Atlanta 5/2/2011 9:20:28 PM
News / Health & Wellness

Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Provide Safety Tips In Light of Distracted Driving Awareness Month

The National Safety Council and FocusDriven have announced that April was recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In light of this announcement, the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Morgan and Morgan are providing tips to help keep drivers’ attention on the roadways, so as to prevent auto accidents. Approximately 20% of injury crashes in 2009 were caused by distracted driving, and the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at the firm believe this number could be reduced if drivers take a few precautions when behind the wheel. 

Distracted driving generally involves any activity which could divert the driver’s attention from the road. There are three mains types of distractions, each of which increases the driver’s risk of a crash. Visual distraction occurs when the driver takes their eyes off the road, while manual distraction takes place when the driver removes their hands from the wheel. Lastly, cognitive distraction occurs when the driver takes their mind off the road. Sending text messages, talking on a cell phone, and conversing with passengers are all common driver distractions. Other common driver distractions include the following: eating; smoking; putting on makeup; reading; changing the radio station; using a navigation system; and calming children in the backseat. Text messaging while driving may be the most harmful, as it involves all three types of driver distraction. 

Because distracted driving can lead to auto accidents in Georgia, the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Morgan and Morgan are providing a few basic suggestions. First, drivers should limit interaction with passengers and avoid looking at crashes or other activities occurring alongside the road. Additionally, drivers shouldn’t operate a vehicle when fatigued and should share driving responsibilities on long trips. Drivers are also advised to refrain from driving while angry or upset, opting rather to wait and cool down before getting behind the wheel. Lastly, the Atlanta personal injury lawyers advise that drivers who need to use their cell phones should pull off the road and stop in a safe place before calling or texting.  

Distracted driving leads to many auto accidents in Atlanta. If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident involving distracted driving or another type of negligence, the Atlanta personal injury attorneys would like to hear from you. Visit http://www.atlantainjurylawyers.com/car-accident-lawyers--2-660.html and complete the free case review form. The Atlanta personal injury attorneys are providing this online consultation at no cost and remain committed to protecting the rights of those who have been injured due to another’s negligence. 

About Morgan and Morgan

Morgan and Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with multiple office locations throughout the Southeast, including Atlanta, Georgia. The firm handles auto accident cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan and Morgan online at http://www.atlantainjurylawyers.com for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.