Cell Phone Use While Driving Accidents

Over the past 20-30 years, cell phones have become a part of our everyday lives. Beyond making calls, we use cellphones for a variety of things, from taking pictures to using the calculator function. Cell phones have become extensions of our existence. They are so important to us, it’s often difficult to put them down. Whether you’re having dinner with a friend or trying to focus on work, cell phones distract us from the task in front of us. In many cases, it’s not a big deal if a cell phone distracts you. While you might be considered rude if you’re looking at your phone when someone is talking to you, no one is going to get injured in this scenario.

It’s a whole different story when we get behind the wheel. Cell phones are just as distracting when you’re behind the wheel as when you’re out to dinner. But, when you’re distracted behind the wheel, there can be serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences.

In 2018, there were over 400,000 crashes in the United States that involved distracted driving. With many of these collisions caused by people who were using a cell phone, it’s easy to see why laws are popping up across the country to limit cell phone use while driving.

There are many ways that a cell phone can distract you behind the wheel:

• Making a Call
• Sending a Text
• Reading an Email
• Using GPS
• Looking at Social Media
• Recording Yourself
• Toggling between Apps

Doing any of these things behind the wheel takes your attention off the road, making the roads less safe for everyone else.

If you’ve been in an accident with someone who was using his/her cell phone the injuries can be serious. Oftentimes a distracted driver using a cell phone won’t even know a collision is about to happen before the two cars collide. So while many car accidents will result in skid marks from drivers trying to hit the brakes and swerve at the last minute, that may not happen if a driver is on a cell phone. When these cars collide at high speeds, the injuries can be catastrophic.

There are countless types of injuries that can result from a collision caused by a cell phone. They range from minor sprains and strains to devastating fatal injuries. Regardless of the severity of your injury, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

If you’ve been injured by someone who was on a cell phone, you need an attorney with the experience to investigate your client. Sometimes, that means subpoenaing cell phone records from the cell phone carrier. Other times, it means developing enough facts to let a jury easily conclude that the driver was on his or her cell phone.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we have handled thousands of car accident cases over our decades of experience. As cell phones became more common, we saw the increase in distraction happen. Now, as almost everyone uses their cell phone, we see this causing crashes on a daily basis.

If you were in a car accident with another driver who was using a cell phone, please call the experienced car accident lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm at (978) 458-1229 or contact us for your free consultation. As always, we don’t collect any fees unless we win your case.