Car Accidents Due to Distracted Driving
Trustworthy personal injury law firm helps victims of distracted drivers in Arizona
When drivers get behind the wheel, their sole responsibility is to operate that vehicle in a safe and lawful manner. This means paying attention to the road, not sending text messages or engaging in any other distracting behavior. Nearly every state has either passed a text messaging ban for drivers or is considering a proposed law. This signals widespread recognition of a serious, dangerous, and potentially catastrophic problem.
These troubling habits are not limited to passenger car drivers. Studies show that a significant number of truck drivers also operate their extremely large vehicles while distracted by a device or activity. Motorcyclists are sometimes guilty of this, too, and need to be careful when riding.
If you or a loved one was severely injured by a distracted driver, turn to the knowledgeable Phoenix distracted driving lawyers with years of experience representing vehicle accident victims. At Verderame Law Group Arizona Injury Lawyers, we earnestly investigate the cause of your injuries and then fight to hold all responsible parties accountable.
How can we help?
- What is distracted driving?
- Common causes of distracted driving car accidents
- What makes Arizona prone to distracted driving accidents?
- Why is distracted driving so dangerous?
- What are the current texting and driving laws in Arizona?
- Attorneys with the knowledge and resourcefulness to prove driver distraction
- Types of cases we handle
- Distracted driving in truck crashes
- Distracted driving in motorcycle accidents
- Taking action to end distracted driving
What is distracted driving?
Driver distraction, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes any activity that takes the driver’s:
- Mind off the road
- Eyes off of traffic
- Hands off the steering wheel
Common types of driver distractions include:
- Texting while driving. The current Arizona laws on wireless communication use, including texting, are discussed below.
- Adjusting a radio, video, or other entertainment system. These activities take the driver’s eyes off traffic. Just a momentary lapse can cause a catastrophic or deadly accident.
- Eating and drinking. Drivers sometimes eat or drink with one hand while driving with the other hand. While these activities may seem harmless, they can take an operator's attention away from the road.
Other types of driver distraction include looking at a navigation system/GPS, attending to a child or pet in the vehicle, looking at the scenery, and any other activity that takes the driver’s full focus away from the roadway.
Common causes of distracted driving car accidents
Drivers often lose focus for just a moment, but even a few seconds of distraction can lead to accidents with lasting consequences. Some of the most common causes include:
- Rear-end collisions caused by delayed braking
- Failure to yield at intersections
- Drifting out of lanes
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Missing pedestrians or cyclists in crosswalks
- Sudden lane changes without signaling
Even small distractions can quickly turn catastrophic.
What makes Arizona prone to distracted driving accidents?
Certain features unique to Arizona make the state especially vulnerable to distracted driving incidents. These factors bring additional challenges to even experienced motorists.
- High-speed urban freeways (I-10, Loop 101, I-17)
- Heavy commuter traffic in Phoenix/Tempe
- Tourist congestion and unfamiliar drivers
- Long desert drives leading to complacency or phone use
Drivers who experience these conditions need to pay extra attention while on the road.
Why is distracted driving so dangerous?
Driving is a fully immersive experience in that it requires you to use multiple senses at once. Anything that takes away from that – looking at a map or a cell phone, driving with your earbuds in, etc. – decreases your ability to react quickly enough to avoid a crash.
According to the CDC, about 3,000 people die in traffic accidents due to distracted driving each year. About 20 percent of those people were pedestrians, bicycle riders, or outside a vehicle for other reasons.
Arizona traffic safety data also reports that thousands of drivers involved in collisions each year are reported as distracted, including dozens involved in fatal crashes.
Young people are especially prone to drive while they’re distracted. The CDC reports a 2019 survey of U.S. high school students found that 39 percent of “high school students who drove in the past 30 days texted or emailed while driving on at least one of those days.”
Parents often use entertainment systems to keep their children occupied. When parents take the time to look at these systems themselves or how their children are behaving, they are not watching the traffic around them – which can quickly cause a car accident.
What are the current texting and driving laws in Arizona?
Arizona has a law that regulates the use of portable communication devices while driving.
A portable wireless communication device includes cellular phones, stand-alone computers, personal digital assistants, global positioning system receivers, and other similar portable wireless devices. It doesn’t include radio, citizens' band radio, prescribed medical devices, in-vehicle security, and other exceptions.
The law provides that drivers cannot operate a motor vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, or any other vehicle type) while:
- Physically holding or supporting with any body part any of the following:
- A portable wireless communication device – unless the driver uses “an earpiece, headphone device or device worn on a wrist to conduct a voice-based communication.”
- A stand-alone electronic device.
- Writing, sending, or reading any text-based communication, including a text message, instant message, email, or internet data, on a portable wireless communication device or stand-alone electronic device.
Exceptions may apply for voice-based communications, hands-free devices used for vehicle navigation, a global positioning system, or “obtaining motor vehicle information or information related to driving a motor vehicle.” Other device exceptions may apply, such as for law enforcement vehicle operators, people summoning emergency help, and for other reasons.
