Despite the fact that texting and driving is illegal in almost every state across the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 660,000 drivers use their cell phones while they are driving. If you are looking down at your cell phone while you are driving, this could remove your eyes from the road for up to five seconds, which means that you could travel the length of a football field before you look up at what is in front of you. As you can see, there are many dangers associated with texting and driving, which is why it is frowned upon in almost every state. What happens if you are injured in a car accident due to the negligence of a texting driver?
Here are just a few things that you should understand about the dangers of texting and driving on our roads:
- 6 million crashes every year take place due to cell phone use while driving.
- About 390,000 people will be injured in accidents every year that took place due to a texting driver.
- 1 out of every 4 car accidents that take place on our roads happens due to texting and driving, which is known to be more dangerous than driving drunk.
These frightening statistics show us that this problem is growing in the U.S. and that hand-held cell phone use while driving needs to come to an end. If you have been injured in one of these accidents, you might be feeling helpless when it comes to your personal injury case. It can sometimes be difficult to prove these claims, but you are never alone at this time.
Can I Hold a Party Liable?
These accidents are like any other in the way that you will hold a party liable for your injuries after they have caused you harm. In the U.S., we follow rules on our roads that state that we have a duty of care, or an obligation, to take reasonable actions that will avoid causing harm to others. This means that anybody who utilizes our roadways must look out for the well-being of those around them.
Texting while driving is inherently dangerous on our roads and puts lives in danger of serious injuries and even death. A driver is breaching their duty of care by choosing to type out a text message rather than keeping their eyes on the road. This means that, if they engage in these actions and it leads to your injuries, they will be held liable.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of a party who was texting while driving, you have the right to bring a claim for civil damages. These types of damages will help you pay for medical bills associated with your injuries, lost wages you have missed out on when you have been missing work, emotional suffering, and more. The circumstances of your case will determine the damages that are owed to you.
At Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner, we work for our clients every step of the way as they enter into the claims process and work toward the compensation they deserve. We strive to help you gain results as quickly as possible with our trusted and dedicated help. We also understand that there is a need for protection of your rights as you gather evidence and get started on bringing your claim against a negligent party. Contact us today at (304) 713-2014 for more information.
Note: Secondary sources were used to create this piece and, because of this, the information included has not been independently verified. If you notice a factual issue with our posting, please bring it to our attention and we will correct or remove it as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: Our intent in these posts it to bring attention to the dangers members in our community face and to encourage caution. Accidents do happen and we hope these posts help those affected. However, this information should not be misconstrued as legal or medical advice, and we urge you to contact a trained legal professional for more information regarding your specific situation.
