Denver Workers' Compensation Lawyer: Mack Babcock

(303) 683-5033 FREE CONSULT 4600 S Ulster St.
Suite 800, Denver CO 80237
  • Our Firm
    • Our Mission
    • Injury Attorney Profiles
    • How Representation Works
  • Practice Areas
    • Workers’ Compensation / Work Injuries
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Drunk Driving Accidents
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Injured Truckers and Cab Drivers
    • Slip and Falls (Premises Liability)
    • Insurance Disputes
    • Wrongful Death
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Resources
    • Legal Library
    • Workers’ Compensation Guide
    • Scholarships
  • Locations
  • Contact
Personal Injury Attorneys (Home) › Attorney Blog › Auto Accidents › Cell Phone Distractions Responsible for 24% of Car Crashes

Cell Phone Distractions Responsible for 24% of Car Crashes

April 20, 2012

As cell phone technologies have developed, we’ve spent a lot of time observing the impacts this technology has had in car accidents and other liability cases.

Data from a recent report from the National Safety Council confirmed our view that cell phones – or rather the distractions they cause – are one of the most dangerous sources of distraction facing drivers today.

Car accidents are prevalent enough being that they represent one of the top three ways a person can be injured or killed. They’re in fact the #1 cause of workplace deaths (…in terms of numbers).

In 2010, there were approximately 33,000 car accidents in the U.S. Of these, the National Safety Council estimates 24% involved cell phone use, which can be a particularly fatal threat to drivers and passengers.

While distractions are numerous, cell phone use while driving is particularly dangerous, not so much because it’s really that dangerous, but because so many drivers are doing it at greater lengths of time.

Talking on the phone while driving makes you 4 times as likely to get in a car crash.

Being engrossed in a conversation diverts your attention from the road in front of you even though your eyes are looking ahead. The more emotional the conversation, the greater the chance you will be distracted.

Justin Martinez, a teen-driver in Harris County, Texas, is an unfortunate case of where distractions from a cell phone can prove deadly.

Although Justin was a good driver, a 29-second phone call distracted him enough from noticing a stopped car in front of him. The car in fact was attempting to turn without a signal. Traveling in the lane next to him, Justin’s friends saw the danger and attempted to warn him.

By the time Justin realized the hazard, it was too late.

Justin swerved left to miss the stopped car but instead went into oncoming traffic and was t-boned by a white Mitsubishi, which was traveling at 36 mph (…Justin was traveling at 47 mph). The good student and stellar athlete was killed on the scene less than 200 yards from his home.

This story should serve as a good illustration of the dangers cell phone distractions can cause. If you must talk on the phone while driving, pull over when making/taking calls or purchase a wireless or hands-free device.

While cell phone technology has certainly revolutionized how we live and work, they can be distracting and lead to injury or death.

Protect yourself, your passengers and other drivers on the road by exercising good judgment. If you’re in traffic or you have to make a call you know is going to be even slightly emotional, pull off the road to make your call. April in fact marks the National Safety Council’s distracted driving awareness month.

If you’ve got a teenage son or daughter, take special care to warn them of the dangers of cell phone use and driving. The newest generation of drivers has known cell phones pretty much all of their lives. Be sure they know when and where they can be properly used.

Filed Under: Auto Accidents, General Tagged With: accidents, car accidents, distracted driving, preventing injury

5-star review image
Work compensation case
Workers Compensation  |  Littleton
Retained for representation; objected to Final Admission of Liability; scheduled hearing; negotiated settlement prior to hearing.
2017-07-04
"I was very pleased with the high level of professionalis, and experience lawyers at the Babcock law firm."
Mr. JAMES NOLAND, Verified Customer
5-star review image
Prompt and Competent !
Workers Compensation  |  Englewood
Represented following shoulder injury to resolve payment of permanent partial disability benefits.
2019-01-12
"Thank you"
Doug, Verified Customer
5-star review image
There when nobody else. was.
Workers Compensation  |  Aurora
Represented worker for denied claim for injuries to right shoulder resolving issues in the claim and obtaining payment to injured worker.
2020-10-22
"I called 10 other law firms about my Workman's Comp case and was told on the phone that they ..."
Ralph, Verified Customer
Related Articles from our Knowledge Center
General Info
Considerations When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Colorado's top attorney of workers' comp, auto accident and personal injury cases recommends what factors you should consider before hiring an attorney to represent you.

3 Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

Think you can obtain fair compensation for an injury without an attorney in Colorado? Think again...

Send a Demand Letter before Filing a Colorado Personal Injury Lawsuit

Writing a payment demand letter may keep you from having to go to court.


View All General Information Articles
Related Articles From our Knowledge Center
Car Accident
When an Accident Occurs
  • What You Need to Know about Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents Overview
  • What to Do After a Car Accident
Filing a Claim & Obtaining Compensation
  • How Injured Passengers Can Receive Compensation After a Car Accident
  • Common Arguments Used by Auto Accident Defendants
  • Taxi Cab and Ridesharing Accidents: How You Could End Up with Little to No Compensation
Car Accident Info & Prevention
  • Head Injuries and Car Accidents
  • Don’t Drive Drowsy! Tips for Staying Awake Behind the Wheel
  • Parking Lots – A Magnet for Car Accidents
(PDF) Colorado Car Accident Guide
View All Car Accident Articles

Blog Categories

  • Auto Accidents
  • Community
  • DUI/DWAI
  • Firm News
  • General
  • Insurance Disputes
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Preventing Injury
  • Product/Safety Recalls
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Wrongful Death

Personal Injury
Practice Areas

Car Accidents Truck Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Drunk Driving Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Workers' Comp / Work Injuries Injured Truckers / Cab Drivers Slip & Falls (Premises Liability) Insurance Disputes Wrongful Death

Resources

Blog Contact Us Legal Library Workers' Compensation Guide Firm News
Association Badges
Association Badges
(303) 683-5033
The Babcock Law Firm
Denver Workers' Compensation Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney Mack Babcock
4600 S Ulster Street, Suite 800 Denver, CO 80237 United States

Personal injury
practice areas

  • Car Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Drunk Driving Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Workers' Comp / Work Injuries
  • Injured Truckers / Cab Drivers
  • Slip & Falls (Premises Liability)
  • Insurance Disputes
  • Wrongful Death

Resources

  • Blog
  • Legal Library
  • Workers' Compensation Guide
  • Firm News

Free eBooks

  • Colorado Workers' Comp Guide
  • Colorado Car Accident Guide

Our firm

  • Firm Mission
  • Attorney Profiles
  • Practice Areas
  • Contact
  • Knowledge Center

    Facebook    Twitter    Blog

More
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer & Terms of Use
  • Local & Reviews
© The Babcock Law Firm. Colorado law firm for workers' compensation, car accidents & personal injury. Serving all of Colorado and the Denver metro area from our Denver law office law firm internet marketing by SEO Advantage®