Car accidents happen on almost every road in Kentucky, and they are particularly devastating when they lead to a fatality. According to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, in 2018, 728 people died as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In 285 of these cases, seat belts were not in use and 87 of them involved a motorcycle.
One important part of avoiding accidents is knowing what causes them and taking steps to counteract those issues. Distracted driving is a large part of the problem and can be divided into three groups: cognitive, manual and visual.
Visual distraction occurs when a driver takes their eyes off the road. Manual distraction occurs when the driver takes their hands off the wheel and cognitive distraction occurs when the mind is distracted from driving. In Kentucky, a law was signed in 2010 that bans all people from texting while they are driving if the vehicle is in motion.
Driver distraction occurs when a driver is doing one of the following:
- Changing music
- Smoking, eating or drinking
- Using electronic devices
- Listening or talking to passengers
- Writing and/or reading
- Grooming
Pets and children are also known to be a large distraction when driving, and it is encouraged that both are secured in the appropriate safety devices when the car is in motion. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that infants are eight times more distracting than an adult and kids are four times more distracting.
Those who have been in an accident caused by a distracted driver may face excessive costs for property repair, medical treatment and long-term problems. They may benefit from consulting an attorney to determine if they have a personal injury case.