Despite varying estimates, indeed, a car accident caused by texting or talking on a cellphone can occur in under three seconds. If you were in an accident due to this dangerous behavior, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the other party. Such compensation may cover medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Listed below are some of the benefits of suing for texting and driving accidents. If you’ve been in an accident due to the negligence of another driver, read on to find out more about your options for financial compensation.
Texting While Driving Is More Dangerous Than Drunk Driving
It is estimated that a person is six times more likely to have an accident while texting or talking on a cell phone than while driving under the influence of alcohol. There are more texting accidents than drunk driving incidents each year. And while drunk driving is on the decline, texting and driving are on the rise. Studies show that sending or receiving a text while driving diverts the driver’s attention from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. That is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with a blindfold on at 55 mph.
While most Americans are on board with a law banning drunk driving, they are split on the dangers of texting and using a cell phone while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving causes six times more car accidents than drunk driving. In addition, it costs $129 billion a year and accounts for fifteen percent of all societal damages. This dangerous behavior only increases with age, especially for teenagers with an intermediate license. Research has shown that texting while driving delays drivers’ braking reactions by six seconds.
A study from 2015 found that texting while driving was more deadly than drunk driving by six times. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to texting while driving, with statistics showing that nearly half of them admitted to texting while driving. In addition, teens who are texting while driving are more likely to crash than those who are not texting. It also leads to higher rates of injuries and fatalities in car accidents than drunk drivers. Attwood Marshall have personal injury lawyers in Gold Coast who can help.
It Breaches the Duty of Care
In Florida, drivers are presumed to have a duty of care. They are responsible for acting reasonably and must do everything possible to ensure that the safety of other motorists is not compromised. Using a cell phone to text while driving, however, is a breach of that duty. As a result, if someone texts while driving, it may be difficult to prove that the texting driver was at fault. In such cases, the at-fault party could be held responsible for any damage or injury suffered.
Whether the driver engaged in a negligent act can be difficult to prove, but a jury will be guided by several factors in determining the fault of the other driver. The driver may have acted carelessly when the accident occurred, but the defendant’s actions were not as negligent as a reasonable person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances. Whether the defendant was negligent is based on the level of negligence, the extent of the injuries suffered, and the nature of the damage.
In many states, drivers who fail to observe traffic laws and obey traffic rules may be held liable for injuries caused by their negligence. Texting while driving can also result in a breach of duty of care. While it may be difficult to prove that the other driver was texting while driving, it is possible to establish that the other driver was talking on his cell phone. This may be difficult to prove, but it can be done by reviewing all of the evidence.
In addition to proving negligence, victims must prove that the other driver was at fault. Generally, distracted drivers have no time to respond to road conditions and are more likely to cause an accident. Despite these challenges, it is possible to file a personal injury claim in the civil courts of Denver based on a breach of duty of care. If you were injured by a distracted driver’s negligence, you have the right to file a lawsuit to recover compensation.
It Increases the Risk of Accident
It’s the holiday season, and many drivers are on the road traveling and shopping. But there is one especially dangerous habit: texting and driving. Distracted driving, or texting and driving, increases the risk of an accident by at least three-and-a-half times compared to normal driving. And it can be deadly: there are currently over 500,000 accidents related to distracted driving. If you’re a young driver, this habit is especially dangerous, as you have far less experience driving and advanced skills. Distracted drivers are more likely to cause accidents and can also harm other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts Research Notes, drivers spend 7% of their time on their cell phones while driving. The study shows that cell phone use leads to approximately one death per day in the US. Even more frightening, texting while driving is linked to four million car crashes each year. It’s estimated that nearly four hundred thousand people die each year because of distracted driving and texting. So it’s no wonder that almost every state has passed laws against it.
Drivers spend about five seconds on average to read a text message. In five seconds, a 55 mph vehicle covers a distance of 300 feet. During that time, a broadside collision could occur. In the average case, texting and driving double the risk of an accident. This fact alone makes it imperative for drivers to avoid texting while driving and focus on the road ahead. In addition, distracted drivers are more prone to distracted driving, which is a primary cause of accidents.
It Can Result in Life-threatening or Fatal Injuries
According to recent statistics, it takes an average of five seconds to send a text message, and in this same amount of time, a 55 mph vehicle covers three hundred feet. In just a few seconds, a driver can be distracted enough to hit another vehicle, causing a broadside collision. In addition, the time it takes to reach for a cell phone while driving increases the risk of a collision by three times.
Although 21 states have laws prohibiting drivers from using a handheld device while driving, Florida still allows drivers to use the hands-free features on their phones. But even if they don’t use their hands-free features while driving, they can still be legally responsible for the damages they cause. Drivers who cause a fatal accident can face wrongful death lawsuits, as well as homicide charges.
Parents have an important role in educating their children about the dangers of texting while driving. Not only must they educate younger drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, but they should also remind more experienced drivers of the risks. Texting and driving are dangerous and should never be an option. Therefore, it is vital to put the device away when driving, regardless of age. If you’re the parent of a new driver, be sure to bring up the dangers of distracted driving to them.
Distracted driving causes hundreds of thousands of accidents every year, and texting while driving is no exception. Studies show that distracted drivers are responsible for nearly one fatal crash every day and cause thousands of injuries and deaths. By focusing on their phone for just a few seconds, distracted drivers can easily miss objects in front of them, pedestrians, and even other vehicles. Moreover, distracted drivers can even miss a wall or bicyclist.
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