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Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer | Slepkow Law

Texting while driving in RI

Distracted driving and texting while driving is a serious national problem that causes many accidents involving serious injuries and fatalities. Statistics maintained by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicate that on average nine individuals lose their life every day. More than 1100 individuals suffer serious injuries and accidents involving distracted driving. Driving distracted is behavior that is recognized to divert attention away from the roadway which can increase the potential of a motor vehicle accident.

In 2012, more than 3300 individuals were killed in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving. The number of injured people associated with these types of accidents totaled more than 420,000 that year. This number represents one in five vehicle accidents where an injury is caused directly or indirectly by distracted driving.

Common Distractions in Rhode Island  causing car and motor vehicle crash

Operating a motor vehicle in RI and MA requires the driver’s full attention and awareness of the road. Sadly, motor vehicle accidents are one of the two leading causes of injury death over an individual’s lifetime. While many new laws in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have been enacted to focus on banning texting while driving and the use of handheld phones, the number of distracted driving accidents have increased. Distracted driving endangers everyone including the motorist, the passengers in the vehicle, others sharing the roadway and bystanders including pedestrians and bicyclists. The most common types of distractions in Boston and Providence involve:

  • Talking on a smart phone or cell phone
  • Texting
  • Communicating with passengers
  • Drinking and eating
  • Grooming including applying makeup and combing hair
  • Using a navigational system inside the vehicle
  • Reading including studying maps and typing or responding to emails
  • Adjusting inside media devices including the radio, MP3 player or CD player
  • Watching videos on mobile devices

Because most driving distractions in Mass and in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations including text messaging and talking on the phone requires manual, visual and cognitive attention, the motorist can easily lose their attention to the road.

Distracted Driving Key Statistics and Facts – texting while driving

According to statistics maintained by distraction.gov, using a headset to place a phone call or receive a call is not that substantially safer compared to using a handheld mobile device. Many drivers justify their actions by indicating the reading attacks is far safer than writing one or sending one. Other motorists claim they hold their smart phone closer to the windshield as a way to increase visibility or will only read or send attacks while at a red light or stop sign.

The most common driving statistics and key facts involving distracted driving include:

  • More than 25 percent of all fatal crashes involving distracted driving happen to motorists in their 20s.
  •  Approximately 25 percent of all passenger vehicle crashes involve the use of a smart phone or cell phone.
  • The average driver loses attention to the roadway for a minimum of five seconds whenever texting.
  • Teenagers who text while operating a vehicle travel outside of their driving lane approximately 10 percent of the time.
  • 10 percent of all drivers involved in a fatal crash are under 20 years of age.
  • Engaging in any subtasks requiring manual or visual attention, like reaching for a smart phone, texting or dialing increases the potential risk of being involved in an accident by 300 percent.

What Is Being Done

Legislators recognize that many distracted driving activities divert cognitive, manual and/or visual attention from the roadway. Because of that, ten states including the District of Columbia now prohibit all motorists from using a hand-held mobile phone. In addition, 39 states along with the District of Columbia now prohibit sending or receiving text messages while driving. Five seconds is the least amount of time a driver’s eyes are off the road when sending or reading the text. If traveling 55 miles an hour, the amount of distance the driver covers with their eyes off the road is as long as a football field. Within that distance, anything can happen, including being involved in a serious accident with injuries or death.

While smart phone technology has changed the lives of us for the better, it can often cause more harm than good for drivers on the nation’s roads, city streets and highways. This is because during sunlight hours, more than 650,000 motorists in the United States attempt to use their phone to make a call or send a text while operating a vehicle. The number of driving distractions caused by cell phones tends to be increasing at an alarming rate. Because of that, it is essential to understand the statistics and facts to make better decisions while driving.

Common Texting Accident Statistics and the need for a RI texting while driving lawyer

Drivers receiving and sending text messages must use three specific levels of responsiveness including their manual, visual and cognitive attention. This includes taking the manual step of interacting with the phone, visual attention to watch the screen and cognitive abilities to write or read the text. Visual distractions take the eyes off the road, manual distractions take the hands away from the wheel and cognitive distractions take the driver’s mind away from driving.

