According to a recent survey of driving dangers reported in the San Jose Mercury News, people listed distracted driving as the second most problematic driving behavior, followed by drunk driving. 18 percent of all those surveyed believe distracted driving – talking on your cell phone and texting – is the biggest danger on California roadways. The only category considered dangerous by more people is speeding and aggressive driving, at 22 percent.

Although this statistic may come as a surprise to some, it does not to California Highway Patrol officers who see far too many car accidents as the result of distracted driving. As stated by one CHP officer “Oftentimes we see drivers weaving in and out of lances or driving on the shoulders. We stop to investigate what we may think is a possible DUI driver only to find out it was someone talking on the phone, hands-free or not.”

When car accidents occur for whatever reason – as the result of road rage, texting and driving or drunk driving, the potential for serious injuries and even death is great. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident speaking with an experienced Elk Grove personal injury lawyer is an important first step to protect your rights and answer your car accident questions.

Even though distracted driving has been outlawed by the California legislature an Alameda County Sheriff comments, “I see drivers on their cellphones every day. It’s as if the laws don’t even exist…With all of the innovative tools out there for hands-free use, I am at a loss to why people don’t use them.” In fact, the CHP has written close to 475,000 tickets to drivers who have violated the hands-free law since going into effect in 2008.

Although distracted driving continues to be a problem, the good news is that the number of drivers talking on their phones while driving has decreased as a result of the hands-free law.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been in a car accident, contact the dedicated Elk Grove personal injury attorney at Sette Law Office for a free, confidential consultation.