Distracted driving is one of the largest causes of car accidents in the US. Whether it be texting and driving, eating, or using the navigation system, individuals do things to take their focus off the road and thus endanger their lives and the lives of others. If you were in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, contact our experienced car accident lawyers to ensure that justice is served.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is doing something while driving that makes you take your attention away from the road. This can be anything from texting or talking on the phone, to eating or using the navigation system. These distractions can cause you to lose focus and take your eyes off the road, endangering yourself and other drivers.

It has been shown that if you take your eyes off the road for only 5 seconds while driving at 55 mph, that is long enough to travel the entire length of a football field. Taking your eyes off the road is not the only way you can be distracted either.

There are three categories of distractions: visual, manual, and cognitive. Physically looking away from the road in front of you falls into the visual category, and this is the most commonly occurring distraction. A manual distraction is when you are using your hand or hands to do something else besides controlling the steering wheel, such as using the navigation system. Cognitive distractions occur when you are not focusing on driving but rather communicating with others or thinking about something else.

Texting while driving is the most common way drivers are distracted. This hits all three distraction categories, and according to a study conducted by The Zebra, it is six times more likely to cause an accident than drunk driving.

Distracted Driving Statistics

According to the US Department of Transportation, distracted driving caused over 1.6 million accidents in 2018, leading to over 500,000 personal injuries and 6,000 deaths. Texting while driving is particularly dangerous, with the same study showing that texting increased the likelihood of crashing by 23 times. Aside from the high cost to people’s lives, distracted driving accidents were responsible for over $125 billion in societal damages.

The Department of Transportation also found that 26% of all motor vehicle accidents were caused by the use of cell phones – a staggering statistic considering 77% of teenagers admitted that they or an adult they know uses their phone while driving.

The Colorado Department of Transportation stated that 43 crashes occur each day due to distracted drivers, and in 2018 alone there were 15,673 accidents. These accidents were not specific to one county, with many occurring in the Westminster, Broomfield or Arvada in Adams County.

What to Do if You are Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to recover damages from the at-fault driver. To prove that the driver was distracted, you can use the initial police report, cell phone records, video footage, and witness testimonies. If those are not available, in some cases an accident reconstruction expert can help you prove that the at-fault driver was distracted while driving.

Our attorneys can help you get the justice you deserve and have years of experience in representing clients in distracted driving cases. They understand the severity of the situation and know that you deserve to be compensated after an accident.

Contact our attorneys at the Denver-based law firm Alhasoon, Glidden, and Glidden to ensure that you get the legal support you deserve to help make you whole after a car accident. Contact us at (720) 487-1050 today to speak to one of our attorneys.