The Hands-Free Safety Myth
In an effort to curb car accidents caused by distracted drivers, a number of states have passed laws banning hand-held cellphone use while operating a vehicle. Unfortunately, the takeaway from these laws is that hands-free devices are entirely safe – an impression that is at once far from the truth and potentially devastating.
If you or someone you love has been injured by a distracted driver, please contact The Cochran Firm online or by calling (800) 843-3476 today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.
Degrees of Distraction
Research has shown that people using handheld cellphones while driving typically remove their eyes from the road in five to seven-second intervals. According to one study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is the equivalent of driving blindfolded down the length of a football field at 50 miles-per-hour.
Similar studies show users of hands-free devices actually face more distraction, as trying to get voice commands to work properly can require significant attention – attention that should be on the road. An exhaustive study by AAA has found that operating hands-free devices ranging from on-board entertainment systems to voice-controlled texts requires a level of attention equivalent to that necessary for the solving of complex mathematical or word problems. When this attention is focused on talking to one machine instead of operating the other, chances for distracted driving accidents increase exponentially.
In the end, it makes little difference if your injuries are caused by a driver holding a phone or simply talking into one – compensation in both cases can be hard to obtain. The car accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm are here to take your case and fight for your rights, and to help you get the full compensation you are due.
To schedule your free consultation with one of our distracted driving car accident attorneys, please contact us today. We maintain offices throughout the United States to better serve victims of serious injury in all areas of the country.