According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, distracted driving is against the law. Under Minnesota law, it is illegal for drivers to send or read text messages, emails, or to access a website while driving. The law includes prohibitions against using the phone for these purposes while being stopped at a red light or stop sign. The law is in place for good reason. 60,000 crashes in Minnesota have been linked to texting and driving. And, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2017 alone.
Despite these statistics and laws, many people simply cannot resist the urge to send out a text message or social media or read the text messages they receive while driving. The consequences can sometimes be tragic and deadly. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, between 2014 and 2018, distracted driving resulted in 45 deaths and another 204 life-altering injuries. If you or someone you love was hurt by a distracted driver in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino may be able to help you. You may be entitled to seek damages to cover your medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages, if you have been hurt in a crash. Contact our lawyers today to learn more.
Preventing Texting and Driving Accidents in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Distracted driving accidents are highly preventable. When drivers put down their phones and pay attention to the road, accidents can be avoided and lives saved. That said, avoiding picking up your phone when driving can be challenging. Research has shown that when we receive a text message, the reward centers of our brain light up. It can be very difficult to avoid satisfying that curiosity. Dopamine is the brain chemical connected to reward. It is the brain chemical that keeps us coming back for another piece of chocolate cake or another kiss from the person we love. It makes us feel good to satisfy these cravings and curiosities. Dopamine is the system of the brain connected to craving. When we satisfy cravings, our brain is flooded with opioids, the reward system of the brain. The dopamine system doesn’t really have limits. It’s why we might always want that second piece of chocolate cake, even when we’re on a diet, and why we might pick up our cell phones while driving even when we know that the consequences can be deadly. So, what can we do to prevent accidents given that our brains are wired to draw us toward our phones while driving?
The best way to prevent cell phone use while driving is to remove the temptation altogether. Turn on driving mode so that you don’t get messages while driving. Put the cell phone in the trunk or glove compartment. Or give your phone to a friend or passenger and ask him or her to handle your calls. Many distracted driving accidents occur because people were trying to plug directions into their cell phone or were trying to change the music on their phone’s music playing software. Preprogram a play list you enjoy, preprogram your route before you pull out of the driveway, or ask a passenger to help you.
Despite these best intentions, sometimes people simply cannot resist the urge to check their cell phones. If this describes your situation, consider reaching out to the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino, a personal injury law firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota today. Our attorneys can review the details of your crash and investigate whether distracted driving or texting and driving might have played a role. There are more ways than ever to determine this, from checking social media, checking phone logs, and speaking to witnesses. Contact our personal injury lawyers today to learn more and to protect your rights if you have been hurt in a car crash.
Were You Hurt in a Texting and Driving Accident?
If you were hurt in a texting and driving accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim with insurance companies and to seek damages for your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Distracted driving accidents can be challenging cases, but they can be proven. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a personal injury law firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota offering compassionate and caring counsel to car accident victims, assisting clients with seeking damages following these devastating accidents. Our lawyers may be able to assist you with your insurance claim or with seeking damages from negligent parties. Have questions? Reach out to our personal injury law firm today, or connect with USAttorneys.com to get matched with one of our lawyers.