A new study analyzed data associated with 100,000 vehicle operators in the United States as part of distracted driving awareness month. Cambridge Mobile Telematics identified that phone distractions in particular are a major source of car accidents. When it comes to car crashes distraction is far too frequently a factor.

One in 4 drivers who were involved in a recent car crash were distracted just a few moments before the accident. Distracted driving also occurred in up to 50% of the car trips that ultimately led to a car crash. With car crashes, distraction is a factor that can almost always be prevented, and yet it’s a leading cause of serious car accidents and injuries.

These alarming statistics come after the fact that the National Safety Council shares that traffic fatalities in the U.S. have increased by 14% since 2015. This represents the biggest two-year increase in the United States in five decades. Over the course of 18 months, the data for 100,000 drivers was analyzed and it was determined that the most distracted drivers are 2.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a typical driver.

They are also 5.8 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than the least distracted of drivers. The typical duration of a phone distraction for every 100 miles is 3.17 minutes in states where there are laws against handheld devices and nearly 4 minutes for those states that do not have any rules associated with handheld devices. The typical length of a distraction was 135 seconds, long enough to pull your focus from the road and cause a serious car crash.

With car crashes distraction should never be a major factor since it’s completely preventable, but if you have already been hurt in such a crash, you need to consult with an experienced lawyer. Distraction should never claim lives or cause injuries, but if this has already happened to you, you may have recourse by speaking with a lawyer.