How Often Does Distracted Driving Cause Car Accidents?

texting while driving

In today’s day and age, distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents, thanks, in large part, to a bevy of technological distractions present in our vehicles at all times. Please continue reading and reach out to a seasoned Jacksonville personal injury lawyer from Ansbacher Law to learn more about the prevalence of distracted driving accidents in the United States and how our legal team can help if you’ve been injured by a distracted driver. Here are some of the questions you may have:

How often does distracted driving play a role in car accidents?

According to one study conducted by the CDC, distracted driving claims roughly eight lives per day, which translates to about 3,500 fatalities per year, and the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving that lead to injuries or (fortunately) don’t result in injury, is far higher.

What are the most common examples of distracted driving?

The most common type of distracted driving, by far and away, is texting while driving. Unfortunately, many motorists are unable to resist the temptation to check their phones, send a text, or make a phone call while behind the wheel. All of these things are serious distractions and can lead to disastrous auto accidents. That said, some of the other most common examples of distracted driving that our firm sees are as follows:

  • Changing radio stations
  • Reading billboards or rubbernecking other car accidents
  • Being distracted by children or other passengers in the vehicle
  • Eating while driving
  • Smoking while driving
  • Applying makeup while driving
  • Trying to pick up a dropped object

If you were injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, it is paramount that you retain the services of an attorney who can help you satisfy the burden of proof in your personal injury claim. Simply put, your attorney will need to prove that you were injured as a direct result of another driver’s negligence; in this case, that would be driving while distracted. To prove this, an attorney can, for example, subpoena phone records to see whether the driver was on a call or sending text messages back and forth while behind the wheel of their vehicle, which is one of the most straightforward ways to prove a distracted driving injury claim.

When should I talk to an attorney?

If you are injured by a distracted driver, you should speak with an attorney as soon after your accident as you can. That said, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida is, traditionally, four years, which means you mustn’t wait longer than four years from the date of your accident to file your personal injury claim. If you do, you’ll most likely permanently be barred from suing. Give us a call today so we can get started working on your case.