People in Missouri drive their cars every day. Many times there are taking similar routes as well such as their route to work or to the grocery store. It may seem like they can go into auto pilot at times. However, even during the most routine drives, unexpected things can arise. It could be a car making a lane change without looking, stopping suddenly because of debris in the road, an unsecured object flying off a vehicle and many other things. That is why it is important that people keep their eyes on the road while driving.
That means that drivers need to avoid distractions which may require them to take their eyes off the road to avoid car accidents. However, there are many things that can distract drivers. It could be looking at a navigation system, eating or drinking, grooming, looking at something occurring outside the car, using their phones to text, search websites, email or simply talk, adjusting the stereo and many other distractions. Unfortunately many drivers engage in these types of distractions and many accidents occur as a result.
In Missouri in 2017, there were a total of 21,058 crashes that resulted from distracted drivers. Of those crashes 5,979 involved injuries, injuring a total of 8,809 people. There were also 84 crashes resulting in fatalities, killing 88 people. Some of the most common distractions were passengers, phones and external distractions. Using stereo equipment and eating and drinking also caused many accidents.
There are many causes of accidents, but distracted driving is one cause that can be avoided if people simply kept their eyes on the road. The victims of these accidents can be left in very difficult positions as they try to heal from their injuries which can be very severe in some accidents. These victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries though which can be very valuable so they can pay for medical bills and lost income. Experienced attorneys understand the importance of this compensation and may be able to help one receive what they deserve.