25 percent of drivers used a cellphone before crashing

A technology company reports that nearly 25 percent of drivers were using their cellphones just before getting into an accident. The study was published by a technology firm that built an app to curb cellphone use while driving.

The technology company, Cambridge Mobile Telematics, also reported that 52 percent of vehicle trips that resulted in crashes involved distracted driving. The chief technology officer for CMT said that that being distracted by smartphones has proved to be a serious problem for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers and their passengers. In fact, it’s one of the prime determinants that can result in a crash these days.

Since 2014, motor vehicle fatalities have been on the rise, increasing by 14 percent in that time. Many experts, baffled by the sudden spike in roadway fatalities, have attributed it to smartphone use. For decades, with improved safety technologies and increased enforcement of drunk driving laws, roadway fatalities were on the decline. Now, with the rise of distracting smartphones, more people than ever are dying on the road.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, they expect to find an 11 percent increase in pedestrians killed by cars in 2016 as compared to 2015. The group cites smartphone distractions as the primary factor in this increase.

Were you hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver? Was your family member killed in a cellphone-related accident? You may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for damages caused by the incident. If successfully navigated, such a lawsuit could bring you money to pay for medical care, end of life expenses and more.

Source: Chicago Tribune, “1 in 4 drivers was on a phone just before crash, study of distracted driving says,” Mary Wisniewski, May 03, 2017