Distracted Driving Roundup
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared April “Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” and state police all over the country are using this opportunity to crack down on drivers who are texting while driving. According to the Idaho State Journal, Idaho law-enforcement officers will be looking for distracted drivers as part of the NHTSA’s enforcement campaign.
Although certain states ban both talking and texting, Idaho law only punishes texting while driving, so officers will need to catch drivers looking at their cell phones before they can write a ticket. The campaign is long overdue; according to the Idaho Department of Transportation, 274 people died in distracted-driving crashes in the past five years, and the state averages about 15 crashes each day that police say are texting related.
Drivers whom police catch texting will receive $81.50 tickets. If the texting is particularly unsafe, like at high speeds, drivers could face a misdemeanor inattentive-driving charge on top of the ticket.
If you were injured in an accident with a distracted driver, and their insurance company is offering you less compensation than you need to pay for medical bills, give us a call.
At the Law Offices of Johnson & Lundgreen, we are committed to helping victims recover fair compensation for their injuries. To schedule a free case evaluation with an accident lawyer in Meridian, call us at 208-376-5256.
Local Business Owner Takes Action To Prevent Distracted Driving
KTVB News reports that a business owner banned texting for his drivers before the state law took effect. After reading about the dangers of talking on cell phones, the company rule changed to include hands free devices. If drivers are caught using their cell phone in any capacity while the truck is in gear, the owner fines them $500.
It’s often tough for businesses to ban cell-phone use, because drivers need to stay in touch with other employees and clients, but it’s a smart move to ban texting, because any distracted driving accident leaves the company open to personal-injury lawsuits.
The local non-profit Focus On The Drive holds events to raise awareness about texting and driving, and helped the company implement the ban.
Police Attribute Semi-Truck Accident To Distracted Driving
KXLY News reports that a truck recently fell on its side, spilling a load of canola seeds and blocking an Idaho road. The cleanup took several hours. Fortunately, no other drivers were involved in the accident, and the truck driver did not suffer any serious injuries.
Police believe that the driver was distracted at the time of the accident, but they have not cited him. It’s not uncommon for commercial truck drivers to become distracted during their long hauls. Fatigue, GPS systems and cell phones are the most common issues for truckers.
Reckless and negligent drivers are dangerous, though. If you’ve been involved in an accident with one, then you are probably facing serious, life-changing injuries. You could qualify for compensation for your injuries, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
If you are wondering whether or not you should file a personal-injury lawsuit to seek additional compensation, call us today at 208-376-5256 to schedule a free case evaluation with an accident lawyer.
