Driving is, in and of itself, a dangerous exercise. Unfortunately, as cell phone use continues, so are the reports of cell phone-related accidents. In fact, cell phone use is linked to one in four car accidents. If you are involved in a car accident where the other party was distracted by cell phone use, you need to pursue the liable party for damages.
Make no mistake, driving while operating a cell phone is risky. This explains why Mississippi has made the use of cell phones (calling, texting) while driving illegal.
Cellphone use leads to 3 types of distractions
Distracted driving happens when the driver’s attention is taken off the road. Here are three ways it happens:
- Cognitive distraction – A driver requires a great deal of situational awareness of their surroundings to drive safely. Talking on the phone even with a hands-free system can take the driver’s attention off the road.
- Manual distraction – anything that takes a driver’s hands off the steering wheel even for seconds can lead to a catastrophe. This can include reaching for the cell phone, entering a location on the GPS app or responding to a quick short message.
- Visual distraction – to drive safely, a motorist must keep their eyes on the road at all times. Anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road such as reading text messages, catching up with social media posts or dialing a number can lead to visual distraction.
If you are hurt in a car crash that is linked to cell phone use, you are a victim of someone’s negligence. It may be wise to find out your legal options before you make any other moves.