The Impact of Distracted Driving on Pedestrian Safety

Distracted driving puts pedestrians at significant risk. If you need legal help after getting hit by a vehicle, reach out to Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks at (801) 500-4000 for a free consultation.

When you’re walking around your neighborhood in West Valley City, you trust that drivers will notice you when you’re crossing streets or walking on sidewalks. But with so many people using smartphones and in-car technology, distracted driving is becoming a bigger problem.

You’ve probably seen drivers swerving between lanes or failing to stop on time because they were distracted by their phones, GPS, or other digital devices. This is scary, especially since just a quick glance away from the road can put someone’s life at risk.

This is a real concern. Distracted driving accidents in West Valley City can harm not only drivers and passengers but also pedestrians. The results can be severe, with serious injuries or even deaths.

You might be wondering: do these drivers face any consequences for putting pedestrians in danger? And if you or a loved one gets hit by a distracted driver, how can you hold them accountable?

This is where knowing your rights and having legal support is important. By understanding how distracted driving increases the risk for pedestrians and how Utah law deals with this kind of carelessness, you can get justice if an accident happens.

Our team of personal injury attorneys at Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks is here to help. With our caring approach and successful record in personal injury cases, you can stand up to careless drivers and their insurance companies.

Overview of Distracted Driving in West Valley City

Distracted driving is a big problem across the country, and West Valley City, one of Utah’s largest cities, isn’t an exception. While local numbers change every year, state data shows that distractions play a role in many traffic accidents, including ones where pedestrians are hurt.

In some studies, phone use while driving is responsible for up to 25% of crashes. Even though not every accident involves pedestrians, even a small percentage can lead to several serious or deadly accidents each year.

Local authorities and safety programs stress the importance of being aware of the dangers. Officials in West Valley City often share information showing that accidents happen more often at intersections near busy areas or roads. Distractions like using cell phones, watching in-car screens, or even eating while driving all add to these accidents. Even a quick glance away from the road can cause a driver to miss a pedestrian crossing the street.

This shows why it’s so important to tackle distracted driving. Every statistic represents a family hurt by a moment of not paying attention. Understanding the size of the problem is the first step toward driving more safely, holding people accountable, and knowing your rights if you’re ever a victim.

How Mobile Device Use Contributes to Pedestrian Accidents

Mobile phones, tablets, and other gadgets can be really useful, but they also distract drivers and put pedestrians at risk. Here’s how technology can make accidents more likely:

Visual Distraction

When drivers check texts or scroll through apps, they take their eyes off the road. Even a few seconds of not watching traffic can cause them to miss a pedestrian stepping off the curb. In busy areas, like West Valley City or near shopping centers, pedestrians might suddenly appear in places drivers don’t expect, and a distracted driver might not notice until it’s too late.

Manual Distraction

Answering a call or typing on a phone makes drivers take at least one hand off the wheel. Even small tasks, like changing the music or adjusting the volume, can slow down reaction time. If a pedestrian walks into a crosswalk, a driver with one hand on the wheel might not be able to stop or steer quickly enough.

Cognitive Distraction

Even hands-free calls can take up a driver’s mental focus. Talking, dictating messages, or having a conversation can make it harder to pay attention to the street. When a driver’s mind is focused on the phone call, they might miss a pedestrian crossing the street. This type of distraction can be just as dangerous as physically holding a device.

GPS and Navigation Apps

Many people use navigation apps to find their way, and while they’re safer than paper maps, they still cause drivers to glance at their screens often or make sudden lane changes if they miss a turn. This can confuse or startle pedestrians, especially if the driver suddenly moves near a crosswalk or sidewalk.

Social Media and Notifications

Some motorists look at social media feeds or respond to notifications at stoplights, continuing even after signals change. A green light might prompt them to accelerate without verifying the intersection is clear. Pedestrians expecting the right of way can be hit if the driver lurches forward while focused on a phone screen.

Role of Rideshare and Delivery Apps

West Valley City sees many rideshare and food delivery drivers. Since the app tracks trips and displays the next order, these drivers might pay more attention to their device than the road. With time-sensitive deliveries or passenger pickups, they might push boundaries of safe driving to complete tasks quickly.

Potential Solutions

While technology caused some of these problems, it can also help fix them. Some apps turn off notifications automatically when a car is moving too fast, or ask drivers to confirm they aren’t driving. Drivers who use these tools or turn off their phone notifications can lower the chance of accidents.

