As cell phones have increased in popularity, distracted driving accidents in Birmingham have increased. In fact, this has become one of the top causes of automobile accidents across the globe. It’s not unusual for people to use mobile apps while they drive. Talking or texting while driving is also common. If a driver’s attention is elsewhere, they’re far more likely to be involved in an accident. This is because their attention is on their phone instead of other vehicles and traffic signals. Because of this, there’s a great deal of demand for Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyers.
Like many other states, Alabama has taken steps to discourage people from using mobile devices while driving. The goal of this is to reduce accidents and injuries. If you’ve been injured because of an individual that was texting while driving, or if the driving caused damage to your property, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyers at Mike Bell Accident & Injury Lawyers. Our skilled car accident attorneys in Birmingham can provide you with all of the assistance you need.
HOW CAN A LAWYER HELP MY DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT CLAIM?
Nearly 25% of recorded accidents are accidents that occur because an individual is texting while driving. This is clearly a serious issue. When someone drives while using their phone, it doesn’t just have an impact on their concentration levels. It also lowers reaction times by as much as 20%. It’s important to note that many distracted driving wrecks are severe. It’s not unusual for them to cause life-threatening or even fatal injuries. It can be difficult for the victims of these accidents to cope with these injuries. Some victims may even have long-term disabilities, as well as financial hardships because of medical expenses and loss of wages.
If either you or someone you love was injured because a driver displayed negligent behavior and texting while driving, reach out to the Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyers at Mike Bell Accident & Injury Lawyers to get help. The sooner you take action, the easier it will be for you to receive the level of compensation that you are owed. You can trust our experienced distracted driving accident attorneys in Birmingham, AL, to put our expertise to work for you. We’ll use our resources to fully investigate your accident, gather any required documents, and even obtain cellphone records that can help establish your case. Our Birmingham distracted driving accident attorneys will talk you through your options and provide advice on the best steps to take.
NATIONAL STATISTICS ON TEXTING AND DRIVING
There is strong evidence to suggest that distracted driving is a leading cause of U.S. car accidents. There are a number of things that can cause a driver to become distracted while they are behind the wheel, but talking or texting while driving is particularly dangerous. It can lead to severe injuries, permanent disabilities, and it can even be fatal.
Are you struggling to grasp the dangers? The NHTSA has an analogy that’s both accurate and simple to grasp. It makes it easier to see just how dangerous texting while driving can be.
If you check your phone, send a text, or have a phone conversation, you’re being distracted on cognitive, visual, and manual levels. In order to complete these tasks, drivers must remove their eyes from the road for approximately 4.5 seconds. If you do this at speeds of 55 mph, it’s equivalent to driving across a football field with a blindfold on. No drivers would take that kind of risk, but many people still choose to text and drive at the same time.
The evidence has also shown that approximately 20% of accidents each year could be prevented entirely if drivers avoided using mobile devices while driving. This statistic is stunning, particularly when you remember that texting and calling while driving is illegal in every state. If you do use your phone or send a text while you’re driving, and that behavior leads to a car wreck, it is classified as an act of negligence.
IS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING BAD TO DO?
Currently, thirty-four states have regulations and laws that are designed to discourage people from using mobile devices while they are behind the wheel. In 31 of these states, driving while texting is against the law. In fact, police officers can pull you over if they see you using your phone while you drive. Sadly, this hasn’t kept people from using mobile devices as they are driving. In a document that the NHTSA released in 2011, it was found that the number of drivers who texted or talked on the phone while driving increased from 0.6% in 2009 to 0.9% in 2010.
As an example, in July of 2011, New York classified texting or other phone use while driving as a major offense. By the middle of September that year, the Department of Motor Vehicles had issued over 4,600 tickets for that crime.
HOW DANGEROUS CAN IT BE TO TEXT WHILE YOU DRIVE?
The data shows that it can be extremely risky. A document from the NHTSA found that the risk of getting into an accident while driving increases by 2,300 percent when using your phone or texting as you drive. Research shows that over 500,000 people are injured each year because of distracted driving, and approximately 6,000 people are killed.
The majority of fatalities involve trucks. Because trucks are heavier and larger than the standard vehicle, truck accidents are more likely to be fatal. According to the report, truck drivers that are distracted by their phones have a 23:2 high chance to be involved in an auto accident when compared against drivers who closely pay attention to the road as they drive. This is because drivers that aren’t distracted can quickly identify hazards.
There are genuine risks that are linked to distracted driving. Because of this, people in the tech industry have sought out ways to fight this threat. One excellent example is Text Zapper, which is a recently released mobile app. The purpose of the app is to disable cell phones while vehicles are in motion, which means text messages cannot be sent or received. The app uses Trakker GPS technology, which can keep track of a vehicle’s speed and position. Of course, this app cannot work unless the driver downloads it first.
YOUNG DRIVER CELLPHONE USE
There are worrying statistics that suggest that the majority of drivers who either text or talk on the phone as they drive are between the ages of 16 and 25. According to a report from The Pew Research Foundation, a significant percentage of drivers between 16 and 17 admitted to texting or having phone conversations as they drove.
Drivers between 16 and 25 years of age have less experience, which means they’re more likely to be involved in a car accident. When you combine inexperience and outside distractions, it can lead to something very dangerous. According to the report, teenaged passengers are also unlikely to speak up if a driver chooses to use their phone while driving.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF USING A PHONE WHILE DRIVING?
It’s commonly known that texting while driving can be dangerous. With that said, it’s valuable to remind people of why it poses such a high risk. Texting while driving provides three different hazardous distractions:
MANUAL DISTRACTIONS
If you are driving, and one of your hands is on your phone rather than your wheel, you’ll have a harder time steering your vehicle in the case of an emergency. As a general rule, it is unsafe to drive with just one hand, even if the other hand is only on your lap.
VISUAL DISTRACTIONS
It’s essential for drivers to look at the road so that they can notice potential hazards. If your eyes are on your phone, you won’t be able to focus on the road, and you’ll have a slower reaction time.
COGNITIVE DISTRACTIONS
If your brain is focused on reading a text or providing a reply, you’re far more likely to get into an accident.
Instead of putting your life and the lives of others at risk, you should wait until you get home or can pull over to look at your phone. Sadly, every year, there are thousands of accidents that occur because of texting while driving. If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by distracted driving, you’ll benefit greatly from working with a distracted driving car accident lawyer near Birmingham.
HOW DO YOU PROVE THAT THE OTHER DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING?
It isn’t necessarily easy to collect proof that shows the other driver was distracted, especially when there is no video evidence. Even if other people witnessed the accident, you may not be able to find people that clearly saw what happened. If you don’t have either video evidence or witnesses, what are your options?
Thanks to advances in technology, you don’t need to have eyewitnesses in order to get the proof that you need. When you work with a Birmingham distracted driving car accident attorney, they can subpoena the cell phone records of the other driver. This information can establish whether or not the individual was using their phone at the time of the accident.
When you have evidence like this, jurors are far more likely to side with the accident victim, especially if they weren’t using their phone. As long as there is evidence that establishes that the other driver was distracted, you are very likely to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. That’s why it pays to work with a Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyer that can collect evidence to support your case.
CALL OUR BIRMINGHAM DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYERS TODAY
Reach out to our Birmingham personal injury attorneys for assistance if you’re the victim of an accident that a distracted driver cause. Our Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyers have a great deal of experience with cases of this nature and can use our skills to help you. We’ve handled many cases like this in the past, which is why we know how to gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. We’ll determine how much compensation you are eligible for. Just call us at 205-666-6000 to set up a no-risk free consultation. We’d be more than happy to assist you!
