Posted on February 12, 2018

texting and driving Texting and driving is a serious type of distracted driving that comes with huge consequences. In just 2015 alone, distracted driving, such as texting and driving, claimed the lives of 3,477 people involved in vehicle accidents. This type of distracted driving is extremely deadly because it turns a driver’s attention away from the roadways. Research has shown that sending or reading a text can take your eyes off the road for up to 5 seconds or more, which is about the length of a football field if you are traveling at 55 mph. What happens if you have been involved in a serious accident involving texting and driving? Do you have a case against another party?

There have been many accidents involving both teenagers and adults where the distracted driver swerved into another lane and killed a driver instantly. Though these accidents are clearly just that – accidents – the act of composing text messages while driving is a reckless act that could lead to serious injuries and death. 38 states in the U.S., as well as the District of Columbia, have made texting while driving a crime. Many state’s laws vary, but one thing is clear: sending text messages while driving is completely dangerous.

Texting and Driving: Criminal and Civil Penalties 

If a driver is caught texting while driving, they could face criminal charges depending on what happened at the time of the accident. Did a driver swerve into another lane, hitting another driver head-on, leading to a fatality? These charges could consist of reckless driving or vehicular homicide, and are sometimes charged as harshly as drinking and driving. It can also lead to enhanced civil liability when you bring a personal injury claim. This could lead to economic damages to pay for things like medical expenses, lost wages and more, as well as punitive damages, which are those that are meant to punish the driver for their reckless actions.

If you have been involved in a car accident involving texting, you may have a case against another driver when they have failed to abide by the rules of the road and you have been injured as a result. Every driver on the roadways owes you a duty to protect you from harm to the best of their ability and abide by the rules of the road. If they have blatantly taken their eyes from the road, then, to text and drive, you could be able to file a claim for compensation against them.

At Accident Law Group, if you have been involved in a serious accident, you may have a right to compensation. We can help you if another party has acted with outright negligence in your case. Call us to find out how we can help you with your claim at 602-262-4254.

Sources

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=31178