Texting-Related Accidents Surge
Texting-related accidents are a major reason for traffic collisions, which is why most states, including California, have laws against it while driving. Despite the epidemic of texting-related accidents, nearly 40 percent of teens have reported that they have been passengers in a vehicle while the driver is sending and receiving text messages. In addition, roughly seven out of 10 adult drivers said they can drive safely while texting. Understanding why texting is so dangerous can make a difference and possibly save your life or the lives of your loved ones.
Driving and Texting Related Accidents
Driving while texting is responsible for millions of crashes every year from serious collisions to parking lot accidents. Of the 2.5 million traffic accidents that happen each year, approximately 1.6 million occur while the driver is using their cell phone. During 2016, 330,000 individuals suffered injuries in texting-related accidents, while an additional 421,000 incurred serious injuries because of this and other distractions. About 3,400 people die every year because of distracted driving crashes, with texting-related accidents being the number one cause.
How Texting Affects the Risk of an Accident
Let’s imagine a driver traveling on the highway at the speed limit of 55 mph. Up ahead around 120 yards and over a hill is a vehicle that has broken down, and it in the travel lane with its flashers turned on. There is no such thing as a good time to read a text message while driving, but the motorist decides to anyway. It takes the driver around five seconds to read the message. However, the vehicle will travel about 120 yards at the speed limit of 55 mph. That driver, who thinks it’s okay to read a short text message, will be in an accident that possibly results in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities.
Why Texting Is a Dangerous Behavior
There are three separate aspects of distraction. For instance, looking at your car’s GPS involves only one. However, texting involves all three. This is why it can lead to texting-related accidents. The categories are:
- Cognitive distractions: A cognitive distraction refers to what a driver is thinking about while behind the wheel of the car such as watching for traffic lights ahead, monitoring speed and looking out for dangers. By texting while driving, the motorist is thinking about what they are going to say or are reading rather than focusing on driving.
- Visual distractions: A motorist’s eyes need to stay on the road, and texting takes the eyes from the job at hand. Reading or texting, even though it may only take a few seconds, is long enough to cause an accident.
- Manual distractions: All drivers know that both hands should remain on the steering wheel at all times. However, texting from the driver’s seat means that only one hand is on the wheel. According to the Association for Psychological Science, about 40 percent of drivers admitted to using only one hand on the steering wheel. Drivers who use both hands to steer have more control over the vehicle, particularly in an emergency situation.
Providing Proof in Texting Related Accidents
Being involved in a collision caused by someone who was texting happens all the time. Proving the driver was texting is often complex. Most drivers will not admit that they were texting while driving because they know that it is against the law in California and a dangerous activity. They do this to avoid liability and penalties. However, an experienced injury lawyer, who has handled cases involving distracted driving and texting, will have the negligent driver’s cell phone records subpoenaed. Those records will prove that the phone was in use at the time of the accident.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Roseville
I’m Ed Smith, a Roseville personal injury lawyer. If you or someone close to you was injured in an accident caused by a driver who was texting, an experienced personal injury lawyer can prove it, and build a strong case for fair compensation for your injuries and associated expenses. Please call me at (916) 921-6400 locally or (800) 404-5400 if you are outside the area for free and friendly advice.
I belong to a group of trial lawyers called Million Dollar Advocates. It welcomes membership only from those lawyers who have won in excess of $1 million for a client.
I have been privileged to operate the same personal injury law firm since 1982, obtaining fair compensation for my clients in all types of car accidents, trauma such as brain injuries and wrongful deaths.
You can find out more about my law firm by looking over client and peer reviews as well as prior cases. Links to this information can be found at the following sites:
Photo Attribution: https://www.pexels.com/photo/road-people-street-smartphone-2224/
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