The Travelers Companies surveyed more than 2,000 consumers and executives about distracted driving for its 2019 Travelers Risk Index, and it has discovered the most common forms of distraction as well as the most common reasons for them. West Virginia residents may not be surprised that texting and sending emails was the number one distracting activity (44 percent). This was followed by social media use (23 percent), recording videos or taking pictures (22 percent) and online shopping (15 percent).

Over 30 percent admitted to being in a near-collision because of distractions. Yet 13 percent said they would find it hard to break their habit of reading emails or texts, and 11 percent said the same for sending them. Nineteen percent said they would continue driving distracted even if there were a law against it.

Many drivers use their phone for work reasons. According to Travelers, 87 percent of employers expect their employees to be reachable outside the office. Twenty percent of employees surveyed say they have replied to work-related messages partly because of pressure from their boss.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they would stop driving distracted if asked by a passenger, so speaking up can sometimes be the best solution. Two-thirds of parents have spoken to their children about the dangers of distracted driving. Two-thirds of companies have distracted driving education programs.

Distracted driving is just one example of negligent driving, but it is an underreported one since drivers may lie about their activities before a crash. Still, it can form the basis for a personal injury claim. Those who intend to file one may wish to schedule a case evaluation with a lawyer. In this state, accident victims who are less than 50 percent at fault may be able to recover damages. A lawyer might help in negotiating a fair amount in damages.