Car Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving
It’s a common occurrence to see distracted drivers cruising down South Carolina roads and interstates. Whether the distraction is eating, putting on makeup, talking on a cellphone, or even just daydreaming, the effects of a distracted driving accident can result in life-altering and even deadly consequences. If you were in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you need to hire a South Carolina distracted driving accident attorney to protect your legal rights.
Distracted driving includes:
- texting and driving
- talking on a cell phone
- eating and drinking
- talking to passengers
- grooming or putting on makeup
- reading books, newspapers, or even a map
- using a PDA or navigation system
- watching a video or playing on a computer or tablet
- playing with the radio, a CD or an iPod
The statistics on distracted driving accidents nationwide are staggering:
- 17% of crashes which resulted in an injury involved a report of distracted driving;
- of the deaths in distracted related driving accidents, 995 involved a report that the driver was using a cell phone;
- in 2012, 3,328 people were killed on US roadways, down from 3,360 in 2011; and an estimated additional 421,000 were injured in crashes caused by distracted driving;
- The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers involved the under 20 age group;
- Drivers who use handheld devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves;
- using a cell phone while driving, whether its handheld or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a BAC of .08, the legal limit!
Texting and Driving Accident Attorneys
Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, and yet more and more motorists fail to resist the lure of technology.
According to a study conducted by AT&T in 2014, 98% of respondents knew that texting and driving is dangerous, yet they did it anyway. Worse, 75% of those respondents said they chose to text and drive even though they knew the practice is illegal in most states and can result in a fatal car accident.
Texting and Driving is Illegal in South Carolina
In June 2014, the South Carolina legislature passed a law that made texting and driving, emailing on your smartphone while driving, or checking social media while driving, illegal. The fine for a first texting and driving offense is $25. Subsequent offenses are a $50 fine. Although no points will be taken off a driver’s license for texting and driving in SC, the costs can stack up rapidly, and your list of texting and driving offenses could be used against you in court if you face other charges.
More importantly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that texting and driving is as statistically dangerous as drunk driving. Drivers with handheld devices like smartphones or cell phones are 4 times more likely than undistracted drivers to cause a serious or fatal accident. Using a cell phone while driving, even if the device is hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08, which is the legal limit for DUI. More teenagers and young adults these days are killed in distracted driving or texting and driving accidents than as a result of drunk driving.
Injuries from a Car Accident Caused by Texting and Driving
Too many people now are at risk of being the victim of a distracted driver due to smartphones or texting and driving. If you have been in an SC car accident caused by a driver who was texting and driving, you could suffer long-lasting physical injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and lost wages. In the worst cases, you may be so injured that you are physically disabled and unable to perform the same employment as before. You also run the risk that a loved one riding as a passenger in the car may be killed.
Your insurance will cover you for a short time, but it may not cover the entire cost of your injuries. Medical bills can quickly add up, and if you are unable to continue your current employment, you could face a scary financial future.
Not only must we all hold distracted drivers, especially those who text and drive accountable for their actions, but you may be eligible for personal injury compensation if you are the victim of a texting and driving car accident.
The Strom Law Firm Helps Victims of Texting and Driving Accidents
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, the South Carolina distracted driving attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. will fight for fair compensation for your injuries. Our diligent lawyers are prepared to fight for compensation in the courtroom and will defend your right to compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages and future earnings, your pain and suffering, and, in the event of a fatal car accident, even wrongful death.
