Car Accidents - Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become one of the most dangerous factors in serious car accidents. In fact, distracted driving accounts for nearly 80% of all traffic accidents nationwide; more than double the number of accidents caused by drunk driving. Even legislators have begun to acknowledge to acknowledge the dangers of driving while distracted, developing new laws to regulate the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. The problem isn’t going away; however, if you or a loved one is involved in an accident with a distracted driver, you will need qualified representation from a firm familiar with the law and the challenges posed by a distracted driver claim.

By working with experienced car accident lawyers, victims can have some control of and participation in ensuring that their rights and interests are protected. Under Pennsylvania's laws, if you have been injured in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person's carelessness or recklessness, you may be entitled to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright's lawyers for a free assessment of your case. We have offices conveniently located in Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Hamlin, Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Distracted driving occurs when the driver attempts to engage in other activities while driving. Numerous distractions can take a driver’s attention from the road, including conversations with passengers in the car, children in the backseat, or even the radio. However, the leading culprit of driver distraction these days is the cell phone.

Many drivers think that a quick phone conversation or a brief text message is harmless because “it will only take a minute,” but in reality, those minutes can have much longer lasting repercussions when they lead to serious collisions.

The facts about distracted driving and cell phone use are sobering:

• In 2008, at any given moment, more than 800,000 Americans were using a cell phone while driving. During the same year, almost 6,000 people died in crashes attributed to driver distraction.
• Drivers were talking on a cell phone in almost 25% of all car accidents.
• In Pennsylvania, there were 1,298 cell phone related accidents including 9 fatalities during 2008.
• According to PennDOT, from 2002 to 2006 there were 5,715 car accidents attributed to cell phone use in Pennsylvania – including 367 accidents involving hands-free phones or Bluetooth communication devices.
• Cell phone-related car accidents rose from 168 in 2003 to 228 in 2005 in western Pennsylvania alone; an increase of 36 % increase in just two years.
• Twenty percent of adult drivers text while driving.
• Texting while driving is 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving drunk.
• Drivers who are talking on cell phones react to brake lights 18% slower and take 17% longer to return to a normal speed after braking.
• Texting while driving increases the time that a driver is not looking at the road by 400%.
• Eighty-four percent of cell phone users acknowledge that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous – yet 81% admit to talking or texting behind the wheel anyway.

Drivers know that cell phones can be hazardous distractions on the road, but they choose to use them anyway. This type of behavior is so clearly negligent that you might think a distracted driver claim would be simple to handle. However, a successful case must prove that the driver was distracted and that the accident wasn’t caused by another factor beyond the driver’s control. Insurance companies representing drivers against whom claims have been filed will try to minimize their damages by offering insufficient settlements or simply denying the claims.

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents, and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a distracted driver, you deserve experienced legal representation from a firm that understands the challenges you face because of your injuries – a firm that is committed to obtaining the compensation you deserve. When drivers knowingly engage in behavior that puts others at risk, they must be held accountable – and you shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for their negligent and reckless refusal to drive safely.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us today online or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.