For pedestrians, it’s smart to assume that drivers might not be paying attention. Making eye contact with drivers and being extra careful at crosswalks can help protect you. But ultimately, drivers are the ones who are most responsible for preventing accidents.

If an accident does occur, a West Valley City pedestrian accident lawyer can highlight the driver’s mobile phone use and build a strong case for compensation.

Legal Consequences of Distracted Driving in Utah

In Utah, distracted driving is no minor infraction. Focusing on phones or other gadgets behind the wheel not only endangers everyone on the road, it also opens the door to serious legal repercussions. Understanding these consequences sheds light on how negligence is addressed and how pedestrians might use these laws to support a personal injury claim.

Citations and Fines

If a police officer sees a driver texting or using their phone in a way that is not allowed, they can give the driver a ticket. Although the fine might not seem very big, getting multiple tickets or being involved in a crash could lead to bigger penalties, like a suspended license. These records can be important if someone is hurt in a pedestrian accident.

Criminal Liability

In serious cases, where phone use or another distraction causes a deadly or major injury crash, the driver could face criminal charges like vehicular homicide. This doesn’t happen in every distracted driving case, but it shows how seriously the law takes dangerous driving.

Negligence Per Se

Sometimes, if a driver breaks a safety law, it’s called “negligence per se.” This means that if the driver was clearly breaking the law (like reading text messages while driving) and caused an accident that injured a pedestrian, the driver is automatically considered at fault in civil court.

This makes it easier for the victim to prove the driver was negligent, since all they need to show is that the law was broken and it caused the accident.

Impact on Civil Claims

Even if a driver doesn’t face criminal charges, their distracted driving can still be used as a reason for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The victim can use phone records or eyewitness testimony to show the driver was using their phone.

When combined with medical evidence of the pedestrian’s injuries, this can lead to an insurance settlement or a court decision that helps cover hospital bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering..

Comparative Negligence

In some cases, the pedestrian may share partial blame, like crossing against a signal. Utah’s comparative negligence rule means the pedestrian can still recover if their share of fault is less than 50 percent, but any damage award will be reduced by their fault percentage.

Demonstrating that the driver was significantly distracted can help shift or minimize blame away from the pedestrian.

Insurance Impact

Insurance companies often raise rates or limit coverage if a driver has been caught distracted driving multiple times. This can lead insurance adjusters to either fight hard against liability claims or try to settle quickly for a smaller amount. A good legal strategy can push back, using the driver’s history of distraction as a reason for higher compensation.

Enforcement and Awareness

To discourage phone use while driving, states have run ads and increased law enforcement efforts. The goal is to reduce accidents and deaths on the road. However, data shows that distracted driving is still common, which means pedestrian accidents may continue to happen. If you or a loved one is hit by a driver suspected of using their phone, an attorney can help gather phone records or assess how much negligence was involved.

Case Studies of Distracted Driving Incidents Involving Pedestrians

Many families in West Valley City have sadly experienced the consequences of distracted drivers hitting pedestrians. While every accident is different, these examples show how quickly a normal day can turn into a disaster.

In one case, a driver was changing the music on their smartphone at a busy intersection. Distracted for just a few seconds, the driver missed the red light and hit a pedestrian who was legally crossing with the “Walk” signal. The pedestrian suffered broken bones and head injuries. Investigators later found video footage from a nearby store showing the driver staring at their phone, clearly distracted.

Another incident occurred in a quiet neighborhood when a driver was texting for directions. The car swerved off the road and hit a teenager walking home from school. The teenager had to undergo months of physical therapy. The family used phone records and witness accounts to show that texting was the cause of the crash.

These examples show how even a brief distraction can cause lasting harm. If you think phone use or another distraction caused a pedestrian accident, gathering evidence like phone records or security camera footage is important for building a strong case.

Contact a West Valley City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hit by a distracted driver or your loved one has suffered serious injuries because of someone else’s carelessness, Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks is here to help you get the compensation you deserve. We understand how difficult the emotional and financial impacts of a pedestrian accident can be, and we are committed to guiding you with care and expertise.

Call (801) 500-4000 for a free consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and create a plan that works for you. Our lawyers, known for winning big settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases, have helped many families in West Valley City get back on their feet after serious accidents.

Don’t let someone else’s mistake ruin your future. Contact Flickinger Boulton Robson Weeks, and we’ll fight for your rights while you focus on healing and moving forward.