Los Angeles Texting And Driving Accident Lawyer – Justice for Victims

Texting and Driving Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles

Texting and driving has become one of the most dangerous actions a driver can take, since removing their focus from the road is a surefire way to cause an accident. Yet, thousands of people drive distracted daily. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, phone distractions occur 10 percent of a driver’s time behind the wheel [1], making it one of the leading causes of car accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a driver who was texting and driving in the state of California, our Texting and Driving Accident Attorneys can help. We will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve to make you whole again in the eyes of the law.

Call Wilshire Law Firm at 877-671-0494 to get started on a free review of your important case.

Table of Contents

• Texting and Driving Statistics
• The Dangers of Texting and Driving
• Example of a Traffic Accident Caused by Texting and Driving 
• How Does a Car Accident Attorney Prove Texting?
• Wilshire Law Firm – Protecting Clients Injured in a Texting Crash

Texting and Driving Statistics

Texting while driving statistics are useful in determining not just the incidence of texting and driving, but also its impact. Distracted driving has become a serious threat to traffic safety on the highway.

Here are some important texting and driving stats:

• 78 percent of all distracted drivers are texting when they are in an accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.[2]
• Approximately 3,142 people died in 2020 due to distracted drivers.
• Texting and driving causes 390,000 injuries yearly.[3]
• Of all forms of distraction, texting causes roughly 400 percent of lost focus on the road.[4]
• Texting causes 600 percent more accidents than impaired driving.[5]
• A text results in more wrong-way accidents than other distractions.
• Over 60 percent of California drivers say they were almost hit by another motorist using a cell phone. [6]
• Laws are not curbing cell phone usage since almost 800,000 motorists report using them during the daytime.[7]

Dangers of Texting and Driving That Divert Our Attention

There are three elements involved in distracted driving, and writing a text requires all of them.[8]

1. Cognitive Interference: This element centers on the thought process. Without distraction, a driver focuses on their journey with attention directed to the road, other drivers, directions and hazards they might encounter. A driver who is texting directs their thoughts to their text, either reading a response or writing it. Since the brain needs to process what we see when driving, it is possible to miss potential problems. For instance, the brain might not process a pedestrian stepping out onto a crosswalk at an intersection.
   
2. Visual Interference: In order to be aware of what is happening around us as we drive, our visual focus must be directed on the road and other drivers. If the driver is reading or writing a text, their visual focus is on their cell phone and not the road. Since it takes about five seconds to read or write a text, when the driver is traveling at 55 mph, they will travel the distance of a standard football field without seeing the road.[9]
   
3. Manual Interference: A driver’s hands should be on the wheel to maintain control of the vehicle. Removing even one hand to write a text can lead to an accident. 

Example of a Traffic and Driving Accident

Let’s look at a common scenario involving texting. In this example, the driver’s vehicle is in a direct path with a stalled car 130 yards ahead on a busy highway. However, the distracted driver is writing a text message. This requires five seconds, which is the time it takes to travel 120 yards.[10] Since the other vehicle is stalled only 10 yards ahead when the driver finally looks up, the probability that they can stop when traveling at 55 mph is low.

How Does a Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer Prove Negligence?

A texting and driving accident attorney must prove fault for a case to succeed in civil court. Unfortunately, drivers often deny using their phones when a serious accident or fatality occurs. The car accident lawyers at Wilshire Law Firm have the experience to circumvent this. 

Our personal injury attorneys will subpoena the at-fault driver’s cell phone records from their mobile carrier. The records will show the time calls were made and texts written or responded to. Your attorney will be able to match the time of the accident to a text in the records. This proves the driver was texting and therefore negligent. 

We Protect Clients Injured by Driving and Texting Crashes

Our lawyers and investigators at Wilshire Law Firm do everything they can to obtain the compensation their clients deserve. We do this by utilizing the following:

• Our investigators examine the accident site, interview witnesses and review surveillance cameras in the area for proof of negligence.
• We obtain and use the at-fault driver’s mobile phone records to show they were texting when the crash occurred.
• Investigators use accident reconstruction techniques to prove liability.
• Our legal team mounts a strong case against the at-fault driver to obtain our client’s medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other eligible damages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texting and Driving

Why is texting and driving dangerous?

To send a text message, a driver must use their eyes, hands, and mind. These elements are the foundation of distracted driving, and all are necessary for safe operation of a vehicle. Using them to write or read a text is an easy way to cause an accident.

Texting and driving vs drunk driving – which is more dangerous? 

They are at the very least comparable. Some studies have shown that texting is worse than driving impaired.[11]

Is texting while driving illegal in California?

Yes. California prohibits the handheld use of mobile phones and similar devices while driving. All use must be hands-free. Additionally, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a mobile phone while driving at any time, even in hands-free mode.[12]

Get Started With Our Texting and Driving Accident Law Firm

We encourage you to contact Wilshire Law Firm and confidentially share the important details of your injury claims in a free case evaluation. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fees unless you win. 

We believe that no one should suffer both financial and physical damages due to another driver’s mistake. The attorneys at Wilshire Law Firm protect their clients from unfair insurers and reckless drivers.
Call us at 877-671-0494, or reach out to us online to schedule a free case review.