Drivers Using Cellphones Continue to Rise

Despite federal and state laws prohibiting motorists from using handheld cellphones while driving, the number of drivers in California who use mobile devices while navigating the roads continues to rise.

Research collected by the California Office of Traffic Safety found that 12.8% of California drivers observed were using a cell phone to perform some sort of operation. That figure is up from 9.2% just one year ago. These numbers are likely an underestimate of the true seriousness of this problem, too, since the study was observational, and it can be very difficult to discern cell phone use in a moving vehicle.

Distracted driving is a serious factor in many motor vehicle accidents. If you’ve been involved in an accident that was caused by a careless driver who was distracted by his or her cell phone while driving, it’s important to contact a Ventura car accident attorney immediately to protect your legal rights.

Cell Phones and Crashes

Another study done by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that dialing a cell phone while driving increases the risk of becoming involved in an accident by a factor of 12. Reading an email while driving triples the chance of a crash, while texting while driving increases the likelihood of a collision sixfold.

The incidence of distracted driving has risen steadily over the past three years. In 2015, 11,090 drivers were either killed or injured in incidents related to distracted driving.

Increasingly, courts are finding that the use of a cell phone while driving may be cited as contributory negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident that was caused by another motorist’s negligent cell phone use, contact The May Firm at (805) 557-8061 immediately. Our experienced Ventura car accident attorneys will do everything we can to help you get the compensation you deserve.