Distracted Drivers Are a Major Cause of Serious New Hampshire Car Accidents

September 19, 2019

In 2015, New Hampshire passed a “hands-free” law to combat the rising rate of distracted driving accidents. However, despite the passage of this law, inattentive drivers continue to cause a significant number of serious car accidents in the state. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) examines crash data throughout the United States and provides detailed information regarding the causes of car accidents. The NHTSA separates accident causation into five broad categories: recognition error, decision error, performance error, nonperformance error, and unknown driver error.

Recognition error includes behaviors such as, inadequate observation, internal and external distractions, and daydreaming. Decision errors include drivers who cause accidents because of speeding, illegal maneuvers, misjudgment, and aggressive driving. Performance errors consist of actions such as panic, poor direction control, and overcompensation. Finally, nonperformance errors encompass situations where the driver falls asleep or has a medical condition that causes an accident.

According to the NHTSA, recognition errors are the leading cause of accidents in the United States. It may not come as a surprise to learn that inattentive or distracted drivers are among the leading causes of New Hampshire motor vehicle accidents. The most common types of distracted driving are talking and texting. Despite New Hampshire’s “hands-free” law, this type of driving continues to cause serious accidents.

Moreover, common behaviors such as GPS and radio use, talking to passengers, and eating can divert a driver’s attention away from the road. Finally, as the NHTSA reports show, daydreaming is another frequent cause of accidents. This form of “zoning out” can cause people to lose awareness of their surroundings. People who drive the same route every day are most at risk of disengaging and causing an accident.

Recently, a New Hampshire news report revealed that inattentive driving might have caused a fatal accident in the North Country. Evidently, a driver stopped his Honda in a northbound lane before making a turn into a driveway. A truck driver failed to notice the stopped vehicle and rear-ended the car. The Honda was pushed into another lane and hit by a third vehicle. Tragically, the Honda passenger died, and other drivers received treatment for severe injuries. Police investigators reported that alcohol, speed, and mobile usage were not factors in the accident; however, the truck driver’s inattention seems to have contributed to the accident.

If you or someone you care for has recently suffered injuries in a New Hampshire distracted driving accident, you should contact the experienced attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. The lawyers at our firm have extensive experience handling New Hampshire personal injury lawsuits. Distracted driving cases have many inherent challenges, and our dedicated attorneys can assist in the preparation and litigation of your claim. If you are successful, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained. Compensation may include payments for medical bills, future medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the experienced attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates by calling 800-804-2004.