John R. Fuller P.C.

1736 Race Street
Denver, CO 80206

(303) 597-4500

Distracted Driving Accidents | Denver Collision Attorney

Texting while drivingThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 3,100 people died in distracted driving accidents in 2013 alone. An additional 424,000 people were injured. If you’ve been in an accident with a distracted driver, it’s important to contact a Denver collisions attorney for help right away. Distracted driving occurs any time a driver performs a task that takes his or her focus away from driving. These tasks can include:
  • Eating or drinking,
  • Talking with other passengers,
  • Adjusting the radio, CD player or GPS,
  • Daydreaming,
  • Applying makeup or shaving, or
  • Looking at billboards and other objects outside the vehicle.
However, the first distraction most people think of, and statistically the most dangerous, involves talking or texting on a cell phone. Distractions are involved commonly in everyday driving and in crashes. In fact, most drivers report engaging in distracted driving at least some of the time. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers engaged in a secondary task up to one-half of the time while driving. In fact, at any given daylight hour, as many as 660,000 American drivers are using some type of electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Younger drivers are particularly susceptible to distractions. Drivers in their 20s represent 27% of the distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes. Drivers under the age of 20 account for the largest percentage of distracted drivers. Ten percent of these young drivers who were involved in a fatal crash, were reported to be distracted at the time of the accident. To combat this dangerous distraction, the state of Colorado has instituted cell phone use laws to help prevent distracted driving accidents. Novice drivers are prohibited from using handheld and hands-free cell phone devices while driving, and texting behind the wheel is banned for all drivers. Both of these laws are primarily enforced. This means an officer may confront and ticket a motorist for these offenses without the motorist having committed any other driving violations. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident with a distracted driver, it is paramount that you speak to an experienced attorney at Fuller Law. Our personal injury attorneys will go to work for you and your family and ensure that you receive the money you need to recover from your injuries. Call today! There are three main types of distractions:
  1. Manual distractions require physically removing your hands from the wheel.
  2. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road, and
  3. Cognitive distractions take your mind off driving.
Different secondary tasks involve different forms of distraction. However, talking on a handheld cellular device involves all three forms, making it virtually impossible for a driver to operate a car safely. Imagine driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. If a driver reads a text message while traveling at 55 mph, that’s exactly what they have done. It takes only five seconds to read a text message, however, countless lives could be changed forever in those five seconds. The best chance of reducing the number of distracted driving accidents is to educate the public about all types of distractions, and the dangers they present.

Contact Our Denver Car Accident Attorneys

Denver Car Accident Attorney John R. Fuller and His StaffWhen a distracted driver injures you or someone you love, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. At Fuller Law Firm, our Denver collision attorneys are dedicated to protecting victims’ rights and we fight aggressively to secure maximum compensation. Contact the Denver Law Firm of John R. Fuller, P.C. today at 303-597-4500 for a free initial consultation.