On behalf of Rooz Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.
Distracted driving has become a serious problem for Toronto motorists. When a motorist becomes distracted, they are at greater risk for becoming involved in a car crash. Cell phones and texting have been found to be a significant source of distraction, especially for younger or less experienced drivers.
A driver is considered to be distracted when they voluntarily divert their attention away from the road in front of them and by focusing on another activity that is not associated with driving. While the focus regarding distracted driving was initially on cell phones, the number of activities that are considered to be distracting have grown. Some of these distractions can include radios and other entertainment systems, navigation systems and multifunction controllers. Additionally, other passengers can also be a distraction to drivers.
In response to numerous reports demonstrating that texting via cell phone is dangerous while operating a vehicle, some drivers have turned to hands-free texting devices. In a 2011 study, however, it could not be concluded that hands-free devices were less risky to use while driving than traditional cell phones. However, a 2013 study demonstrated that hands-free devices were no safer than traditional texting methods as drivers often become distracted by the conversation they may be having.
There are Toronto motorists who take safe driving very seriously. However, car accidents can still occur if other drivers decide to text and drive. If someone suffers serious injuries that were caused by a distracted driver, the injured person could potentially file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable driver. A lawyer may assist the plaintiff with determining the full extent of the damages that were sustained, including their total medical costs, any income that was lost due to their injuries and compensation for pain and suffering.
Source: Traffic Injury Research Foundation, “Driver distraction and hands-free texting while driving ,” Daniel Mayhew, Robyn Robertson, Steve Brown and Ward Vanlaar, accessed Jan. 10, 2015
