A report released by Motus, a vehicle management platform, indicates that the rate of car accidents has increased significantly alongside the rate of smartphone use. In its 2018 Distracted Driving Report, the company says smartphone ownership grew to 77 percent in 2017 from just 55 percent in 2013. During that same period, the number of car crashes in West Virginia and across the country rose to 6.4 million from 5.7 million. That represents a 12.3 percent increase.

The report drew on Motus’ data from the world’s largest retained pool of drivers. On average, these mobile workers take 49 percent more vehicle trips than any other workforce category. The report makes an estimate that mobile workers are typically distracted for 1,200 miles of travel each year.

Other findings in the report include that people most commonly use their phones while driving between two o’clock and four o’clock in the afternoon. This is a time when the mobile workforce is moving about. The report also found that people in the U.S. drove an estimated 107 billion miles in 2017 while distracted by their phones. However, Motus claims that its technologies lower car accident rates by 35 percent on average by using individualized training modules, insurance verification, vehicle record checks and proactive assessments.

Phone-related distractions can lead to car accidents. Someone who suffers injuries due to another’s distracted or negligent driving might be entitled to compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses or other damages. An attorney with experience in personal injury law might be able to help by identifying parties who may have liability or by negotiating a settlement with insurance companies.