Using Cell Phones and Driving Don’t Mix
Today, with the popularity of cell phones, talking with and texting friends and family is second nature to many people. People can be found talking on phones and sending text messages everywhere – on the street, in grocery stores, in concerts, and even while driving their cars. But responding to text messages at anytime or anyplace can be dangerous. Texting on a cell phone while driving can be very distracting, and anytime a driver is distracted for even a second or two, the chances of causing a serious accident are high.
A recent extensive study on the impact of texting while driving found that people who send text messages while driving a vehicle are 23 times more likely to be in a crash, or in a near-crash event, than their non-distracted counterparts. The researchers found that when sending a text message drivers took their eyes off the road for up to five seconds. The leader of the study observed that “if you’re not watching the road for almost five seconds, it’s a crash waiting to happen.”
If you have been injured by a distracted driver in an auto accident in Tennessee, the attorneys at Terry, Terry & Stapleton in Morristown, TN will aggressively represent you to recover full compensation for your injuries.
Contact us today by calling 877-489-5411. For the past 48 years, we have helped our clients recover some of the largest legal settlements and courtroom verdicts in East Tennessee and the Southeast, including Hamblen, Hawkins, Greene, Sevier, Knox, Washington, Sullivan and Cocke counties.
The Tennessee legislature has begun taking steps to make the Tennessee highways safer by making it a misdemeanor to “text and drive.” As of July 1st, 2009, text messaging was banned for all drivers under Tennessee Code, Title 55, Chapter 8, Part 1. The law states:
“No driver shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway while using a hand held mobile telephone or a hand held personal digital assistant to transmit or read a written message while such vehicle is in motion.”
This is a primary, misdemeanor offense, where officers can pull a car over just for texting while driving. The fine can be no more than $50 and the violator will have to cover court costs not to exceed $10. No points will be attributed to the driver’s license.
In addition, Tennessee prohibits drivers with a learner’s permit or an intermediate license from using a cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. A violation of this can result in a $100 fee as well as the possibility of the postponement of the eligibility for a driver’s license. School bus drivers are also prohibited from using a cell-phone while the bus is in motion and transporting children.
Being distracted while driving can turn a car into a deadly weapon, causing serious injury to others on the highway. Stay alert to those around you while driving, and don’t text and drive.
Contact Us Today
Call Terry, Terry & Stapleton today at 877-489-5411 or use our online contact form if you have been injured in a car accident caused by the carelessness of another person or company. We will help you seek financial compensation to put you back where you were before the accident. You won’t owe us any attorney’s fees unless we obtain a settlement for you.
