Cellphones are an ubiquitous part of life for most people in Ohio, but it is how and where some of these cellphones are used that is putting so many people at risk. Car accidents caused by cellphone use is on the rise, and the National Transportation Board has stated that distracted driving is one of the biggest challenges facing drivers today. While victims of car wrecks may not be able to prevent the cellphone use that led to their collision, they can seek out compensation for any serious injuries that they suffered.
According to the National Safety Council, there were over 5.5 million car wrecks in 2013, and, of those accidents, approximately 341,000 – or 6 percent — were caused by texting drivers. Another NSC estimate puts the number of accidents caused by talking on the phone at 1.2 million. Though many drivers might perceive hands-free technology as safer to use behind the wheel, the 1.2 million figure did not distinguish between those who used hands-free devices and those who did not.
At any given time during the day in America, roughly 9 percent of people behind the wheel are carrying on conversations on cellphones. Another 1.7 percent are engaging in manual manipulation of their phone, which can range from texting to checking a social media web page. As texting while driving can increase the possibility of causing a car wreck by up to 23 times, with that many people on their phones while driving it can be easier to understand the number of annual car wrecks attributed to cellphone use.
Serious injuries are not uncommon occurrences from car accidents. When a negligent driver is the cause of those injuries, victims can understandably feel frustrated as they deal with related medical bills, physical pain and emotional trauma in the aftermath of a wreck. Victims in Ohio retain the legal right to address those damages through a personal injury civil suit filed against a liable driver. When successfully navigated to completion, victims are typically awarded compensation that can address the related damages.
Source: Business Insider, “Cell phones are causing more and more car crashes“, Christopher Woody, May 31, 2015
