If you’re a new driver, placing a phone call is more dangerous than reading a text message, and reaching for an object is more apt to cause a crash than eating while driving. Veteran drivers also face an increased risk of an accident while using a cell phone. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development monitored 151 licensed drivers, 42 rookies and 109 veterans, to determine what those drivers were doing immediately prior to an accident or a near-miss. Their findings were published in January in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The most contentious element will no doubt be the finding that merely talking on a cell phone doesn’t increase the risk of an accident, a finding that was consistent among both groups of drivers. Instead, the real danger is posed by dialing a cell phone or reaching to answer one. Those two acts are even more dangerous than texting, according to the report. For new drivers, tasks that take their eyes away the road “pose a very high risk for crash,” the report’s co-author, Bruce Simons-Morton, told Reuters Health. “It’s true for adults too,” he added, “but they seem to be better than novices at dividing their attention,” he said.
How Negligence in Traffic Accidents Can Support a Personal Injury Claim
Recent studies on distracted driving have used advanced tracking systems in test vehicles, including forward radar, GPS, lane monitoring technology, acceleration sensors, and multiple cameras. While some minor collisions occurred during testing, no serious injuries were reported.
Despite growing awareness and technology aimed at reducing distracted driving, it remains a major cause of traffic accidents. If you are injured in a car crash in California and believe the other driver was distracted, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim based on negligence.
An experienced California personal injury attorney can review the details of your accident, evaluate liability, and provide guidance on the strength of your case. If you decide to move forward with a claim, a skilled lawyer can also advocate for fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and begin the legal process.