Cell Phones, Texting and other Potential distractions that can cause you to get rear ended
A number of tests have demonstrated that text messaging or using a cellular phone while driving a car can be even more dangerous than driving drunk, especially in terms of getting rear ended. In fact, quite a few auto accidents happen, and thousands of people are injured or killed each year, simply because motorists move their awareness from the highway to operate a mobile device.
Although some states have passed laws either prohibiting or restricting such conduct, others have still to act. In answer to this threat, the U.S. Department of Transportation passed DOT 14-10 on January 26, 2010, which forbids truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while driving. This federal measure is effective immediately and is applicable to drivers of interstate buses and trucks with a weight of more than 10,000 pounds. Violators could be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties as high as $2,750.
What to do if rear ended? To learn more about efforts by the U.S. DOT to combat driving distractions, look at www.distraction.gov. Even where particular laws and regulations banning this practice have yet to be passed, motorists may still be held accountable when they negligently cause accidents when they’re texting, talking on cell phones or are otherwise distracted. As technology advances and automobiles become loaded with interactive features like GPS, navigation and satellite radio, the chance of getting rear ended and serious injuries will undoubtedly increase.
If perhaps you were hurt in a car crash caused by a driver who was text messaging, chatting on a cellular phone or otherwise preoccupied, it is best to speak to an accident lawyer for a free preliminary consultation. Choose a law firm with years of practical experience handling automobile accident cases and will fight hard to recover the compensation you need and deserve.
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