Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
The majority of car accidents are preventable. While there are many causes of Maryland car accidents, most accidents are the result of a few very common negligent driving behaviors. In Maryland, one of the leading causes of car crashes is distracted driving. Distracted driving consists of any time a driver engages in behavior that removes their attention from the road. Distractions can be visual, auditory, manual or cognitive. For example, eating or drinking, changing the radio station, talking to a passenger, daydreaming and texting are all common examples of distracted driving behavior.
While many of the reasons for a driver’s distraction have been around for years, today, the most commonly cited reason for a distracted driving accident is cell phone use. This includes both talking on the phone as well as texting while driving. Currently, Maryland law prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving; however, hands-free devices can be used to make calls. Both talking and texting while driving are primary offenses, meaning a law enforcement officer can pull a motorist over for using their phone even if they are committing no other infractions.
The state department of transportation keeps very detailed records of all Maryland distracted driving accidents. In part, this is to gauge the effectiveness of government efforts to reduce the instances of distracted driving. On average, there are nearly 54,000 Maryland traffic accidents that are caused by distracted driving. These crashes result in nearly 18,000 injuries and 160 deaths. According to the most recent data from 2018, there were over 57,000 traffic accidents caused by distracted drivers. These accidents resulted in 18,102 injuries and 176 deaths.
Maryland distracted driving accidents occur on all types of roads. According to the state’s five-year average between 2014 and 2018 data, the breakdown is as follows:
• Interstates: 6,982 accidents or 12.9 percent
• U.S. highways: 4,870 accidents or 9 percent
• Maryland highways: 17,209 or 31.9 percent
• County roads: 12,341 or 22.9 percent
• Municipal roads: 3,817 accidents or 7.1 percent
• Parking lots: 2,671 accidents or 5 percent
Because distracted driving is largely the result of cell-phone use, it may not be surprising to learn that the most commonly distracted drivers are between the ages of 21 to 34. In fact, this group of motorists is responsible for over one-third of all Maryland distracted driving car accidents. What may be a surprise to some, however, is that younger drivers aged 17 through 20 are among the least likely to get involved in a distracted driving accident.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Distracted Driving Accident?
If you or someone you care about has recently been injured in a Maryland distracted driving accident, contact the dedicated injury advocates at Lebowitz & Mzhen, Personal Injury Lawyers. Our team of dedicated injury attorneys works tirelessly to recover maximum compensation on behalf of our injured clients. We have over 20 years of experience handling even the most complex accident cases, and know what it takes to succeed on our clients’ behalf. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call 800-654-1949 today. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we can help you recover for your injuries.