Distracted Driving Accidents in Albuquerque

Even though we know that distracted driving is dangerous, it doesn’t seem to stop motorists from diverting their attention when they’re at the wheel. Not surprisingly, distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in Albuquerque and across the nation.

Distracted drivers don’t just cause accidents, they cause deadly ones. An average of 9 people are killed in distracted driving car accidents every day.

New Mexico is known for being the worst state when it comes to distracted driving. According to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 169 fatal distracted driving car accidents in New Mexico in 2022, down from 195 the year prior. 40 percent of New Mexico's fatal car accidents are caused by distracted drivers, which is also the highest distracted driving fatality rate in the nation.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving can involve much more than texting and driving. In fact, there are three different classifications for driver distraction: visual, cognitive, and manual.

• Visual Distraction: Anything that takes your eyes off of the road is a visual distraction. Common examples include texting, turning around to talk to a passenger, and looking for something on the floor.

• Cognitive Distraction: Anything that causes you to take your mind off of the task of driving can be a cognitive distraction, including daydreaming or talking on the phone.

• Manual Distraction: Things that cause you to remove your hands from the steering wheel - like changing the radio station, texting, eating, or smoking  - is considered a manual distraction.

Almost anything can cause a driver to become distracted - from applying makeup to helping a child in a car seat or trying to follow GPS directions. The more distractions a driver faces, the more likely it becomes that they’ll make a mistake that puts themselves and others in danger.

Why is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?

When you get behind the wheel of a car in Albuquerque, you assume a duty of care. This duty requires you to drive carefully and in a way that won’t put others in harm’s way.

When a driver becomes distracted, they’re more likely to:

• Miss their turns or exits, causing them to make risky or dangerous maneuvers
• Run red lights and stop signs
• Cause rear-end collisions because they don’t notice vehicles stopped in front of them
• Change lanes without checking for other vehicles
• Swerve and have difficulty maintaining their lane of traffic
• Drive the wrong way down the road

While sending a quick text or glancing at the radio might not seem like a big deal, a lot can go wrong in those few seconds. If you’re driving 55 MPH, you’ll drive the length of a football field in just five seconds. Imagine driving that far down an Albuquerque highway without looking at the road. A lot can go wrong in that short period of time.

Let Singleton Schreiber Help You Fight For Justice After a Distracted Driving Accident in Albuquerque

When you get into an accident because another driver is distracted, you have rights. Singleton Schreiber can help you make the most of them. 

Our Albuquerque car accident lawyers will investigate your crash, gather cell phone records and other pieces of evidence, and work to build a claim that helps you recover much-needed compensation for your medical bills, disability, and suffering.

We offer a free consultation, so call our Albuquerque, New Mexico, law office to discuss your distracted driving accident case with our team today.