The following common cell phone statistics are from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National Safety Council (NSC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others. The statistics include:

• In 2012, more than 3300 individuals lost their lives through distracted-related vehicle accidents, collisions and motor vehicle crashes.
• Twenty five percent of all vehicle accidents nationwide occur because a motorist is texting while driving.
• Using cell phones while operating a vehicle causes more than 1.5 million vehicle accidents every year.
• Approximately 325,000 injuries each year are the direct result of texting while driving.
• Texting while operating a vehicle is potentially six times more dangerous than driving drunk.
• On average, 11 teenagers lose their lives each day because a motorist was texting while driving.
• More than one out of every five teenage motorists involved in an accident with fatalities were distracted because of their mobile phone.
• Teenage drivers with an additional passenger in the vehicle are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal accident, and five times as likely with more than one passenger in the car.
• One out of every four teens respond to one text message or more every time they get behind the wheel.

Talking or texting on the phone are the two leading distractions that cause a majority of vehicle accidents in the US and in Rhode island and Massachusetts. Younger drivers in Rhode Island and Across the Nation are the most susceptible to texting while driving and have the least amount of experience, especially motorists 19 years old and younger. Nearly one in five high school students in the U.S. with a driver’s license claim they have sent or received text messages and emails while operating a vehicle. Web surfing online, checking Facebook status posts, tweeting , pinning on pintrest and playing video games and operating a GPS are also serious and dangerous distractions which are beyond the scope of this distracted driving post.

Hiring a Rhode Island texting while driving attorney

If you have suffered injuries, harm or property damage in a motor vehicle accident and believe that texting or smart phone use was a factor, it is essential to hire a Rhode Island personal injury attorney or Providence distracted driving lawyer who specializes in accident cases. Your lawyer can ensure that your rights are protected while the evidence is collected and the collision is investigated. Successful texting while driving vehicle accident attorneys in Rhode island and Providence Plantations have access to useful resources that are necessary to build a solid case for compensation. Rhode Island Personal injury law firms and providence car accident lawyers usually accept these types of cases on a contingency basis, so there is no need to pay any retainer or upfront fee. It is essential to file a claim or lawsuit for recompense before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Smartphones have made it very easy for people to stay connected. However, they also pose serious safety risks when people use their phones to text, email, chat or make phone calls while driving. The texting and driving accident statistics are startling to say the least. If you were injured in a distracted driving or texting and driving accident in Rhode Island or Massachusetts  (MA) then you should contact one of the best personal injury lawyers in Rhode Island who is also a a top RI distracted driving lawyer. A Rhode Island texting while driving attorney will help an injured victim in RI or MA get the compensation they deserve as a result of a distracted driving auto, car, truck or motorcycle collision.

Driver Cell Phone Statistics

  • In 2013, approximately 3, 154 people died due to distraction related accidents.
  • In 2013, of all the drivers involved in accidents, 10% of them were between the ages of 15 and 19, and they were reported to be using their cell phones at the time of the accident.
  • On average, 424,000 are injured every year as a result of distracted driving.
  • 11 teens die daily because of texting while driving
  • 21% of teen accidents are as a result of cell phone distractions.
  • A poll by the AAA reported that about 94 percent of teens are aware of the dangers of texting while driving, however, most of them still do it anyway.
  • Teen drivers are 4 times more susceptible to cause accidents while texting as compared to adults.

General cell phone statistics

  • According to the National safety Council, about 1.6 million crashes every year can be attributed to cell phone usage while driving.
  • 330,000 injuries are caused by texting while behind the wheels every year.
  • A driver who is texting while driving is 6 times more likely to be involved in an accident as compared to a drunk driver.
  • On average, 1 in every 4 accidents reported in the US is caused by texting while driving.
  • When answering a text, approximately 5 seconds on your attention is taken away from the road.
  • Of all the distraction related accidents, driving while texting is by far the most dangerous.
  • Of all the drivers interviewed in polls, 94 percent of them would support a ban on texting while driving.

Driving while texting is not just a major issue for teens. According to AT&T, 49 % of adult driver’s text while driving. The same survey revealed that 90 percent of drivers are aware of the dangers of texting while driving. This begs the question why people still go ahead and do it. Experts explain that every time we receive a text, it triggers a happy or curious signal that is very hard to ignore. Again, most people like to stay connected. Understanding the risks based on the texting and driving statistics empowers you to make safer decisions when driving.

If you were injured in a texting while driving, car, truck or motorcycle accident than you should contact a Rhode Island texting while driving attorney who is also an East Providence personal injury lawyer.

