Two years ago, California issued a statewide ban on cell phone use while driving – a ban that has been adopted by a number of other states in recent years. Now, the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at the University of California, Berkley has released a new study showing that the mobile device and driving law has reduced both the number of distracted driving fatalities as well as the number of serious injuries related to cell phone use.

Cell phone ban study: a closer look at the numbers.

texting-while-drivingThe researchers examined crash data from July 2006 to July 2008 (the two years prior to the cell phone ban) as well as crash data from July 2008 to July 2010 (the two years immediately after the ban). They found that overall, 22 percent fewer traffic deaths were reported over the second two years and that traffic deaths involving hand-held mobile devices dropped 47 percent. In addition, serious injuries caused by distracted driving fell significantly during the same period.

Should Texas adopt a cell phone ban?

Currently in Texas, only teens are banned from talking on the cell phone while behind the wheel and texting while driving. Commercial drivers are banned from using handheld devices under federal law, and using mobile devices is illegal in school zones. While a no-texting bill passed the Texas House and Senate last summer, Governor Rick Perry vetoed the law.
This new study, which was released in conjunction with the California Office of Traffic Safety, is convincing evidence that a texting law and a handheld device law could save lives and prevent serious injuries in Texas. However, some still worry that the new law takes away personal freedom and is difficult to uphold. As Texans weigh their options, more and more states are passing similar laws.
Have you been involved in a Texas car accident that involved texting and driving or talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel? You may deserve compensation for damages, including injuries, medical costs, and other losses. Speak with a Dallas car accident attorney today to schedule a free, confidential appointment by calling Rasansky Law Firm.

Texting while driving is unfortunately still legal in many parts of Texas.

UPDATE: Texas has FINALLY passed a law banning texting and driving.
On June 17, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoed legislation that would've put into place a ban on texting while driving. While almost EVERY other state has adopted these bans due to the risk of accidents while driving distracted, our governor sees it as "a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults."
There are currently two major distracted driving laws in Texas. The first one prohibits drivers from using their cell phones in school crossing zones. This ban applies specifically to hand-held cell phones. The other distracted driving law affects teenagers and bans them from using text messaging devices and cellular phones when they are driving.

Distracted driving.

textingwhiledrivingThe reason that many other states adopted bans on texting while driving is the amount of accidents it causes. Distracted drivers can be every bit as dangerous as drunken drivers and, because of that, many legislatures have acted to put a ban on using text messaging devices while driving.
If you're injured by somebody who is driving while distracted, even if they do not receive a criminal citation, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit in order to recover the money they owe you.

Is it negligence?

Many lawsuits center on negligence. Negligence means that someone did not exercise the appropriate care to prevent someone else from coming to harm. In automobile accidents, negligent driving is oftentimes what lies behind any lawsuit.
Accident attorneys represent clients who have suffered financial or physical harm, or both, because somebody else was negligent. If somebody was texting while driving or driving in an otherwise distracted manner, and if that person hurt you because of them not being aware of what was going on around them, we recommend that you speak with an attorney.
Lawyers that represent people who are injured because of the actions of negligent drivers oftentimes work on a contingency basis. This means that you don't actually have to pay them any legal fees unless they manage to win you a settlement from the other driver or an award from a jury.
While driving and texting may not be illegal all over Texas, is certainly dangerous. If somebody injured you because they were driving while they were distracted, there's no reason that you should have to pay for all of the medical costs and other costs associated with the injuries. Call us at (214) 617-1886 and let us explain the options available to you.

Texas drivers have to obey specific laws when they use cell phones while driving.

While Texas itself doesn't have a statewide ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving (yet), there are several restrictions that you should be aware of.

texting-while-driving

School Zones are HANDS-FREE!


Texas state law requires that hands-free cell phones be used in school zones. Additionally, all novice drivers are banned from using their cell phone (or any wireless communication device) while driving for their first year behind the wheel.
Many drivers don't realize this, but many cities, towns and municipalities in Texas have passed local ordinances regarding cell phone use while driving. In fact, over 100 cities have already banned texting and driving or enacted hands-free ordinances.
One of the contentious issues with cellular phone bans while driving is the issue of enforcement. People who oppose the laws generally argue that they are almost unenforceable (although the same was said about seat belt laws), as drivers can easily drop their cell phone whenever they get within sight of a police officer. Even thought something may be hard to enforce, does that mean society should just ignore it? Most people can agree that texting while operating a 3-ton hunk of metal is unsafe and should be against the law.
While you may be opposed to the thought of such a law right now, you might change your tune if someone you love was hit by someone who's texting while driving.

Why cell phone use while driving matters.

