The word “addiction” can have inherently negative connotations regardless of the topic. However, for Missourians and people across the nation, it is an apt way to describe how many people perceive their smartphones. Unable to put it down even if it puts them and others in danger, the problem of distracted driving is getting worse because of it.
A recent study from the driver behavior analysis company Zendrive illuminates this issue and suggests that people who are distracted behind the wheel are this era’s drunk drivers. People who have suffered personal injury or lost a loved one in a crash should be cognizant of the problem and consider a legal filing to be compensated.
Although there has been greater attention paid to the danger of distracted driving, people continue to do it. Simply looking left and right when on the road will inevitably result in seeing a driver who is peering down instead of looking at the road. Zendrive says that in the last year, the number of phone addicts has doubled. One out of every 12 people is classified as such. In three years, that is expected to rise to one in five.
People who are considered phone addicts will touch their device four times more often than an average driver. They are looking at their screen up to six times longer. 28 percent of driving time is spent looking at something other than the road. Those who are addicted to their phones are unaware of how risky they are to themselves and others. 93 percent say they are either safe or extremely safe behind the wheel despite the substantial distance they will travel when not looking at the road. Data from 1.8 million people and 4.5 billion miles were used and the research took place from November 2018 to January 2019.
After an auto accident, it has become a natural reaction to believe that the other driver was distracted. Since this has become such a common and dangerous problem, those who have been impacted must remember their rights and what steps to take to be compensated for all they have lost. That includes medical costs, lost income, the inability to participate with a family and even the loss of life. Calling a law firm that has experience in helping people with their personal injury claims could be the first step.