These days our cellphones have so many capabilities that we often wonder how we managed without them. A cellphone can be used to make a call, send a text or email, surf the web, check in on social media, play music, get directions to our destinations and more. However, there is one time when we need to put the phone down: when we are driving. This is because cellphone use can easily lead to a distracted driving crash that injures or kills another person.
The statistics on distracted driving in the U.S.
Distracted driving is a major problem in the U.S. It is estimated that approximately 3,000 people die in distracted driving crashes each year. In 2018 alone more than 2,800 individuals lost their lives and a further 400,000 were injured in crashes caused by a distracted driver. These victims include not only other motorists and passengers, but also pedestrians, bicyclists and others who were outside their vehicle at the time of the crash.
Texting and driving is especially dangerous
Texting and driving has gotten a significant amount of attention in recent years because it is especially distracting. Texting and driving encompasses all three types of distractions. Texting visually distracting because your eyes are on your cellphone not the road. Texting is manually distracting because your hands are on your cellphone not the steering wheel. Finally, texting is cognitively distracting as your mind is focused on reading the message and developing a response rather than focusing on the task of driving. Given this, it is easy to see how texting and driving can cause a car crash.
Learn more about auto accidents in Hackensack and the New York City area
If you are injured in a crash involving a distracted driver or if you lose a loved one in a distracted driving crash, you will want to learn more about your rights and options. This post is for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Our firm’s webpage on auto accidents may be a good resource for those who want to learn more about this topic.