Every driver knows the importance of keeping their attention on the road, yet distractions remain one of the leading causes of crashes nationwide. Among these, texting while driving stands out as particularly dangerous because it combines multiple forms of distraction at once. A single glance at a phone can take a driver’s eyes, hands, and focus away from safely operating a vehicle. These are the conditions that create the perfect storm for serious accidents.
At Matera & Manley, LLP, we feel it’s our duty to educate our fellow New Yorkers to prevent such accidents from happening. Our attorneys are here to teach you how texting and driving accidents happen and how we can protect your rights in the event of a crash.
The Causes of Texting and Driving Accidents
The ultimate cause of texting and driving collisions boils down to distracted driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies three main types of distracted driving: visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Texting and driving combines all three, making it especially dangerous.
Visual Distractions
Looking down at a phone takes your eyes off the road. Some drivers assume they can still “see enough” while typing, but even a moment of lost focus can lead to disaster. Voice-to-text is no safer if you’re still glancing down to tap buttons or check for mistakes. Safe driving requires your undivided attention on the road ahead.
Manual Distractions
When a driver’s hands leave the wheel, control of the vehicle is compromised. Texting, adjusting the radio, or even adding sugar to coffee may seem harmless, but these actions reduce the ability to react quickly. Keeping both hands on the wheel is essential for safe driving.
Cognitive Distractions
Driving also demands mental focus. A cognitive distraction occurs when your mind drifts from the task at hand. Daydreaming can be dangerous enough, but texting and driving is worse. It pulls your attention in three directions at once: your eyes, your hands, and your thoughts are not focused on the road. This triple distraction is why texting while driving is one of the leading causes of serious accidents.
Evidence of Texting and Driving Causing Accidents
Texting and driving continues to cause devastating harm on U.S. roads. In 2023 alone, 3,275 people were killed in distraction-affected crashes, and nearly 1 in 5 of those killed were pedestrians or cyclists. Researchers estimate that about 6.4% of drivers are using a phone at any given moment, putting everyone around them at risk.
Additionally, studies confirm that texting creates some of the highest crash risks ever measured in real-world conditions, multiplying the chance of a collision several times over. These numbers tell a simple story: texting and driving is not just risky. It is one of the most preventable causes of serious and fatal crashes.
Seeking Compensation After a Texting and Driving Accident
Victims of distracted driving crashes are entitled to compensation for their losses. The at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for covering damages, which typically fall into two categories:
-
Economic damages: medical bills, lost wages, lost benefits, and other measurable financial losses, both past and future
-
Non-economic damages: emotional distress, reduced quality of life, pain and suffering, and other hardships (varying by jurisdiction)
A skilled attorney can calculate the full extent of these damages and fight for the settlement you deserve.
Matera & Manley, LLP: The Car Accident Attorneys You Need
If you or a loved one has been injured by someone who was texting and driving, you shouldn’t be left to shoulder the costs of someone else’s recklessness. The attorneys at Matera & Manley, LLP, have the experience to hold distracted drivers accountable and secure fair compensation for victims.
Schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys today. Let us help you pursue justice and get the financial recovery you need to move forward.
English 
Spanish