One of the biggest problems on the road right now is cellphone addiction. Most states have made it illegal to drive with a handheld device. Tennessee is one of those states.
And yet, people continue to do it. They know it’s illegal, and they know that they might cause a serious car accident. But they can’t stop, and a big part of the reason is because they’re dealing with an addiction or a use disorder.
What are the symptoms of cellphone addiction?
A lot of people don’t even realize that they are addicted to the phone. They will regret that addiction after causing a distracted driving accident, of course, but they don’t look for the symptoms in advance so that they can be proactive. To help, here are a few of the most common ones:
- Feeling extremely anxious if the phone isn’t around or isn’t turned on.
- Worrying about missing out on online interactions.
- Losing time or getting distracted for far longer than intended.
- Having cellphone use negatively effect relationships or experiences.
- Taking steps to use the phone less and failing to do so.
- Seeing a significant negative impact in other areas of your life, such as your performance at work or at school.
- Using the phone even at times when it is illegal.
Addiction is not an excuse for distracted driving. These drivers cause serious accidents every day, including many fatal crashes. Those who have lost family members or suffered severe injuries themselves need to know exactly what legal options they have to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs, lost earning potential and much more.