Distracted drivers who use cell phones are a growing threat on the road. With the end of July, we’ve just completed National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, so our personal injury team wanted to share a perspective on using cell phones while driving.
Whether you’re reading a text, using GPS, changing a song, or looking at an Instagram photo, taking your eyes off the road – even for a moment – can be deadly. Trust us when we tell you that no defendant who causes a texting-related accident will tell you she believed that she would cause an accident when she decided to look down and press send.
Did you know that if you take your eyes off the road for four seconds, a car traveling at 55 miles per hour will travel over 300 feet? That’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed!
The bottom line is if you’re looking anywhere but the road while driving, you’re distracted. To other drivers, you’re also deadly. In 2018, there were 87,728 accidents caused by distracted driving, and in over 2,800 of them, someone died.
If you must use your cell phone while driving, be safe about it. Use a hands-free phone system like Bluetooth or connect your phone to your car. If it’s an emergency and you don’t have a hands-free option, pull off the road to send a text or make a call.
Our team has seen firsthand the devastation that a distracted driving accident can cause. If you or someone you love has been injured by a distracted driver, contact us. Our team is here to help you through your claim.
