Texting and driving is a dangerous and life-threatening problem; one that many people engage in. As of last year, nine victims were killed each day because of distracted driving-related behaviors, such as texting while driving, cell phone use or eating while driving. In 2013, there were 341,000 car accidents that involved texting and driving. In addition, when a car accident occurs, there is a 1 in 4 chance that the cause of the car accident involved a cell phone. The amount of cell phone use while driving increases the likelihood of a car accident by four times.
To put the problem in perspective, a survey found that 33 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 reported either reading or writing a text while driving in the month preceding the survey. Overall, nearly 50 percent of adults admit to texting while driving, while nearly 100 percent of adults state that they understand the practice is unsafe. Drivers can safely glance away from the roadway for an estimated two seconds, while texting activities cause a driver’s glance to be removed from the roadway for five seconds on average. Nearly all states have banned texting while driving.
Texting and driving is extremely dangerous behavior and can have consequences for victims, as well as negligent drivers. Victims of distracted driving-related car accidents involving texting while driving may suffer harm including injuries, or worse, and physical, financial and emotional damages as a result. Negligent drivers who have caused a car accident because they were texting while driving may be liable to compensate victims for the damages they have suffered.
Drivers have a duty to exercise care on the roadways in order to keep them safe for everyone. When drivers fail to take their duty seriously, and behave carelessly instead, disastrous consequences can result, which is why victims of distracted driving-related car accidents are provided with protections through the legal process and the ability to make a personal injury claim for their damages when harmed.
Source: Huffington Post, “10 Statistics That Capture The Dangers of Texting and Driving,” Erin Schumaker, June 8, 2015