Texting While Driving, A Deadly Combination
Were you or your loved one injured or killed as a result of the negligence of someone who was texting while driving? If so you should speak to a car accident or personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a potential legal claim against the driver that caused the accident.
As the number of drivers using cellular phones, Blackberrys and other hand-held communication devices increase, so do catastrophic injuries and fatalities related to accidents resulting from distracted drivers. Of particular concern to lawmakers and the public, is the increase in “DWT” – driving while texting.
“Text messaging,” or “texting” as it is commonly referred to, is the sending and receiving of short messages using a mobile phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Sending a message involves attention to a tiny screen and often the use of both hands, which distracts drivers who should be focusing on the road ahead.
Highly publicized accidents have been linked to driving while texting
Most recently, a deadly commuter train crash in the Los Angeles area last year that killed 25 people and injured 138 other passengers. The possible cause? The National Transportation and Safety Board announced days after the crash that the rail engineer at the front of the train had been sending and receiving text messages while on duty and was texting just 22 seconds before the collision.
Another crash, involving five recent high school graduates, was linked to text messaging as well. The 17-year-old SUV driver’s phone records were examined after investigators learned that she was making phone calls and texting minutes prior to the crash that killed the driver and four cheerleader friends who had graduated just days prior to the tragic accident.
At least eight states have laws in place which ban text messaging while driving and 34 more states have similar legislation pending. Laws prohibiting texting while driving will hopefully deter many drivers from this dangerous distraction.
However, drivers should be proactive and follow these guidelines provided by the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group:
- Avoid cell phone use while driving – including text messaging
- Be a role model for younger drivers in your family
- Be sure to follow your own rules
- If you receive an important call, or message, pull off the road
Minimize other types of distractions while driving such as:
- Eating
- Grooming
- Changing CDs
Should You Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer to Learn Your Rights
If you or a loved one has been injured, or killed by a negligent driver who may have been using a cell phone or PDA while driving, complete our questionnaire and speak to a personal injury lawyer or car accident attorney to discuss your rights.
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