Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
A New Hampshire mother was cited last week after she took a picture with her cell phone of a man standing on the side of the road wearing an Armageddon-esque sign.
According to WCVB.com, Michelle Tetreault was driving with her teenage daughter when the pair spotted the man standing in a median near a stoplight. Tetreault was stopped when she took the picture of the man, who was wearing a sign warning: “Repent! The end is near!” What she didn’t know was the man was involved in a sting operation to catch drivers disobeying New Hampshire’s newest cellphone law which prohibits drivers from using phones or electronic devices while driving. Tetreault was subsequently ticketed $124. In a statement to WCVB.com, Tetreault, whose former brother-in-law died in a crash caused by a texting driver, said she never uses her phone while driving but was unaware that the law also applies to vehicles at stop signs or lights.
Law enforcement has gotten incredibly crafty when it comes to cracking down on distracted driving. Under Massachusetts law, drivers are allowed to talk on their mobile devices, however they are not allowed to text, send emails or surf the web. Drivers who are under18-years-old are banned from using any mobile device for any reason while driving.
Is Distracted Driving Really A Problem?
Simple answer, yes. Many drivers on the roads today can tell you they have seen other drivers engage in texting while driving, or may admit to doing it themselves. According to the CDC, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2012. Each year, this number rises. An additional, 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2012, a 9% increase from the 387,000 people injured in 2011. Unsurprisingly, 20% of all motor vehicle crashes result from some form of distracted driving.
Distracted driving remains a serious threat to public safety, killing and injuring tens of thousands of people a year. If you or a loved one has been injured as result of a negligent driver using his or her cell phone, we can help. At Altman & Altman, LLP, our experienced team of Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyers has successfully handled thousands of car accident injury cases, including accidents involving cell phone use. While no amount of money will ever compensate for your injuries, victims of personal injury and their families may be entitled to financial relief through a Personal Injury or a Wrongful Death Lawsuit. Distracted driving cases can be difficult and confusing to navigate on top of injuries and medical expenses, but our dedicated attorneys will carefully walk you through each step of the process. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, and get you the compensation you deserve.
Read the full article on WCVB.com.
Additional information cited from CDC.com.
