A Missouri car accident is often attributable to distracted driving or some other form of negligence. An increasing number of collisions are said to be caused by the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle. Each time an individual gets behind the wheel of a car in our state, he or she owes a duty of reasonable care to passengers and others in or near the roadway. One 2-year-old boy from Meta was critically injured in a single-car accident on the afternoon of Feb. 11, and he was airlifted from the crash scene to the Women's and Children's Hospital at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

The crash occurred on U.S. 50 West in Jefferson City when a 30-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle as she was talking on her cellphone. Her son was riding in the rear seat and was not wearing a seat belt. The woman's car struck a rock outcropping off the side of the road, and the unrestrained boy was thrown against the interior of the vehicle.

It was not reported if the mother suffered any injuries from the car accident, though she too was not wearing a seat belt. No information was immediately available concerning any citations issued for the incident.

As this car accident clearly shows, distracted driving often has serious consequences. Talking on a cellphone, texting while driving and other distractions can cause a driver to lose focus of the road in front of him or her. When drivers take their eyes off the road, even if just for a second, the results can be devastating. Hopefully this car accident and others like it will encourage drivers in Columbia and throughout the state of Missouri to keep both eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel at all times. It could go a long way toward preventing serious accidents.

Source: Newstribune.com, "Meta boy hurt in JC accident," Bob Watson, Feb. 12, 2012