Cell phone addiction is no longer seen only among young people. Adults are beginning to spend more time on mobile devices, causing them to become distracted when driving or walking in public spaces.
Becoming addicted to your cell phone can increase the risk of being involved in an accident on Georgia roadways, whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, or bystander.
Cell phones are being used by people of all ages to communicate with one another, follow the news and social media, and conduct business transactions. The more people rely on their cell phones for everyday activities, the more important it is to keep you and your loved ones safe.
A Distracted Society
Every day you can look around and see people talking on their phones, scrolling through social media, or typing away to text message others.
But the startling fact is that many people are carrying out these activities while driving. They might reach for their phone to answer a call or see who sent a text message.
In some cases, drivers simply turn to their phones out of boredom. Regardless of the reason for using a cell phone while driving, it causes drivers to take their eyes off the roads and their surrounding environments.
Distracted driving can result in rear-end collisions and injuries to pedestrians. Drivers can lose control of their vehicles or fail to respond to safety hazards.
The following are common ways that drivers become distracted by their cell phones:
- Scrambling around their car to answer an incoming call
- Looking to see missed calls
- Dialing their phone to make an outgoing call
- Getting into an involved discussion related to work or personal matters
Injuries Caused by Cell Phone Addiction
The injuries caused by distracted driving resulting from cell phone addiction can range from minor scrapes and bruises to severe and permanent disabilities or death.
Factors that determine the severity of injuries include the size of the vehicles involved and the speed they were traveling. Large commercial vehicles being driven by distracted drivers can injure more people and damage multiple cars at once.
Injured drivers, passengers, and others can lose their ability to function in their everyday lives or earn an income for their families.
Injuries caused by distracted drivers include fractures, strains and sprains, traumatic brain injuries, and whiplash.
Spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Burns, organ damage, and other injuries can also be caused by drivers who are addicted to their cell phones.
Protecting Yourself After Being Injured
An experienced personal injury attorney can give you the help you need to hold negligent drivers accountable for your injuries and other damages.
An attorney can help you determine if another driver was using their cell phone at the time the accident occurred. They can help you acquire surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony demonstrating that a driver was distracted while driving.
Having a lawyer can help you deal with insurance companies who try to avoid paying for the damages caused by their insured drivers. They can help you determine the true value of your claim so that you get the compensation you deserve.
Cell phone addiction can affect people of all ages and contribute to many of the accidents that occur on today’s roadways. Understanding how cell phone addiction puts drivers and others at risk can help you protect your family and get compensated for your injuries.
