Cell Phone Accident

Missouri Cell Phone Auto Accidents & Cell Phone Accident in Missouri

You probably see it every day: a driver chatting away on a cell phone and not paying attention to the vehicles or pedestrians around them. Perhaps you've even been involved in an auto accident resulting from a careless, inattentive driver who was talking on a cell phone. Although the risk of accidents greatly increases when a driver is using a handheld phone, few states have enacted laws prohibiting individuals from using cell phones while driving.

In fact, across the U.S., only four states (California, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) and the District of Columbia have enacted laws banning the use of a handheld cell phone while driving. In both Missouri and Illinois, it's perfectly legal to drive and talk on a cell phone. Illinois law, however, does prohibit cell-phone use while driving a school bus.

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHIS) issued a report on the chilling link between cell phone use and the risk of vehicle accidents. The IHIS study revealed that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an injury-sustaining accident than individuals who do not use cell phones while driving. The study focused on drivers who were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries suffered in vehicle accidents between April 2002 and July 2004.

A decade ago, only 34 million people used cell phones in the U.S. This number has skyrocketed, with our country now boasting more than 203 million cell phone users. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently revealed that 73 percent of individuals who usually keep a cell phone in their car reported using their phone while driving. In addition, more and more teenagers and young adults, who are usually inexperienced drivers, own and use cell phones. As a result, the risk of being involved in an automobile accident involving a driver using a cell phone-especially in states such as Missouri and Illinois where no laws prohibit such use-is greater than ever.

If you've suffered injuries as a result of an accident in Missouri involving an individual who was using a cell phone while driving, call me today. As a St. Louis cell phone car accident attorney, I can discuss your case with you and evaluate your potential claims. The call and consultation are both free, and there is no fee unless you recover damages for the personal injuries you sustained.

I can be reached 24 hours a day at (314)322-8515 or 1(866)620-5757. You can also contact me by email at john@thepagefirm.com. I look forward to assisting you during this difficult time.