If you were injured by a distracted driver in Fauquier County or Prince William County, then you know how dangerous this trend is. Many Virginians are letting smartphones, or even food and drink, take away their attention from the road and their hands from the steering wheel. A recent survey has shown that while most are concerned about distractions, few think that they are endangering themselves.
Results of the Netradyne survey
The survey was commissioned by Netradyne, a firm that hopes to use vision-based and AI-driven technology to help improve road safety. A total of 1,248 drivers participated in the online survey, which took place in 2020 from February 25 to March 10. These drivers were all 18 or older, had a standard driving license and used a car at least weekly.
Half of respondents expressed their concern that driving was getting more dangerous in general while 82% believed that distractions are on the rise. Less than half considered commercial truckers to be safe in this regard. Yet only 9% considered themselves unsafe drivers, and less than half believed they could improve their driving.
Preventing distracted driving
Twenty-nine percent showed interest in the role that AI could play in improving safety. Yet drivers should understand that they can prevent distractions by being alert and by using vehicle safety features like blind-spot alert and collision warning.
Seeking compensation with an attorney
Virginia follows the rule of pure contributory negligence, which means that victims of motor vehicle crashes can only seek compensation if the defendant is 100% at fault. It’s a strict rule, and you may want an attorney to evaluate your case in light of it. If it holds up, you may have the attorney help in gathering evidence against the defendant and in negotiating for a settlement out of court on your behalf.