Texting while driving is to this decade what drunk driving was to the 1980’s. While the laws against it are very lax at this point, and the stigma is still minimal, we can only hope that both will grow to the proportions they have reached for drinking and driving, because the tragic consequences are just as real and deadly. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was texting, our Waterbury accident attorneys are here to help.
More and more attention is being paid to texting and driving as the cause of serious accidents. Legislation is being proposed and passed in many states. At Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, we sue distracted drivers. We take this seriously because we know that it is all too common and we need to do everything we can to discourage it.
Texting While Driving Statistics and Penalties
A recent article on the Mother Jones website gave some interesting insights on texting while driving laws. According to the article, the median fine for the offense in the U.S. is a mere $100. Some states have no law against it. The smallest fine is $20.
Alaska leads the nation in taking texting while driving seriously, with a $10,000 fine and one year of jail time for a first offense. The fine here in Connecticut is $150.
The real consequences are much more serious, an unfortunately innocent victims are often the ones who pay the price, with their lives. Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to crash.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Connecticut – regardless of whether you were driving another vehicle or a pedestrian, you may have a claim for damages. Your claim is stronger if the other driver was texting while driving. Please call us today at (888) 244-5480 for a free case evaluation.
