Hurt in Houston- Driving While Texting
Have you been in a wreck with someone who was texting? They may be at fault.
Texas outlawed texting while driving in 2017. The law was a result of distracted driving accidents in 2016.
The penalties for texting while driving are minor. Cities can create stricter rules. Breaking the law in a school zone can increase penalties.
While the penalties are minor, the law gives police the right to stop a car if they see a driver texting. The laws also provide a case for negligence in an auto accident.
A driver who causes a crash while texting can face more severe penalties. The crime is a Class A misdemeanor if someone is injured or killed. The penalty is a fine of up to $4,000 and a year in jail.
It is impossible to text and drive safely. To text, a driver must look away from the road. Even briefly looking at a cell phone can be long enough to cause an accident. You can pass 100 yards or more reading a text at high speeds.
Texting is a distracted driving triple threat. There are three main types of driving distractions
- Visual
- Mental
- Physical
Visual distractions make you look away from the road. To text, you have to look at a screen. Often it is your cell phone. Some cars have screens that show text messages.
Mental Distractions
Mental distractions make you think about something other than the road. If you think about something other than driving, it can make you miss visual cues. That makes even audio texting dangerous.
Physical distractions take your hands off of the wheel. Texting can be a physical distraction if you touch your phone to read or write messages.
Contact us if you have been in a wreck with a distracted driver. We offer no-obligation case evaluations
