Smartphones may make our lives easier – but they are also making them more dangerous. A new survey by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company found that smartphones may be responsible for increasing accidents and raising rates. Their survey discovered that 36% of all people admitted to texting behind the wheel and 29% admitted to surfing the web while driving. This was an alarming increase from previous years’ surveys. There are also more smartphone users taking part in these surveys than ever before. In 2011, just 52% of drivers surveyed owned a smartphone. In 2015, that number had increased to 88%.
Car accident fatalities have actually increased for the first time in 40 years. For decades, automobile accidents have been on a steady decline. In the early 70s, car accident fatalities topped more than 50,000 every year. By 2010, car accident fatality numbers had dwindled to just 30,000. Automobile safety experts credit the decline in car crash deaths to a number of things, including:
-Vehicle safety improvements
-Crash test improvements
-Educational programs aimed at improving seatbelt use & drunk driving
In 2015, however, the number of people killed in automobile crashes jumped 7.2% – the largest increase in 50 years.
Why the sudden increase in car crashes? Safety experts point to numerous factors, including the fact that drivers are traveling more miles this year on longer commutes and road trips. Cheaper gas and lower unemployment means that more drivers are hitting the road and that adds up to more car accidents.
Further Reading: Finding a Repair Shop After an Accident
Yet, those are not the only factors. Smartphone use is on the rise. According to data from the Pew Research Center, nearly 64% of adults own smartphones. This is up from just 35% in the spring of 2011. Smartphone ownership is particularly high among younger Americans and those with higher income and education.
Smartphone users, in particular, are finding it harder and harder to turn off their phones and focus on the task of driving. Drivers are trying to multi-task while operating their vehicle and this is taking their attention off of the road and their hands off of the wheel. Surfing the Internet, texting friends, snapchatting, checking social media, and answering emails are just a few of the things drivers have confessed to doing on a regular basis when behind the wheel. In fact, 79% of all distracted-driving related crashes have been attributed to texting drivers.
According to research by AT&T, 70% of all smartphone users actually use their phone routinely while driving. 40% of all smartphone users confess to using their smartphone while driving to tap into social media. 30% routinely surf the Internet and 10% actually video chat with their friends and colleagues while they are driving. 1 in 7 drivers confess to using Twitter while they are driving and more than 25% confess to checking Facebook on a regular basis.
To combat this growing trend of using social media while driving, AT&T designed the It Can Wait campaign to help educate drivers that no text was worth a life.
You can reduce the likelihood of getting into a serious and deadly distracted driving car crash by following a few simple rules when driving:
-Silence your phone while driving.
-Consider putting phone in airplane mode.
-Place phone out of reach, such as in a glove box or in the trunk.
-Tell friends and family members that you will not be answering text messages while driving.
-Plan to arrive at your destination a few minutes early to allow yourself time to check your messages, answer any important emails, and call back any missed calls.
In addition to putting your cellphone away, drivers are urged to follow all posted speed limit signs, wear seat belts at all times, avoid tailgating, drive slowly in inclement weather, and always drive sober.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a distracted driving car accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced car accident attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More
$1,250,000.00 –awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries.
$1,200.000.00 –awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis.
$450,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement.
$425,000 –awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier.
$300,000.00 –settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air.
$300,000.00 –settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager.
$250,000.00 –awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job.
$250,000.00 –settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit.
$150,000.00 –settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury.
$125,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino.
$75,000.00 –awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident.
Easy
to talk to. They made my experience very comfortable through my whole journey.
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the whole staff at Hull & Zimmerman. Thank
you
- 
– R. Hamilton
I
would just like to send a “thank you” to you and your staff. You have been the
most professional and efficient law office if have ever dealt with. I will
continue to tell people about the wonderful job you have done for me and my
family. Mr. Zimmerman you are the most professional lawyer and I truly
appreciate all you have done. Again Thank you
– D. Hassoun
would
just like to send a “thank you” to you and your staff. You have been the most
professional and efficient law office if have ever dealt with. I will continue
to tell people about the wonderful job you have done for me and my family. Mr.
Zimmerman you are the most professional lawyer and I truly appreciate all you
have done. Again Thank you.
– Jason B.
I was
injured in a fall and the nightmare began. I found Mike Zimmerman on the
internet, read his background history and contacted his office. The Office Staff
was wonderful, patient, and helpful, even though I was probably a pain to them.
Mike is a no nonsense kind of guy. He will tell you exactly what he feels about
your case and will not sugar coat it. You will know exactly what to expect and I
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spinning out of control because of an accident. He help me get my life back.
– Mary T.
Working through divorce and custody issues is an extremely difficult and
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exceeded my highest expectations. This firm’s expertise, ability and
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– Michael D.
We
came across mike Zimmerman when we were involved in an accident awhile back, we
had been negotiating with the insurance company for some time and getting
nowhere with a settlement. Never knowing Mike Zimmerman when we had gone and
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lawyer, and advised us every step of the way. His associates were very
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the settlement we were expecting and we just were very satisfied and would
highly recommend him to anyone that needs a good honest lawyer.
– Clarencec & Joy W.
We
were hit by an uninsured driver in 2006 and my husband was unable to work for
some time. Initially our own insurance really didn’t want to help us. On the
recommendation of a friend, we contacted Mr. Z and with his advice, suggestions
and hard work, we were able to get the what we needed from our insurance to help
us with our bills and medical costs. His staff was very patient with us as well
and was always available to reassure us and to answer our questions. We hope
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– G. & B O.
Rick –
Smart and nice! We were nervous and Rick put us at ease. Kept us informed. Never
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– D. & S. Bratrovsky
Exceeded expectations!
– T. Thiel
I
liked the fact that I was kept up to date throughout the process. When the
accident first happened, Rick went to bat for me right away to make sure that I
was compensated for my loss of transportation. The end result in my case
exceeded my expectations and I was very pleased.
– D. Hughley
I
appreciated the effort Rick Hull presented during the difficulties that occurred
throughout the settlement and following. I felt completely at ease during the
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– Michele Wolf
I
appreciated the fact that Rick Hull always explained everything to me. No matter
how insignificant I thought the question was, he encouraged me to ask and was
very patient when I didn’t understand some aspect of the legal procedures. I
also appreciated the fact that Rick was a real person, he wasn’t stiff or
unapproachable. He was easy to talk to, to understand, and get along with. In
addition, he explained certain aspects of Colorado law thoroughly to me so that
I could make an informed decision that best suited my needs.
8:37 pm
March 16th, 2017