Howard County Car Accident Lawyers
Distracted Driving Accidents
Car accidents are responsible for causing millions of dollars in property damage, as well as causing serious, or fatal injuries for those involved. Many accidents can be prevented if drivers prioritize safety and focus their attention on the road at all times. Distracted driving car accidents are responsible for thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries in the United States in every year. Drivers can become distracted by a number of factors, each of which can result in potentially serious wrecks.
While driving is something most people do every day without much thought, it is a task that requires attention and focus. Distracted driving involves doing something while driving that is not necessary to operate the vehicle, and which limits a driver’s ability to focus his or her attention on driving safely. Specifically, a distraction is any activity that causes the drivers to take his or her hands off the wheel, avert his or her eyes off the road, or cause the driver’s mind to wander off.
Distracted Driving Causes
There are a wide range of activities or behaviors that can cause a driver to become distracted while driving. Whether the distraction is manual, visual, or cognitive, it can have devastating consequences. The following are common examples of behaviors that cause potentially dangerous distractions when behind the wheel of a car:
- Texting
- Talking on a cell phone
- Eating or drinking
- Putting on makeup
- Disciplining children
- Reaching for an object on the floor or back seat of the car
- Checking the GPS
- Talking to other passengers in the car
- Watching a video
Strict Laws Against Smart Phone Use
In the state of Maryland, drivers are prohibited from texting and using handheld cellphones while driving. Other electronic devices, including PDAs, that are used to send and receive messages, browse the internet, use various apps, or check social media are also banned while a driver is behind the wheel. For inexperienced, novice drivers, the laws are even more strict, prohibiting them from using any kind of cell phone while driving, including handheld or hands-free. Texting while driving is one of the most common causes of negligent driver car accidents.
In the event of a car accident, police officers will consider whether the driver who caused the wreck was distracted at the time. In many cases, the smartphone will be used as evidence, as the call history or time stamp on a text can prove whether the driver was distracted by his or her phone at the time of the accident. This can often result in sizable financial settlements if evidence proves that the driver was negligent.
In other cases, even if the person who was hit was using a cell phone at the time of the crash, use of the hand-held device may be considered “contributory” negligence. Depending on the circumstances, this can either reduce the size of the financial compensation that driver receives, or prevent him or her from receiving any compensation at all for their injuries.
Howard County Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims Injured by Distracted Drivers
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, it is in your best interest to contact the Howard County car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton at your earliest convenience. Our dedicated team is on your side and will seek the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free, confidential 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 in Howard County, Maryland, which includes the cities of Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City, Fulton, Highland, Ilchester, Laurel, and North Laurel.
