Texting While Driving Accident Lawsuit
Cell phone use while driving and texting while driving accident statistics are shocking the public. Texting while driving, emailing, browsing the web via cellphone causes the driver to have accidents at a rate six times higher than the accident rate of drunk drivers. At any given point during the day, some 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones in some way while operating a motor vehicle.
Texting while driving accidents pose a major safety threat to society. Pedestrians and drivers alike are at serious risk of injury and death due to increasing distraction-affected crashes. In 2013, over 3000 deaths were caused by distraction-affected crashes many of which were because of texting while driving accidents. An additional 424,000 people were also injured as a result of these distraction-affected crashes and accidents.
Smartphones have enabled individuals to remain connected to email, social media, texts, and calls almost 24/7. Unfortunately, laws are lagging in helping put a stop to texting while driving accidents. Recent data suggests that one out of every four accidents occurring are because of texting while driving. Even more concerning are the statistics showing that texting while driving is six times more likely to result in an accident, whether rear-end collision, running a red light, running a stop sign, or rollover crash compared to drunk driving. Distraction.gov studies have shown a person texting while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident than a person paying attention as usual.
When a driver takes his eyes off the road and texts while driving, the average time spent taking their eyes off the road is four to five seconds. When traveling at a rate of 55 mph, the distance traveled is enough to cover the entire length of a football field. Texting while driving accidents and deaths inevitably occur when someone chooses to behave in a reckless manner endangering the lives of other drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians sharing the roads. Distracted driving is an epidemic across the country resulting in 3129 deaths in 2014 alone.
Common Forms of Distracted Driving from Smart Phone use:
- Texting
- Checking
- Talking without the hands-free option
- Adjusting music, watching videos
- Browsing social media and the internet
- Using the navigation system and maps
While the above are common forms of distracted driving, texting while driving accidents are particularly concerning because they require excessive visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. Smartphone use is now widespread across the country with over 80% of cell phones falling into the smartphone category. According to NHTSA, in 2013, the percentage of drivers texting while driving visibly was around 1.7%. One year later, the same study reported this number to have increased by 2.2%.
Distracted driving kills and seriously injures
The friends and family of the thousands of people killed each year because of texting while driving accidents will tell you how serious of a problem it is. Unfortunately, many drivers know the risks and see the statistics and still behave recklessly. Those drivers choosing the text and drive think they can somehow defy the odds. Even drivers using a hands-free device to talk on the phone while driving may miss visual and audio cues that can be critical in avoiding severe accidents.
Texting While Driving Accident Attorney
If you or your loved ones have suffered a severe and debilitating injury or death caused by an accident due to texting while driving or distracted driving, the Willis Law Firm is here to help you get the compensation you may be entitled to. The need for legal representation is needed to help secure the evidence, investigate the accident, interview witnesses, gather the police reports, cell phone records, and other critical evidence needed to win the lawsuit for the clients.
David P. Willis is board certified as a personal injury trial law specialist. We represent families in distracted driving accidents across the United States. For almost 40 years, we’ve put in a lot of effort to get the best results for our clients, and we’ll do the same for you. Call us at 1-800-883-9858 to tell us your story.