The results of a recent study by Common Sense Media have many parents assessing their teens' use of mobile devices. The study consisted of 1,240 parents and their children aged 12 to 18. Fifty percent of these teens admitted they feel they are addicted to their smartphones, and 59 percent of their parents said their teens suffer from smartphone addiction.

The Problems With Smartphone Addiction

Smartphones have opened a new way of obtaining information and keeping us always connected to friends and family. Nearly three-fourths of the teens interviewed said they feel the need to respond immediately to texts and other notifications. When asked how often they are on their device, 78 percent of teens reported they check their smartphone at least hourly.

This addiction can cause troubles in real life interactions. Seventy-seven percent of parents say their teens do not pay attention when they are together because they are distracted by their smartphones. A CNN interview with Terry Greenwald, a custodian at an Alaskan high school, found smartphone addiction is causing safety concerns at his school.

"They often walk near the walls so they can move from class to class without looking away from their screens," he says, noting many students run the risk of tripping and falling down staircases due to distracted walking.

The need to respond to messages immediately is also causing a growing problem among teens who drive, creating more distracted drivers.

Smartphone Addiction and Driving Safety

Distraction.gov, the Official U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving states that ten percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the accident.

Another survey by Penn Schoen Berland for the Bridgestone tire company asked 200 teen drivers about their phone use. More than half admitted to texting and driving, but only occasionally, while 70 percent said they were likely to text when stopped at a red light.

Teens in the study know texting while driving is wrong, 70 percent of them have asked a parent or friend to stop texting while they were a passenger in their car. One-third of the teens said a passenger had asked them to stop texting and driving, but that they continue to text alone in the car.

Answering a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. The distance covered in that time when a car is traveling at 55 miles per hour is equal to the length of a football field. When answering a text becomes a compulsion, as it is with many addicted teens, it can lead to a much higher risk of auto accidents.

When Distracted Drivers Cause Accidents Compensation May Be Due

If the driver who caused your auto accident was distracted or impaired at the time or the crash, she may be liable for your injuries. The Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. helps injured Georgia residents file car accident claims and collect damages.

Contact our office today to schedule an appointment for a FREE consultation regarding your legal options after a serious accident: 404-474-0804.