Distractions and Drugs are a Leading Cause of Accidents

Boulder car accident lawyers know that distracted drivers present a significant danger to themselves, other motorists, and pedestrians. The CDC estimates that 8 people every day are killed, and 1,161 are injured by distracted drivers. A few seconds of inattentiveness is all it takes to cause a lifetime of pain and suffering to victims of these accidents.

There are three types of distracted driving that motorists should be aware of. There are visual distractions that take your eyes off the road, manual distractions that include removing your hand from the wheel or gear shift, and cognitive distractions that take your thoughts away from driving.

Drugs Cause Distracted Driving Accidents

Drugs are frequently cited in distracted driving accidents. In early July, Dylan Gottschling chose to consume heroin and Xanax before getting behind the wheel of his Subaru WRX sedan. As Gottschling drove, he decided to send text messages to his friends. The distraction provided by his phone, and the drugs he consumed, caused him to miss a parked SUV in his path. He struck the vehicle at nearly 40 MPH. The impact pushed the SUV into another vehicle, sandwiching Craig Towler between them. Mr. Towler lost his legs in the accident and will face a lifetime of recovery as a result.

In 2014, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 10 million people over the age of 12 admitted consuming illicit drugs before getting behind the wheel. It’s a frighteningly common problem as drugs slow cognitive responses and lead to inattentiveness on the road. The mind altering effects of drugs makes the appeal of visual distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions deadly to other motorists, the passengers within their vehicle, and any bystanders that may get caught in the way.

Victims Have Options

Individuals who have been injured by a distracted driver in Colorado should contact a Boulder car accident lawyer. In the State of Colorado, personal injury victims have 3 years to file a claim in an automobile accident. However, if the accident resulted in fatality, surviving family members have only 2 years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

It is better to begin the process sooner rather than later. The sooner the process begins, the easier it is to collect evidence and pursue compensation for medical expenses, property damage, loss of income, and other expenses that result from the accident.