An auto accident on Interstate 95 in Chatham County on Sunday, November 27 resulted in at least nine injuries, according to Georgia State Patrol officials.

Police say a 26-year-old man was traveling north on the interstate when his pickup truck hit a small vehicle in front of him. This car, which had slowed down due to traffic congestion, then struck a number of other vehicles. In total, four automobiles were involved and two people had to be transported via helicopter to a local hospital. Another six people required transport via ambulance.

Officers cited the driver of the pickup truck for texting while driving and following too closely.

Dangers of distracted driving

Mobile devices and other distractions are a common cause of car accidents today. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving is on the rise throughout the country. This is a highly dangerous practice that takes motorists’ eyes off the road for seconds at a time — enough to cause a serious crash.

In fact, experts have determined that it takes an average of five seconds to respond to a text message. That’s enough time for a motor vehicle travel about 100 yards at 55 miles per hour. And in 2014, more than 3,100 people died and 431,000 were injured in auto accidents involving a distracted driver.

Recognizing these trends, law enforcement agencies in Georgia and across the country have ramped up efforts to reduce distracted driving through both education and enforcement.

If you or someone close to you has been seriously injured due to someone else’s irresponsible behavior, meet with a dedicated Atlanta car accident attorney at McMenamy Law LLC.