What Happens When States Ban Texting at the Wheel – Not What You Would Expect – More People Than Ever Are Still Texting and There Is No Decrease in Texting Related Car Accidents
As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have litigated some horrific cases involving catastrophic injuries and deaths caused by or related to a driver texting while driving. Over the last few years, I have been a crusader with several families of victims I have represented to impose a texting ban while driving.
Last month, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joined the wagon and became the 35th state in the country to forbid texting while driving. A national survey representing the first government study on distracted driving released on Thursday, December 8, 2011 revealed difficulties faced by state law officials in discouraging texting and talking on cell phones while driving. In fact, despite the ban on texting, there have been more texting accidents recorded than ever. Although statistics indicate there were an estimated 3,092 deaths in 2010 caused by inattention to driving while texting, I can assure you that this figure greatly understates those that are catastrophically injured or killed while texting.
When I first became a crusader against the use of cell phones for texting while driving, I was attacked by many individuals and organizations on blog sites. If you are reading this, just ask yourself, would you answer a cell phone call while driving or do you ever text while driving? If you are honest, I bet you already know the answer. As a matter of fact, I was just driving down Interstate 80 and was almost run off the road by an 18 wheeler who passed me at a high rate of speed and I noticed that yes the driver was indeed on a cell phone. It is frequently stated in many trials that bad things happen to good people, but apparently the bans on texting while driving are not working without an ability to enforce the bans on texting while driving. We will have a law of words on the books without teeth. Actions always speak louder than mere words.
The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily have been committed to automotive and motorist safety since 1979. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, put a team of experienced car accident lawyers on your side. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
