Distracted driving is a serious problem in Illinois. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one in every five car accidents is caused by driver distraction. Texting has become one of the worst forms of driver distraction. Not only is texting while driving is relatively common, but, the distraction it creates is especially severe. It is simply impossible to text and drive safely. If you have been injured, and you believe the other driver may have been texting, you should contact an Illinois car accident attorney as soon possible.
Texting While Driving Is Illegal In Illinois
Beginning on January 1st, 2014, the Illinois General Assembly banned texting while driving in Illinois. This was a great step forward for highway safety within the state. Many experts have concluded that texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving while drunk. In one study, NHTSA determined that texting while driving was six times more dangerous than intoxicated driving. According to the study, each text takes the average driver’s eyes off of the road for over four seconds. A four second lapse in attention raises the possibility of an accident by an average of 23 percent. This conclusion is not surprising when you consider some real world examples. For instance, if you are travelling down the highway speed of a common speed of 60 miles per hour, your vehicle will travel a significant distance. A lot can happen within that time. The evidence is clear: texting while driving puts the safety of innocent people in serious danger. It is negligence as a matter of law. If you have been injured by a texting driver, you could be eligible for substantial compensation.
Discovering Evidence of Texting and Driving
Many injured accident victims are concerned that they will not be able to prove their case. You may be aware of the fact that the other driver was texting, but then the other driver may deny it. You may not know either way, but you may have a suspicion that the other driver was texting. Regardless, an experienced car accident attorney can help. An attorney will comprehensively investigate all relevant aspects of your car accident case. In texting accident cases, your attorney will typically attempt to prove that the other driver was texting by:
- Using the testimony from a responding police officer, or the information within a police accident report;
- Using an eyewitness statement that indicates a driver was on their phone; or
- Using a subpoena to acquire the cell phone records of the driver.
Contact An Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Texting while driving is negligence. Illinois drivers have a responsibility to keep their full attention on the road. The safety of everyone is at risk when someone texts while behind the wheel. An experienced car accident attorney can help you prove that a driver was in fact texting at the time of your accident. If you have been injured in an Illinois car accident, please get your case in front of a qualified attorney as soon as possible.