Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: Most Common Pre-Crash Texts
February 21, 2017Chances are, those that admit to texting behind the wheel know that it is a bad habit that can lead to serious car accidents and severe injuries. Yet so many drivers continue to do it, particularly younger drivers who feel the need to stay in constant connection with friends and family. Unfortunately, distracted driving, including texting while driving, contributes to more than eight deaths and nearly 1,200 injuries every day in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A recent study reveals exactly what drivers were texting, and to whom, before the fatal car accident took place. The AutoInsurance Center surveyed 2,060 drivers in order to learn more about texting behaviors behind the wheel. The survey analyzed age differences, message importance, how often the person sent texts while driving, as well as some of the most common messages sent. The results provided insight into why drivers continue to text while driving, as well as the subject matter of their texts, including the last text messages sent before the fatal crash.
Based on the data, respondents cited the following as the most common reasons for texting while driving:
- Pressure to respond to someone quickly – 26%
- Making or confirming plans – 19%
- Not wanting to appear to take too long to respond – 17%
- Asking for directions – 15%
- Boredom, responding to a work-related message, and loneliness – 23%
Drivers were also asked about how important they considered their text messages to be. They received the following responses:
- Extremely important: 8%
- Somewhat important: 39%
- Not particularly important: 36%
- Unimportant: 18%
The age range of the responders varied, but the vast majority of the texts were sent to family or close friends. The remaining small percentage of texts were sent to either colleagues or acquaintances.
Only a small percentage of drivers surveyed admitted to texting while driving, and over 90% of baby boomers claim that they never text and drive. Fifty-eight percent of the Generation X population reported that they never text and drive, and close to half of the millennial population reported the same thing.
The AutoInsurance Center analysis found a troubling trend in its analysis of the most common last messages sent before fatal crashes. The three most common texts that were sent right before a fatal car accident included the phrases, “driving drunk,” “I’ll be dead,” and “I love you.” According to the CDC, close to one-third of all crash fatalities are alcohol-related. When you combine drunk driving with texting and driving, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that the results can be deadly.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Victims of Distracted Driving Car Accidents
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident involving another driver who was texting while driving, you are urged to contact the highly reputable Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. We will fight hard to protect your rights every step of the way while pursuing maximum financial compensation for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.