Every day, nine individuals are killed and 1,000 are wounded in distracted driving incidents. While there are a variety of behaviors that may be classified as distracted driving, texting on a mobile phone or smart phone is one of the most popular and dangerous. There are around 660,000 persons on the road using smart phones while driving at any given time.
Texting is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communication
Of course, today’s smart phones can do a lot more than simply text, so drivers have a lot of additional options to keep them distracted. According to an AT&T poll of more than 2,000 smart phone customers, many drivers are engaging in some very complex smart phone activities while driving:
- Sixty-one percent admitting to texting on a regular basis
- Email is used by 33% of respondents while driving
- 28% of people use the internet while driving
- Facebook is used by 27% while driving
- Photographs are taken by 17% while driving
- Twitter is used by 14% while driving
- Instagram is used by 14% of people while driving
- 12% of people use video while driving
- Snapchat is used by 11% of people while driving
- 10% of people utilize video chat while driving
Why are smart phone distractions so harmful?
Whatever you’re doing with your phone, it’s a major distraction, according to the CDC, even more so than the most prevalent diversions of the past, such as eating, putting on cosmetics, talking to passengers, or talking on a hands-free phone.
Why is it that cell phone diversions are so dangerous? Because they blend three different sorts of distractions into a single activity. Texting and other forms of smart phone activities are visual distractions that take your gaze away from the road. Swiping, touching, texting, or even just holding your phone removes your hands off the steering wheel.
Composing a text or Facebook post, reading Yelp reviews for local attractions, or checking your email are all examples of cognitive distractions that take your focus off driving. All of these distractions will reduce your response time, making it less likely that you will be able to respond to road dangers and increasing your chances of being involved in—or perhaps causing— a vehicle accident.
If you’ve been injured, here’s what you should do
You are almost likely entitled to compensation if you are involved in an automobile accident that was not your fault. It makes no difference whether the other motorist was texting or talking on their phone at the time of the accident—if they were driving recklessly or negligently for whatever reason and caused an accident, they will be held accountable. However, in some situations, having proof that a motorist was using their phone at the time of an accident can assist improve the victim’s case for compensation, and in the case of commercial drivers, it may even result in a punitive damages judgment. Timestamps on texts, images, and social media postings might be used to prove that you were distracted by your phone.
The most essential thing to do if you have been injured in a car accident is to call an experienced car accident injury attorney like The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker. We can assist you in constructing the strongest possible claim against the negligent party and pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries and suffering. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 800-333-0000 for a free introductory consultation.
