Have you or a dear one been injured in a motor-vehicle accident (MVA) that was caused by a distracted driver? Such accidents are the result of flouting of safety rules and negligence. These distracted drivers can be held responsible for causing the collision.

MVAs can result in a range of injuries, from minor scrapes, cuts, sprains and bruises to serious, life-altering and life-threatening injuries. Serious injuries result in enormous physical, financial and emotional losses not just for the injured victim but in most cases, their families too.

Ontario traffic regulations mandate that all injured victims, regardless of fault, are entitled to receive statutory insurance benefits paid out of their own coverage. Additionally, injured victims are also entitled to sue the negligent or at-fault driver by filing a personal injury claim against them, preferably with the advice and assistance of a Barrie personal injury lawyer.

Decoding Distracted Driving

A World Health Organization study conducted in 2011 observes that there are two types of distractions that drivers can experience: Internal and External. Internal distractions include use of cell-phone, tuning a radio, grooming, etc while External distractions comprise watching billboards, people, scenery etc.

Mobile phone usage is one of the major distractions that drivers experience while operating a vehicle. The proportion of drivers using their cell-phones while driving has increased over the last decade, from about 1% to 10% in 2011.

Texting, answering calls, e-mailing, checking GPS location, sending photos and using social media on the cellphone are some of the common behaviors that drivers may indulge in. Studies have shown that there is very little difference between using hands-free phones and regular hand-held devices.

These behaviors affect driving because:

• They cause the driver to take his/her eyes off the road
• Driver may remove hands from steering-wheel
• Drivers are mentally preoccupied
• There is a cognitive shift from the task at hand
• Affect reaction time, especially while responding to traffic signals
• Affect braking reaction
• Affect ability to keep within lanes
• Impair overall awareness of the driving situation
• Result in reduced following distances (causing rear-ender accidents)

Other studies show that such risky behaviors are more common than we think. Three out of four Canadians admit to distracted  driving. Distracted drivers can see only 50% of the available information around them if they are not fully aware while driving. Nearly 80% of collisions are caused by as little as a three-second inattention span immediately prior to the accident.

Legal Implications

If your collision was caused by the other driver being distracted, an experienced Barrie personal injury lawyer can provide a genuine and comprehensive evaluation of your case and the right assistance to take your claim forward.

Proving the use of cell-phone while driving can be difficult, unless the causes of the accident are thoroughly investigated. Eye-witnesses or co-passengers can provide valuable evidence, while CCTV cameras or video footage available from the location can also be very useful in proving liability. An experienced personal injury lawyer who has dealt with similar cases can ensure that a robust claim is presented to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.