Distracted driving is everywhere on Portland roads. With the advent of handheld technology, it has become a growing danger to the lives of everyone on the road. In fact, 2,841 traffic fatalities and about 400,000 injuries occurred throughout the United States during 2018 because of distracted driving.
Since teen drivers don’t have years of driving experience, they are the most at risk of being involved in serious and fatal crashes. In fact, the CDC reports that crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. According to the NHTSA, teen drivers are more likely than any other age group to use cellphones or text while driving.
Do distracted driving laws work?
Recently, a study was conducted by Michael R. Flaherty from the Mass General Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts. The study, which is titled Distracted Driving Laws and Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities, was published in the Pediatrics journal in June of this year.
The study found that from 2007-2017, fewer fatal crashes involving teen drivers were reported in states that enforced strict distracted driving laws. In 2007, only 15 states had any kind of distracted driving law in place. That number grew to 47 by 2017.
Researchers first analyzed 38,215 crashes involving teens ages 16-19 during that 10-year period. The states that enacted primary distracted driving laws saw the largest decreases in the teen crash fatality rate. These states allow police officers to pull over drivers solely for texting and driving or using cellphones while driving.
The states that enacted secondary distracted driving laws saw only slight decreases in the teen crash fatality rate, but did better than states without any distracted driving laws. In these states, police are not allowed to pull over drivers for texting and driving or using cellphones. They can cite drivers for using cellphones only after pulling them over for other infractions.
Oregon is one of many states that has a handheld ban for all drivers (except school bus drivers) and enforces it as a primary law.
What should I do if I was injured in a distracted driving crash?
If you were injured in a crash involving a distracted driver, don’t hesitate to get an experienced Portland car accident attorney on your side who can help you get the justice you deserve.
The attorneys at Zbinden & Curtis can investigate your distracted driving crash by obtaining a police report, speaking to witnesses, obtaining any available surveillance or dash cam footage, or getting a subpoena for cellphone records.
We can also help you recover all economic and non-economic damages that you’re entitled to. To schedule your free case evaluation, simply fill out our contact form.
