Texting and Driving
Practice Areas
Anyone who has ever been in a Colorado, Idaho, or Montana car accident involving injuries or fatalities understands the life-changing consequences of these events. Texting and driving accidents or other distracted driving cause around 330,000 injuries in the United States yearly, with more than 3,000 people being killed. Texting while driving can cause a high distraction, often compared to driving under the influence. If you or someone dear has been involved in a car crash due to someone’s distracted driving, it’s critical to seek legal representation from a car accident lawyer immediately.
Statistics and Facts About Texting and Driving
While smartphones have made our life simpler by keeping us connected at all times, they can pose a severe safety risk when someone decides to check their phone calls, emails, or text messages. Among various distractions, texting is the most alarming one, and you cannot drive entirely safely unless driving has your 100% attention. Any non-driving activity you do while driving can increase your risk of being involved in a car crash.
According to the United States Department of Transportation and Distraction.gov, some statistics and facts mention that:
- Sending or reading a text usually takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. If you’re driving at 55 mph, that’s like going the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
- Texting while driving can make a car accident up to 23 times more likely.
- Those who text and drive typically spend around 10% of the time outside their lane.
- Forty-three states, including Colorado, prohibit drivers from texting. Under CRS 42-4-239, it’s a crime for an individual 18 years of age or older to text and operate a motor vehicle. Texting while driving is a class 2 traffic misdemeanor and can lead to fines.
- A National Occupant Protection Use survey shows that women are more likely to reach for their phones while driving than men.
- 9 in 10 teens expect a reply within five minutes or less, which pressures most of them to respond to texts or emails while driving.
- 97% of teens agree that texting while driving is dangerous, but 43% do it anyway.
- Texting and driving is among the most dangerous forms of distracted driving and is responsible for 25% of all car crashes today.
- A texting driver takes, on average, 20% longer to hit the brakes. Most texting drivers don’t see the car accident coming until the crash.
- Young drivers account for almost 27% of fatal car accidents from texting while driving.
There is no wonder why texting and driving are so dangerous and can easily lead to a car crash. Undoubtedly, texting and driving can distract you in three ways: manually, visually, and cognitively. Instead of keeping your eyes on the road, use your hands to keep the wheel of your car and focus your attention on the traffic; when you are texting and driving, you are doing precisely the opposite.
Suing A Driver Who Hit You While Texting and Driving
Texting and driving have become a severe problem for some time now, and statistics show just that. If a texting driver hits you, you might be eligible to seek compensation for your injuries, damages, and pain and suffering. Depending on the severity and type of car accident, you may result in injuries such as:
- Burns and bruises
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Facial lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Joint muscle or tendon damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Damage to organs
- Herniated disc
- Wrongful death
Suppose you are injured in a car collision caused by texting and driving. At this stage, it’s vital to seek legal help from a reliable and experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. While proving that the driver who hit you was texting at the time of the accident isn’t a piece of cake, having Mountain States Injury Law, LLC leading, your chances of receiving maximum compensation will significantly increase.
Don’t let the money you deserve for your injuries get away. A texting driver should be held responsible for any losses or damages you suffer. The Colorado, Idaho, and Montana car accident lawyers at Mountain States Injury Law, LLC, will stand up for anyone injured in car accidents caused by texting and driving. We aim to serve you premium legal representation while ensuring that reckless driver pays you the compensation you deserve.
Injured in a Car Accident? Mountain States Injury Law, LLC is on Your Side
If you were injured or incurred considerable vehicle damage due to a driver texting behind the wheel, you might want to examine your legal options for holding the driver financially responsible for your losses and injuries. Under Colorado Revised Statutes section 13-80-101, any injury claim arising from auto accidents must be filed within three years. Please consider that the clock starts running on the date of your car accident, and while it may seem like enough time, you should contact a car accident lawyer immediately.
Suffering injuries due to the negligence of a texting driver can lead to severe consequences, but we are here to help. Not only will we financially push the negligent driver to pay, but we’ll also shine a public light on the destructive and harmful outcomes of texting and driving.
Our legal team at Mountain States Injury Law, LLC has solid experience handling complex car crash claims. From investing in the accident scene to reviewing evidence and building strong legal cases, we will do everything possible to ensure you get the maximum compensation possible. Call us and schedule a free consultation if you or a family member suffers from a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. We would be happy to review your car accident claim and explain your legal options.
You shouldn’t have to pay for other drivers’ negligent and reckless actions. The ability to recover total compensation for your injuries and damages relies entirely on establishing fault. That’s why consulting with an experienced Colorado car accident lawyer is imperative. Schedule your free consultation today. At Mountain States Injury Law, LLC, we won’t charge a fee until your car accident claim is settled.