Distracted driving causes numerous accidents every day across the country. Compared to 10 years ago, there are more distractions for drivers today, in part due to technological advances.
Before these advances, distractions for drivers included:
- eating while driving,
- putting make-up on while driving, or
- changing the radio station.
After technological advances, new distractions include:
- talking on a cell phone or smartphone while driving,
- texting on a cell phone or smartphone while driving,
- putting information into a GPS, or
- putting in a DVD in the media player.
New Jersey drivers are not allowed to talk or text on their cell phones or smartphones while driving. New Jersey is one of the few states that ban drivers from both texting and talking on their cell phones or smartphones while driving, unlike New Jersey’s neighboring state, Pennsylvania. However, NJ drivers may use a hands-free device to talk on the cell phone.
When NJ drivers text or talk on their phones while driving and cause car accidents or car-pedestrian accidents, they may face serious consequences criminally and civilly.
Drivers who text while driving and cause fatal car accidents may be charged with vehicular homicide. Last year, a woman, who was allegedly texting, crashed into a truck in Essex County, NJ and killed the truck driver was charged with vehicular homicide. *Source: www.nj.com (Rahway woman was texting and driving when she caused fatal crash, prosecutors say)
In addition, drivers, passengers and/or pedestrians injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by NJ drivers who were texting while driving may file civil lawsuits against the negligent drivers.
In a NJ car accident lawsuit, the injured party, also called the plaintiff, may recover financial compensation for the damages and injuries they sustained. Some of the damages an injured individual may recover are:
- past and future medical expenses,
- past and future lost wages,
- out of pocket expenses related to the car accident, i.e., rental car expenses, prescriptions, hired help, etc., and
- pain and suffering.
Studies have shown that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. Despite the fact that it is dangerous and illegal to do so, drivers continue to text while driving in Cherry Hill, Camden and Marlton, NJ.
Most drivers who text while driving think that they won’t cause a car accident. The more they text and drive without incident, the more they falsely believe that nothing is going to happen when they text and drive. Sadly, drivers don’t come to the realization that they can cause a car accident until it is too late.
Help After Being Injured in a NJ Texting While Driving Accident
If you or someone you care about was injured in a texting while driving accident in Cherry Hill, Marlton or other parts of Southern Jersey and you want to explore your legal rights, call Philip T. Ciprietti, a NJ personal injury lawyer, to schedule a FREE consultation. 800-281-8695