logo

Call Now: (312) 609-0400

Selfies should not occur while driving

Lady driver taking a selfie while driving

or fill out the Contact Form

Illinois drivers are faced with many hazards as they travel the state’s roadways. A car accident lawyer in Illinois understands that these hazards are only going to increase as technology improves. Recent developments in technology have created additional ways for motorists to become distracted, such as cell phones, GPS navigation systems and advanced radio systems. However, many young drivers are taking distracted driving to a new level by first snapping photographs of themselves with their phones, or taking “selfies,” and then posting them to social media accounts. According to CNN, the trend is only becoming more popular as time passes.

Lady driver taking a selfie while driving

A popular distraction

CNN reports that millions of posts have been uploaded to popular social media websites with hashtags that involve driving. These include “#driving,” “#drivingtowork,” “#drivinghome” and “#drivingselfie.” To date, nearly 5 million photos and videos with these and similar tags have been uploaded to just a single site. Searches of other commonly used social media sites also result in millions of hits for the same hashtags.

Deadly consequences for motorists

A Clemmons, North Carolina woman was recently killed in a car crash after engaging in unsafe practices while she drove to work. According to the Huffington Post, the 32-year-old took selfies while driving and posted messages to social media accounts immediately prior to causing the accident that led to her death. The woman’s distracting behavior caused her to cross the median of a major highway and crash head-on into a large commercial truck. First responders indicate that the truck driver was unharmed but the woman died at the scene of the crash. Her last post to social media took place at 8:33 a.m., just one minute before the first calls came in to report her accident.

Effects of distracted driving

While official statistics are not available specifically for those taking selfies while driving, the government has been gathering information on distracted drivers for years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drivers become distracted whenever something takes their mind off the task of driving, or removes their hands from the steering wheel. When drivers take selfies and use their cell phones to post the photographs to social media accounts, they are engaging in all three types of distraction: cognitive, manual and visual.

The CDC reports that 3,331 people died in accidents involving a distracted driver in 2011. That same year, 387,000 people were injured in similar collisions. These accidents are completely preventable, yet they claim nine lives every day.

To ensure that accident victims receive the compensation that they need to heal and rebuild their lives, injured parties should contact a car accident lawyer in Illinois.

Share This Article

As the founder of the firm, Neal has devoted his life to working for the worker. His achievements are numerous and beyond reproach. He is most proud of his work in helping clients obtain valuable benefits, such as a wheelchair ramp to his home or lifetime medical care.

or fill out the Contact Form

As a partner with the firm since 2002, Kevin Yen manages the personal injury department and leads all investigations into nursing home neglect and abuse cases. Kevin has dedicated his life to personal injury matters and has represented thousands of clients and their families to recover damages for their losses. His clients have included family members who lost a loved one due to a tragic accident, injured children, construction workers injured while on the job site and a host of others.

Related Articles

Innovative Treatments for Car Accident Injuries
Motor Vehicle Accident

Innovative Treatments for Car Accident Injuries

As a personal injury attorney I have seen firsthand how car accidents can be life-changing. The journey to recovery is both physically and emotionally challenging. While I am here to help you fight for your rights, it is equally as important to me that you receive the best possible care. Today,

Law

Beware of random lawyers calling you out of the blue!

Imagine waking up with a toothache. Out of nowhere, you get a call from a dentist offering to give you a root canal. Would you see that dentist? Of course you wouldn’t. You would be suspicious and perhaps even a bit irritated. What if you were in a car accident,

Motor Vehicle Accident

Your Guide to Co-Existing Safely on the Road

Whether you’re a driver, a cyclist, or both, you have a responsibility to act in accordance with laws that are meant to keep us all safe.  In Chicago, there’s an undeclared war between drivers and cyclists. Drivers are mad cyclists don’t stop at stop signs. Cyclists are mad drivers speed past

Get a FREE Consultation:
We want to earn your business.

    Lawyers logos
    Lawyers logos