A cell phone car accident in Van Nuys may be caused by a number of different activities beyond texting. Many educational campaigns have focused on reducing texting while driving. However, people may be distracted by their smartphones in a number of other ways. If you have been injured in an accident with a driver who was using a cell phone, it is important for you to contact our valley accident lawyers for a free consultation.
Distractions From Cell Phones
According to a study that was conducted by AT&T, people report engaging in a number of different activities on their smartphones while they drive. AT&T found that 61 percent of the respondents admitted to texting. They also found that 33 percent send emails, 28 percent surf the internet and 27 percent check Facebook. Other unsettling activities that were reported by people include taking selfies, checking Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, engaging in video chats and shooting videos. These types of activities are dangerous because they take the focus and attention of the drivers away from the road. While drivers have their attention focused elsewhere, their vehicles may travel long distances and cause collisions. The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that a vehicle traveling at a speed of 55 mph will travel the length of a football field during the five seconds that it takes to glance at a text message.
Prevalence of Cell Phone Accidents in Van Nuys
Cell phone accidents are very common in Van Nuys and in California. The California OTS reports that cell phone use is the top cause of distracted driving accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 391,000 people were injured in 2015 and 3,450 were killed in 2016 in accidents that were caused by distracted drivers. The NHTSA also reports that an estimated 481,000 people in the U.S. are using their cell phones while they are driving during the daytime hours. Another study that was conducted by the Auto Insurance Center reveals some shocking data. The five-year study involved 70,000 Instagram posts with driving-related hashtags. The study found that Californians posted the most driving selfies out of all of the states at a rate of 2.53 per 100,000 drivers.
Proving Negligence in a Cell Phone Car Accident in Van Nuys
In an accident involving an at-fault driver who was using his or her cell phone in Van Nuys, the likelihood of our success in proving negligence is very high. Our attorneys understand how to secure evidence such as phone records to show what the driver was doing in the moments just prior to the crash. For example, we may be able to show that a driver was talking on the phone just before the accident or had just sent a text message. The ability to recover this data can help us to present a clear case of liability to the insurance company, making it likelier that you will receive a fair settlement of your claim.
Types of Car Accidents Caused by Drivers Who Are Distracted by Their Phones
There are several types of car accidents that are frequently caused by drivers who were distracted by their cell phones. Drivers who are on their cell phones may cause rear-end collisions because of their failure to notice that traffic has slowed or stopped in front of them. These accidents may range in severity and may cause many different types of injuries, including whiplash, head injuries, back injuries and injuries to the arms, ankles, knees and legs. Other common types of accidents that are associated with using cell phones while driving include T-bone accidents and head-on collisions. Drivers may run red lights when they are glancing at their phones and collide with people who are driving through the intersections. They may also drift into oncoming traffic and strike another vehicle. These types of accidents may cause very serious injuries or fatalities.
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