Anyone who went through and passed driver’s education classes should be well aware that distracted driving is unsafe and should be avoided at all costs. A driver’s main concern should be his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle (especially at high speeds like on a highway) and the other drivers in the area. If a person is distracted by something else in the vehicle, car accidents are very likely to occur.

A car accident, in general, can have devastating effects on those who are involved in the crash. If the collision also involves a motorcycle, semi-truck, bicyclist, or pedestrian, the effects could be even more catastrophic than initially thought. Distracted drivers should be held accountable for their recklessness when they cause car accidents. The car accident victims should contact an experienced distracted driving accident lawyer to represent their best interests.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from the important task of driving. This includes talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, combing hair, putting on makeup, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system, and anything that takes your attention away from the goal of safe driving.

Texting while driving is the most alarming distraction, especially in recent years due to the increased popularity of cell phones. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed! No one would want to do that in the best of circumstances, so why take the chance on a busy highway?

Quick Facts about Distracted Driving Accidents

According to Carsurance, 

If you have been involved in a serious accident, you are likely feeling overwhelmed by calls from insurance companies. You may be unsure of what to do or where to turn. The medical bills are piling up, you may be unable to work, and performing your normal daily activities may be a struggle. Let our injury law firm help you! At Frischman & Rizza, our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers understand this is stressful for you and your family.

• About 9% of fatal motor vehicle crashes are caused by driver distraction in the United States
• About 9 people in the U.S. are killed every day due to distracted driving accidents
• It takes around 3 seconds for a car accident to occur after a person has been distracted
• When reaching for an item while driving, it increases the chance of crashing by 8 times.
  

How Does Distracted Driving Cause a Car Accident?

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing, especially using a smartphone. Whenever your eyes and attention are taken away from the road, there is an increased potential for an auto accident and serious injuries the accident caused.

Cell phone use while driving can be very dangerous. For this reason, it is illegal in Pennsylvania to use your cell phone while driving to send texts, emails, or messages of any kind. If your attention is on a text or social media update, you will likely miss a late lane change by another vehicle, or you may begin to drift into other lanes.

When distracted driving causes a crash, the victims who sustain injuries that the car accident caused deserve financial recovery for medical bills, lost wages, mechanic bills, and other financial damages. An experienced personal injury attorney can utilize the distracted driving laws of Pennsylvania to help support your injury claim and demonstrate why you deserve the maximum compensation for your injuries.

Contact Our Pittsburgh, PA, Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident caused by distracted driving, do not tackle the insurance companies alone. Call auto accident attorneys such as ours at Frischman & Rizza for a free case evaluation and see if you qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact our experienced car accident attorneys today. The call is free, and we offer a free initial consultation.

What a Distracted Driver Means For You

A distracted driver is a negligent driver. When using a cell phone, the driver violates their duty of care to other drivers. A distracted driver poses a safety risk for everyone else, and when it results in a wreck, crash, or injury – the driver becomes liable for the damages caused.

In PA, there is a steady growth of distracted driving citations every year

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Trooper Adam Reed, a spokesman with the Pennsylvania State Police, said the behavior could be deadly. A driver going 55 mph who looks down at their phone for six seconds has traveled more than the length of a football field, blindfolded.

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