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Social Media’s Role in Car Accidents

June 1, 2017 Hastings and Hastings

Social media allows us to stay in contact with whoever we want whenever we want and where ever we want, and that means while we’re driving, too.  For the newest generations raised in a world dominated by social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, staying updated and keeping everyone else updated can become a constant obsession.  And this can be very dangerous, especially when people use these sites while driving.

You and Your Smartphone

With a smartphone at your fingertips you can check stock quotes at a red light, snap an Instagram picture of a funny named road sign, take a selfie while your driving, update your feed, and on and on.  When a driver does any of these actions while driving, he becomes a danger for everyone on the road.  Playing around on social media sites while driving is a major distraction.  In fact, anything that takes your eyes off the road for any longer than the time it takes to blink is a distraction. That goes for adjusting consul controls, turning around to talk to someone in the back seat, and fumbling to find your ringing phone.

The Evidence

Studies have found that the social media sites most visited by drivers are Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  A study done by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) concluded that there are thousands of drivers on the road using social media sites everyday.  The numbers get worse.  Of the thousands who frequently use social media while driving, many admitted they are looking at their smartphone 60 percent of the time rather than at the road.  Organizations are now calling on the government to make an action plan about educating the public on the consequences and risks involved when using a smartphone while driving.  To avoid the temptation of texting while driving, you can install an app that blocks testing.  Perhaps similar apps will be created when it comes to social media sites.

At Hastings & Hastings we understand that distracted drivers are a major cause of accidents, many of which could have been avoided.  When a person is using a phone to update their status on Facebook and gets into an accident, they are liable for damages. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident due to a distracted driver using social media sites while driving, or using their phone in a different way that led to the accident, call us at 800-975-0080.  Our friendly team of attorneys will listen to your experience and answer all of your questions. Call us today for a free, no obligation consultation.