Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer for Cell Phone Accidents

Use of cell phones while driving is an ever-increasing cause of car accidents in Arizona and across the country. According to an estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cell phone distraction plays a role in 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries per year. In addition, studies have shown that drivers talking on a cell phone are less capable than drunk drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08.

Drivers using their cell phones are a menace to all other motorists on the road, but they present an especially large danger for motorcyclists. The leading cause of car-motorcycle accidents is inattentive drivers not seeing the motorcycle and failing to yield the right of way. This failure to see the motorcyclist is a problem even when drivers are not distracted, but distractions such as cell phones increase the risk of not seeing a motorcyclist exponentially.

If you or someone you love was injured or killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone in Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle lawyer to review your case. The negligent driver may be held liable for your damages, including property damages to your motorcycle, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Types of Cell Phone Distraction

As cell phones continue to become more advanced and add new features, the ways they can distract a driver only increase. Common types of cell phone distraction include:

Talking on Handheld Cell Phone

Talking on a handheld cell phone is by far the most common type of cell phone distraction. According to the NHTSA, more than half a million drivers talk on a handheld cell phone while driving every day. Talking on a handheld cell phone not only distracts the driver's attention, but also causes them to take their hands off the wheel to hold the phone and their eyes off the road while dialing.

E-mail/Text Messaging

E-mailing and text messaging on cell phones have become increasingly popular in recent years. These activities can be even more dangerous than talking on a handheld phone, as the driver must take their eyes off the road for an extended period of time to read and type their e-mails or text messages.

Hands Free Devices

Cell phone companies often promote hands free devices such as Bluetooth as safe alternatives talking on a handheld device while driving. While hands free devices do allow drivers to use their phones without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road, the act of talking on the phone can still distract a driver. According to a study by the American Automotive Association (AAA), drivers using hands free devices are more inattentive and have slower reaction times than drivers not on cell phones.

Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer

If you have been injured in a car-motorcycle accident by a driver who was using a cell phone in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, it is recommended that you contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney to discuss your case. For more information on motorcycle accidents in Arizona, please visit http://www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/