Anyone who is driving must give their full attention to what is going on around them. Becoming distracted by anything else, such as cellphones, the radio, children or primping, can lead to an accident. Each day more than nine people die because of car accidents caused by a distracted driver, according to an estimate based on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. For families that have lost loved ones in car accidents caused by distracted drivers, this information hits close to home.
Distracted driving in Memphis can lead to a driver getting fined. A patrolman says that the fine is less than $100, but that drivers also have to consider court costs. When it comes to cellphone use, drivers in Tennessee aren’t supposed to text. Drivers who have an intermediate license or a learner’s permit aren’t allowed to use cellphones at all while driving, not even if the device is being used via a hands-free feature.
It is important for drivers to devote their full attention to the road at all times. According to the CDC, visual distractions, cognitive distractions and physical distractions are the three types of distractions that can cause problems while driving. That means that taking your eyes off the road, taking your mental focus off the road or taking your hands off the wheel are all problems.
If an accident does occur as the result of a distracted driver, the injured parties might have a right to seek compensation for their injuries. Claims for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering might be possible. Understanding the laws regarding compensation in Tennessee might help injured parties to decide how to proceed with claims.
Source: The Daily Helsman, “Nine people die each day due to distracted driving” Anna Joy Batchelor, Apr. 29, 2014
