Distracted Driving Accident Statistics in Las Vegas
Distracted driving is a major contributor to car accidents in Clark County. Reckless and negligent drivers engage in distracted driving because they think they can safely multitask. This is never the case. It is impossible for drivers to dedicate 100% of their attention to the road when they are using a mobile device, eating, drinking, or distracted in any way. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,166 people died from distracted driving in 2017. Texting and driving are one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. If you were injured by a driver who was distracted, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact a Las Vegas Car Accident attorney to schedule a free consultation and get more information on how you can get the compensation you deserve.
Las Vegas Drinking and Driving Accident Facts
Las Vegas is a major city for drinking and driving accidents. “Sin City” is famous for the Strip – where it’s legal to walk around with open containers of alcohol. People travel from all over the world to drink, gamble, and party in Clark County. Sadly, this leads to hundreds of alcohol-related collisions in the region every year. From 2013 to 2017, 359 people died and 708 were seriously injured in alcohol-related wrecks in Nevada. Most of these accidents (65%) occurred in Clark County. Male drivers between the ages of 26 and 35 were the largest demographic in these types of fatal and injurious accidents.
The majority of drunk-driving crashes in Clark County occurred on the weekends, with fatalities peaking on Saturdays and serious injuries peaking on Sundays. About 50% of impaired fatalities occurred in overturn accidents, followed by vehicle-pedestrian accidents (25%) and fixed-object accidents (25%). The most common types of alcohol-related crashes in Nevada are single-vehicle, angle, non-collision, rear-end, head-on, sideswipe, and overtaking. The Nevada SHSP strives to reduce drinking and driving through maximized driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement, educational campaigns, and focus on DUI crashes related to drugs.
Is it Illegal to Use Your Cell Phone While Driving in Nevada?
It’s illegal to use a cell phone or other electronic devices while driving in Nevada. As of 2012, drivers cannot text, send messages, read emails, or make phone calls while operating a vehicle. Nevada’s device laws are primary, meaning law enforcement officers need no other reason to make traffic stops and issue citations. The penalties range from fines of $50 for a first offense to as much as $250 with a six-month license suspension for subsequent offenses. The only state-approved devices are in-vehicle systems that use voice command, hands-free devices, and voice-operated GPS systems.
If you were involved in an accident because of the negligence of a distracted driver, contact our Las Vegas distracted driving accident lawyers for a free consultation.
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