Many communities are developing programs to educate drivers about the hazards and dangers posed by distracted driving. In 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in charge of regulating commercial vehicles on the nation’s highways have enacted their own rules and regulations that restrict the use of mobile phones, where “drivers are prohibited from texting while driving.” It is essential that every driver take full responsibility for their actions and remain alert whenever operating a motor vehicle in Massachusetts and in RI. If you were injured an a car, truck or motor vehicle accident by a motorist texting and driving or otherwise distracted in RI or MA then you need to contact a Rhode Island car accident lawyer or a Massachusetts personal injury attorney. Experienced texting while driving injury lawyers will help you get the settlement that you deserve.

texting while driving statistics

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs once caused more accidents than any other activity.  Texting while driving now claims more lives every year on roads than any other factor. The shocking statistics maintained by the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that using cell phones while driving causes more than 1.5 million motor vehicle accidents every year. Researchers know this number is high because more than 650,000 motorists attempt to use their smart phones and mobile technology while operating their vehicle every day. This post was authored by a ri personal injury lawyer.  This distracted driving article set forth texting while driving statistics.

Texting while driving statistics

Cell phone distraction-associated car, automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island are increasing at an alarming rate. The effort to check messages, take phone calls, read emails and use other mobile applications while operating a vehicle is considered negligence. This is because the effort to remain connected while driving poses serious safety risks to motorists, passengers and other sharing the roadway.

Distracted driving in RI 

Out of all the activities performed inside a vehicle in motion in Rhode Island, driving while texting is considered the most dangerous. Based on recent available statistics, the National Safety Council reports:

• More than 25 percent of all vehicle and car accidents nationwide are caused by motorists who are texting while driving.

•  Motor Vehicle Accidents associated with texting while driving account for approximately 330,000 injuries nationwide every year.

• Texting while driving is significantly more dangerous than drunk driving because the activity is six times more likely to cause a serious vehicle accident.

• Responding to text messages distracts the driver for approximately five seconds. In this amount of time while traveling at 55 miles per hour, the motorist has inattentively driven their vehicle more than the length of a football field.

• Nine out of every 10 motorists support legislation that bans the activity of texting while driving and three out of every four motorists would like to see a ban on using handheld smart phones while operating a vehicle.

Teenage Texting While Driving Statistics

Due to a lack of driving experience, many teenagers lack the coordination, skills and practical familiarity of operating a vehicle while texting. The National Safety Council reports that the rate of texting-associated accidents among teenagers has increased at an alarming rate. The most common teenage texting while driving statistics include:

• 11 teenagers on average die each day due to texting while driving.

• More than one out of every five teenage motorists involved in a fatal car accident was distracted because they were using their mobile device.

• Teens have a 400 percent greater chance of being involved in a car accident when texting or talking on their smart phone.

• Teenage motorists driving with just one passenger in the vehicle doubles their risk of being involved in a fatal accident, which is increased to five times as likely when two or more passengers are in the car.

• In addition to the District of Columbia, there are 46 states nationwide, including Rhode Island, that ban texting while driving. In fact, many local governments have enacted cell phone use bans and in some communities, school bus drivers are legally banned from using handheld cell phones to talk or text.

Why Bans Matter 

Distracted driving in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations causes serious injuries and fatalities. Texting, talking on the phone, drinking, eating or other activity diverts the driver’s attention away from the roadway. Banning these activities are important because they are visual, manual and cognitive distractions that create a dangerous combination of unacceptable driving behavior.

• Visual distractions can easily divert the driver’s eyes from the roadway;
• Manual distractions cause the driver to remove one or both hands from the wheel; and
• Cognitive distractions allow the driver’s mind to wander away from the activity of operating the vehicle.

Driving while texting or talking on the phone in RI has become a serious national problem. Many unsuspecting Rhode Island residents sharing the roadway become victims of distracted drivers on freeways, roadways and city streets. If you, are looking for an AFFF foam lawsuit or mesothelioma lawsuit law firm, contact us.

  • ” Ten percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2013 were reported as distraction-affected crashes. ■ In 2013, there were 3,154 people killed and an estimated additional 424,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. ■ Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. ■ In 2013, there were 480 nonoccupants killed in distraction affected crashes.” US Department of Transportation, National  Highway Traffic AdministartionDOT HS 812 132 Summary of Statistical Findings April 2015, TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS Research Note,