Monmouth County New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

You probably understand that distracted driving poses a risk to you on the road. Perhaps you refuse to text and drive. That is a very smart decision that can help keep you and other people safe. However, you are still at risk because of the people who do text on the road.

It's only natural to want to do something to improve your chances of safety and reduce your risk of an incident caused by a distracted driver. Your best way of reducing risk related to other people texting while driving is to teach yourself how to identify distracted drivers while at the wheel.

If you are involved in a car accident, your injuries and the damage to your vehicle can range in seriousness depending on the point of impact, how fast you and the other driver were traveling and the area the collision occurred in. Assessing your situation and making calm and responsible decisions can sometimes be challenging when you are in shock or trying to take in the seriousness of your situation. Understanding when to contact the authorities in New Jersey is vital to helping you make an informed decision if you are ever involved in a collision. 

The collision you are involved in could be nothing more than a fender-bender with neither you or the other driver seeing the value or necessity in calling the authorities. According to safetyinsurance.com, if the damage on your vehicle or the other person's vehicle is in excess of $1,000, authorities should be contacted. Contrary to what people may think, it does not take a hard impact for $1,000 worth of damage to be caused. Especially if either vehicle involved in the crash are newer models that still have a significant market value. 

People in New Jersey who are concerned about the ongoing problem of distracted driving have good reason for their fears. Data shows that among teens, distracted driving contributes to almost six out of every 10 vehicular accidents. It also seems that texting and driving, while the most common form of distracted driving, is not the only thing people still do with their phones when they should be focusing on the road. 

USA Today reported that in a new survey, 37% of millennial drivers aged from 18 to 34 felt a great pull to answer messages when driving. It seems that some of this urge comes from their desire to remain connected to their careers and jobs. Commute times have become additional work times for many people these days. This is leading some to encourage more business owners and managers to communicate their desire for safety over prompt message responses to their employees.

There are all sorts of reasons why a driver’s abilities behind the wheel may be disrupted, whether they consume alcohol before getting in their car, do not get enough sleep at night or have worked a very long day. However, some people do not realize that the allergy medication they take could also have a negative impact on their ability to stay safe on the road. If you struggle with seasonal allergies, it is especially important to be aware of how allergies—and certain drugs you may take to help with your symptoms—could increase the chances of a motor vehicle crash.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some allergy medications can lead to drowsy driving, which could result in an auto accident. There are a number of ways in which drivers may be affected by allergy medications, even if they do not seem to feel drowsy after taking them. For example, a driver’s reaction time may be slower, and they may feel confused, which can be disastrous behind the wheel. Moreover, consuming alcohol and taking other drugs that may interact with allergy medication can cause a driver to become even more drowsy while on the road.