Auto, Motorcycle and Truck Accidents: Cell Phone Accident

It has become well documented in recent years that driving while talking or texting on a cell phone is an incredibly dangerous habit that leads to thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Although California has banned both hand-held use of cell phones and texting while driving, there are still numerous accidents every year in San Diego and across the state caused by distraction due to cell phone use.

Cell Phone Auto Accident Statistics

According to recent studies, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to be involved in an injury crash than the average driver. Any use of a cell phone while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time as much as being legally intoxicated and can reduce the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. Texting can be even more dangerous, with some studies finding that texting while driving worsens the risk of crashing by 23 times, and sending or receiving a text while driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, resulting in driving the length of a football field blind at 55 miles per hour. All forms of distracted driving are incredibly dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 were injured due to distracted driving crashes in 2009.

Cell Phone Distraction

According to the NHTSA, there are three types of auditory distraction that can be caused by cell phone usage while driving. This high level of distraction can easily result in an auto accident that a phone-using driver may not even notice until it is too late. The three types of distraction caused by cell phone use are:

• Visual Distraction: Looking at a cell phone to text, dial a number, or view an incoming call or text message takes a driver’s eyes off of the road and focuses them on something else entirely. By doing so, he or she cannot see oncoming hazards and correctly avoid crashes. As such, they cannot react in time to prevent or lessen the chances of an auto accident.
• Manual Distraction: Using a hand-held phone can take one or both of a driver’s hands off the wheel in order to dial a number, write a text message, or perform a variety of other operations on the phone. In taking his or her hands off the wheel, a driver cannot properly react to traffic situations and maneuver correctly in the event of an accident.
• Cognitive Distraction: The act of simply talking on a phone while driving has been shown to be a strong enough distraction by itself to severely lessen a driver’s reaction time, observation of surrounding vehicles and hazards, and focus on the road. Due to lack of focus, accidents can easily occur by a driver not being able to mentally process what is happening as he or she drives.

Any and all of these distractions can occur whenever a driver is using a cell phone and operating a motor vehicle at the same time. In particular, texting and driving will subject a driver to all three types of distraction at once, a particularly lethal combination.

Experienced Cell Phone Accident Victim Lawyers

Any accident caused by another driver distracted by cell phone use can easily result in serious injuries. As such, injured victims have the right to hold at-fault parties responsible and win compensation for their injuries and losses. The San Diego distracted driving accident attorneys at our law group can help you win full and fair compensation in order to recover from your injuries and the costly bills that result. Contact our experienced law team for more information and a consultation on your case.