Ri$k Happens: Who is at fault?

Sep. 26, 2021 - By Mary Ann Gormly, CERP - Loss Analyst, ARA Insurance

Distracted driving is the cause for many accidents every day. The driver looks down at their phone, eats while driving, or turns to talk to their passenger. According to the US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distraction was a factor in 9 percent of fatal crashes reported in 2019. That’s more than 3,000 lives lost due to someone not paying attention.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

The driver for one rental store recently was a victim of that behavior. She was traveling down the highway when the truck she was driving was rear-ended. She looked in her rear-view mirror and then rear-ended the car in front of her before putting her foot on the brake.

That car was pushed into the car in front of them. The adjuster for the rental store’s claim is trying to sort everything out, but if the facts are as it was originally stated, the damage to the rear of the rental store truck is the fault of the vehicle that hit her. The rental store driver is at fault for the car she rear-ended and the vehicle the car was pushed into.

Remind your drivers to keep their eyes on the road and pay attention to what is going on around them.

This item, provided by ARA Insurance, Kansas City, Mo., contains safety tips and is intended to help readers better understand and manage risk. For more safety and risk management information, customers of ARA Insurance can log on to ReSource. Access is free, so if you haven’t signed up yet, contact your agent or call 800-821-6580.

 

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