Distracted Driving Awareness Month: How Distractions Increase Your Long Term Disability Risks

This month is designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It calls attention to an unfortunately common problem that significantly increases the likelihood of car accidents and injuries. However, being distracted poses other risks, even when you are not behind the wheel. Find out some of the ramifications of not paying attention and how it increases the chances of long-term disabilities.

Distracted Driving Can Result In Long Term Disabilities 

The National Safety Council is one of the sponsors of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Each April, they work with federal, state, and local public safety officials to make drivers more aware of how not paying attention could cause them serious harm.

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of long-term disabilities. Unfortunately, distracted driving is often a contributing factor. In addition to texting or talking on hand-held devices while behind the wheel, both of which are illegal under the Florida Statutes, distracted driving includes other common behaviors, such as:

• Eating fast food and drinking coffee or other beverages on the road;
• Changing GPS or car stereo settings;
• Reach for items in your glove compartment or backseat;
• Turning your head to talk to passengers;
• Thinking about other things rather than the task of driving.

Broken bones, torn muscles and tendons, and back, head, or neck injuries are all common car accident injuries that can result in long-term disabilities.

Other Ways Being Distracted Increases Long-Term Disability Risks

Being distracted increases the likelihood of car accidents, as well as other types of injuries. The  American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) warns that being distracted makes slip and fall accidents more likely to happen, which are another common cause of long-term disabilities.

These may occur on the job or during off-hours as well, such as when visiting stores, restaurants, amusement parks, public pools, and doctor’s offices. Other ways being distracted increases long-term disability risks include:

• Could cause you to make dangerous mistakes on the job or not follow proper safety precautions;
• Increases the likelihood of accidents at home when performing potentially dangerous tasks, such as climbing on ladders and using power tools;
• Makes you more likely to suffer overuse and repetitive stress injuries;
• Increases accident risks as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or when taking public transportation;
• Can make you more likely to ignore medical symptoms, which could be signs of potentially disabling health conditions;
• Makes you less likely to follow up on doctor appointments, which can impact your rights regarding long-term disability benefits.

Contact Our Florida Long-Term Disability Attorney And Request A Consultation Today

Paying attention and not being distracted can help to prevent potentially disabling injuries and worsening of chronic health conditions. Unfortunately, long-term disabilities can still happen. When they do, reach out to Farrell Disability Law.

We help you get the benefits you are entitled to, either through employer-provided long-term disability policies, private insurance, or the Social Security Administration. To request a consultation in our office, give us a call or contact our Jacksonville long-term disability attorney online today.