Our roads are more dangerous than they have been in years. The National Safety Council estimates that total motor-vehicle deaths are up 18 percent from 2019. Every day in the U.S., nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in distraction-affected crashes. Distracted drivers are a risk to everyone on the road, including other drivers and pedestrians. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time to spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving. This month and every month, focus on the road and just drive.
We hope the below Distracted Driving Awareness Month discussion helps you to focus on the road. If a distracted driver injures you or a loved one, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation.
As a Las Vegas car accident victim, you don’t want to fight alone. Other parties do not have your best interests in mind. Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team of lawyers and staff ready to help you with your personal injury case. Insurance companies and other parties are not interested in helping you receive what you should as a victim of a Las Vegas car accident. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of winning cases like yours, for significant compensation. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience winning top compensation for Las Vegas accident victims.
Don’t wait to contact our Las Vegas car accident lawyers. Time is of the essence when pursuing compensation in distracted driving cases. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Texting on your phone. Getting lost in thought. Eating food. What do all of these things have in common? They are all examples of things that are distractions if you do them while driving.
It’s easy to think of distracted driving examples, but what exactly is distracted driving? Distracted driving is driving while doing anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are three main types of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive.
Visual
Visual distractions take your eyes off the road. Are you guilty of any of the following visual distractions?
- Looking at your phone
- Checking out the view on a scenic drive
- Looking at passengers in the back seat
- Searching around the car for lost items
- Focusing on a map or GPS device
- Glancing at your reflection in the car mirrors
- Turning to look at an accident on the side of the road
Manual
Manual distractions take your hands off the wheel. Do you (and your hands) do any of the following while driving?
- Use your phone
- Adjust the radio, mirrors, or temperature dials
- Use your hands to sing or dance along with music
- Eat
- Drink
- Smoke
- Clean
- Search around (such as looking for gum or your phone)
- Help a child or pet
- Fix your hair
Cognitive
Cognitive distractions take your mind off of driving. Do you distract your mind with any of the following while driving?
- Your phone
- Conversations with passengers or on the phone (this is also an auditory distraction)
- Strong emotions (like when you are angry or upset)
- Daydreams
- Thoughts about work
It only takes a second for a distraction to turn into a dangerous accident. If a distracted driver injures you in Las Vegas, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Las Vegas Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyers and case managers. Based in Henderson, Nevada, we work with clients all over the Las Vegas area. We provide the level of expertise and knowledge you need to win your Las Vegas car accident case. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
Nevada Distracted Driving Laws
Did you notice that phone appeared in all of the above lists? That’s because your phone is a visual, manual and cognitive distraction. In Nevada, it is a crime to physically handle a cell phone or other electronic device while driving. Under Nevada Revised Statute 484B.165(1), it is illegal to do the following while operating a motor vehicle on a Nevada highway:
- Manually type or enter text into a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device, or send or read data using any such device to access or search the Internet or to engage in nonvoice communications with another person, including, without limitation, texting, electronic messaging and instant messaging.
- Use a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device to engage in voice communications with another person, unless the device is used with an accessory which allows the person to communicate without using his or her hands, other than to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function on the device.
Young Adults and Teens Are at Risk
Unfortunately, young adults and teen drivers are the most at risk when it comes to distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, when comparing drivers among age groups, drivers under 30 are overrepresented in fatal distraction-affected accidents. Additionally, among drivers involved in fatal accidents, drivers aged 15 to 19 were more likely to be distracted than drivers in any other age group. In 2018, nine percent of all teens who died in motor vehicle crashes were killed in crashes that involved distracted driving.
Talk to Your Teen
Make safe driving a habit for your teen (and yourself) by talking to your teen about focusing on the road. When you talk about safe driving, provide alternatives to dangerous driving choices. For example, when you tell your teen not to use their phone while driving, ask them to brainstorm alternatives such as:
- Safely pulling over to use their phone
- Designating a passenger to control music or messaging
- Planning a driving route before they leave the house
- Turning off the phone or putting the phone in a location that is out of reach
- Making playlists before they get in the car
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Just Drive
In addition to talking to your teen about safe driving, you should also set an example. When you get behind the wheel, focus on the road and just drive. You can make it easier to just drive by doing the following:
- Safely pull over. It’s okay to safely pull over when you are distracted. If a child in the back seat needs help—safely pull over before you help. If you are lost—safely pull over and look at directions on your phone. If you are stressed or angry—safely pull over and calm yourself. Use the break to take some deep breaths, listen to your favorite song, or call a friend.
- Pay attention to your distracted driving habits. It is easy to slip into bad habits. Do you eat while driving? Do you constantly search for lost items when you are behind the wheel? Everyone has bad habits. Once you notice your bad habits, figure out ways to break the habits.
- Make your car a no phone zone. Sometimes, in order to make safe driving a priority, we have to remove temptation. If you find yourself frequently reaching for your phone, then make your car a no phone zone. When you are driving, turn your phone off or put it where it can’t be used.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
If a distracted driver injures you, the most important thing you can do is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights and navigate the complications that come with a distracted driving crash.
Sometimes people are unsure if they need an attorney, or if a personal injury attorney can really make a difference in receiving compensation. Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys gives you the best opportunity to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Well-meaning friends may tell you that a personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas is too expensive. This is not true! We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t have to worry about affordability. Plus, with our extensive car accident case experience, you have the best chance for a positive outcome for your case.
Remember—when it comes to seeking maximum compensation, you’ll want to put your case in the hands of the experts at Anthem Injury Lawyers. We have over 25 years of experience representing Las Vegas accident victims. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Call or text (702) 857-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
