There is no April fools day when it comes to distracted driving safety. Santa Clarita is very serious about educating others about distracted driving. April is the month where law enforcement will be sure to enforce the importance of learning to drive free from distractions. Our Car Crash Lawyers at Compass Law Group, LLP is 100% behind the April initiative. Too many times we have represented clients who were injured because of a distracted driver. From cell phones to laptops to driving impaired, distracted driving is a leading cause of major accidents on our roadways.
Helpful Information
According to local law enforcement, cell phones are the number one top distractions for drivers. Even though most counties enforce hands-free cell phone laws, not everyone is aware or chooses to follow that logic and the statistics show. Around 66 people were killed and more than 6500 were injured in 2017 from distracted driving crashes. Percentages from 2018 are getting any better. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, about 5% of drivers still use their phones illegally which is a 27% increase from 2016.
During this month, police will be out in full force pulling people over if they see people misusing their devices while driving. The current law isn’t that unmanageable. The law states that cell phones must be mounted onto dashboards or center consoles. Drivers are permitted to touch them once with a finger to swipe or tap in order to activate or deactivate the phone. If you are caught doing more than this then it is a $162 fine. If you have to call or text someone, police and other officials are encouraging you to pull over or wait until you arrive at your destination. This common-sense rule sounds easy enough, but when is the last time you followed it?
Kinds Of Injuries
So how do you people know a cell phone caused an accident? The same way officials know that drunk drivers caused an accident. Typically when a drunk driver crashes there are beer cans in the vehicle. Cell phones are mostly found in the hands of someone who was driving. Or a cell phone was found near the main part of the accident.
Injuries from distracted driving accidents are very common in other kinds of car accidents. For example, if you are rear-ended you may suffer from whiplash, back injury, or other neck injuries. If you are hit from the side you may experience head trauma, bruising, or internal bleeding. If you are hit from the front you may experience all of the above. Car accident injuries are sneaky as sometimes the pain doesn’t come until a week or so after the event.
What To Do
If you or someone you love is suffering from an injury by a distracted driver, we are ready to represent you. We have the resources and experience with these kinds of accidents to ensure that you get the justice you deserve.
