The development of smart phone technology has provided people with a wide range of benefits. However, there is one area where these phones are threatening our safety on a daily basis: smart phones, and particularly the use of cell phone apps while driving, has resulted in a significant spike in car accident fatalities over the last year or two.
Distracted driving is no longer simply an issue associated with talking on your phone or texting while driving. Today, millions of drivers are irresponsibly using apps behind the wheel, causing highway car accidents to surge. Some of the most commonly used apps while driving include:
- Snapchat, which allows drivers to post photos that record the speed of the vehicle at the time the picture is taken
- Waze, a GPS app that encourages users to report traffic jams, car accidents, and the presence of police cars on the road
- Pokémon Go, which has created a culture where drivers focus their attention on searching for virtual creatures along the side of the road
When drivers are using these apps, they are not focusing their attention on the road. While driving on a highway, diverting your eyes away from the road and onto your phone to use these apps for a matter of seconds can result in a catastrophic car accident. Simply put, this behavior is unacceptable.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2015 saw the largest annual percentage increase in traffic fatalities in 50 years. The early returns for 2016 are even more alarming. Over the first 6 months of 2016, the NHTSA reported a 10.4% increase in highway car accident fatalities compared to 2015.
Drivers have a responsibility to keep their attention focused on the road in order to safely interact with other vehicles and obstacles they may encounter. When a driver acts negligently and causes a car accident due to using a cell phone app behind the wheel, they may be held liable for any injuries you suffered in the ensuing collision.
The attorneys at Wilson Law, P.A. have been fighting for the rights of car accident victims in the Raleigh area since 2000. During that time, we've witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by drivers who act negligently and choose to focus their attention on their cell phone instead of the road. We will stand by your side every step of the way to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
If you've been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, please contact Wilson Law, P.A. using the form on this page or call (919) 800-0919 today to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and throughout North Carolina.