Lots of parents worry when their children reach the age where many of their peers have their own cell phones. You might worry about cyberbullying or just about the pressure of kids feeling like they have to impress their classmates even outside of school hours. If nothing else, cell phones offer a virtually infinite smorgasbord of video content that enables them to rot their brains even more efficiently than cable television rotted the brains of the previous generation. No matter what your pet worries are, the data show that one of the biggest risks posed by cell phones is their potential to distract drivers. California’s laws impose specific restrictions on cell phone use behind the while, while also acknowledging that cell phones are not the only cause of distracted driving accidents. If you have suffered serious injuries in a car accident in which distracted driving played a role, contact a San Jose, California distracted driving accident lawyer.
In California, it is against the law to use your cell phone in any way that requires you to look at the screen while you are driving. These are some examples of things you cannot do while behind the wheel of a car that is not parked:
Most of the time, it is acceptable to use your phone in hands-free mode while driving. In other words, it is fine to have phone conversations or enter voice commands into search engines or apps, as long as your phone is connected to your car’s audio system. You can even dictate text messages or have your phone read out loud messages that you receive.
An exception to this rule applies to the youngest drivers, since drivers under age 24 are at the highest risk of causing distracted driving accidents. If you are younger than 18, you may not use your phone for any reason while driving, not even in hands free mode.
Anything that takes your eyes and your attention away from the road is a distraction and increases your risk of causing an accident. Eating, changing radio stations, fixing your hair or makeup in the mirror, or picking up something from the floor of your car are just as distracted as checking your phone. You can still get a traffic ticket for driving mistakes you make because of distractions unrelated to your cell phone.
No matter what distraction caused the other driver to crash into your car, a San Jose distracted driving accident lawyer can help you recover damages for your financial losses, such as medical bills and income that you lost as a result of the accident. Contact Solution Now Law Firm for a consultation on your case.
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