Many people enjoy listening to music on the road, but they should understand a number of potential concerns associated with playing music while driving. Traffic accidents occur for a wide variety of reasons, and drivers must pay more attention to some of the risk factors that receive less attention.
Although many understand that drunk driving, speeding and icy roads can cause traffic collisions, some find themselves in a collision because they do not recognize other areas of concern, such as music. In fact, there are a number of ways in which music can increase the probability of a motor vehicle collision.
Music and distracted driving accidents
It is important to review how music can distract drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that choosing music can interfere with a driver’s ability to focus on the road and lead to an accident. In addition, a driver could become distracted if they try to adjust the volume, become overly excited when hearing music they enjoy or try to download a song.
In 2019, distracted driving resulted in roughly 424,000 injuries and more than 3,100 deaths.
Loud music and car crashes
Aside from distracting drivers, music can also interfere with a driver’s ability to hear. For example, someone listening to music could find themselves unable to hear another driver honking or other sounds. In some instances, excessively loud music can distract drivers in other vehicles as well.
Those who suffer an injury in a crash because of a driver’s carelessness due to music or any other factor have the right to pursue compensation for damages resulting from the accident.