Lawmakers have tried in the past to pass a statewide texting ban, and they will try again in 2019. Sen. Kate Trophy McGee introduced SB 1165, which would make it illegal to text while behind the wheel unless in hands-free mode.
Why is this bill important?
Earlier in 2019, a driver admitted to texting while driving after he smashed into and killed Officer Clayton Townsend, who was conducting a traffic stop. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, cellphone usage caused hundreds of accidents in 2017. Here are the statistics:
199 crashes caused by talking on a hands-free device
454 crashes caused by talking on a handheld device
1,416 crashes caused by “other” activity with an electronic device
846 crashes caused by manually operating an electronic device
Of these crashes, eight were fatal and 960 resulted in injuries. Many also resulted in secondary crashes.
Texting and driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and can seriously delay response time. If someone brakes in front of a driver while he is texting, he is more likely to cause a rear-end collision. If someone turns in front of her while she is distracted by texting, she is more likely to cause a sideswipe or T-bone accident.
These types of accidents can result in serious injuries including whiplash, broken bones, concussions, spinal cord and brain injuries, and even death. Many victims are driving safely and not distracted by cellphones when they are hit by another driver. In most cases, they don’t even see the other person coming.
People who are injured in texting crashes often have to miss days and even weeks of work while they recover. This, plus their medical expenses, put them at risk of financial struggle and even of going bankrupt. That’s why it’s so important to reach out to an experienced distracted driving crash attorney right away. We work to get you a settlement that can help pay all those bills and cover your missed wages. The settlement is usually negotiated with the other driver’s insurance company.
If you were injured by a driver who was distracted by a cellphone, you may be entitled to a settlement even before a statewide law passes. The other driver may be responsible for your injuries because they were distracted and not driving safely.