CHP Focuses on Distracted Driving
California Highway Patrol (CHP) has reported that they will be implementing a yearlong program to address distracted driving, an issue that causes thousands of auto accident deaths in the United States throughout the year. The Adult Distracted Drivers grant program will take place throughout the federal fiscal year and will aim to intervene in the dangerous trend that police have noted in recent years.
The Program
CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley gave a press statement about the program, saying that distracted driving “continues to be a major issue on our roadways,” adding that it is “entirely avoidable.” Stanley went on to say that the support of a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would help officers across California implement lifesaving efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. CHP reportedly hopes that these efforts will change dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.
As part of their efforts to curb distracted driving, officers will be conducting personal and virtually distanced safety presentations for the public. In addition to these education operations, CHP will also be conducting increased enforcement throughout the year, concluding operations on September 30, 2021.
A Dangerous Issue
On average, more than 20,000 drivers across California are involved in distracted driving-related collisions every year. According to CHP, cell phone use is still the leading factor driving accidents involving driver inattention. The CDC reports that an estimated 3,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries took place across the country as recently as 2018.
Stanley indicated that these statistics are probably higher because driver distraction often goes unreported after accidents, saying that “motorists don’t always admit that they’ve been driving distracted.”
Car Accident Injuries
Vehicle accidents involve a lot of force and can easily cause major damages. These accidents can be even more dangerous when drivers aren’t paying attention because the motorist may not make efforts to try and mitigate the severity of the collision.
For this reason, distracted driving accidents often involve serious injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Cervical sprains
- Spinal cord trauma
- Lacerations
- Amputation injuries
- Internal injuries
- Bone fractures
All of the above injuries can range in severity, but most are liable to have a major impact on your life. In many cases, these injuries necessitate a long, complicated recovery process, and the required medical care can be very expensive. Affording the care you need can be even harder if you’ve been left unable to earn an income as a result of your injuries.
Claiming Compensation
Fortunately, collision survivors can frequently obtain compensation for the damages that they’ve suffered through personal injury claims. These claims allow those who’ve suffered damages to seek payments from at-fault parties and/or insurance companies.
However, injury cases are often complicated and liable parties often do everything they can to avoid paying survivors the compensation that they truly deserve. Because of this, it’s always important to reach out for help from an expert attorney before filing a claim.
Other Blogs by Ed Smith, Fairfield Personal Injury Lawyer
- Crash Near Fairfield Results in Fatal Trauma
- What are Fairfield Injury Attorneys?
- Woman Dies During Fairfield Hit-and-Run
Fairfield Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fairfield personal injury lawyer. To receive free, friendly advice about a serious accident case, speak to me personally at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.
My team and I have been helping people in the Fairfield area for 38 years and we’ve achieved many verdicts and case settlements on behalf of our clients. To learn even more about us, read our client reviews on the websites below:
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