Texting while driving has been a concern for lawmakers and citizens since cell phones were introduced. Texting can cause drivers to lose focus on the road, be unaware of their surroundings and may lead to deadly car accidents. Recently, a woman driving in Newark, New Jersey, was accused by prosecutors of texting moments before she collided with a pickup driver who was killed in the accident. She was from Rahway, New Jersey, and was charged with causing a vehicular homicide while texting.
Authorities are concerned about the effects of texting while driving and other behaviors that can lead to impaired judgment on the road. In the case of negligence that leads to injury or death, criminal prosecution can be an important legal remedy for the societal costs of the accident, but a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit can bring direct compensation to victims or their families. Personal injury lawsuits help with bills that add up during long stays at the hospital and time away from work. Wrongful death lawsuits can help the ease the burden on families for things like funeral costs in addition to other bills.
Distracted drivers can lead to poor decision-making on the road. At high speeds, texting while driving can be very dangerous because of limited reaction times. Some drivers have a history of impaired judgment at high speeds. Sadly, the woman involved in this accident had an extensive record of arrests and tickets in the past.
Texting while driving is a very dangerous activity that reduces visibility of the road and peripheral vision. It can be a sign of a careless driver. When negligence like texting and driving leads to unfortunate results, compensation for a wrongful death or a personal injury can help some pay for soaring medical costs, engine repairs and loss-of-work.
Source: NJ.com, “Rahway woman accused of texting before fatal crash has history of driving troubles,” Thomas Zambito, Oct. 23, 2013