The civil penalties are $75 to $149 for a first offense, and $150 to $250 for a subsequent offense, before applicable surcharges.
Attorneys with the knowledge and resourcefulness to prove driver distraction
It can be challenging to prove that a driver was distracted at the time of a crash, but our lawyers have the knowledge and resources to successfully handle this daunting task. Proving this type of negligence can significantly increase the value of your case, especially given that:
- Cell phone use leaves a record that can be brought forth as evidence in an auto wreck case - a consideration recognized by insurance companies and their lawyers.
- Jury members’ attitudes toward texting while driving and other dangerous distractions often reflect their own negative driving experiences, along with strong public awareness of this serious hazard.
Drivers have an obligation to focus on the road and avoid behaviors that endanger others. Don’t hesitate to hold a responsible party accountable for the catastrophic injuries and loss their carelessness caused. We understand that the possibility of a trial may not appeal to you, but our experienced Phoenix distracted driving attorneys also understand the lifetime of pain and economic hardship that a catastrophic injury can bring to you and your family.
You are entitled to seek fair compensation. Failing to seek what you deserve is often simply a gift to an insurance company.
Types of cases we handle
Our attorneys handle a variety of accident cases, including:
- Truck accidents
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Rollovers
- Drunk drivers
- Overloaded trucks
- Inadequate maintenance, inspection, and training
- Road design problems
- Pedestrian injuries
- Bicycle injuries
- Seatbelt injuries
- Victims of reckless driving
- Work zone accidents
- Impaired drivers
Distracted driving in truck crashes
Federal and state agencies, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT), have sought to reduce the number of distracted driving incidents involving commercial truck drivers by implementing restrictions on their actions while operating their vehicles.
The attorneys of Verderame Law Group Arizona Injury Lawyers have seen various types of distracted driver truck accidents, including those involving the following actions:
- Talking on a cell phone. The FMCSA prohibits commercial truck operators from using handheld cell phones. This regulation includes reaching for a phone, dialing a phone, or talking on a handheld phone. Violations of this rule are punished with fines and driving disqualifications.
- Texting and driving. Studies cited by federal safety agencies have found that texting significantly increases crash risk for commercial drivers. These activities are also prohibited by the FMCSA and punishable by fines and disqualification from service.
- Using a dispatching device. Many truck drivers use dispatching equipment to communicate with their employers. While this activity is generally allowed under the law (if used in a compliant hands-free manner), it can still be extremely distracting.
Any of these actions can take a truck driver's attention away from the tens of thousands of pounds they are driving and the many other people on the roadways around them.
Distracted driving in motorcycle accidents
It’s hard to explain why, but some drivers feel like they have more of a right to the road than bikers, cyclists, or pedestrians. Add in a ringing cell phone or a beeping GPS, and a distracted driver can become even less aware of riders than before. Because of this, distracted drivers pose a danger to motorcyclists whenever they share the road.
Some of the most common causes of distracted driver/motorcycle accidents by cars, trucks, buses, and other drivers of enclosed vehicles include:
- Turning left in front of riders at intersections
- Drifting into other lanes
- Failing to signal as they change lanes or turn
- Failing to stop in time at red lights, stop signs, or in unexpected scenarios
- Using their “brights” on dark roads when coming in the opposite direction
- Opening their car doors into traffic
Motorcycle drivers themselves can also become easily distracted. Because of the exciting nature of riding a motorcycle, it is understandable that there would be sizable mental distractions that could potentially get in the way of riding safely.
Whether you’re taking in the sights in Fountain Hills or navigating the curves in Lake Pleasant, or simply trying to make it from Point A to Point B, it’s easy to start paying more attention to the sights than to the roads – and your fellow riders can fall prey to that, too.
If you are riding a motorcycle, you should develop a routine and best practices to ensure your safety on the road. Some common safety precautions that bikers practice include:
- Avoiding riding in inclement weather
- Avoiding a motorcycle ride to "clear your head,” and instead hitting the road after you can focus
- Putting away cell phones or other devices that might distract you while riding
- Not adjusting the radio or other non-essentials during a ride
- Watching out for riders or drivers drifting into the lanes
- Being aware of upcoming curves
In 2023, a total of 6,335 motorcyclists lost their lives in traffic accidents across the country. Distracted motorists remain a major safety threat to motorcyclists and other road users.
Taking action to end distracted driving
Distracted driving crashes can have real consequences – sometimes tragic and devastating. The organization End Distracted Driving (EndDD.org) works to change the culture and to save lives by making it socially unacceptable to operate a vehicle while distracted. You can visit the site for resources, information, and opportunities to get involved or donate.
Work with a Phoenix distracted driver lawyer who’s ready to stand up for injury victims
Don’t be afraid to hold negligent parties responsible for the pain and suffering they brought into your life. Trust a law firm with experience handling negotiation and courtroom litigation to aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve. There’s no need to worry about upfront costs. Verderame Law Group Arizona Injury Lawyers handles cases on a contingency basis, so you owe nothing unless we obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf. Call us today or contact us to schedule a free consultation.