This says it All!
Texting while driving has become so commonplace that laws have had to be passed to attempt to control this dangerous activity. While it is commonly known that this can actually injure you and others or even claim lives, the “it won’t happen to me” concept prevails. Laws have not proven to reduce usage of texting while driving much. What text message or phone call is worth the risk ? Is putting yourself into a potentially tragic situation really worth staying in contact? Annually, there are more than 50,00 drivers injured by accidents which were caused by texting and being distracted while driving. Estimates show that 6,000 people are killed because of using the phone when driving. At one time, drunk driving was leading cause of car accidents, but it has now taken a backseat to texting and calling . According to the American Journal of Public Health, the number of deaths from ‘distracted driving’ would have dropped each year from 2002 to 2007 except for the inclusion of texting statistics in the study. The statistics are considered to be quite low in the study, due to under reporting or incorrect reporting of the cause of the accident.
“Every study, and common sense, says that texting behind the wheel is a huge distraction because you’re taking your mind off the road but also your eyes off the road,” says Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Distractions involve visual, manual or cognitive issues. A visual distraction takes the driver’s attention away from the road. Manual distractions involve the driver’s hands being taken off the wheel. A cognitive distraction can be as simple as not having your mind focused, and takes the driver’s mind off what is happening on the road. Texting involves all three of these elements at the same time, which makes it a dangerous distraction for all drivers-whether a new teenaged driver, or one with many years of a perfect driving record.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident that you feel may have involved texting, you need to contact the law offices of Jeff Dawson today. Jeff can assist you in determining if you have an auto accident claim which may involve filing a lawsuit in Orange County. You may need guidance in how best to proceed in having your medical bills taken care of and may even be entitled to money for lost wages and or pain & suffering. This is the job of a good Personal Injury attorney, and Jeffrey Dawson is one of the best.
