Cell Phone Texting and Driving

If you drive in the Dallas area, there is no doubt that you have observed other drivers using their cell phones while driving.

Is texting while driving illegal in the state of Texas?

Only if you are under 18. If you are over 18, it’s not illegal. However, all drivers are banned from texting and driving while in a school zone.

Why is texting while driving so dangerous?

Seeing another driver talking on a cell phone or texting while driving not only irritates the other drivers around you, but also puts you and your fellow motorists at risk of getting into a car accident.

Driver inattention is arguably the leading cause of car accidents in the Dallas & Fort Worth area.  Similarly, distracted driving poses just as serious a driving risk for motorists.  Studies have shown that using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle can drastically raise the risk of causing a car accident to as much, or more, than if that same driver were legally intoxicated.

Is texting and driving illegal in other states?

Some states have already passed laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.   More than 100 cities and counties have laws in place right now with fines up to $500 for using a cell phone while driving. These laws may pertain to use of all wireless devices while driving, or just a ban on texting.

Legal liability for texting a driving.

Some lawyers are also testing the legal boundries when it come to texting and driving.  Attorneys have filed lawsuits against, not only the driver, but also against the person who actually sent the texts.

The use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle can also create criminal liability for the driver.  In one case, a woman was criminally charged with texting while driving in an accident that caused the death of a bicyclist.  Officers charged the driver with reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

The Solution….

The solution is simple:  Do not text while driving.  It can wait.  And, if you have to talk on your cell phone, have a hands-free device or blue-tooth ready.

For more information regarding wrongful death and personal injury cases in the Dallas & Fort Worth area, contact Attorney Robert C. Slim, at (214) 321-8225, for a free consultation.