Because April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, now is an excellent time to discuss how Louisianans can do their part to stop distracted driving.

First of all, every driver should pledge not to text and drive or engage in any other distracting behavior behind the wheel. As we discussed in a previous post, driver distraction takes many forms, and the harsh reality is that each year distracted driving leads to thousands of deaths across the country.

You can also help prevent distracted driving by telling your family and friends not to answer when you text or call while they’re driving.

According to a survey conducted by the National Safety Council, 82 percent of drivers in America feel pressured to respond to text messages and phone calls from family members while behind the wheel.

That same survey found that only 54 percent of drivers said they felt pressured to respond to job-related distractions, whereas 50 percent said they felt pressured to respond to friends while driving.

The results were a little different for teenagers, though. Teens said that calls and texts from friends were most distracting.

As the president of the safety council succinctly put it, “If you really care, don’t call to say, ‘I love you.’ Instead, encourage your family to set everything else aside, disconnect and focus on the road.” Louisiana law bans texting while driving, but that doesn’t stop many drivers.

If you are injured as a result of a distracted driver’s negligence, then don’t hesitate to speak with a personal injury attorney with experience in handling these kinds of cases. The insurance company may offer you a settlement that doesn’t cover the full cost of your injury, and in some cases the insurer even tries to shift blame onto the victim.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help guard against these outcomes and help you maximize your compensation for medical bills, lost income and other
costs resulting from the wreck.