Cell phone use and texting messages while driving is leading to more serious car accidents nationwide and in Oregon state and Washington state.

Recent improvements and the spread of electronics like cell phones, text messaging, car DVD players and computer keyboards and printers in cars are leading to more car accidents nationwide. In my case load I certainly see the trend of these electronics making their way into automobiles. Driver use of electronics is certainly causing more accidents and a good car accident injury lawyer will do the leg work to assure that he gets all the evidence to prove his negligence case if the car crash involves cell phones or other electronic devices. These devices can distract drivers from paying attention to the road conditions and other drivers.

It is important for an injury lawyer to find out if the at fault driver was using a cell phone while driving. This is because a jury will usually award money damages for pain and suffering if it can be demonstrated that the at fault driver was callus enough to risk other’s health and welfare by driving and using pda devices like cell phones and text messaging. I just read an excellent article about this increasing problem in the February 12th, 2008 edition of the NY Times called “High-tech Invitations Take Your Mind Off Road.” The Times reports the NHTSA is finding that 80% of car crashes and up to 65% of near car accidents are caused in some measure by driver distraction.

In handling air bag cases and serious injury head on crash cases I see a trend that perhaps auto manufactures might be held liable for crashes involving modification they make to cars to help drivers use the pda devices while driving. I can also foresee punitive damages and more successful liability claims against drivers who drive and talk on their cell phones, use pdas while driving, laptops or use other electronics like GPS systems to help them navigate.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 2:21 pm and is filed under Electronics and Accidents. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.