Text messaging while driving -- can you afford it?
Earlier this year, the Washington State Legislature passed a law which bans text messaging while driving Also known as, "DWT" -- "driving while texting". RCW 46.61.668 -- Sending , Reading, or Writing a Text Message While Driving -- imposes a $101.00 fine on anyone caught text messaging while driving. In 17 other states, teenage drivers are banned from using cell phones at all while driving. Oregon is trying to pass a bill by their legislature which would impose a $720 fine if someone is caught texting while driving.
Driver inattention is a leading cause of car accidents. If you are busy texting, dialing your cell phone, changing a radio station, eating or using your blackberry, you are at risk of having an accident. You never know when the car ahead of you will abruptly stop and, if you aren't aware and vigilant, you will likely rear-end that person.
If you rear-end someone while text messaging, their insurance company or attorney will subpoena your cell phone records immediately prior to the accident and you'll be found negligent in the accident, your insurance company will have to pay out big bucks and your insurance rates will go up or your policy will be canceled. What a heavy price for text messaging!
Nationwide Insurance Company provides some of the following statistics about DWT. From the numbers, you can see that using this technology is certainly a generational thing.
- 46% of drivers age 16 and 17 admit to texting while driving
- 37% of drivers ages 18-27 admit to texting while driving
- 14% of drivers ages 28-44 admit to texting while driving
- 2% of drivers ages 45-60 admit to texting while driving
If you've been involved in a car accident and you believe the other driver is at fault due to using a cell phone or text messaging, read our article, "What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?"
This information is brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in automobile accidents due to another driver's negligence. We will work to help you recover compensation for your damages.
Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.
