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Survey: Distracted Drivers Still Think They Are Safe Drivers

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
distracted driverA new survey from auto insurance comparison website Everquote indicates that there is a troubling disconnect between drivers’ beliefs about how safe they drive and their behavior. According to a survey of 2,300 motorists, more than 95 percent of respondents said that they feel they are safe drivers. Unfortunately, half of those drivers admitted that they use their phones when they are behind the wheel. In fact, data from the Everdrive app on 35,000 drivers reveals that 90 percent of them used their cell phones behind the wheel at least once in the previous month. Drivers average one call per trip and are usually focused on their phones for 0.4 miles of every 11 miles traveled. These findings are alarming, particularly when you consider that there has been an increase in fatal distracted driving accidents. From 2014 to 2015, distracted driving fatalities increased more than eight percent, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Speeding is also on the Rise

Even though driving 10 mph over the speed limit increases drivers’ accident risk by almost 10 percent, the Everquote survey shows that many motorists do not have a problem with it. More than 40 percent of survey respondents do not think that traveling 10 mph over the speed limit is considered speeding. Meanwhile, 10 percent of respondents think that traveling 20 mph over the speed limit is not speeding. This is especially concerning since the NHTSA found that traffic fatalities related to speeding increased three percent from 2014 to 2015. Contact the Sacramento car accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm if you or a loved one suffered an injury or died in a traffic accident. A personal injury lawyer from our firm can offer a  completely free consultation to review your claim and discuss all of your legal rights.

Contact us today at (916) 777-7777 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.