DISTRACTED DRIVING
Cell Phone/Texting and Driving
Cell phone use or texting while driving is reckless, dangerous and can lead to serious motor vehicle accidents,
injuries and death. If you or a loved one have been injured and you suspect that cell phone use or texting and
driving was a factor, it is important to contact a lawyer and learn your rights for seeking compensation.
New Jersey is among nine states and the District of Columbia that ban handheld cellphone use for all drivers.
It's also one of 35 states that ban texting for all drivers, along with DC. In 2013, New Jersey made talking or
texting while driving a "primary" offense. The law bans drivers from manually composing, sending or reading an
electronic message while operating a motor vehicle. The ban covers phones, handheld electronic devices, iPads,
tablets and laptop computers. The law prohibits these actions while operators are actively driving and when
they are stopped at traffic lights.
Car Accidents and Cell Phone Use
Studies indicate that using a cell phone while driving impairs drivers in the same way as driving with a Blood
Alcohol Content of 0.08-and increases the risk of an accident by the same amount since drivers using cell phones
suffer from:
- Impaired visual scanning
- Inattention blindness-looking but not actually seeing up to half of the information they normally would
- An impaired ability to react appropriately to other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects in the roadway
- Impaired situational awareness
- Delayed reaction time-slower braking, steering, etc.
In a 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) it was reported that when drivers text,
they are TWENTY THREE (23) times more likely to have an accident. Every time a driver sends or receives a text,
their eyes leave the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, according to the VTTI. For a driver traveling 55 mph,
that would be the distance of a football field.
Contact an Experienced New Jersey Cell Phone/Texting While Driving Lawyer
We have the strong experience you need working with local police departments, investigators and insurance
companies. We will get the cell phone records, police reports and expert analysis needed to effectively develop
your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey motor vehicle accident, contact us today for a free
legal consultation at 732-303-6330 or email us at david@jarashowesq.com
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