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Distracted driving car accidents dropped in Georgia last year, but could soon rise

by | Apr 20, 2021 | Accident Injury

A lot of things were different about last year. One of the effects the pandemic had on life in Georgia was a reduction in traffic. Many people who commuted to work every day suddenly found themselves working from home. As a result, there were far fewer vehicles on the highways and roads than usual.

So it might not surprise you to learn that the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving in Georgia went down in 2020. After all, fewer cars, trucks and SUVs on the roads means fewer chances for a crash to occur. But that does not mean that distracted drivers are no longer a threat.

The cause of more than 20 percent of U.S. car accidents

AAA of Georgia notes that as a percentage of all causes of serious traffic collisions, distracted driving remains a major problem, both here and nationwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blames distracted drivers for 22 percent of auto accidents.

Will distracted driving make a comeback in Georgia?

That means as traffic ramps up again, the number of distracted driving accidents will almost certainly go back up to 2019 levels. And that could start happening soon. As summer vacation nears and the number of people getting vaccinations continues to go up, experts predict that more people will be traveling across the state for road trips and longer vacations. And, unfortunately, we can expect that some of those holiday drivers will distract themselves with their phones and other electronic devices — putting everyone else in danger of serious injuries in a crash.

Responsible drivers in Commerce know to put their phones away and concentrate on the road. But they cannot always tell when the driver in a nearby vehicle is distracted or get out the way of an out-of-control distracted driver. After getting hit by a distracted driver, you could be forced to deal with painful, debilitating injuries like brain trauma and spinal cord damage. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you get maximum compensation.