It is a beautiful and clear day in Denver, Colorado. Pretend that you are waiting peacefully in your car at a red stop light. All of a sudden, you are pushed forward into the intersection by a car that ran into the back of your vehicle. Due to the accident, you sustain several injuries that will impair the rest of your life. The crash was the result of a negligent driver who was changing the radio. This story sounds dramatic, but a recent article indicates that these distraction-based car accidents happen all too often.

In a local story, a couple and their three children were driving on a highway home from a vacation in Colorado. In West Texas, a vehicle coming from the opposite direction swerved into their lane. The accident killed the parents and paralyzed two of the children. The wreck also killed the wife of the other motorist.

What caused this terrible head-on collision? Reports say that the motorist was distracted as he looked for a DVD in his vehicle. The uncle of the children commented on the incident: "I would want people to know that in that split second of not paying attention, they could devastate a family."

Sources say that the abundance of personal electronics has added to the distracted driving problem. Various awareness groups are trying to draw attention to the issue. The United States Transportation Department indicates that drivers are 23 times more likely to crash if texting while driving.

The National Transportation Safety Board encourages all states to ban cellphone use by motorists. Reports explain that there were more than 3,000 deaths in distraction-related accidents in 2010.

This story brings to light some of the dangers of distracted driving. Unfortunately, there are so many careless motorists out on the road that have no problem risking lives for a simple text message. If you have been injured by an inattentive driver, you may want to speak to an attorney about your recovery possibilities. You could receive compensation from the wrongdoer for any harm sustained.

Source: San Antonio Express-News, "Distracted driving gets attention," Michelle Koidin Jaffee, Feb. 13, 2012