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.
