A recent federal study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that while fewer teens are driving impaired and without safety restraints today than in years past, more are using mobile phones behind the wheel than ever before.
Seattle car accident attorney Chris Davis says these statistics illustrate the need for parental intervention when it comes to teen drivers, especially now that school is back in session and more teens are getting behind the wheel.
“The beginning of the school year also marks the start of many teenagers going out and working to get a driver’s license,” explains Davis, who has represented countless car accident injury victims in the Seattle area. “The more involved that parents can be in this process, the more prepared teenage drivers will be. It is essential that parents educate their children about the dangers of distracted driving.”
The CDC’s study, which surveyed approximately 15,000 high school students, found that one in three teens had sent or received a text message or email on their mobile phone while driving in the last 30 days.
And while there is limited data on the injuries and fatalities that result from texting behind the wheel, a HealthDay Poll analysis explains that text messaging was implicated in over 16,000 traffic fatalities between 2001 and 2007 and the frequency of traffic fatalities related to cell phone use increased by 28 percent between 2005 and 2008.
“Many of the rear-end auto accident cases we handle were caused by an inattentive or distracted driver,” Davis explains. “Whether it’s text messaging, checking email or browsing the web, just a few seconds of inattention can lead to a tragic, sometimes fatal automobile collision.”
With nearly two decades of experience in representing motor vehicle accident victims - including accidents caused by distracted drivers - Davis has authored several legal books in hopes of better educating the public on the personal injury process. To help parents of teen drivers explain the responsibility of driving safely without distractions, Davis is offering a free copy of his book, “The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Wreck Your Washington Accident Case,” for free to residents in Washington State.
The 91-page legal guide, which is part of the Washington Accident Books series, explores the many factors that can contribute to a car accident and the overwhelming nature of navigating the insurance claims process. Davis hopes this educational tool will help reinforce the level of responsibility associated with being a safe driver and limiting distractions behind the wheel.
About Chris Davis
Christopher M. Davis, founder of the Davis Law Group, has been a licensed attorney in the state of Washington since 1993. He has tried dozens of personal injury cases to verdict and has successfully handled and resolved hundreds of accident claims. He has been a Washington Super Lawyer' for seven years in a row for his expertise and success in litigating personal injury claims.