Far too frequently in Arizona and around the country, drivers who are distracted by their cellphones cause accidents that result in serious injuries and deaths. In fact, research done by the National Safety Council has determined that cellphone use is involved in 27 percent of car accidents in the United States. The NSC says that although there is growing awareness about the risks of distracted driving, cellphone use by drivers is a growing problem.
Drivers who own smartphones do more than just talk and text while they are behind the wheel. Distracted drivers may cause a car accident while they are posting photos and comments on social media, video chatting and doing web searches. A study conducted by Braun Research found that 70 percent of smartphone owners use their phones while they drive. Of those drivers, 40 percent use social media and 30 percent search things on the Internet.
Another worrisome fact about in-vehicle smartphone use is the fact that 61 percent of drivers admit that they text while they drive. However, drivers who do so are breaking the law in 46 states. There are also 14 states where it is illegal to use a cellphone in any way while driving.
After a serious car accident, investigators will often obtain cellphone records from the drivers that were involved so that they can determine whether any of them were distracted. If it can be shown that a driver was using a cellphone before a crash, this evidence may used in a personal injury lawsuit filed by an injured victim to help establish the responsibility of the driver for the damages sustained by the plaintiff.
