Tag: Distracted driving

Happy Thanksgiving from The Yost Legal Group!

Posted on by YostLaw

The attorneys and staff at The Yost Legal Group wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Please remember that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. People throughout Maryland will be anxious to arrive at their destinations, and this can often lead to impatient and aggressive driving.

Please keep these guidelines in mind over the holiday weekend:

  • Consider leaving early to avoid holiday traffic.
  • Drive defensively and be aware of the speed limit.
  • Never allow your phone, mobile devices or fellow passengers to distract you from the task of driving safely and attentively.
  • NEVER get behind the wheel if you have consumed any alcohol. Plan your way home before going out – call a car service or taxi, use public transportation or designate a sober driver.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

People Are Injured Every Day Due to Distracted Driving Across Maryland

Posted on by YostLaw

Distracted driving is a selfish decision that thousands of Americans make every day. When drivers choose to be distracted on their phone instead of concentrating on the road, they are not only putting their own lives on the line, but also the innocent lives of motorists and pedestrians around them.

Looking at Maryland specifically, it was found that 80 people are injured everyday due to distracted drivers. Not to mention there are 53,000 distracted driving crashes in Maryland every year that result in 28,874 injuries. These alarming numbers shed light on how serious distracted driving can be and the deadly consequences associated with it.

Texting used to be the culprit behind distracted driving, but it has now expanded to social apps such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps and Spotify to name a few. Below are some shocking statistics that expose the dangers associated with distracted driving:

  • 9 people are killed every day by distracted driving across the U.S
  • 70% of teens admit to using mobile apps while driving
  • 48% of adults admit to texting and driving even though they know it is unsafe
  • The risk of being in an auto accident is increased 4x when you pick up your mobile device

To read more about distracted driving in Maryland, click here.

At The Yost Legal Group, we want all Maryland motorists to drive as safe as possible. That means never using your mobile device while operating a vehicle. It is that simple.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association advises these following tips to keep yourself and others safe on the road:

  • Turn off your phone. Turn off your phone or put it in silent mode before you get in the car, then stow it away out of your reach.
  • Pull over. If you ever need to make a call or send a text, reduce your risk of getting in an accident by pulling to a safe spot on the side of the road.
  • Use passengers. Ask a passenger in your vehicle to make a call for you or shoot a text, as well as navigate directions for you if needed.
  • Refrain from eating, drinking, reading, grooming and smoking. These activities distract you from the road and increase your odds of being in an accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver or in any type of motor vehicle accident that was not your fault, call The Yost Legal Group for help and guidance. We have years of experience dealing with all types of Auto Accident and Injury cases, and we promise to represent your rights to the fullest.

Call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) to speak with an experienced, dedicated and compassionate car accident attorney about your case. You will receive a FREE, confidential consultation with a Baltimore Auto Accident attorney. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait. Call today.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights.

Study Finds Maryland Drivers Most Likely to Text and Drive

Posted on by YostLaw

A new study commissioned by AAA has found that a majority of drivers are well aware of the dangers of distracted driving, yet continue to engage in the risky practice anyway. The study also found that drivers in Maryland are the most likely group of drivers in the nation to text behind the wheel. The conclusions found in this study are disturbing, and demonstrate that drivers often choose to disregard facts and statistics about dangerous driving practices.

At The Yost Legal Group, we continue to work hard to spread awareness about the dangers of Distracted Driving, which include texting & driving and drinking & driving.

The AAA study found some very interesting statistics that shed some light on why we continue to see so many distracted driving accidents in Maryland despite the fact that the dangers of the practice are well publicized. Here are some of the most eye-opening findings from this study:

  • 1 in 4 Maryland drivers reported being in a serious car accident within the last two years, and yet 33% of Marylanders still admitted to using their phones while driving.
  • The number of Maryland drivers that admitted to texting and driving is 6 percentage points higher than the national average of only 27%.
  • Approximately 67%, roughly two thirds of respondents, indicated that they believed hands-free devices were safe to use while driving. Numerous studies have shown that this is false, and that the distraction of a conversation is more than enough to put drivers and those around them at a higher risk to be involved in an accident.
  • 60% of Marylanders admit to speeding on residential and neighborhood streets.
  • The number of Maryland drivers that admitted to speeding in residential areas is 12% higher than the national average.

The national awareness program Distraction.gov is an organization dedicated to spreading awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, especially among younger motorists. Many parents will attest to the fact that their teenagers can sometimes seem inseparable from their phones and mobile devices, but using this technology while behind the wheel can be deadly. Here are some key facts to remember:

  • Sending a text message while driving at a speed of 55mph is roughly equivalent to driving the entire length of a football field while blindfolded.
  • Drivers that text behind the wheel are 20 times more likely to be involved in an accident than non-distracted drivers.
  • Talking on a cell phone while driving reduces the amount of brain activity focused on the road and your surroundings by 37%.

If you are the parent of a young or teenage driver be sure to speak with them about the dangers of this habit early and often. Instilling good driving habits at an early age will be a crucial tool that parents and community leaders can use to reduce the number of motorists involved in distracted driver accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted, intoxicated or reckless driver, you will need an experienced legal team on your side to ensure that your rights as a victim are protected. The Yost Legal Group has years of experience dealing with all types of Auto Accident and Injury cases, and we promise to represent your rights to the fullest.

Call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) to speak with an experienced, dedicated and compassionate attorney about your case. You will receive a FREE, confidential consultation with a Baltimore, Maryland Auto Accident attorney that will help you understand the details of your case. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait. Call today.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights.

Distracted Driving Accidents Are Avoidable

Posted on by YostLaw

Crash! A motor vehicle accident can occur in an instant. One minute you are driving down the road, minutes from your final destination, and then out of nowhere, you are sideswiped by another car. As it turns out, the other driver was checking her hair in the mirror and took her eyes off the road in order to do so.

Distracted driving accidents are all too common in Maryland, and the personal injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group have represented many victims of these types of accidents.

Most distracted driving accidents are avoidable if drivers would obey the rules of the road and follow the necessary safety precautions while driving.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the United States, 9 people are killed and 1,060 people are injured every day in crashes that involve a distracted driver.

There are three main types of distractions while driving.  These include:

–          Visual: taking your eyes off the road
–          Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
–          Cognitive: taking your mind off the task of driving

While talking and texting on cell phones are common sources of distracted driving, there are many other instances, such as; changing the radio station, eating, conversing with passengers, grooming oneself, and small children or pets who disrupt your attention while driving.

Distracted driving statistics in Maryland are astounding. The Maryland Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicle Administration reports the following:

–          In 2011 a total of 231 people were killed and 29,050 others were injured in distracted driving                accidents.
–          In 2011, 30% of the total distracted driver-involved crashes were rear-end collisions.
–          11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at                 the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

The Yost Legal Group is experienced in helping individuals and their families who are victims of distracted driving accidents. The Yost Legal Group has the experience to investigate your situation and find out if negligence was involved.

Contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-Yost-Law  (1-800-967-8529) for a free, confidential consultation. If someone was at fault, we will fight to get you the compensation and the justice you deserve.

To find out more about your rights, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable distracted driving attorneys at The Yost Legal Group.

Call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak with one of our experienced car accident attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group Distracted Driving attorneys will help you find answers. If you have questions, call to speak with an experienced Baltimore distracted driving lawyer for help.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.

 

Contact Form

DO I HAVE A CASE?

Contact us at the Yost Legal Group for a free initial consultation. We can help to provide information about ongoing litigation or discuss the circumstances of your individual case. There is no fee or expense unless you recover.