Woman Admits To Texting During Fatal Accident
A car accident with a distracted driver can result in serious injuries and can sometimes be fatal. For example, WTNH reports that a woman recently turned herself into police and took responsibility for a texting and driving accident last month that resulted in the death of a motorcycle driver.
Police officer observed the woman texting before the accident
According to the WTNH report, a police officer witnessed the woman texting and driving shortly before her vehicle collided with the motorcycle. The impact of the collision caused the motorcycle to crash into an SUV.
Other witnesses to the accident never saw the woman hit her brake lights. The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead a few days after the accident.
A local police chief stated that these types of situations are avoidable. He also noted that cell phones should be placed in a glove compartment when driving to avoid the temptation to use them.
It is increasingly evident that distracted driving is dangerous and can result in fatal accidents such as this one. The Federal Communication Commission states that mobile communications, such as using a cell phone or texting, are significantly related to a substantial increase in distracted driving. This results in a higher number of injuries and fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 18 percent of all fatal accidents in 2010 were distracted driving-related, resulting in over 3,000 fatalities. Additionally, approximately 416,000 individuals suffered injuries in distracted driving-related accidents during the same year.
Text messaging is one of the most serious forms of distracted driving
Although a number of activities can be considered distracted driving, texting is one of the most serious. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, text messaging creates an accident risk 23 times worse than driving without distractions.
Young drivers are especially prone to distracted driving. One survey estimates that around 40 percent of teenagers reported being in a vehicle while a driver used a mobile phone in a way that put other vehicle occupants in danger. Additionally, 11 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 who were involved in distracted driving-related accidents admitted to texting at the time of the accident.
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association notes that the best way to reduce these statistics is to give teenage drivers clear instructions to not use cell phones while driving. Parents are encouraged to set a safe example for their children by avoiding distracted driving-related activities as well.
An individual injured by a distracted driver often faces large medical bills and lost wages, as well as extreme pain and suffering. It may be in an injured driver’s best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can protect important rights, explain all available options and assist with obtaining any available compensation.