Drivers in Ontario break the law if they use any hand-held entertainment or communication devices while driving. Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and checking the screen of a cell phone could be a fatal mistake. Other driving distractions include drinking beverages, eating, operating a GPS, checking maps and choosing playlists. Any of these activities could distract a driver just enough to cause a crash.
Reportedly, data from 2013 indicates that distracted-driving accidents in Ontario, on average, were responsible for causing injuries every half hour. Authorities say a driver who focuses on the road is four times less likely to be in a collision than a distracted driver. However, hands-free or mounted devices are allowed, as long as they are not touched while driving. Penalties could be severe for violating the law — ranging from demerits, fines, licence suspensions, and even jail time.
To avoid the consequences of distracted driving, safety advisers suggest drivers to switch their mobile phones to silent or turn them off while driving. To avoid the temptation to read a message or answer a call, locking it in the glove box could help. A driver could also record an answering message to inform callers that he or she is driving, or use any of the apps that block incoming texts and calls. If a phone must be used, the driver must pull off the road in a safe spot before making a call, sending a text or entering a destination in a GPS device.
Victims of car accidents caused by distracted drivers caused their injuries are entitled to seek recovery of damages through the civil justice system of Ontario. However, proving that a driver was distracted can be challenging. For that reason, many victims seek the support and guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer to assist in their pursuit of financial relief for economic and noneconomic losses.
