Did you know that 8 out of 10 traffic crashes in Virginia (VA) are related to a distracted driving incident? It’s true. A quick look away from the road could cause a serious crash that could injure you, your passengers, or someone in another car. It’s a pity that many drivers can’t fight the urge to read or send a text while driving. It has become such a problem that the Virginia (VA) State government stepped in and enacted a texting while driving law that went into effect July 1st, 2013.
So will the threat of a hefty ticket still driver’s busy fingers and errant eyes? No one knows yet, as it’s still too early to have a significant study. But, VA State police did stop and charge 567 drivers for violating the state’s “texting while driving” law between July 1, when it went into effect, and Dec. 31. I wonder if this will change the way those 567 people drive from now on. It’s important to know that in addition to the safety risks associated with distracted driving, there are also the potential legal ramifications. If you cause a wreck while driving distracted, then you could be held liable for damages through a distracted driving wrongful death claim.
As Virginia (VA) car accident attorneys who have seen parents lose children, wives become widows and children become orphans I am well acquainted with the high cost of texting. Next time you pick up the phone to answer a text while driving, ask yourself this, “Isn’t a life worth more than a text?”
This is the same message that we at, Shapiro, Washburn & Sharppresent to young teen drivers at area schools. We participate in a nationwide program called “End Distracted Driving” and recently provided a presentation to Williamsburg, Virginia (VA) students that included videos of families and friends who suffered the death of loved ones in a variety of distracted driving circumstances.
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