When it comes to the reasons why traffic accidents happen, there are all sorts of causes, from the use of mind-altering substances behind the wheel to recklessly exceeding the speed limit. However, distracted driving is especially problematic. People become distracted in all sorts of ways, but handheld devices are particularly concerning. Unfortunately, many motor vehicle collisions have been caused by someone using their smartphone or tablet while driving a vehicle.
There are a wide variety of reasons why people use handheld devices while they also try to drive a vehicle. Often, people keep in touch with friends, family members, co-workers, and clients through their smartphone. From sending and reading texts to sending or receiving emails, this can be deadly when drivers take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel in order to use a phone. Likewise, tablets are another device that can lead to distracted driving. Sometimes, a driver may even become distracted because they are playing games on a handheld device. While some drivers think that this behavior is relatively harmless, especially when a device is only used for a brief period of time, it only takes seconds for a driver to become distracted and cause a fatal collision.
When a crash claims someone’s life or leaves a victim with major injuries, the driver responsible for the suffering must be held accountable, whether they were heavily drunk or using a handheld device momentarily.
Our motor vehicle crash page offers additional information that has to do with distracted driving.