Cell Phones And Car Accidents

Cell phones have quickly become one of the most dangerous road hazards in our country today. Cell phone use while driving, especially texting, is just as dangerous as operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Not paying attention to the drivers and traffic situations around you, even for a second, can lead to car accidents with devastating results. In an effort to minimize these types of serious car accidents, Arkansas has enacted stringent laws to punish offenders and deter others from using their cell phones while driving.

Paul’s Law Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving

In 2009, Act 181, better known as Paul’s Law, was enacted to restrict cell phone use while driving. Named for Paul Davidson, who was killed in a car crash as a result of the other driver texting while driving, Paul’s Law prohibits drivers of any age from texting while driving unless it is an emergency.

Another cell phone law enacted by the state of Arkansas prohibits any driver under the age of 18 from using a cell phone at all, except in an emergency. Drivers aged 18-20 may use a cell phone but only by way of a hands-free device or, of course, in the event of an emergency.

Are These Laws Effective?

These laws notwithstanding, drivers still text, dial and talk on their cell phones while driving. Doing so splits their focus so they are not able to respond as quickly to changes in the traffic patterns around them.

The car crash attorneys at the Duncan Firm are very familiar with these laws. Our team of legal experts can help you get the compensation you deserve if you are injured in an accident because the other driver was distracted while using their cell phone.

Cell Phone and Car Accident Statistics

Arkansas State Police report that in 2008 more than 780 car crashes involved drivers who were distracted due to the use of cell phones or other electronic devices. Teenagers make up the majority of drivers using cell phones and are causing thousands of serious car accidents each year in Arkansas and elsewhere.

Here are some statistics we have compiled to show you just how common this very dangerous habit has become:

• Talking on a cell phone causes nearly 25% of all car accidents
• One-fifth of adult drivers in the US send text messages while driving
• Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated
• In 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis reported that 2,600 people die each year as a result of using cell phones while driving, and 330,000 are seriously injured
• A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Motorists found that motorists who use cell phones while driving are 4 times more likely to get into collisions than drivers not using cell phones
• 84% of cell phone users stated that they believe using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of being in an accident but 81% say they still use their phones while driving
• Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road