Texting and Driving Accidents

With the rise of technology, we have also seen a rise in the number of accidents caused by drivers who text. If you were a victim of a texting while driving accident, you can count on Knoxville car accident attorney Mark C. Hartsoe to help you seek compensation for your injuries. Mr. Hartsoe has spent his legal career representing Tennesseans who have suffered personal injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence. He can provide the legal counseling and support you need to pursue compensation for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation on your car accident case.

Texting has become a major source of distraction for many drivers on the road. In the 2011 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 660,000 drivers admitted to using their cell phone or electronic device while driving. The study found that many drivers are texting more than talking on the phone. Text-messaging, or visual manipulation of a hand-held device, increased between 2010 and 2011, while cell phone use remained unchanged over the same period.

In the 2012 National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behavior (NSDDAB), one in ten drivers reported that they text or email while driving. Another 14 percent said that they read texts or emails. One-third of drivers admitted that they continue to drive while texting.

Texting while driving is particularly risky behavior for teenage drivers. In 2013, a study by the Centers for Disease Control found that teenagers who text while driving are more likely to engage in other dangerous motor vehicle behavior, thus placing themselves, their passengers, and others at greater risk of crash-related injuries or death.

If a motorists texts while driving, they can be held accountable if their careless actions result in a car accident. At least 39 states have taken measures to curb texting while driving by passing laws that ban it altogether, including Tennessee. Tennessee law specifically bans texting while driving for all motorists. However, the law itself may not dissuade drivers from texting. According to the NSDDAB, sixty-five percent of the drivers they surveyed in states that have banned texting while driving knew about the law, but texted anyway.

This disregard for the law suggests that while a driver may know that the state of Tennessee prohibits texting while driving, they may still engage in this behavior despite the inherent risks of taking their eyes off the road to text or otherwise using their hand-held device. This is contrary not only to Tennessee law, but also what the state requires of its drivers. In Tennessee, motorists must operate their vehicles in a manner that is safe for everyone on the road. A driver that is distracted by a text, or feels the need to text, violates this duty of care. If their negligence causes an accident, they can be held responsible for the injuries they cause.

Texting while driving accidents can result in serious injuries that range from whiplash to lacerations to death. If you were hurt by a driver who was texting while driving, you can seek compensation for your injuries. You can potentially recover for your medical care, lost income, and any property damage.

If a loved one lost his or her life because of a driver who texted while driving, you can possibly file a wrongful death suit against the careless driver. This will help you seek compensation for your relative’s medical bills, and for funeral and burial costs.

Knoxville personal injury lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe is a seasoned car accident attorney who is prepared to fight for you. Mr. Hartsoe is committed to helping his clients recover compensation from reckless motorists who have causes injuries and damage. With his years of experience handling personal injury claims in Tennessee, Mr. Hartsoe has a proven track record for results-oriented legal service. Call us today at 865-804-1011 or contact us online for a free consultation.