I tend to feel completely naked and venerable when I go some place and I don’t have my cell phone on hand. I used to talk so much on the phone that I went out and bought a hands-free blue tooth headset to make chatting all the easier. The total costs of the equipment (my phone, the headset, and some downloads — upgraded annually) and my monthly service fees were coming up to around $1300 a year. That cost may seem like a lot but it doesn’t compare to the astronomical costs resulting from the bad behaviors that excessive talking can lead to. The other day a lady rambling on her cell phone found out with the help of my friend just how expensive that bad behavior can be.

So, What Happened?
My friend is an all around great guy, but he generally does not pay much attention to what he’s doing, not that it was his fault, but you know, things happen when you aren’t paying attention. A couple of nights ago, he was walking home from the corner store. He was barely one block away from his house when the tables were turned on him. A lady yapping on her cell phone and not paying attention made a sharp right turn at a 4-way stop without stopping and sent my buddy flying over the hood of her car as he was crossing the street. Local bystanders screamed, other drivers stopped and got out, and it seemed the whole neighborhood came to his aid.

It took him a few seconds to sit up and still feeling dazed he yelled to the driver “What the hell were you thinking??” I’d really like to know what exactly she was thinking. Serious. It’s surprising to me how oblivious people can be. I mean, we all at some point or another day dream and get distracted, but this is the cause of most avoidable accidents. Thanks cell phone!

Rescue Crews to the Rescue!
The blood on his face and hands caused quite a stir. They couldn’t tell where he was bleeding from but he had a deep gash on his head. The police, fire department, rescue helicopter, and ambulance all came to do their part. The police questioned bystanders and the driver. The fire department cut though my friends clothes and his thick leather belt with their industrial clippers and did their routine injury checks. The rescue chopper circled over head and flashed their bright lights over the scene. The ambulance came and drove him to the hospital. Lucky for him he landed on his backpack; swollen feet and hip contusion were among his injuries. He stayed at the hospital for a few hours as they did their various tests and racked up one hefty bill.

My friend is at home and recovering, but it’s gonna take him awhile to resolve all the issues. It could have been a lot worse, I’m just glad he’s OK otherwise…

An Expensive Phone Call
All this because someone thought it was more important to talk on the phone than pay attention to their driving. Unfortunately for her she will be paying a hefty price for it:

Victim’s immediate expenses:

• Ambulance Transport: $600 - $1000+
• Emergency Room: $150 - $250
• Stitches to Head: $200
• Pain Killers : $50 - $100

Estimated Total: $1000 (low)

Driver’s additional expenses:

• Auto Repair: $200 - $1000
• Towing: $300+
• Increase in Insurance Premium: $2000 - $4000
• License Suspension/Loss of Mobility: $200 - $400
• Police Fines (Reckless Driving, Failing to Stop, etc.): $1000 - $2000+
• Legal Counsel: $500 - $2000

Estimated Total: $4,200 (low)

At a minimum the driver in this accident is likely to pay $5200 for all the basic expenses involved in negligent driving caused by her cell phone. But of course the possibility of getting sued shoots that number up to Jupiter.

Victim’s Long Term Expenses (possible liabilities from litigation):

• 15 days minimum of work lost (8 hours x 15 days x $16 ): $2000
• Victim’s Legal Counsel Expenses: $2000 - $4000
• General Medical Expenses: $5500 - $12,000
• Long Term/Unrecoverable Injuries (current rate of pay per year x number of lost years): $210,000
• Emotional Trauma/Loss in Productivity: $20,000 - $200,000

Estimated Total: $239,500 (low)

There’s really no price that can be paid to restore a person to full health and to get their life back the way it was. To sum it up the driver looks like she can be liable for a minimum of about $250,000 upwards to $500,000 depending on the actual details as they come about through litigation. Hell, that’s one expensive phone call! (and it doesn’t even include the cost of service)

I want to send a wake-up call to people who feel the need to chit-chat on their cell phone while driving. Personally, it pisses me off as I don’t make or answer calls when I’m driving. This is just another sad example to learn from, and not just for cell phone use but in life in general…

Bad things happen when you don’t pay attention, and you’ll pay for your negligence.

Be smart, and if anything don’t be the idiot on the cell phone causing accidents!