Philadelphia Automobile Accident Lawyers: New Legislation to Decrease Accidents Caused by Texting While Driving

There is a chance that in the near future, drivers involved in automobile accidents may have to allow police officers to “textalyze” a driver’s cellphone to determine whether or not it was in use at the time of the accident.

The roadside technology, called a “textalyzer” would still protect the cellphone user’s privacy, by disallowing access to calls, photographs, numbers and more. The technology may also be able to determine if the cellphone was being used hands-free or otherwise.

The proposed legislation is called “Evan’s Law”. It is named in memory of a teenager who lost his life in an automobile accident where the other driver was using his cellphone, thus driving in a distracted and dangerous manner.

New York Senator Terrence Murphy is a public supporter of the proposed legislation, and feels as though the consequences of distracted driving are equally dangerous to drunk driving, which clearly has severe legal repercussions. The proposed consequences for drivers who refuse to allow their phones to be tested by the police would be to lose their driving privileges.

The ultimate goal of the proposed legislation is to decrease the amount of automobile accidents and injuries and deaths that occur annually, all at the hands of distracted drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information claiming that more than 1,150 people are hurt each day because of distracted driving. Also, statistics reflect that 9 people lose their lives daily for the exact same reason.

The CDC has conducted in-depth research on the issue of distracted driving. When it comes to talking on a cellphone while driving in the United States the percentage of drivers who admitted to this behavior was much higher than in other countries. For example, 69% of Americans said they had used their cellphones while driving (all within 30 days prior to being asked), whereas in Europe the numbers ranged from 20-59%. You can view additional information from the CDC on the dangers of distracted driving here.

Philadelphia Automobile Accident Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP

If you or someone you love has been injured by a distracted driver, the trusted Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Galfand Berger will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue compensation for your injuries. With offices located in Philadelphia, Reading, and Bethlehem, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call us at 800-222-8792 or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule a consultation.