Connecticut Woman Causes Two-Car Crash Because of Texting

 Posted on August 12, 2015 in Personal Injury

New York • Greenwich • New Canaan

A 21-year-old woman faces distracted driving charges after she allegedly struck another vehicle head-on while driving on the Easton Turnpike on June 18, 2012. While it is fortunate that the there were no fatalities resulting from the crash, the car accident illustrates the dangers of distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Accident

The driver accused of causing the accident was traveling northbound on Easton Turnpike in a Jeep on the afternoon of the accident. Authorities allege she was sending and receiving text messages, drifted out of her lane into oncoming traffic and struck a sedan head-on. The force of the impact knocked the sedan back 61 feet and the road was closed for an hourafter the accident while crews cleared the scene.

The 67-year-old driver of the sedan went to the hospital where medical personnel treated her for non-life-threatening injuries. Both cars sustained severe front-end damage as a result of the collision.

The driver denied using her phone at the time of the accident. However,police report that the accident occurred at 3:14 p.m. and the driver's phone log shows an outgoing text message sent at 3:12 p.m.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

The dangers associated with distracted driving are well documented. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,092 people died in accidents involving distracted drivers and another 416,000 suffered injuries from distracted driving accidents in 2010 alone. According to Monash University, drivers using handheld devices are four times as likely to get into a severe, injury-causing crash. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study showed that texting while driving increases the likelihood of an accident 23 times compared with driving without distractions.

While cell phone use is perhaps the activity most people associate with distracted driving, anything that takes a driver's attention away from the road counts as a distraction, including:

• Talking with passengers in the vehicle
• Adjusting the radio
• Using a GPS system
• Reading, including maps and directions
• Grooming
• Watching videos
• Eating or drinking

Consult an Attorney

People take their lives into their hands every time they get into a vehicle.While people may practice safe driving habits themselves, they cannot control the behavior of other drivers. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, seek a capable personal injury attorney who can help you recover for your injuries.