Using your smartphone while driving is not smart– and in most states, it is illegal. Checking your text messages, surfing the Internet, and talking on the phone can be a deadly mistake. Yet, your phone is not all bad. There are apps out there that will actually make you a better driver. There are apps to help you avoid a distracted driving accident, apps that can monitor your driving habits, help you safe fuel, and even apps to help you avoid road hazards.

Infotainment is a new buzzword for everything that is both informative and entertaining. Infotainment pieces can be articles, blogs, and even videos. They can be found on our computers, our smartphones, and even in our cars. In fact, infotainment is everywhere –and this constant accessibility may be killing us.

While most of us tend to think teens are the biggest texting offenders on the roadways, the surprising results of a recent study found middle-aged drivers have a high rate of collisions due to the use of their cell phones while driving. These results show that very few drivers really have a clear understanding of the risks associated with distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported driver distraction was the primary cause of at least 18 percent of all auto crashes in 2012, with more than 3,300 people killed as a result. It is widely believed those numbers were actually much higher in 2012 because many of those who crash as a result of distracted driving do not admit that fact. Three years later, in 2015, the numbers are estimated to be as high as 30 percent or more.

In our minds, at least, most of us descriptively categorize the drivers around us as we race to our destinations. We might call them “crazy,” a “slowpoke,” “Grandma,” or other names. In order to determine which driving personalities are the most common, drivers in the largest cities in the U.S. were asked specific questions. These questions included “How do you react to being tailgated,” “How do you react to being cut off,” “At what point on your gas gauge do you fill the tank,” and “What do you do if you miss  your exit?” Once all the answers were compiled, the following key types of driver personalities were revealed:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over one thousand people are injured every day in car accidents on U.S. highways. Contributing significantly to that number are distracted drivers. In fact, it is estimated that 10 people die each day in accidents caused by distracted drivers.

A large percentage of the cautions about driving are aimed directly at teen drivers. While it is true that teens send and receive a minimum of five times more texts each day than the average adult, they may actually be less dangerous while doing so behind the wheel. Let’s be clear—texting and driving is dangerous no matter who is doing it. That being said, a recent study from Wayne State University concluded millennials who text and drive are less dangerous than baby boomers who text and drive.

According to the National Safety Council, distracted driving is commonplace with one-third of all car accidents involving some type of cell phone use. The Council calculates that talking on a cell phone is responsible for about 21 percent of traffic accidents, while texting accounts for another 6 to 16 percent.

According to a recent national study, distractions are a more significant factor for teen driver car accidents than previously suspected. Conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the study analyzed approximately 1,700 videos retrieved from crash vehicles. The videos, utilized by an independent program and intended to help motorists improve their driving performance, indicate that as many as 60% of moderate to severe crashes involve some type of driver distraction.

An official at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has proposed a ban on all personal electronic device usage while driving, in an effort to fight against distracted driving. The Board reports having collected data that shows distractions from phones and other mobile electronic devices have caused, or at least been a factor in, car accidents which killed 50 people and injured an additional 259 people since 2003. Research conducted in 2013 by AAA shows that hands-free devices are no less distracting for drivers than actually holding a phone to their ear. People mistakenly believe it is safer because their hands are free, however, the real distraction is cognitive, not just the physical act of holding the phone. And, while drivers surveyed agreed that distracted driving is a danger, they also believe bans on all devices would be difficult to regulate. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asserts that performing visual-manual tasks, including texting and dialing, increases a motorist’s risk of crashing by 3 times. They also report that distracted driving kills thousands of people on U.S. roads every year.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving occurs anytime a driver’s attention is diverted away from the primary task by any other activity. The first distraction that people think of most often might be a cell phone or other electronic device. However, there are many other distractions including, eating, talking with other passengers, changing radio stations, planning your day or daydreaming. Even billboards and other objects outside the vehicle can serve as distractions. Distracted driving occurs commonly in everyday driving and in crashes. In fact, most drivers report sometimes having engaged in distracted driving. Research has revealed that drivers engaged in a secondary task up to one-half of the time while driving, and 34% of drivers self-reported using a cell phone while driving on a somewhat regular basis. NHTSA has discerned that distraction was a factor about 10 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes and 18 percent of all crashes causing injury in 2012. Because of the difficulty measuring the extent to which driver distraction is a contributing factor in a crash, it is impossible to know the exact toll. Wireless device records are usually only accessed in instances of death or serious injury, motorists may not admit fault, and police may not always be able to recognize the role of distraction. While methods of reporting are improving, current estimates likely underestimate how frequently distraction causes crashes.

Contact Our Denver Auto Accident Lawyers

If you or someone you love has been the victim of a car accident in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, or anywhere in the State of Colorado, you need an experienced law firm on your side from the very start. Contact the Denver Law Firm of John R. Fuller, P.C. today at 303-597-4500 for a free initial consultation. We can help you claim the money you need to fully recover and protect your rights during the legal process.  

Car and motorcycle accidents often occur at lightening speeds and with little warning. The impact from those crashes can leave victims with crushed and broken hands, arms, legs, and feet. While orthopedic surgeons and physicians are usually able repair the majority of broken bones and limbs, there are times when complications and even infections can interfere with the healing process. When this occurs, it may be necessary to remove the injured extremity in an attempt to save the accident victim’s life. After an amputation, accident victims will need to relearn even basic skills, such as walking, driving, or even dressing themselves. In addition, they may be unable to continue in their chosen profession, and be forced to find new lines of employment. It is important to understand the true costs of limb loss before you agree to a settlement. These costs are not always apparent and future expenses, such as prosthetic devices, must be taken into account. A study conducted by John Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy found that the total lifetime costs of amputation was well over a half million dollars. This included costs such as hospitalizations, prosthetics, rehabilitation, therapies, outpatient doctor visits, and pain medications. It did not, however, take into account lost wages, loss of future earnings, or pain and suffering. Prosthetic Devices are Expensive If you have suffered the loss of a limb, you will need to be fitted for a prosthetic. These artificial hands, arms, and legs can be costly and cost between $5,000 and $50,000 depending on their design and material. In addition, being fitted for a prosthetic means additional rehabilitation to learn how to use the new device. It is important to know that these costs are not a one time only cost either. Prosthetic devices are usually changed out every 3-5 years, and this ongoing cost must be taken into account before reaching an appropriate settlement. Contact an Aurora and Denver Personal Injury Attorney If you or someone in your family has lost a limb due to another person’s negligence, it is important to retain the services of an experienced Denver personal injury attorney immediately. At the law offices of John R. Fuller, P.C., we fight aggressively for our injured accident victims and their families. We understand the complications that can arise after a devastating accident and work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the money you need to recover. Contact our Denver personal injury attorneys for a free initial consultation to learn how we can help. Call us at 303-597-4500. We’re available 24/7 by phone, fax and e-mail.