Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Texting-While-Driving Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes sending or reading a text message while operating a motor vehicle as “by far the most alarming distraction” leading to death, injury and property damage on our nation’s highways.
Beyond forming a crime, texting-while-driving is negligence the victims of which are entitled to be compensated for their injuries and financial losses.
Texting-While-Driving Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT"), texting while driving creates a 23 times greater crash risk than driving while not distracted.
According to the DOT, sending or receiving a text removes a driver’s eyes from the road for approximately 4.6 seconds, which, when traveling at 55 miles per hour, is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
Further, due to immaturity and lack of experience behind the wheel, younger drivers are more likely to text while driving with 23% percent of a 2011 AAA Foundation survey respondents between 17 and 26 admitting that they or their friends texted while driving.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation revealed that 13,000 crashes occurred between 2005 and 2010 involving 16 to 19 year old distracted drivers resulting in 60 fatalities. 
Texting-While-Driving is a Crime in Pennsylvania
Because of the dangers posed by distracted driving, it is a crime in Pennsylvania to use a cell phone,  IPAD, or portable computer to send, read or write a text message, instant message, email or other written communication while operating a vehicle. 
Because texting while driving is a form of distraction that a driver chooses, texting accidents comprise reckless or negligent driving. 
If a texting driver causes death, injury, or property damage, crash/collision victims have the right to seek compensation for their losses.
Handling Texting-While-Driving Cases
Most critical to prevailing in a texting-while-driving accident case is conducting an independent investigation to determine how the accident occurred including obtaining cell phone records to ascertain whether a driver was texting at the time of the crash.
The Schain Law Firm works closely with a network of medical experts, economists and life-care planners who can fully document the extent of a texting accident victim’s injuries and financial losses.