There are plenty of statistics to support the fact that distracted driving is a real danger. Using a hand-held cell phone has long been known to cause a great deal of distraction for drivers. Between having part of their peripheral vision blocked, talking to somebody on the phone, having one hand occupied (therefore, unable to manipulate the controls in the vehicle and dealing with the cell phone itself), drivers are in a position to cause real harm to those around them.
If you have suffered an injury at the hands of one of the many people who refuse to use a hands free cell phone in cars while they're driving, be sure to contact an accident attorney. You may find yourself able to file a lawsuit against that individual and avoid having to pay for the costs of their negligence.

Texas has a law that bans new teen drivers from talking on their cell phone while behind the wheel, as well as from texting and driving. However, these laws are notoriously hard to enforce, and many teenagers across the state have continued to use their mobile devices in the car illegally.
What can you do as a parent to stop your teen from texting and driving?

As with all kid issues, make sure your rules and guidelines have consequences if they are broken. Being a strict parent when it comes to mobile phones and driving could save a life.
Do you need a Dallas car accident attorney? Call Rasansky Law Firm today at (214) 617-1886.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for a national ban of the use of cell phones and texting devices while driving.

A particularly tragic accident August of 2010 motivated the NTSB board to turn to a federal solution. The accident took place August 5 near Gray Summit, Missouri. A nineteen year-old driver going 55 miles an hour on the highway was texting at an alarming rate with 11 texts in 11 minutes.
textingwhiledrivingAn 18-wheeler in front of the pickup slowed down due to construction on the road. The distracted pickup driver rear-ended the 18-wheeler. Behind the pickup were two school buses full of band campers which both slammed into the pickup truck one after the other.
The pickup driver was killed as was a fifteen year-old girl who was a bus passenger. The vehicles were so crushed together that campers had to exit the school bus one-by-one through an emergency window. Emergency responders commented that if a fire had started there would have been a much larger number of fatalities. As it was, as many as 40 different people were injured in the pileup.
Like a lot of states, Missouri has a law against texting for drivers under age 21, but the law isn’t being widely enforced. Now the NTSB is looking to the federal government to step in. NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman says it best, "No call, no text, no update is worth a human life."

There are bad drivers out there that pose a threat to everyone on the road. Beyond those drivers, there is another class of drivers who are so negligent in how they handle their vehicles that it's sometimes hard to comprehend. These drivers are some of the biggest threats to everyone and you have to watch out for them. Here are three of the worst types:

car signalCell phone users.

Even though there has been ample information provided to everyone about how dangerous it is to talk on a cell phone while driving, some drivers still insist on doing so. They may believe that they're too important to put down the phone or they may just not be particularly considerate individuals, but they are genuine threats. A driver who injures you while they were talking on their cell phone may be found to have been negligent by a jury.

Distracted drivers.

Smartphones, in-car televisions and other devices all compete with the road for the attention of these drivers. While these devices can be fun and make driving more enjoyable, these drivers turn their electronic devices into constant distractions. If you're in front of, behind or alongside a driver who is constantly looking at something other than the road, be wary. They may well be headed for a wreck and you might be the one that they get into it with.

Drunk drivers.

Drunk drivers are the biggest threats among all the different types of negligent drivers out there. They're deadly, to put it bluntly, and they're so unpredictable that there's really no universal way to deal with them. Take all the aggression, diminished intellectual capacity and attention problems of an intoxicated individual and combine it with 2 tons of steel and glass and you have an accident waiting to happen. The law might punish these drivers, but that doesn't really do their victims any good.
Finding a car accident attorney in Dallas that can help you file a lawsuit against these drivers is the best way to deal with the situations that they case. A personal injury lawyer may be able to file a successful lawsuit against one of these drivers and help you to get compensated via a jury award or a settlement. If you've been in a wreck and the driver was negligent, don't give up. Call an attorney and see if there's a case that you could file against them for compensation.

A bill that would make text messaging while driving illegal for all drivers in Texas was one of 23 different laws that were vetoed by Texas Governor Rick Perry this week.

UPDATE: Texting and driving is now ILLEGAL in Texas.
While Perry agreed that using a mobile device while driving is dangerous and irresponsible, he also said that the law banning such actions represented an example of the government telling adults what to do. Instead of a law to make texting while driving illegal, Perry suggested educating drivers through campaigns and driver’s ed programs regarding the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.
Currently, about 30 states ban texting while driving, while a handful have banned the use of all cellular devices while driving. Many states ban teen texting while driving – and more texting while driving laws are being passed each year across the country. Currently in Dallas, texting is only illegal when driving through a school zone. The proposed texting ban in Texas would have pinned a $200 fine on drivers found using their smartphones while behind the wheel.
Several studies have should that texting while driving greatly increases the chances of a car accident. However, new studies have shown that texting laws may be ineffective and that it can be difficult for police officers to enforce texting laws effectively.

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