March 7, 2022 | Car Accidents
Vehicle accidents occur in a wide variety of ways, including distracted driving. There are various ways that drivers can be distracted in Indiana, including texting while behind the wheel. Here, our Indiana accident injury lawyers want to review the dangers of texting and driving in Indiana. In particular, we want to look at distracted driving accident statistics as well as laws related to texting and driving in this state.
Individuals who make a choice to text and drive can face a range of consequences. Perhaps the most significant consequence related to any type of distracted driving is the potential of an accident occurring.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a person is driving a vehicle at 55 mph, sending or receiving a text message is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with their eyes closed. This is a significant amount of time for a major incident to occur. The CDC says that around eight people lose their lives each day as a result of a distracted driver, and many others are injured.
When we discuss texting and driving, we would be remiss if we only thought of this only as opening up a phone and either reading a message or typing a message to send back. The reality is that individuals use their phones for a variety of other reasons in addition to texting and driving when they are behind the wheel. It is not uncommon to see individuals behind the wheel tapping away at their phone screen to update their Twitter feed or to write an Instagram caption. In some cases, individuals make TikTok videos, which is no easy feat, particularly behind the wheel.
When we discuss texting and driving, we need to make sure to encompass the whole range of distracted driving that occurs as a result of modern mobile devices. These devices are essentially little computers that open us to the world but also create significant distractions.
Another significant consequence of distracted driving comes in the form of tickets and fines. Not only is distracted driving dangerous, but it is against the law in Indiana. On July 1, 2011, Indiana enacted a law that made it unlawful to “type, transmit, or read email or text messages on a communication device while driving.” Violators of this law could face fines of up to $500.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by the actions of a distracted driver, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A distracted driving accident lawyer in Indiana will work diligently to uncover any evidence needed to prove that the other driver was at fault. This will include mobile device records, eyewitness statements, video surveillance footage, and more. Ultimately, the goal is for you to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, property damage expenses, and more.