Car Accidents on the Rise in Alabama – Is Distracted Driving to Blame?

A car barely going the speed limit in the fast lane with the driver looking down at their lap is a usually a telltale sign of distracted driving. So is a car that starts to drift into another lane without signaling and then suddenly jerks back between the dotted lines.  At best, these behaviors are frustrating to witness, and at worst, can be the cause of a deadly collision.The attorneys at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. have represented victims of car, truck and motorcycle crashes for decades. We know firsthand one of the main causes of crashes on Alabama roadways today is distracted driving.Distracted driving can involve anything that removes our attention from the road, but the biggest culprit by and large are cell phones, or an inappropriately mounted GPS device.Attorney and Partner with the firm, Mike Bradley says, “From my experience handling car, truck, and motorcycle crash cases over the past 19 years, one of the main causes of motor vehicle crashes on Alabama roadways today is distracted driving. People are distracted with their cell phones, making and receiving calls, texting, looking at maps, finding a place to eat, or posting on social media.”He went on to state, “statistics show that around 2.4 deaths occur each day in Alabama due to motor vehicle accidents. Distracted drivers have higher risks of failing to obey the rules of the road and cause crashes by speeding, failing to yield, tailgating, misjudging stopping distance, improperly changing lanes, swerving, crossing the center line, and simply not paying attention.”