Is It Illegal to Use Your Cell Phone While Driving?

There really isn’t a state left where it’s legal to use your cell phone while driving. It’s illegal to text or talks on your phone while you’re behind the wheel. In fact, most states have even made it illegal to use any handheld device, whether it’s through Bluetooth or not.

The reason so many states have enacted laws against cell phone use is because it’s so dangerous. More crashes are caused by distracted driving than anything else. These accidents can be very dangerous. Too many people suffer serious injuries in these crashes.

Since these accidents are 100% preventable, it’s very frustrating when people drive while distracted. Texas car accident lawyers represent clients all the time who were injured by someone texting and driving.

What Are the Cell Phone Laws in Texas?

A couple of years ago, Texas passed a new law regarding texting and driving. This new law makes it illegal to text or send a message on any kind of handheld device while driving. This includes reading messages or posts on apps, social media, or your phone.

For the most part, this new law only carries financial penalties. For a first offense, the fine is anywhere from $25 to $99. For subsequent offenses, these fines increase to $100 to $200.

The new law also makes it a Class A misdemeanor to get into a car accident while using your cell phone. If you get into a crash and are found to have been using your cell phone, you can be fined up to $4,000. You can also be sentenced to up to one (1) year in prison.

Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t deterred by this new cell phone law. There are even more strict laws in many of the larger cities throughout Texas. A lot of these laws make it illegal to even have your phone in your hand while driving.

Despite these laws, the number of people who continue to use their phones while driving is increasing. This means that more people are injured in distracted driving accidents in Texas.

Why is it So Important That People Not Text and Drive?

People don’t realize just how dangerous texting and driving is. If you’re texting while driving, you’re 23 times more likely to get into an accident. Even if you just look at your phone for 2-3 seconds, it’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

If your child was playing ball on that football field, you probably wouldn’t want people driving across the field while blindfolded. You really have to put things into perspective when it comes to preventing car accidents.

There are about 3,000 people killed every year in distracted driving crashes. Half a million more people are injured in texting and driving accidents in the country every year. States are passing strict cell phone laws to try to get these numbers down as much as possible.

In Texas, there are over 100,000 accidents a year caused by distracted driving. These crashes caused over 3,000 serious injuries and hundreds of deaths. Sadly, these numbers go up more and more every year.

How Can a Lawyer Help if You’ve Been Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident in Texas?

If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, you should hire a car accident lawyer. They can help you get compensation for your injuries. If the other driver was texting and driving, they’ll more than likely be held responsible for the crash.

Your lawyer can demand that you receive the following types of damages:

• Medical Bills
• Lost Wages
• Pain and Suffering
• Property Damage
• Disability

Your Texas car accident attorney will work hard to get you justice. They’ll use different sorts of evidence to prove the other driver was using his cell phone while driving. Some of this evidence includes:

• Cell phone records
• Statements by witnesses
• Video recordings of the accident
• Testimony by both drivers

If you can prove the other driver was using their phone while behind the wheel, you should have a good chance at recovering the compensation you deserve.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Texas

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should call an experienced car accident lawyer in Texas. If the other driver was texting and driving, they are breaking the law. This can be used as proof that they’re responsible for your injuries.

Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. You can have a skilled car accident lawyer at Brent Coon & Associates review your case and let you know what it may be worth.