7 Healthcast: Texting & Driving Dangers

Scott Mascetta, 26, spends most days at the Spaulding Rehab Outpatient Center in Medford.

Scott Mascetta
"Physical therapy has been pretty much my full-time job."

Last April, the car he was driving was hit from behind by a driver he says was texting.

Scott Mascetta
"The guy behind me had hit me full speed in excess of 50 miles an hour. He had never hit his brakes, because he was looking at his phone the whole time."

Along with a back injury, Scott also suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Scott Mascetta
"There isn't a single thing in my life that hasn't been affected by this. I've lost vision, some hearing, my sleep is terrible, my memory is awful."

And doctors at Spaulding say Scott is not alone. They have seen a rise in these types of serious injuries as the result of accidents caused by someone texting and driving.

Dr. Ross Zafonte, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
"It’s clearly a concern because you just can't pay attention to two things at once. We're seeing people with all sorts of multi-trauma. That's pelvic fracture, injuries to their neck, or paralysis, or significant injuries to their brain."

This driving simulator helps doctors evaluate a patients driving ability and it can show how distracted drivers have a much slower reaction time when they're behind the wheel.

And that reaction time can end up having serious consequences.

Dr. Ross Zafonte, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
"A traumatic brain injury can leave someone either unable to speak or having major difficulty even recognizing their family or friends or even problems walking or performing their own activities of daily living."

Scott knows his life will never be the same, and as he continues to recover, he hopes others learn from his story.

Scott Mascetta
"People have to understand that just from using your phone, if you take your eyes off the road for more than two seconds, even a second, you can change someone's life forever."

For additional resources and more information on brain injuries, visit the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts website.

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