“Selfie” Leads to Car Accident
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving is an escalating problem. One in five car crashes are caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving crashes jumped by nine percent each year, with more than 421,000 people injured and 3,328 killed in accidents involving a distracted driver.
Although texting remains a top distraction behind the wheel, other types of smartphone use have been linked to accidents. In late August, police in Maine reported that a 29-year-old man crashed his car into a tree while attempting to take a “selfie” with his phone. Four passengers were injured in the crash. The injuries included broken bones, abrasions, and neck and back injuries.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time an individual has been injured due to selfie use behind the wheel. As an auto accident lawyer in Brunswick, Georgia, I’ve recently learned of four young people who were injured in a crash that occurred while a passenger used a selfie-stick to film the car’s occupants singing. Any activity of this nature takes a motorist’s attention away from the road is dangerous.
Distracted Driving Leads to Brunswick GA Car Accidents
According to the Department of Transportation, distracted driving is especially prevalent among young people. Statistics show that 10 percent of all drivers under age 20 involved in a car accident were distracted at the time of the accident. Because teens and younger adults are also more likely to own a smartphone, this number is likely to increase.
More than two-thirds of American teenagers own a smartphone, with more than half saying they go online “almost constantly.” Furthermore, at least 46 percent of smartphone users claim that their smartphone was something they “couldn’t live without.” Having represented my friends and neighbors in Brunswick, Georgia as their auto accident attorney, I’ve seen first hand how distracted driving can ruin someone’s life.
The Department of Transportation states that “the best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses.” Parents are encouraged to share the sobering statistics linking smartphone use behind the wheel to serious and fatal accidents.
Brunswick Georgia Auto Accident Law Firm
If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. As a Brunswick Georgia Auto Accident Attorney, I can help you get through these difficult times. Contact my office today at (912) 265-9811 to discuss your case.
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