How Careless Habits Behind the Wheel Can Cause Others Harm

1. WHEN BAD DRIVING
EQUALS NEGLIGENCE
HOW CARELESS HABITS BEHIND THE WHEEL CAN CAUSE OTHERS HARM

2. Anyone Can Be a Bad Driver
Many drivers take pride in their prowess behind the
wheel. Surveys often show that people are willing to
admit they sometimes do things they shouldn’t, such as
speeding or texting; but few would say that they are
actually bad drivers. However, the statistics suggest
that many of us are more accident-prone than we’d like
to believe.
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3. Statistics on Road Safety
In Maryland alone, around 500 people are killed in vehicle crashes every
year.
In 2015, the most recent year with available statistics, one person was
killed every 17 hours, and 123 people were injured each day.
In the United States, around 37,000 people are killed and 2.35 million are
injured or disabled in vehicle crashes every year.
Approximately 94 percent of crashes in the United States are attributed to
human error.
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4. Why Crashes Happen
Before we dive into the causes of crashes, let’s first look at how human error is divided
into different categories by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
◦ Recognition error, comprising 41 percent of crashes related to human error, includes driver
inattention, internal and external distractions.
◦ Decision error, comprising 33 percent of crashes related to human error, includes driving too
fast for conditions, too fast for the curve, false assumption of others’ actions, illegal maneuver
and misjudgment of gap or others’ speed.
◦ Performance error, comprising 11 percent of crashes related to human error, includes
overcompensation, poor directional control, etc.
◦ Non-performance error, comprising 7 percent of crashes related to human error, includes
fatigue or falling asleep behind the wheel.
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5. Distracted Driving
Every day in the United States, distraction-related
crashes cause approximately 9 deaths and 1,000
injuries. Mobile devices are a major cause of distraction
for drivers. Other activities that can cause distraction
include having too many passengers in a vehicle, using
navigation systems, fiddling with car stereos and eating
or drinking.
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6. Speeding
Nearly one-third of all fatal crashes had speeding as a
contributing factor. Speeding is more than just
exceeding posted limits -- it also includes driving too
fast for conditions. Drivers should adjust their speed
according to weather, traffic congestion or the presence
of construction zones, crashes or objects on the road.
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7. Driver Impairment
On average, someone dies in a drunk driving crash every
51 minutes in the United States. Approximately 150 people
are killed on Maryland roads every year due to drunk
driving. Even just a couple of drinks can put someone
above the legal limit of intoxication. Other substances, such
as marijuana, controlled substances or prescription
medication, can greatly impair a driver’s performance.
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8. Drowsy Driving
As many as 6,000 crash deaths could be caused by
drowsy driving every year in the United States.
Research from the AAA Foundation found that missing
just one to two hours of sleep in a 24-hour period could
double someone’s chances of being involved in a
vehicle crash.
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9. Other Forms of Reckless Driving
There are many other ways in which a driver can be
careless behind the wheel, including:
Failing to follow traffic signs and signals
Turning or shifting lanes without signaling
Following another vehicle too closely
Failing to pay attention to the presence of pedestrians or
cyclists.
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10. What is Negligence?
For drivers, negligence is the failure to drive according to
the rules or accepted standards of road safety. Negligence
does not necessarily imply that a driver willfully intends to
cause harm. Careless driving or mistakes behind the wheel
can also constitute negligence. When someone suffers
harm because of a driver’s negligence, there can be both
human and legal consequences.
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11. Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable
When someone is injured by a negligent driver, they
can file a personal injury claim to recover payment for
the costs of their injuries. A personal injury claim can
offer compensation for medical bills, lost income, and
pain and suffering, among other damages.
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12. Contact Steven H. Heisler to Learn More
If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent
driver in Maryland, contact Steven H. Heisler to learn
more about your legal options. Steven has been fighting
for his clients for three decades. Put his experience and
skill to work for you. Call 410-625-4878 or fill out our
online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
HAVE A CASE? CALL US AT 410-625-4878