The number of smart phones being sold and used in the state of California has greatly increased in recent years. The introduction of Apple's new iPhone 4 is just one indicator of the public's constantly growing and improving market for cell phones. Unfortunately, the rise in popularity of text messaging has led to the alarming trend of texting while driving. This has become so commonplace that sending text messages while driving was outlawed in the state of California on January 1st, 2009. Even before the use of electronic devices are taken into account, car accidents injuries occur every day around the country, particularly in California, which has one of the highest numbers of registered vehicles in the country.

Even short texts or text searches on mobile devices can cause accidents. One example would be someone texting the words "find lawyer" on their phone. Even these two short words can distract a driver enough to cause a service accident.

Texting while driving creates a distraction and leaves drivers at risk for incapably reacting to their surroundings. Some statistics have concluded that texting while driving can make getting into an accident twenty-three times more likely than if the driver had not been texting. According to the January 2010 report by the National Safety Council, around 1.6 automobile crashes (30% of all crashes that occur in this country) are caused by drivers talking or texting on cell phones. This shows if these drivers would've just waited a few moments until they had come to a complete stop or until they had made it to where they were going to text or make phone calls many of these accidents could've been prevented.

Texting while driving is indeed inherently dangerous, and in the last few years the number of injuries and deaths attributed to people choosing to text while driving has increased dramatically. The carelessness and lack of attention that comes with this habit can put these drivers at fault in injury and wrongful death lawsuits. The practice is now found under the phrase "distracted driving" in many articles. This activity is not only criminal in the state of California (as well it should be elsewhere in the opinions of many), its effects can be devastating.

Drivers must practice safe driving if the frequency of these accidents is to be reduced. Simply keeping one's eyes on the road can help prevent any number of devastating collisions, yet one cannot pay attention to the road if he or she is paying more attention to his or her smart phone.