Distracted driving is the cause of many serious and fatal accidents in the state of Arizona. This negligent behavior increasingly stems from a driver’s cell phone usage while driving, whether texting or talking on the phone. It may also result from other actions that a driver takes that causes them to lose focus while driving. Whatever the case may be, distracted driving creates a hazardous situation that can injure other passengers, motorists, and pedestrians.
If a distracted driver causes an accident that injures you, you may have a personal injury claim against that driver based on negligence. A car accident lawyer in Peoria can assess your situation, present your options, and help you determine whether you are eligible for compensation for your losses. Contact an experienced Arizona car accident lawyer at Garrison Law Firm today by calling 623-887-5689 or finding us online. We offer a free consultation to discuss your potential personal injury claim and explain how we can help.
Here are six facts about distracted driving in Arizona that you should know.
Thousands of auto accidents in Arizona every year involve driver distraction.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) Crash Facts for 2021, the most recent statistics currently available, over 9,200 auto accidents involved driver distraction. Realistically, that number is likely to be significantly higher, as drivers may not admit to distraction to avoid criminal or civil liability.
Under Arizona law, it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless it is in a hands-free mode.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-914 prohibits drivers from using cell phones or stand-alone electronic devices. As a result, you may not:
- Hold or support a device with any part of your body;
- Read, write, or send a message via any portable wireless communication device; or
- Scroll through social media, watch or record videos, or use the device in any way that causes a distraction or requires the use of your body.
Distracted driving stems from more than cell phone usage.
While most people assume that texting or cell phone usage is the cause of all distracted driving, that is not necessarily the case. Other causes of driver distraction can be equally dangerous, including eating, changing the radio station or channel, using a GPS device, daydreaming, applying make-up, searching for something in the vehicle, and talking to passengers.
While you are distracted for five seconds, you will travel the length of a football field if you drive at a rate of 55 mph per hour.
While five seconds may seem like a very short amount of time, a lot can happen in the distance of a football field. The vehicle in front of you could stop abruptly. An oncoming vehicle could swerve into your lane of traffic. You could lose control of your vehicle when you fail to navigate a curve in the road. You could miss an obstacle in your path, such as a pothole, debris, or an animal. All these situations could lead to a serious car accident.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that nine people in the U.S. daily are killed by crashes involving a distracted driver.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) completed a Traffic Safety Fact Research Note in 2019 on Distracted Driving that validates this finding.
Multitasking while driving slows your reaction time and puts you and others at risk.
While you may pride yourself on your ability to multitask, the fact is that your brain can only do one thing at a time. If you are focusing your attention on anything other than driving, your reaction time, your focus, and even your vision are compromised. Therefore, you will not react as quickly to dangerous situations, such as another vehicle stopping in front of you as you otherwise would.
Trust Garrison Law Firm to Represent Your Interests Following a Motor Vehicle Accident
Garrison Law Firm is here to assist accident victims and their families after they have suffered severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents. When you find yourself in this situation, you need a Peoria car accident attorney to advocate on your behalf to receive the compensation you deserve. Together, we can hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in causing your accident and get you much-needed financial relief for your losses. Contact our offices to schedule a consultation today with an Arizona car accident attorney at 623-887-5689 or reach out to us online.