Distracted Drivers: How Safe Are South Dakota Roads?

In any given minute during the day there are 800,000 people using mobile devices and driving. It is rare that you drive down the road and don't see someone either talking or texting on a cell phone. Distracted driving is the number one reason people crash.

The three most dangerous things to do while driving a vehicle are:

• Daydreaming
• Playing with audio and video systems
• Using cell phones

These contribute to 80 percent of all car wrecks, and using a cell phone has been cited for 75 percent of the dangerous driving accidents in the United States. Although it seems obvious that multi-tasking while driving is a bad idea, 81 percent of drivers admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving, making the roads unnecessarily dangerous for everyone.

The highest incidences of distracted driving happen among the under-20 age group -- 16% of fatal crashes in this age group were due to distracted driving. The highest percentage of fatalities involving cell phones happened among those aged 30 to 39 years old.

Laws are starting to emerge to deal with cell phone use while driving. State by state, legislators are working on policies that will deal with the use of cell phones while driving. It is a rather new phenomenon, and it will take time to put effective laws in place. Ultimately, though, it becomes the responsibility of the driver to make safe choices while driving.

If you have been in a car accident in South Dakota involving a distracted driver, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against a negligent driver, earning financial compensation for your medical bills, ongoing care or physical therapy, lost wages from missed time at work and even very real instances of pain and emotional suffering.

For more information about your legal rights, call the South Dakota car attorneys of Zimmer, Duncan & Cole today at (888) 733-2992. You can also fill out the form on this page and we will contact you within 24 hours.