Most people take their safety for granted and think little about the potential dangers of driving. However, the fact that there are thousands of accidents each year on roads all across America proves that driving should be considered a serious responsibility. Reckless and negligent actions account for the majority of car accidents, and these car accidents are responsible for countless injuries and millions of dollars in financial damages each year.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. The most common form of distracted driving is cell phone use. Answering calls, sending texts, or checking emails while driving all significantly increase the risk of a car crash. In Florida, talking on the cell phone while driving is legal, but there is a limited ban on texting while driving.
Here, the car accident attorneys at Saunders Law discuss the dangerous link between car accidents and cell phones, and offer our Lakeland, FL clients legal advice about what to do if they’ve been injured in an auto accident caused by cell phone use.
Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents
There is no doubt that cell phone use should be avoided while driving. Most states have hands-free laws in place to enforce this policy. Despite these laws, and evidence that points to the dangers of cell phone use while driving, this distracting habit continues to be a problem. Each year, numerous car accidents are caused by texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. Below are some of the alarming statistics that highlight the dangers of cell phone use while driving:
- According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use leads to over 1.5 million crashes each year.
- Roughly 330,000 injuries are caused each year by car accidents involving texting while driving.
- One out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting while driving. This makes texting while driving six times more likely to cause a car accident than drunk driving.
- It takes an average of five seconds to answer a text. During that span, a car driving at 55 miles per hour can travel the entire length of a football field.
- Texting increases the amount of time a driver has their eyes off of the road by 400 percent.
- Cell phone use while driving is a particular risk for teen drivers. Teen drivers who are texting or talking on the phone are four times more likely to get into a car crash or near-accident than adult drivers using cell phones.
As startling as these statistics are, this is likely only part of the picture. This data takes into account accidents in which cell phone use was admitted. There are likely many more accidents involving cell phone use that were denied by the driver. It is clear to see that the risks of cell phone use while driving far outweigh any benefits.
Seeking Compensation
Those who have been injured in a car accident that was caused by cell phone use may be due financial compensation for damages suffered. Our attorneys can gather the evidence that is necessary to prove liability so that our clients can be compensated for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Us
If you’ve been involved in a car accident caused by cell phone use while driving, our attorneys can fight to ensure your legal rights are protected. To learn more about your right for financial compensation for damages suffered, contact us at your earliest convenience.
