Some studies have produced results showing that distracted driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. Texting and even speaking on a hand-held phone is a contributing factor in many car accidents.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS):
- 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
- The number one source of distractions is talking on a cellphone or texting.
- Texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, and most crashes occur with fewer than three seconds to react.
Hand-held cellphone use and texting while driving are banned for all drivers in California. However, this does not stop distracted driving. In 2013, an OTS survey found 45 percent of Californians surveyed admitted to making a driving mistake while talking on a cellphone. Numerous other distractions abound while driving, including dialing a phone, handling a phone headset or Bluetooth device, using a GPS device, conversing with other passengers, taking one’s eyes off the road, putting on makeup, reading, eating and more.
Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times greater than driving while not distracted, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
As the victim of a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our Oakland car accident attorneys at Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, at (510) 433-1000 for a free consultation.
Take Legal Action | Get Compensation You Deserve
Serious injuries from a motor vehicle accident can have life-altering effects, which can change family dynamics, personalities and work abilities. Victims might require long-term care and extensive medical treatment. If you have lost a loved one or suffered injuries due to the negligent actions of another driver, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable lawyer about your legal options.
At Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, we can help you understand the full scope of the legal process and how our work differs from your insurance company in a distracted driver or texting while driving accident case. Our attorneys in Oakland and Los Angeles are committed to your fullest possible recovery, and we have achieved significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. The insurance company will offer you an amount that might appease you in the short term, or it may delay, diminish or deny your injury claim.
How We Can Help You
We can help you make informed decisions while we handle all insurance company communications and all legal aspects of your case. You can focus on recovery. We will build a case to help you recover medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, emotional distress damages, punitive damages (if applicable) and other losses. We only get paid if you get paid.
Free Consultation With An Attorney
Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our texting while driving accident attorneys in the Los Angeles or San Francisco area today. Please email us or call us at (510) 433-1000.