As the number of distracted drivers grows, West Virginia motorists might need to start driving more defensively in anticipation of these distractions. In 2015 and 2016, the number of traffic fatalities around the country were up significantly after several years of decline. Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that distracted driving as a cause of accidents is increasing more rapidly than accidents that happen because of drowsy driving, drunk driving, not wearing a seat belt or speeding. Cellphones are a significant source of this distraction.

There are a number of steps people should take for effective defensive driving. They should keep an eye out for any potential hazards and identify which hazards are likely. They then must decide what the appropriate action is and take that action.

For example, motorists might carefully watch as a light changes from red to green to make sure that drivers from the other direction are not ignoring their red light. A driver should also watch pedestrians carefully to be sure that they are not distracted by their mobile phones.

People who are injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver might think the insurance company will pay for their medical expenses, but this may not be the case. An insurance company’s compensation offer may be too low, or there might be a dispute about who was at fault in the accident. Victims migh thus want to discuss their insurance claim with an attorney and what their options may be. The attorney may be able to negotiate with the insurance company and get a higher compensation offer. Filing a lawsuit might also be a option.