With approximately 6,000 deaths and half a million injuries caused by distracted drivers every year, you would think that drivers would catch on and the number of drivers using their cell phones would decrease. However, according to a HealthyDay poll from November 2011, over one-third of drivers have sent or received text messages while driving. Eighteen percent of this number even admitted to doing it regularly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that the percentage of drivers who were using a cell phone on the road increased 0.09% in 2010. Their study also revealed that younger drivers between the ages of 16 to 24 were more likely to use a hand-held cell phone, and that men are more likely to drive while drowsy or after drinking. Laws have been enacted in many states throughout the nation in an attempt to quell the rising use of cell phones while driving, but the majority of the teenage population ignores cell phone driving restrictions.

Many teenagers even admit that texting is their number one distraction on the road. The National Safety Council has released statistics that show 1.3 million crashes are caused by cellphone conversations every year. In addition, 100,000 crashes are blamed on text messaging. Most of the anti-texting laws that have been passed in states still allow drivers to talk on their cell phones if they are using a hands-free device. But there are more than 120 studies of cellphone use that indicate the distraction caused by a phone conversation is not eliminated by using these hands-free devices.

It is difficult for law enforcement officers to enforce texting bans and other cellphone laws for several reasons. For example, drivers in the state of Virginia will be allowed to go free if they say they were dialing a phone number or using a GPS device on their phone. Maryland has a texting ban in place, but allows drivers to read text messages or enter phone numbers in their cellphones. Drivers can frequently get off the hook by claiming they were using their phones for a legal purpose and not for texting.

Texting is an addicting habit that has become commonplace in our society. However, this habit becomes exponentially dangerous when drivers are texting on the road. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Motorists found that motorists who use cell phones while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes that cause injury. Drivers on their phones are 18% slower to react to brake lights and they take 17% longer to regain their speed after braking.

For these reasons and more, an estimated 8,000 car crashes in America are caused by distracted, texting drivers every single day. When a car accident occurs, law officials can pinpoint if a driver was using their cell phone by checking electronic records of calls, texts and tweets. If you or someone you love has been injured because of a distracted driver, it is imperative that you contact an experienced car accident attorney who can help you prove that the other driver was acting in a negligent manner.

If you have suffered injury because of a texting driver, it is important that you take action to protect your rights. A knowledgeable attorney from your state can help you investigate your accident and can explain the laws regarding cell phone usage in your state. From there, you may be able to prove that the other party's negligent actions resulted in the accident and subsequently file a claim for compensation. A car accident lawyer can help you recover the maximum amount of compensation available under the law for your specific situation. It is vitally important to hold negligent drivers responsible when they break the law by texting or talking on their cell phones. By taking action, we can reduce the number of accidents on the road and create a safer driving environment across the United States.