Frankfort Kentucky Personal Injury Blog

Distracted driving is more common than people realize. Recent research, for example, found that the average driver travels over three miles each day while distracted. Smartphones have created the ultimate temptation for people to take their eyes and minds off the road. It is difficult, if not impossible, for people to ignore the notifications that come pouring in from their phone.

Many people may glance down for a moment, but those seconds add up. Even those who check their devices at stop signs and traffic lights can remain mentally distracted for some time, after they look up from their phone.

People in Kentucky may have become accustomed to seeing traffic accidents on a regular basis. They may not know, however, just how serious the scope of this problem is. According to recent research, more people in the United States have died in car accidents since 2000 than in both World Wars.

There were over 624,000 car crash fatalities over the last 19 years. By comparison, 535,000 service personnel died in World Wars I and II. Over 30 million people suffered injuries in crashes.

Trucking regulations limit the number of hours that drivers of commercial vehicles can be on the road. These rules are meant to combat fatigue and they apply to truckers across the nation, including those right here in Kentucky. But the U.S. Department of Transportation may weaken the federal regulations restricting driving hours even though safety advocates claim that this will increase the risk of truck accidents.

In 2017, there were 4,657 fatal accidents involving a large truck. Sixty of the truckers involved in those accidents were classified as being asleep or fatigued. But the National Transportation Safety Board claims that this problem is probably underreported on police accident reports.

Retailers have a duty to keep their customers and employees safe. They must be aware of the risks posed by their location, merchandise, and brands. Providing inadequate security and failing to implement reasonable procedures can be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.

Employees should receive security awareness training. Store policies must require them to pay attention to the sales floor and should contain rules, such as no smartphone use when they are on their shift. Employees need to receive guidance on recognizing workplace violence and reporting and managing a potential safety problem. They should know how to use the store's security systems.