Texting and driving negative effects are notable, including thousands of fatalities each year and even more nonfatal injuries. The decision to read or send a text while driving can lead to collisions that range widely in severity and even a minor crash can result in thousands of dollars of property damage and increased auto insurance costs. When texting and driving does result in a severe accident, the negative effects go well beyond property damage. To be sure, the negative effects can range from the immediate pain and suffering experienced by an injured vehicle occupation to that person’s economic losses and long-term non-monetary losses. Our Los Angeles distracted driving accident attorneys can tell you more about the negative effects of texting and driving.
Getting the Facts About Texting and Driving
The clearest negative effects of texting and driving are the serious and deadly injuries resulting from distracted driving crashes, as well as the property damage that may occur. To underscore the varied negative effects of texting and driving, we want to provide you with some key statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Safety Council (NSC) concerning texting while driving:
- More than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2019, including crashes caused by texting while driving;
- Approximately 400,000 people are injured every year in crashes caused by distracted drivers, including those unlawfully using handheld devices to send text messages;
- Accidents resulting from texting while driving have increased as smartphone use has risen;
- Young drivers who self-report that they engage in texting while driving are also likely to engage in other dangerous driving behaviors, such as drinking and driving; and
- Nearly 9 percent of motorists may be on their phones at any given time during daylight driving hours.
Common Economic and Non-Economic Losses Associated with Texting While Driving Accidents
When a motorist causes a serious collision as a result of texting while driving, other motorists and vehicle occupants can sustain disabling and life-threatening injuries, as can motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the road. Indeed, when a motorist is texting while driving and does not see a red light or a crosswalk ahead, other people on the road, as well as pedestrians trying to cross the street safely, can be seriously injured. When a person gets hurt in a crash caused by texting while driving, that person may suffer both economic and non-economic losses that can include but are not limited to the following:
- Medical bills, including hospital bills and surgery costs;
- Follow-up doctor’s appointment costs;
- Prescription medications;
- Rehabilitative therapy costs;
- Lost wages and missed time from work;
- Pain and suffering;
- Disfigurement; and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
After an accident caused by texting while driving, the injured person may be able to seek compensatory damages to compensate for the losses cited above as well as others connected to the distracted driving accident. A lawyer that represents a victim of a car accident should immediately demand the preservation of all cell phone records of other involved drivers.
Seek Advice from a Distracted Driving Attorney in Los Angeles
Do you need assistance seeking compensation after a collision caused by texting while driving? An experienced Los Angeles distracted driving lawyer can help. Contact El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers for more information.