Studies show that texting while driving removes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. If that driver is moving at 55 MPH, he or she will travel more than 100 yards (the length of a football field) without looking. If you’ve been injured because of a distracted driver’s negligence, experienced Morgantown car accident attorneys Jim Leach will aggressively fight for your rights and help you seek compensation.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that texting distracts drivers in three ways:
- Manual distraction: You have to take your hands off the wheel to send and receive text messages.
- Visual distraction: You take your eyes off the road to read and compose messages.
- Cognitive distraction: When reading and writing text messages, you’re thinking about your conversation, not about driving.
Although texting has received most of the attention surrounding distracted driving in recent years, any kind of distraction can diminish driving ability and lead to a variety of car accident injuries. A multitude of factors can cause drivers to pay less attention to the road than they should, including:
- Talking on the phone
- Fumbling with GPS devices
- Eating
If the carelessness of a distracted driver has disrupted your life, please contact Jim Leach, L.C., or call 1-304-865-8530 today to schedule a free consultation. Our car accident attorneys serve clients in Morgantown and other areas of West Virginia.