Texting-While-Driving Tickets Double in New York

New York legislators enacted a statewide ban on texting while driving in July. According to a Reuters news report, in August 2011, officials issued 1,082 citations to drivers for using hand-held devices while driving. That was twice the number of citations issued in August of 2010. Texting while driving is now a primary offense, which means that the authorities can pull over a driver solely for using a hand-held device while behind the wheel. This crackdown on cell phone use while driving will hopefully decrease the number of distracted drivers on the roadway as well as the number of accidents caused by texting drivers.
It will be interesting to look at the data in a few years to see what kind of effect the new distracted driving law has had on New York’s motorists. This much is clear. Distracted driving is a serious problem in New York. The 2009 Accident Summary by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles reports that there were 47,713 car accidents that occurred due to inattentive and distracted drivers that year. That makes up 18.6 percent of all New York car accidents. Also, 119 of those accidents resulted in fatalities and 23,631 distracted driving accidents resulted in an injury.
Victims of distracted drivers may seek financial compensation for their losses by filing a personal injury claim. At-fault drivers may be held liable for damages including, but not limited to, medical bills, lost wages and benefits, past and future pain and suffering, medical devices, prescription drugs, and physical therapy costs. It is not always easy to prove that the other driver involved was distracted at the time of the crash. A skilled car accident attorney can use eyewitness testimony, police reports, and cell phone records to prove that the motorist was distracted at the time of the crash.
The experienced New York personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm have a lengthy history of representing car accident victims and their families. If a distracted driver has injured you or a loved one, please call our offices at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) for a free consultation. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES




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Source: Reuters