the only source of driver distractions.
The term “distractions” for the purpose of the study included everything from cell phone use to reaching for objects within the vehicle, reading and snacking. It also included other activities like applying makeup and looking at other objects outside the vehicle. Distractions from passengers within the car were also included as one of the distracting activities that can lead to accidents.
The study had also some surprising findings. It does not seem to be the youngest motorists who had the highest risk of distracted driving. The study found that the risk of cell phone use while driving seemed to be the highest among motorists in the 35 to 40 and the 25 to 34 age group. About 23% of motorists between the age of 25 to 34 used cell phones while driving. In the 35 to 40 category, the rate was 20%. Among younger motorists between the age of 15 and 20, the rate of accidents involving cell phone usage was surprisingly just 17%.
Senior motorists are the least likely to make mistakes like using a cell phone while driving. Among motorists who are between 65 and 74 years old, the rate of accidents related to cell phone usage while driving was just 3%. Overall, nationwide, the study finds that 8% of accidents that resulted in injuries in 2019 were caused by distractions and 13% of them were directly related to cell phone usage while driving.
Distracted driving accidents can result in serious injuries. To avoid being in a collision caused by distracted driving, always keep your phone on silent mode while driving.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in auto accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a distracted driver or any other negligent driver, talk to an attorney at our firm. You could qualify for a car accident claim for damages that helps you recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income and other compensation for your injuries. Talk to an attorney at our firm, and discuss whether you have a legal claim for damages.