Start Focusing Behind the Wheel – It’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month
- December 29, 2024
- Categories: Vehicle Accidents
Distracted driving is a growing public health problem that affects all Americans who drive on public roads, including those here in California. Although modern cars have incredible safety features designed to protect people from accidents, smartphones and other kinds of technology create distractions that often make crashes more likely. During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, make an extra effort to keep your eyes on the road!
Distracted driving causes countless accidents per year, whether it’s caused by texting, eating, talking on the phone, adjusting a GPS, or something else. Even if you’re very careful to avoid distractions yourself, there’s still a risk of being hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver.
Distracted Driving: It’s More Dangerous Than You Think
It Takes Only Seconds to Cause a Crash
Think about how long it takes you to put an address into the map app on your smartphone. Or, ponder how many seconds it takes to text your friend to say you are running 10 minutes late. In your mind, you may think these actions take just a second. No — you’d be taking your eyes off the road for at least at least five seconds.
How long is five seconds behind the wheel? Think of it this way: If you were driving on the 405 Los Angeles at 55 mph, five seconds is like driving the length of a football field and not looking. That’s more than enough space and time to cause a serious car accident. Texting and driving is not the worst of distracted driving, either. One survey shows that one out of five drivers admitted to surfing the Internet while driving! Doing a Google search while driving is extremely dangerous and illegal.
Regardless of how you use a phone while driving, it’s always a bad idea. Using a phone while driving increases your risk of getting into an accident by 400%.
When most people think of distracted driving, they imagine texting or otherwise using a smartphone. Smartphones are very commonly associated with distracted driving incidents, but they aren’t the only culprit. Your behavior when driving doesn’t have to be illegal to be dangerous. Each time you get behind the wheel, be mindful of these potentially dangerous distractions:
- Eating
- Dealing with loud or fussy children
- Conversations with other passengers
- Reaching between the seats or on the floor
- Grooming or putting on makeup
- Changing clothes
- Looking at objects that aren’t on the road
- Daydreaming or not paying attention.
You also do not have to be driving down a Southern California freeway to engage in dangerous distracted driving. The NHTSA reports there are approximately 200 deaths and 15,000 injuries every year from back-up injuries in Americans’ driveways. Most of those who are injured or killed are five years old or younger. It is reasonable to conclude that at least some of those injuries and deaths are caused by distracted driving.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver, let us fight for justice on your behalf. Call Neale & Fhima APC at 888-407-2955 or get in touch online to schedule your free consultation today.
It Is Illegal to Text and Drive in California
Texting and Driving Isn’t Just Dangerous — It’s Against the Law
California state law bans all talking, texting, and any other use of handheld cell phones while driving. However, the state’s distracted driving laws are a bit more complex than that. Here’s an overview of some of California’s most important distracted-driving laws:
- Drivers may not hold a phone or other electronic device while driving.
- Drivers who are under 18 may not use any means of communication while driving — handheld or not.
- If you get a repeat violation within 36 months of your first violation, you may get a point on your license.
If you are caught texting and driving, your first violation comes with a fine of at least $162. Subsequent violations carry higher fines.
Distracted Driving Can Have Serious Financial Consequences
Another major consequence of distracted driving is injuring someone else while texting and driving or otherwise using a cellphone while driving. Many people think that if no one sees them texting at the time of the accident, no one will ever know that texting contributed to the crash. This is not true. Police can check cellphone records to determine whether you were on your phone when the accident occurred. If you were texting, that’s clear evidence of negligence on your part, and it greatly increases your chances of being found legally liable for another person’s injuries.
Seriously injuring someone else while driving distracted is something that may make you feel guilty for the rest of your life. However, this seemingly simple mistake can also have serious financial consequences. If you are held liable for another person’s injuries, it could cost you thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of dollars. If the injured person pursues legal action against you, you also may need to hire an attorney and pay the associated legal fees.
Hurt by a Distracted Driver? Talk to a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Today.
Distracted driving accidents happen more and more in busy Orange County, California. Even though texting and driving is against the law, people are seriously hurt by distracted drivers every day. Making a conscious effort to stay focused, avoid distractions, and get to your destination without incident is admirable, but the unfortunate truth is that even if you do everything right, you cannot prevent other people from driving while distracted. If you suffered serious injuries when a distracted driver hit your vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering.
If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, that driver must be held accountable. You also deserve compensation to help you cover medical bills and other expenses associated with your injuries. Neale & Fhima APC is here to help. Give us a call at 888-407-2955 or get in touch online for a free consultation.