Auto Accident Report: Head-on Collision with a Semi-Truck
A 67-year-old man is dead after an auto accident involving a head-on collision with a semi-truck on State Route 24 in Benton County.
The Washington State Patrol said the incident happened around 5:21 on Wednesday evening, when the man attempted to pass two other vehicles, one of which was a semi-truck. He moved his SUV into the left lane to pass, where he struck another semi-truck coming from the other direction head-on. The crash had a domino-effect, with the semi-truck forcing the wrecked vehicle into another passing semi-truck and vehicle.
The fatal collision involved four vehicles. Three of them were classified as a total loss.
The Washington State Patrol says the cause of the crash is due to unsafe passing.
Risky Behavior Behind the Wheel
We’ve all seen driving behaviors and acts that could be identified as unsafe; or at the very least, questionable. There are many behaviors that can lead to dangerous driving conditions or even a fatal crash on the roadway. Many of these behaviors can be lumped under the umbrella of Distracted Driving, and in extreme cases, as reckless driving.
What does Distracted Driving look like?
Let’s take a look at distracted driving from two perspectives–inside the vehicle and outside the vehicle.
Any activity that diverts your attention away from driving causes distracted driving. That could include even the most innocuous of activities, like fiddling with the radio or using the navigation system, texting or talking on a cellphone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers in the vehicle, and even personal grooming. These are some of the internal dynamics and behaviors of an unsafe driver. Simply put–it’s erratic driving behavior caused by distractions within the vehicle. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X14000093
Distracted driving is obvious outside of the vehicle because the vehicle is responding directly to the driver’s inattention. You can see distracted driving in a variety of ways outside of the vehicle. You’ve probably seen some of these crazy acts on multiple occasions. Below are some of the unsafe driving acts commonly seen, ranked in the order of how prevalent they are today.
Stay Focused
State lawmakers have attempted to reduce risky driving behaviors via the new distracted driving laws and stiffer penalties. It helps bring recognize the consequences of driving behaviors that risk and undermine not only personal safety, but the safety of others.
Texting is notably one of the most alarming distractions because it is so prevalent in all ages of drivers. Some may rationalize, even minimize the dangers of a quick text, because reading or sending a text only takes your eyes off the road for only a few seconds at a time. But in reality, it only takes a second to snuff out a life or set off a chain of events that can have catastrophic outcomes.
Studies also show that one distracted behavior can lead to another. If our attention is on an incoming message or something on the radio, we may fail to yield or slow down in time for another vehicle. Nearly every crash on the road had some kind of distraction prior to impact. Sadly, human error trumps any of the listed causes of most motor vehicle crashes.
Here’s more information about driver electronic usage and the results of statistical findings to think about: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/driver_electronic_device_use_in_2015_0.pdf
Auto Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help
We all can do a better to be safer drivers. Some may say that driving a car is like riding a bike–it’s an old habit. But we live in a day and age of constant mobility and distraction. Driving takes all of our attention and effort because mobility and distraction together can make for a fatal outcome.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a auto accident caused by possible negligence or a distracted driver, call Fielding Law Group today for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. Our team of professionals will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve so you can recover and get on with your life. Remember–Don’t let an accident wreck YOU!
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