Injured by A Driver Watching Videos Behind the Wheel? Read This
The smartphone revolution has fundamentally changed the terms on which we meet the world. Video is no longer for the TV or movie theater. We each carry in our pocket a portal to an entire galaxy of film, television, gaming, news, sports, and emergent forms like livestreaming and short form video. While some bemoan the hold phones have on their users, others are quick to point out how this technology democratizes creativity and allows for new forms of art and communication. What’s not up for debate, however, is the extent to which phone usership behind the wheel is a contributing factor to severe car crashes. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will examine car accidents caused by a driver watching videos behind the wheel.
The Bare Statistics of Distracted Driving
3,208 Americans lost their lives as a result of distracted driving in 2024. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that this dangerous, careless, and completely unnecessary conduct resulted in an additional 315,167 injuries.
The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving.” These consist of, but are not restricted to:
- Using your phone to text or converse
- Consuming food and liquids
- Speaking with others in your car
- Modifying the entertainment, navigation, or stereo
In circles dedicated to preventing distracted driving, texting and driving is particularly infamous, albeit it is not the only offense. Let’s say you read a text and take five seconds to look away from the road. You’ve covered around the distance of a football field in five seconds if your car is moving at 55 miles per hour.
The Unique Dangers of Watching Videos Behind the Wheel
Most drivers recognize that texting while driving is dangerous, but watching videos or recording content behind the wheel can be even more distracting. Whether someone is streaming a sporting event, scrolling through social media videos, participating in a video call, or filming themselves for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, these activities demand far more attention than simply glancing at a text message.
Consider the prior fact about the distance covered in five short seconds which a driving texter may spend distracted. Now extrapolate that outwards. If you’re paying attention to a thirty second video clip while your car travels at 55 miles per hour, you will cover six football fields in that time. You may not even see what you risk crashing into before averting your eyes from the road.
Don’t Stream and Drive
Recording videos presents an entirely different set of hazards. Drivers filming themselves often look directly into the phone’s camera instead of the roadway. Some repeatedly adjust camera angles, check how they appear on screen, or restart recordings while the vehicle is still moving. Every moment spent performing for a camera is a moment not spent monitoring traffic, checking mirrors, or anticipating hazards.
How Can Watching Videos Behind the Wheel Affect Your Personal Injury Case?
It is crucial to show how the other driver’s negligence caused the collision when constructing a strong personal injury case following an automobile accident. Negligence can be defined as failing to take the bare minimum of responsibility and care for other people’s safety. In court cases, it has been successfully asserted that drivers who were using their phones during or right before an accident were acting carelessly. Consequently, it is reasonable to infer that the fact that you were watching or recording a video at the time of the collision may significantly hinder your personal injury claim.
This is especially crucial in states like Maryland that have rules concerning contributory negligence, which forbid you from getting any compensation for injuries, lost wages, damaged property, or psychological distress if you may be held even partially accountable for the accident.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a driver watching videos behind the wheel, Malloy Law can help. Our experienced attorneys are the DMV’s car accident specialists and will seek maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and trauma. Do not wait, contact Malloy Law today and let’s win your case.