A San Gabriel Valley car accident recently occurred in West Covina when a woman crashed into a church van, then drove over a center divider and hit another vehicle head-on. The female driver, whose name was not released, suffered a broken leg and was taken to an area hospital.
According to police, the woman is believed to have been talking on her cell phone while driving westbound on Cameron Avenue near West Covina High School. The church van, which she allegedly hit, was carrying four elderly women, all of whom complained of pain after the accident. Police say the drivers and passengers of the vehicles involved were not taken to the hospital.
Distracted Driving Laws
CHP officials say that California drivers are getting more citations for using handheld cell phones while driving in spite of the fact that it is illegal. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23123 (a): “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.”
Distracted Driving Statistics
From July 2008 to July 2009, the number of distracted driving citations rose from 7,779 to 12,761. Since the hand-held law became effective, CHP officials have issued a total of 173,616 citations for violations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,870 deaths and 515,000 injuries in the United States were attributed to distracted driving accidents in 2008.
Call a San Gabriel Valley Car Accident Lawyer
Distracted driving is a form of negligence, which means if you’re the victim of a distracted driver, you’re probably eligible to file a claim for compensation against the at-fault motorist. A knowledgeable San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney can advise you about your legal rights and options. Call 877-702-7274 to speak to one of our San Gabriel Valley car accident attorneys today.
