Tyler Injury Lawyers Help Victims Of Distracted Driving Accidents

Perhaps the most important rule of the road is to keep your eyes and your mind on the road. Drivers who allow themselves to be distracted or, worse yet, seek out distractions while sitting behind the wheel cause an inordinate number of accidents that inflict serious injury and wrongful death on innocent parties. Cellphone use, eating and drinking, personal grooming, reaching for objects, and carrying on animated conversations with passengers are just a few of the distractions that too often lead to disaster.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a distracted driver, trust your case to Dobbs & Porter. With a board-certified specialist in personal injury trial law on-site, we are prepared to manage your case professionally and pursue the full compensation you deserve.

How Distracted Driving In East Texas Takes A Heavy Toll

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 109,629 distracted driving crashes in Texas that claimed 455 lives and caused 3,086 incapacitating injuries in 2016. For the same year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 3,450 deaths from distracted driving across the country.

The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention” and calls texting while driving “the most alarming distraction.” The agency warns that sending or reading a text or an email takes the driver’s eyes off the road for at least five seconds and says that at 55 miles per hour, “that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

Still, during daylight hours, almost half a million drivers use their cellphones while driving. Teens, who are already high-risk drivers due to novice-level skills and underdeveloped prefrontal cortexes, are most likely to be at fault in distracted driving car accidents.

The Dangers Of Distracted Trucking Accidents In Texas

Even commercial trucks can cause distracted driving accidents. The drivers of semi-trucks, tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers are also capable of texting while driving. Sometimes they talk on cellphones, contributing to commercial truck accidents across Texas. To navigate their routes, they may use handheld navigation devices, removing their eyes from the road and causing a trucking accident. Truck crashes can contribute to life-altering, catastrophic personal injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death.

What Are The Cellphone Prohibitions In Texas?

Texas does not have a statewide ban on cellphone use while driving, but the following prohibitions are in place throughout the state:

• Drivers cannot send or receive electronic messages.
• Drivers with learner permits are prohibited from using handheld devices.
• Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cellphones.
• School bus operators are prohibited from using cellphones while driving children.
• All drivers are prohibited from texting and using handheld devices while driving in school zones.

Additionally, more than 90 municipalities have adopted cellphone ordinances. If you are traveling across the state, it’s hard to know if you are breaking the law if you make a call while driving, but you certainly aren’t exercising due care, even if you are not using a handheld device. Studies have shown that holding the phone is not as great a distraction as the conversation itself.

With every catastrophic personal injury case we undertake, our car and truck accident lawyers strive to deliver the highest level of professional representation focused on optimal results. We have a solid record of success in distracted driving cases and are ready to apply our knowledge and experience in your case as well.

Contact A Texas Distracted Driving Lawyer For Your Free Consultation

If a distracted driver caused an accident in which you were injured, you have a right to full compensation. Trust your claim to an experienced law firm that can deliver the professional representation you need. Call Dobbs & Porter at 903-310-1433 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.