Covington Personal Injury Law Blog

Despite widespread attention paid to the dangers of distracted driving, one study indicates that it continues to be a significant threat on Kentucky roads. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a report comparing results of surveys in 2014 and 2018 that questioned drivers about their distracted behaviors behind the wheel. While overall rates of distracted driving remained relatively stable between the two years, more dangerous forms of distraction became increasingly common in that time period.

In some ways, the changes in distracted driving patterns mirrored overall trends in communication. For example, drivers were less likely to hold a cellphone while having a voice call behind the wheel. On the other hand, they were 57 percent more likely to text, send emails or use the internet while driving on a mobile device. While it poses an increased risk of car accidents to drive while talking on a handheld phone, as drivers' attention tends to drift to the center of the road, driving while texting can have more severe consequences. The hand manipulation of a phone that accompanies texting and surfing can take drivers' eyes away from the road and hands from the wheel. Studies indicate that it can elevate the risk of a fatal crash by two-thirds.

Like most good drivers in Kentucky, you do your best to adhere to traffic regulations, to keep up with maintenance on your car and to make responsible choices regarding issues, such as alcohol consumption before operating a motor vehicle. The problem is that you have no way of knowing if drivers who share your roadways are doing the same.

There are reckless drivers on most highways. An uneventful commute to work can turn tragic if a nearby driver disregards safety rules or state traffic laws. Even if you notice a potential problem in the way a particular driver is maneuvering his or her vehicle, you may not have enough time to safely react to avoid a collision. An accident can't be undone; therefore, if it happens to you, the main priority is to obtain the support you need to achieve as full a recovery as possible.

Tired drivers could be a safety hazard for those who use ride-sharing services like Lyft or Uber. They can also be a danger to others on Kentucky roads. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there are 328,000 crashes each year that are caused by drowsy drivers. Of those crashes, 109,000 cause injury while 6,400 result in someone dying. There are several reasons why Uber or Lyft drivers operate while drowsy.

First, they may believe that sleep isn't important or is simply overrated. They may also believe that they need to work longer hours because they aren't paid much per trip. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine believes that changing driver attitudes will take a multifaceted approach. It will take government officials, medical professionals and the ride-sharing companies coming together to make it safer for drivers and passengers alike.

When people in Kentucky go to the hospital, they hope that their surgeon is having a good day. According to a Columbia University study, surgeons going through life stresses are much more likely to make surgical errors in the operating room. This not only applied to significant life problems; the results also held up when the source of stress was trivial and passing. Indeed, the researchers said that negative thoughts and loud voices in the operating room may be sufficient to trigger a notable level of stress, thus raising the risk of serious medical errors.

The study used special "smart shirts" worn by surgeons under their clothing while conducting surgery. The shirt measured heart rate, electrical impulses and other physical changes that could indicate heightened levels of stress. Other researchers documented mistakes made during surgery, including minor or insignificant errors with no effect on patient recovery. This analysis discovered that the risk of surgical errors could rise by up to 66 percent at the same time that stress signs were detected by the special shirt. When looking for the sources of stress involved, distractions in the hospital were significant factors. These included equipment alarms, side conversations and people leaving and entering the operating room.