Distracted Driving Car Accidents in Baltimore: The True Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel and How to Prove It
Most Maryland drivers know texting while driving is illegal. However, they often fail to appreciate just how dangerous it actually is. In Baltimore, where heavy traffic, complex intersections, and crowds of pedestrians demand a driver’s full attention, the consequences can be devastating for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
At Maryland Injury Lawyers, we have over 30 years of experience representing clients in these cases. Find out the true dangers of texting behind the wheel and the evidence our experienced Maryland distracted driving accident lawyers use to prove it.
How Texting While Driving Increases Baltimore Car Accident Risks
Texting behind the wheel takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that if you’re traveling 55 miles per hour, it’s the equivalent of driving the full length of a football field blind.
On the I-95 corridor and other heavily traveled roads and highways surrounding the city, texting while driving is particularly dangerous. Ways it increases Baltimore car accident risks include:
- Texting diverts focus from the road, causing you to miss changes in traffic conditions.
- It can cause you to drift in and out of your lane, increasing the risk of sideswipe collisions and head-on crashes.
- In bumper-to-bumper traffic, it increases the risks of rear-end collisions.
- Slower reaction times, which affect braking, increase crash speed and the likelihood of potentially fatal injuries.
According to the Maryland Highway Safety Office, texting and other types of distracted driving claim the lives of over 200 people each year and leave nearly 23,000 others suffering serious personal injuries.
How to Prove Texting Was to Blame for a Baltimore Car Accident
Under Section 21-1124.2 of the Maryland Transportation Code, all handheld phone use while driving is prohibited in Maryland. When a driver violates the law by texting and causes a Baltimore car accident, victims and their families have the right to hold them accountable.
Evidence that helps prove the driver was texting at the time includes:
- Phone records showing the exact timestamp of outgoing and incoming texts.
- Cell tower data that confirms a driver’s phone was actively transmitting data.
- Data extraction from the driver’s phone itself, which can reveal app activity, message history, and screen interaction logs.
- Traffic and surveillance camera footage that captures a driver looking down at a device before the collision.
- Witness statements from passengers or bystanders who observed the driver actively texting before the crash.
Gathering this type of evidence is rarely easy, especially when dealing with serious injuries. To protect your rights in a claim, get professional legal help today.
Contact Our Experienced Baltimore Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
Texting and driving puts Baltimore motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians at risk. When injuries happen, Maryland Injury Lawyers has the experience and legal skill needed to hold those at fault accountable.
Our Baltimore distracted driving accident lawyers provide trusted legal help, obtaining phone records and other evidence. To get the compensation you deserve, contact our office and request a consultation today.
Sources:
nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
zerodeathsmd.gov/road-safety/distracted-driving/
mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtr§ion=21-1124.2
