Distracted driving isn’t new. In the past, accidents sometimes occurred when a driver reached down to adjust a radio or applied lipstick in the rearview mirror; however, distracted driving accident numbers quickly escalated once smartphones became central to our lives. One of the most common and deadly distractions behind the wheel is texting and driving. This action combines all three forms of distraction recognized as dangerous by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Shaw Cowart’s top-rated Austin car accident attorneys are among the best in Texas, providing dedicated legal representation to victims of serious crashes. They help clients navigate complex legal challenges, fight against large insurance companies, and seek maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What Are the Three Forms of Distracted Driving?
Traffic safety experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) agree that most driving distractions fall into one of three categories:
- Visual distractions, or anything that draws the driver’s eyes away from the road,
- Manual distractions, or any activity that requires a driver to remove one or both hands from the wheel, and
- Cognitive distractions, or anything that takes the driver’s mind away from the task of operating their vehicle
When a driver reads and answers text messages, they engage in a deadly combination of all three categories of distracted driving. According to NHTSA, at 55 miles per hour, a driver travels the length of a football field during the five seconds it takes to read an average text message.
Alarming Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving accidents claimed 3,308 lives in a single recent year. Often, the victims of a distracted driver are those in other vehicles involved in a collision with a distracted driver. The following statistics reveal the facts of the disturbing trend:
- Nearly 10% of total car accident fatalities result from distracted driving
- Distracted driving numbers are probably widely underreported because it isn’t always possible to prove a driver was distracted before causing an accident
- Teen drivers have a crash rate that’s three times the rate of drivers over 20, with 58% of teen driving accidents caused by distracted driving
- 60% of high school seniors admitted to texting and driving in a survey
- Distracted driving accidents caused by texting and driving increased 22% between 2020 and 2022
- When a commercial truck driver texts, they have a 23 times higher chance of an accident according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
A distracted driver is liable for the damages an injury victim experiences in an accident.
What Types of Accidents Happen Due to Distracted Driving In Austin?
Distracted drivers present a serious danger not only to themselves but to others on the road. Texting and driving diverts attention from the roadway ahead and takes at least one hand off of the steering wheel, reducing reaction time when a safety hazard appears in the road ahead. Common accidents caused by texting and driving include:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents in intersections
- Head-on collisions due to departing from the appropriate lane
- Collisions with obstacles
- Roadway departures
- Pedestrian accidents
Despite Texas laws prohibiting texting and driving, one in every six car accidents in Texas occurred due to distracted driving, resulting in 399 traffic deaths in 2023.
How Can a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer In Austin Help?
Proving a distracted driver liable for damages in a car accident requires substantial evidence. Obtaining compensation for common car accident damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering requires an experienced investigation to prove liability and a careful calculation of past and future damages. Call the best Austin personal injury lawyers at Shaw Cowart LLP today so we can assess your case and take prompt action.