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Blog 
Personal Injury and Automobile Accidents
- What you need to know about Virginia’s MOVE OVER law
- Club Patron Sues After Slip on Spilled Drink
- Virginia Beach Man Killed by Garbage Truck
- Tidewater area drivers: Beware, more Toyota recalls!
- Victim's Family Files Suit Against Winery and Market for Their Role in DUI Automobile Accident
Firm News
Virginia Drivers: Another Toyota Recall (Corolla, Matrix)
Posted on 8/30/2010
Excessive speed cited as factor in serious Virginia Beach car wreck
Posted on 8/27/2010
Norfolk VA car & bicycle accident leaves cyclist injured
Posted on 7/29/2010
Virginia Beach police officer, civilian taken to hospital after crash
Posted on 7/27/2010
Virginia Beach car wreck kills one and injures three others
Posted on 7/27/2010
Tidewater motorists, get ready for a new seat belt law
Posted on 6/30/2010
Windsor woman dies in tragic car wreck on Rt. 258
Posted on 6/29/2010
Pickup truck wreck injures three in Suffolk
Posted on 6/29/2010
Homeless man killed by dump truck accident at Virginia Beach
Posted on 6/29/2010
Fatal Car Crash in Norfolk on I-64 Blamed on Speed & Weather
Posted on 5/31/2010
Firm Library
Personal Injury and Automobile Accidents
- Virginia Car Wreck Victims & Broken Bones / Fractures
- Chesapeake Residents: Are You Ready for Red Light Cameras?
- Virginia Crash Victims: What You Need to Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- What three mistakes could WRECK your Virginia auto accident claim?
- Virginia motorists: What does the MOVE OVER law mean for you?
Is distracted driving really that dangerous?
If you haven’t heard the term before, you’ve certainly seen the behavior. Distracted drivers are the ones who are doing everything except keeping their eyes on the road, increasing the likelihood that they’ll cause a serious car accident. As most of us know, there are a myriad of other things to do in a car or truck besides actually drive. There’s the radio, iPod, MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry, iPhone, makeup to put on, text messages to read, snacks to eat, and passengers to talk to. As much as we’d all like to think otherwise, many of us are guilty of doing something other than driving when we’re behind the wheel.
But is it really that big a deal? Ask any driver if they are less safe because they grab something they drop off the floor, take a quick cell phone call, or hit play on their music system. These activities are generally seen as acceptable and not terribly dangerous. However, Virginia law makers and law enforcement officers are trying to change these perceptions.
Facts about distracted driving
- About 80 percent of all crashes can be attributed to a distracted driver. The number one distraction? Cell phones. And it isn’t just talking on the phone that is dangerous, dialing it is even more distracting.
- The use of a cell phone while driving is one of the top high-risk distracted driving behaviors. Over 50 peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that driving while using a cell phone can lead to collisions and injury.
- If you use a cell phone while driving, you are four times more likely to be in a crash than somebody not using a phone. Not only is it dangerous, but cell phone related motor vehicle accidents cost Americans $43 billion each year.
- If you think that using a hands-free device makes talking on your cell phone safer, think again. Studies show that talking on a hands-free device is just as distracting as holding a phone up to your ear while driving.
- If you reach for a moving object while driving, you increase your risk of a crash or near-crash by 9 times.
- Looking at an object outside of your car increases your crash risk 3.7 times.
- Reading while driving increases your crash risk by 3 times
- Putting on makeup while you drive? You’re increasing your crash risk by 3 times.
- The more you engage in distracting activities, the greater your chance of being involved in a distracted driving crash. It only takes a split second for a hazardous situation to occur on the road, and a mere moment’s inattention can be deadly.
If you’ve been involved in a serious car or truck accident, make sure you protect your rights by talking to an experienced attorney as soon as possible. To discuss your situation with a skilled Virginia lawyer, please contact the Norfolk office of Weisberg & Zaleski today.
Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
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Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
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