Technology appears to be both a blessing and a curse to Alabama drivers. Handheld devices have proven to be a tempting distraction behind the wheel, prompting lawmakers to pass laws banning such technology-related behaviors as laws texting and driving. On the other hand, a new study indicates that technology may also be helping to lower the amount of rear-end crashes across the country.
The study analyzed police-reported crash data. Researchers found that automatic braking systems lowered rear-end collisions by around 40 percent. Even vehicles equipped with forward collision warnings, without the benefit of autobrake systems, reduced such crashes by over 20 percent. On a national scale, the reduction in police reported rear-end crashes could be significant, lowering the total by about 700,000 crashes.
Unfortunately, Alabama’s roads and highways continue to be the scene of far too many motor vehicle accidents each year. It seems there is no shortage of dangerous roads. Although an insurance company may occasionally come forward with a reasonable settlement offer, our personal injury law firm has also seen the opposite in far too many instances.
Why is it important to have an attorney pursue legal liability on behalf of a motor vehicle accident victim? A motorist injured by a rear-end collision may have long-term concerns arising from whiplash or other injuries. A victim of another’s driving negligence may be facing weeks or even months of physical therapy, all the while battling chronic pain. The combination of those factors may amount to a sizable amount of money. Without the insight of an attorney, a crash victim may not realize the full amount to which he or she is due.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Front crash prevention slashes police-reported rear-end crashes,” Jan. 28, 2016
