Distracted driving is a leading factor in traffic accidents and fatalities in the United States, claiming 3,477 lives in 2015 alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates drivers using hand-held cell phones are four times more likely to cause serious injury while driving. Texting drivers are twenty-three times more likely to injure or kill.
Most individuals cannot make it home without texting a friend or checking some form of social media. Statistics of traffic accidents and fatalities in the United States caused by texts or cell phone use while driving says one thing: “it can wait” until you get home.
Conviction of a cell phone use, portable electronic device use, or a texting violation will include a fine and also result in points being added to your DMV driving record. Under New York State law you cannot use a hand-held mobile telephone or portable electronic device while you drive. This includes holding the device, talking on the phone, composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages, viewing, taking, or transmitting images, and playing games.
Even though an increasing number of studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is distracting and dangerous, most states have not barred handheld phones, and none have banned all drivers from using hands-free devices. Hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth and speakerphones, are not efficient methods. Driving is a cognitive task employing visual, mental, and physical attention. If you are on your phone and driving, you are unable to fully pay attention to the road, and driving distracted is driving impaired. Driving impaired can cost your life or someone else’s life-make sure that your next text message or call is not your last.
If injured by a distracted driver, you could be entitled to money damages. To find out it's best to contact a lawyer.
Attorney Sanford Rubenstein can be reached at (718) 522-1020 or 1-800-HURT for a free consultation.
