TEXTING AND DRIVING ACCIDENTS
Let Our Skilled Anchorage Auto Accident Lawyer Help
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in the United States. One of the reasons people take their eyes off the road is to look at the phone and either make calls or send and read texts. People don’t realize how dangerous texting and driving can be. According to the National Safety Council, people using cell phones while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year.
Likewise, these accidents cause at least 330,000 injuries from texting and driving alone. There are also an estimated 660,000 drivers who attempt to use their phones while operating a vehicle at any given time throughout the day.
If you’ve been injured by a driver who was texting and driving or if you have lost a loved one in a crash caused by a distracted driver, let us help. The Law Offices of David Henderson is committed to assisting the victims of car accidents to recover compensation for their medical costs, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Our founding attorney, David Henderson, has nearly 2 decades of experience to offer your case.
Contact us at (888) 295-6566 to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Why Texting Is Dangerous
The act of texting is not inherently the problem that causes the accident. The problem is taking one’s eyes and attention away from the act of driving. Anything that takes your attention away from the road presents a potential hazard, including other activities people do in the car, such as holding conversations or eating.
People think they are capable of multitasking when that isn’t the case. While you can do two different tasks at once, studies have shown the brain handles tasks sequentially between one task and the other. If you’re trying to text and drive, your brain will focus on actively engaging in texting while your driving tasks are on standby.
This delay between tasks can be dangerous if you need to react to sudden events that happen around you. For example, if you are looking down at your phone, look briefly at the windshield, and notice a car has stopped 10 feet ahead of you, your brain needs to take seconds to switch back to focusing on driving and send a signal to your feet to press on the break. While the brain in an incredibly fast processor, it may not be fast enough to prevent you from hitting that car.
Texting and Driving Laws
Alaska, like many other states, has made it a punishable offense to text and drive. In 2008, the Alaska legislature passed Alaska’s Text Messaging Ban, a bill that actually specifies the illegality of using any portable electronic devices in vehicles.
Depending on the severity of the accident, those who engage in texting and driving could be convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony and could face high fines and time in prison. If you were injured by a texting driver, you would be able to sue them in civil court to recover damages for any medical bills the damage may have caused. In order to begin a case, you’ll need the help of a skilled Anchorage personal injury attorney.
Let Us Fight for Your Compensation
Our experienced Anchorage auto accident attorney has obtained millions of dollars in jury verdicts for clients. Attorney Henderson is a highly rated lawyer who has been included on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Let him see how he can help you in negotiations or in the courtroom.
Call us at (888) 295-6566 to schedule your free case evaluation today!
