Distracted driving claimed the lives of over 3,300 people in 2022, although it is likely the actual number of crashes and fatalities caused by distracted driving is higher. Any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road is considered distracted driving, including eating, drinking, and changing the settings on the car stereo. Out of all the many distractions for drivers on the road, texting is among the most common and dangerous. 

When driving at 55 miles per hour, reading or typing texts is the equivalent of closing your eyes for the length of a football field. Like many states, Connecticut has strict laws in place to prevent drivers from texting while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, some motorists ignore these laws and continue to endanger themselves and others by texting while driving. 

If you’ve been injured in a texting while driving car accident in Litchfield, the seasoned auto crash attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, are here to help you. We’ve been assisting injured drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists for over 100 combined years, and our combination of experience, knowledge, and dedication is what car accident victims in Connecticut need when seeking compensation for their injuries. 

Connecticut’s Texting While Driving Laws

Drivers in Connecticut are prohibited from using mobile electronic devices like handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle. In addition to cell phones, this law also includes other portable electronic equipment capable of sending data or messages, such as pagers, digital cameras, and laptops. Equipment already installed in the vehicle, such as a car’s stereo, is not included. Adult drivers over the age of 18 are allowed to use hands-free accessories while driving, but drivers under 18 years old cannot. 

Motorists are also not allowed to use their cell phones when stopped temporarily, like at a traffic light, stop sign, or in heavy traffic. There are some exceptions for emergency situations, but these restrictions are in place to reduce the risk of texting while driving car wrecks in Litchfield and across Connecticut. 

Why Texting While Driving Causes Car Crashes

Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents. There are three categories of distracted driving, and texting while driving falls into all three: visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Texting takes a driver’s eyes, hands, and attention away from the road, which is a dangerous combination. 

The statistics surrounding texting while driving are alarming:

  • Texting while driving makes motorists 23 times more likely to be in a car accident. 
  • The likelihood of being in an accident when drivers take their eyes off the road increases by 400%.
  • 47 percent of drivers admit to texting while driving. 
  • This driving behavior contributes to a significant number of car accidents each year – approximately 1.6 million crashesincluding many texting while driving car crashes in Litchfield.

Contact an Experienced Texting While Driving Car Accident Attorney in Litchfield

Proving that another driver was texting or using some other application on a mobile device can be a complex process. Often, digital forensic experts are engaged to examine mobile devices and extract data. Cell phone records are often subpoenaed from cell phone carriers and social media platforms. Our lawyers are in the best position to gather evidence to prove the distraction, which can be vital to your case. 

When you’ve been injured by a driver who was texting while behind the wheel, you need the experienced and trusted legal guidance of the attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC. Our lawyers have over a century of combined experience representing injured clients in texting while driving car accident cases in Litchfield, so contact us today to schedule your free consultation.