According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, each day, eight people are killed in preventable accidents that were caused by distracted driving. Furthermore, it is estimated that there are about 1,000 people who are injured per day in distracted driving accidents. Due to the recent increase in distracted driving and the continuing temptation for drivers to text or talk on the phone while behind the wheel, the National Safety Council designates the month of April as distracted driving awareness month.
Distracted driving can take many forms. Any time a driver engages in an activity that removes their attention from the road, they are engaging in distracted driving. A few of the most common examples of distracted driving are:
- Talking or texting on a cell phone,
- Eating or drinking,
- Talking to a front- or rear-seat passenger,
- Inputting a destination on a GPS system, and
- Reading or playing games on a cell phone.
Father of Accident Victim Urges Companies to Prohibit Employees from Using a Cell Phone While Driving
According to a recent national news article, the father of a 12-year-old boy who was killed back in 2004 by a distracted driver has taken up the cause to fight distracted driving. Evidently, the man travels across the United States, urging companies to implement strict policies regarding employees’ cell phone use while driving. He believes that the laws against distracted driving do not carry a sufficient penalty to discourage the habit. However, if large companies ban employee cell phone use while driving, he believes that compliance will eventually creep into their personal lives. Currently, 20% of Fortune 500 companies have some kind of ban on cell phone use while conducting company business. Some even ban the use of hands-free devices.
Interestingly, studies have been conducted showing that a cell phone ban does not significantly reduce employee productivity. In fact, just 1% of people surveyed noticed a decrease in their productivity while complying with a total cell phone ban.
Maryland’s Law Against Texting While Driving
In Maryland, it is against the law to text while behind the wheel. In fact, it is also against the law to talk on a cell phone without a hands-free device. Those found to be in violation will face fines that increase with each subsequent offense. Additionally, evidence of cell phone use prior to causing an accident may be used by an accident victim to help establish civil liability.
Have You Been a Victim of Distracted Driving?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland distracted driving accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and the extent of your injuries, you may recover amounts for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and any pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident. The skilled injury attorneys at the Maryland-based law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have extensive experience helping clients seek the compensation they deserve. Call 410-654-3600 today to schedule your free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
As Autonomous Car Technology Advances, Legal Issues Arise, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 7, 2017.
The Continuing Problem of Drunk Driving on Maryland Roads, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 28, 2017.