The Barnes Firm Reveals the Most Common Distractions While Driving

Did you know that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving in 2019, which is a 10% increase from 2018.

I was pretty shocked by this statistic and wanted to learn more about some of the most common distractions people tend to experience while driving and how we can avoid them.

That's why I decided to talk to Rich Barnes from The Barnes Firm — one of America’s largest injury law firms located right here in Buffalo — to discuss the distracted driving on our roads. Rich said that cases the Firm reviews are often linked to distracted driving almost 60% of the time.

While there are a variety of different distractions people come across while driving, Rich told me that the biggest offender is texting. It's particularly dangerous with regard to young drivers, who are more likely to check their phones while behind the wheel more than other age group.

There's also GPS systems and fancy touch screen car dashboards people may fiddle with and get distracted by while driving. Parents, or anybody for that matter with kids in the backseat, have probably had the experience of turning around and telling the kids to stop yelling. That too can be a dangerous distraction.

The number of texting while driving accidents is decreasing every year! Some of the most popular tips for preventing texting while driving accidents are:

• Put your phone on silent while driving and turn off notifications
• Place your phone in the backseat or away from the driver’s seat so you’re not tempted to use it
• Install a hands-free Bluetooth device so you’re able to make a call without taking your eyes off the road
• Remind all your friends of the risks associated with texting while driving

Anything, whether it's technology-driven, or everyday environmental distractions that may lead you to take your eyes off the road for a split second, can lead to serious consequences.

If you’ve been injured and need help, call The Barnes Firm – they can help you.

Visit TheBarnesFirm.com or call (800) 800-0000 and get the help you need from experienced injury attorneys with proven results. You can trust that they will help answer your questions and also help you get the best result possible.

Call their Downtown Buffalo or Grider Street office now!