Distracted driving is anything a driver does that draws attention away from road and controlling the car. Driver distraction is one of the primary causes of all auto accidents and a contributing factor in as many as 80 percent of fatal crashes. It is a driver’s responsibility to stay focused and alert while driving, and to avoid engaging in behaviors likely to cause a distraction. A distracted driver is a negligent driver.
If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s distracted driving, you may have a claim to recover money to compensate you for your losses. You may be in pain, unable to work, and in debt because of medical expenses. If someone you love has been killed by a distracted driver, your grief may be overwhelming. In either case, you deserve compensation for wrongful death.
The lawyers at Shepard & Haven Law in Sacramento are dedicated to reducing the number of distracted driving accidents in California by helping victims get financial compensation and holding drivers who engage in dangerous and distracting activities accountable for the suffering they’ve caused.
Common Types of Driver Distractions
- Texting
- Talking on a cell phone
- Reading billboards and watching scenery
- Rubbernecking
- Interacting with passengers, children, or pets
- Grooming
- Eating and drinking
- Reading; consulting maps
- Using a GPS
- Adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player
- Watching videos
Cell Phone Use and Texting Facts
In the past decade, cell phone use has skyrocketed to the point it has become the most common source of driver distraction. Here are some sobering facts about cell phone use while driving:
- Drivers using any hand-held electronic devices are four times more likely to be in an injury crash.
- Sending or receiving a text message increases the risk of a crash by 23 times.
- Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. That’s like of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 MPH with your eyes closed!
- Using a handheld or hands-free cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent, the legal limit.
- Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity used for driving by 37 percent.
- Talking on a hands-free phone is only marginally less distracting than talking on a hand-held one.
An Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you’re suffering from the effects of a California distracted driving accident, you need to protect your legal right to a recovery. Ronald Haven and Kenneth Shepard have more than 35 years of experience each assisting accident victims and have brought in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.
We will initiate a prompt investigation of your claim and make sure that all filing deadlines are met. We will also handle all negotiations with the insurance company that covers the person who caused the accident. We are able to settle most cases out of court, but if a trial is necessary, we have the courtroom skill to present a well-prepared case to a jury to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorneys Help Victims of Distracted Driving Crashes
If your life has been shattered because of a car accident caused by a distracted driver, call Shepard & Haven in Sacramento and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review the facts of your case and let you know what legal options are available, and you’ll never pay us a cent unless we win money for you.
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