Kirk Bernard

There is no question that a driver who allows himself or herself to get distracted while driving is exercising a form of negligence that may have serious consequences. Some of the best advice I could ever give is to tell motorists to devote their full and undivided attention to the road while driving. Doing this is not only the law, but it is one of the best ways to help prevent an auto accident (and a resulting injury claim or lawsuit) from happening in the first place.

Examples of such negligent activities include talking on a handheld cell phone while driving, texting, eating, using a laptop or applying makeup while driving. Anything that takes your eye or attention from the road is a distraction. If you are displaying similar negligent behavior while driving and cause an accident as a result, you can be held legally responsible for the accident and injuries.

According to recent research and studies performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving while using a cell phone can pose serious cognitive distraction and degrade driver performance. NHTSA estimates that driver distraction from all sources contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes. A number of states have passed laws that make both driving while using a handheld cell phone as well as texting while driving illegal. Yet, many drivers still do it.

If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, you could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of treatment and other related damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Driving while talking on the cell phone or worse, texting, has become one of the leading causes for car accidents in Seattle and elsewhere in Washington State. Talking on a handheld device or texting can be extremely dangerous because the driver must take his or her eyes or attention off the road for several seconds while completing those actions. Rear-end accidents are caused quite often as a result of drivers attempting to talk on their cell phones or text while on the road.

A study recently conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, found that texting while driving increases the risk of a car accident by 23 times. The results of this study show conclusively that the real key to significantly improving safety on the road is keeping your eyes on the road. The same report also states that just before crashing, drivers spent nearly five seconds distracted from the road by their cell phones. At 55 mph, that time is enough to cover the length of an entire football field. It’s about time that the cell phone and texting laws are enacted in all states to deter distracted drivers.

The skilled car accident attorneys at the Bernard Law Group recently settled a case where a woman was rear-ended by a person who was talking on her cell phone. The victim, whom we represented, was unable to work for several weeks as a result of injuries she suffered in this car accident clearly caused by a negligent driver. At mediation, the victim settled her case for $40,000. In Washington State, a new law went into effect last year banning texting or talking on a cell phone without a hand-free device.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington car accident caused by a distracted driver, please contact one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Group. Kirk Bernard and his legal team have a successful track record pursuing these negligent drivers and holding them accountable for their recklessness. Call us today for a free, comprehensive consultation and evaluation of your Washington car accident claim.