Dying to Text Someone?

Text messaging has become so commonplace that people do it all day long. They message dozens, if not hundreds, of times each day while waiting in line, eating, surfing the net, and unfortunately they text while driving. The mentality is that the message will only take a moment or that if they hold their phone just right, they can still see the road at the same time, but the fact is they're a distracted driver. Not only is this illegal in many states, but it's also downright deadly.

People Most Likely to Text While Driving

Teenagers are the most likely candidates to send messages while behind the wheel. In fact, nearly half of them do. It's also been noted that teenage girls and women are more likely to reach for their cell while behind the wheel.

The Numbers The CDC has published the following statistics:

• 9 or more people are killed every day in the US by a distracted driver.
• 1,060 or more people are injured in an accident that involves a distracted driver.
• 31-percent of drivers ages 18-64 admit to e-mailing or texting while driving.

Additional sources say:

• The risk of a crash is increased by 23-percent if the driver is messaging.
• Teens committing the act will spend a full 10-percent of their driving time outside their lane.

What Happens When People Text While Driving

Messaging demands that visual, cognitive and physical attention be taken away from driving and focused on the phone. Even if someone's eyes leave the road for a mere five seconds, a car traveling at 55 miles-per-hour will cover the length of a football field. Something as simple as reaching for a phone, dialling or texting increases the risk of an accident threefold. Moreover, there's no data that suggests using a hands-free device provides any substantial safety benefit. The Aftermath In all, 28-percent of accidents are caused by a driver who was messaging at the time of the collision or in the moments just before it occurred. That accounts for 200,000 every year, which makes it one of the leading causes of auto accidents in the US. Because of this, cell phone records are commonly subpoenaed after a collision and are used in court to confirm the cause and identify who was at fault. Unlike other triggers, such as faulty equipment or alcohol, it isn't always obvious that a distracted driver is to blame for the accident immediately after it happens. Unless an eye witness steps up or the party admits to guilt, the underlying reason may go unknown. For family members of the over 3,000 people who die yearly and additional 400,000 or more who are injured, this is not acceptable.

Charleston Auto Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a car accident or have lost someone you care about, and you believe the other driver was on a cell phone or was driving while distracted, you need an expert on your side to prove it. Contact one of our attorneys via our online form or call us today at 1-(800) 610-2546 to find out how you can receive the settlement you deserve.