Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Los Angeles & Nationwide
Texting while driving is illegal in California. Additionally, engaging in any distracting behavior while driving puts everyone on the road in danger, including other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bike riders, and the distracted driver as well. The data is clear: Distracted drivers cause crashes. Despite the laws against distracted driving, an unreasonably large proportion of California drivers (especially young drivers) admit to driving while distracted on a regular basis.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident with a distracted driver, the Southern California distracted driving accident legal team at the Morris Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights. We’ll make sure you get the medical care you need and the financial compensation you deserve, and we’ll hold negligent drivers, insurance companies, and all other parties appropriately liable for the harm you have suffered.
The Dangers of Texting While Driving
A driver can be distracted in many different ways, but safety experts agree that using a handheld phone to read and respond to messages (including texts, emails, social media posts, etc.) is one of the most dangerous activities for any driver. Driver distractions come in three forms: manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions take a driver’s hands away from the wheel; visual distractions take the driver’s eyes off the road; and cognitive distractions take the driver’s mind off of driving. Texting while driving is so dangerous because it triggers all three types of driver distraction.
Safety experts estimate that it takes about five seconds to read and respond to a given text message. During that time, the driver is not watching the road, they are not thinking about driving, and their hands are off the wheel. If the car is traveling at 55 mph, then that means the driver was basically driving while blindfolded and with their hands off the wheel for the length of a football field.
Distracted drivers are not monsters, but they are careless. And that carelessness drastically increases the likelihood of a car crash. If someone causes a wreck because they were texting at the wheel, they must be held liable for any damage they cause.
Distracted Driving Accidents in California
According to California safety officials, 59 percent of California drivers surveyed reported they had been hit or almost hit by a driver who was talking or texting on a phone. Among teenagers, distracted driving (including the use of cell phones) accounts for six out of ten car crashes. Engaging in activities such as grabbing a phone, dialing, or texting makes it three more times likely that a crash will occur. In 2017, 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2017, representing nearly ten percent of all traffic deaths. The science makes clear that distracted driving is as prevalent as it is dangerous.
Distractions Don’t Just Come From the Phone
Texting while driving might be the most prominent form of distracted driving, but it is far from the only thing that can distract a driver to a dangerous degree. A driver can negligently cause a crash whenever they do anything that constitutes one or more types of driver distraction. At Morris Law Firm, we help accident victims recover after crashes caused by all manner of driver distraction, including:
- Eating
- Changing clothes
- Personal grooming (shaving, putting on makeup, fixing hair)
- Watching videos
- Reading
- Watching sports
- Talking on a cell phone or smartphone
If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver, whatever the nature of their distraction, you have the right to compensation. A seasoned distracted driving accident attorney at the Morris Law Firm can help you get the damages you deserve.
Speak With a California Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer at the Morris Law Firm Today
There are a thousand reasons why a car accident might happen, and each case is unique. Contact our Los Angeles distracted driving injury attorney today to evaluate your unique auto injury claim. Morris Law Firm will give you a personalized evaluation and help you figure out your legal rights and next steps.
Call us today at 747-283-1144 for a fast response or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
