Texas Lawmakers Ponder Total Texting Ban (308)

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Saturday, April 20, 2013.

As distracted driving races to the forefront of many accident reports throughout the state of Texas, more legislators are working to develop a statewide ban to prohibit texting while driving. Scores of Texans suffer severe harm, such as a brain injury, during these distracted driving car accidents, most of which could have been prevented if drivers would just put down their phones.

Texting while driving is prohibited in individual municipalities throughout Texas; San Antonio adopted its regulation in 2011. Since that time, 1,400 citations have been issued to prevent drivers from driving distracted. News reports show that 24 other cities in Texas have also passed texting regulations, even though a statewide ban is still pending.

Victims involved in the devastating accidents say they fully support the texting while driving ban. One San Antonio man endured a traumatic brain injury and six broken bones as a result of his accident, which occurred in February 2012. That victim, a police officer, was nearly killed by a distracted driver who looked away to type a text message. The at-fault driver was traveling at about 50 mph when he struck the policeman.

Texas legislators are currently considering legislation that would make reading, writing or actively sending a text while driving illegal. Drivers must pull over to the side of the road or execute a full stop in order to legally text. Shocking statistics support the widespread ban; 453 Texans died in 2012 thanks to texting and driving, while another 18,400 were seriously wounded. Nationwide, about 20 percent of accidents involve a distracted driver.

Drivers and passengers that have been injured in distracted-driving accidents can file civil suits against the at-fault driver. Money from the civil suit could be used to pay for medical bills and ongoing treatment. Financial compensation could also be obtained for emotional distress, pain and suffering and other claims.

Source: My San Antonio, “Texas House will eye drivers’ texting,” Eva Ruth Moravec, April 14, 2013