A 19-year-old Yakima teenager was injured recently in a single vehicle rollover accident near Naches, Washington, according to a report by the Yakima Herald. The teenager, who was driving a Ford Explorer along U.S. 12, apparently veered off the roadway and hit some gravel, which caused his vehicle to roll over. The accident was blamed on inattention.
Distracted driving is not a new problem, although new distractions are making it more prevalent. From the time people began to drive, accidents would happen because a driver was not paying attention. Eating, grooming, talking to other passengers and sightseeing have always been common causes of distracted driving. In today’s digital age, new distractions have emerged. Cellphones, tablets and GPS devices have all created new, and potentially lethal, distractions.
Texting while driving is such a serious problem that some experts have compared it to drinking and driving. In fact, a recent study found that a driver who is texting and driving actually has a slower reaction time than someone who has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 – legally intoxicated. Furthermore, 3,092 people were fatally injured in distracted driving collisions in 2010 and an estimated 416,000 others were injured in distracted driving crashes that year.
Distracted driving can lead to any type of accident, including rear-end collisions or multi-vehicle accidents. When this occurs, more than one person may be injured, causing physical, emotional and financial hardship. Everyone who drives in today’s digital society must ask: “Is reading or sending that text really worth risking someone’s life?”
By the same token, we cannot forget the traditional causes of distracted driving. In our rush-rush society many of us eat on the run or groom ourselves while driving to work. These few seconds that you take your eyes off the roadway could lead to a collision that injures, or kills, numerous people.
If you have been injured in a Yakima Valley area car accident, or have lost a loved one as a result of one, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries or your loss. The Yakima Valley car accident attorneys at Mariano Morales Law can help you get through the legal process and make sure that the party responsible for your injuries or loss is held accountable. Contact the team today by calling (509) 853-2222 or by using our online contact form for your free initial consultation.
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