New Jersey Among Most Dangerous States for Distracted Driving Accidents

Though New Jersey and other states have passed traffic laws designed to curb the epidemic of distracted driving, serious accidents continue because motorists shift their attention away from the road. Many of crashes are attributable to texting and other forms of smartphone use. Sophisticated dashboard displays, eating behind the wheel and a driver’s focus on in-car activity can also trigger crashes.

No matter where you are in the United States, there’s a risk of being hurt in a collision caused by a distracted driver. Unfortunately, a recent statistical review indicates that New Jersey is particularly prone to these types of accidents. Cell-phone comparison site WhistleOut used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to rank U.S. states by distracted-driving fatalities per capita. Their analysis indicated that New Jersey has the fifth-highest rate of deadly crashes stemming from a vehicle operator’s lack of focus.

Another notable finding was that while distracted driving accidents are often most associated with younger motorists, the demographic group with the highest incidence of these crashes is now men aged 45–64. There are several possible explanations as to why distracted driving is especially prevalent in New Jersey, including the following:

• Heavy traffic — Unlike places with quieter roads, even a split-second distraction could wind up in a collision here. Heavy congestion and lengthy commutes also add to the likelihood that someone will check their phone out of frustration or to get traffic updates. 
• Workplace demands — Many New Jersey residents have high-pressure jobs that seemingly demand constant availability. Even when a motorist is following the state’s hands-free law, concentrating on a work-related conversation could affect their ability to operate their vehicle safely. 
• Complex roads and frequent construction — Jug handles, unexpected turn-only lanes and complex intersections are just three of the many challenges that demand close attention from Garden State drivers. Construction also creates sudden obstacles and shifting traffic patterns.

Often, it is not apparent that a serious vehicle accident was caused by a distracted driver. Even the police officer who reports to the scene might not be able to discern that a driver was on their phone. When you contact an experienced injury attorney, they can start collecting relevant evidence immediately and use the legal discovery process to assess if a motorist was not focusing on the road when the collision occurred.  

Kevin T. Kutyla, Esq., based in Succasunna and Newton, represents clients throughout Morris and Sussex counties in a full range of New Jersey auto accident cases. This includes lawsuits arising from crashes caused by distracted drivers. Call 973-940-8970 or contact me online to schedule an appointment.