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Distracted drivers are only part of the problem

On Behalf of | Oct 19, 2017 | Car Accidents |

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a detailed analysis of the statistical data surrounding collisions during 2016. Some may be dismayed to know that the total number of fatalities from collisions rose 5.6 percent from the year before.

So is the cause of the uptick the much-maligned distracted drivers with whom we share the Kentucky roads. Surprisingly, not so much. In fact, the analysis revealed that the fatality rate from distracted driver crashes actually dropped more than two percentage points.

These figures fly in the face of public perception of the problem. While no one is saying that distracted driving isn’t dangerous, it isn’t even one of the top trio of causes for auto fatalities. Distracted driving comes in at fourth place following impaired driving, not wearing seat belts and speeding.

Crunching the data showed that drunken drivers caused 10,497 traffic deaths while failure to buckle up led to 10,428 and driving too fast was responsible for another 10,111.

If you were injured in an auto accident, it’s a safe bet that you have other things on your mind besides deadly statistics. You may be wondering how you can recoup your losses and put the shards of your life back together after a negligent driver turned your world upside down.

One way to pursue civil justice is to file a claim for damages with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Should your claim not be promptly settled to your satisfaction, you may want to seek legal guidance and file a personal injury lawsuit in the Kentucky civil courts.

Source: The Car Connection, “NHTSA: Fatal car crashes rising, but not because of cell phones,” A. Mark Miller, Oct. 07, 2017