Inattention, Weather Contribute to Labor Day Accidents in Kentucky

Kentucky State Police officers say inattention and rain contributed to dangerous and deadly vehicle accidents throughout the state over Labor Day weekend.

From 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday, there were 60 non-injury accidents and 17 injury accidents in Lexington, the Herald-Leader reported. That was nearly double the number of accidents that normally occur during the same time frame.

A chain reaction of five accidents on I-75 in Rockcastle County involved 12 vehicles and blocked traffic for miles, according to news reports. In Fayette County, at least one person died and others were injured in accidents over the holiday weekend.

Police said that rain played a role in the wrecks by creating slippery conditions on Kentucky roads. But they also said that drivers craning their necks to look at other crashes took their attention off roads, leading to further fender benders.

Driver inattention is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents in the United States today. One study from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that 80 percent of car crashes over a one-year period were caused by distracted drivers. Many of the wrecks involved drivers using cellphones, researchers said.

Personal injury attorneys frequently represent people who are injured in motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents caused by distracted drivers. An injured person, or plaintiff, must prove that whoever is responsible for the wreck behaved irresponsibly and that their recklessness caused the injuries.

Insurance companies work hard to get injured people to accept a settlement offer rather than pursue a legal claim. That offer may less than what victims and their families deserve. But stress and confusion in the wake of the accident may make victims unknowingly agree to something that is well below the compensation possible to help with medical bills, lost wages and other burdens caused by an accident.