Is it more dangerous to drink and drive, or text and drive?

When driving, the individual operating the vehicle should solely and completely focus on the task at hand, which is arriving at the destination safely. There are many factors that could affect a driver’s ability to do this, including distraction caused by phone use or impairment caused by drugs or alcohol. Either of these can lead to dangerous behaviors that can result in serious accidents that may leave innocent people with serious or fatal injuries.

Both drunk driving and distracted driving are dangerous, and they are both completely preventable. If you are suffering from injuries that occurred in an accident caused by a drunk or distracted North Carolina driver, you could have legal options available to you. Victims of negligent or reckless behaviors could have the option to seek compensation through a personal injury claim against the liable party.

Which is more common?

Alcohol is the cause of thousands of motorist deaths each year, and it significantly increases the chance of an accident. Impaired drivers struggle with responding to hazards, stopping in enough time, staying in their lane and more. Distracted drivers also behave in similar ways as they are looking at their phones or paying attention to something else while driving. Facts to consider about drunk and distracted driving include:

• Distracted driving has increased significantly over the last few years because of increases in technology, phone use and in-car infotainment systems.
• Statistics indicate that drunk driving accidents are more likely to be fatal than distracted driving accidents because intoxicated drivers tend to be more reckless.
• Many people understand the dangers of drunk driving yet fail to see the risk involved with driving while distracted.

Both intoxicated and distracted drivers are a risk to others on the road. Both of these types of negligent behaviors are preventable and inexcusable, and the civil justice system provides a way for victims to pursue recovery of their losses and other damages.

What should you do next?

If you are the victim of an accident caused by a drunk or distracted driver, there are legal options available to you. Your pursuit of justice should begin with a careful assessment of your individual accident case — a step that will allow you to understand the most beneficial way forward for your individual situation.