Sending or receiving a text message in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when driving is a reckless action that often leads to a serious RI car accident with injuries or fatalities. Any motorist texting while driving in Rhode Island is threatening their safety, and the safety of their passengers and other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on the roadway.
RI texting while driving injury attorney
If you were injured in a distracted driving car accident in Rhode island, it is crucial that you retain a RI texting while driving accident attorney. A good Rhode Island texting while driving lawyer will help you get the compensation that you deserve. Make sure that the Providence Personal Injury attorney or Rhode Island car accident lawyers are also known as RI texting and driving personal injury attorneys.
Five million vehicle collisions every year
There are well over five million vehicle collisions every year with a high number involving texting while driving. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that one out of every four vehicle accidents in 2011 involved cell phone calls and texting. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) claims distracted driving is a leading cause of many accidents on the roadway. Those numbers translate into more than 1000 motorists and passengers suffering injuries, and nearly 10 fatalities every day.
“The percentage of drivers text-messaging or visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014. Since 2007, young drivers (age 16 to 24) have been observed manipulating electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers. (NHTSA)” Distraction
The Problem with Texting while driving in Rhode Island
Distraction when operating a motor vehicle can involve three specific actions, including:
• A visual distraction when you divert your eyes from the roadway
• A manual distraction when you remove your hands from the wheel
• A cognitive distraction when you avert your attention away from driving
Unfortunately, texting involves all three of these distractions, which significantly increases the potential of being involved in a serious accident. In addition, the driver’s attention is often diverted for a significantly long time when sending or reading a text message. While diverting the eyes and sending a text message the vehicle at 55 mph can travel more than 300 feet, or the distance of a football field without the driver’s attention on the roadway.
Motorist that send or read text messages while driving are often compared to a drunk driver due to their inability to keep the vehicle on the road. The risky driving behavior behind the wheel is often exacerbated by inexperience, especially in drivers 20 years or younger. Sending or receiving text messages when operating a vehicle increases the potential of being involved in a crash by more than 2300 percent. This number is important because driving remains the leading cause of death for young individuals involved in vehicle crashes.
Avoid Texting While Driving in Rhode Island
Avoiding a “texting while driving” car accident is not difficult when the proper steps are taken. Drivers challenged to stop the habit of texting need to take specific action. The tips below can help.
• Put your mobile device out of your reach
• Turn the cell phone to silent or turn it off to avoid hearing the ring or feeling its vibration
• Download software applications designed to prevent drivers from sending or receiving messages when operating the vehicle
• Refrain from returning text messages
• Refrain from texting those you know are driving
• Assign a designated “texter” inside the vehicle that can respond to messages and answer calls while you drive
Using the steps above can make you a safer driver and prevent you from injuring others if you use your phone when driving. In addition to facing criminal charges, the distracted driver is often sued by those who have been injured or suffer damages caused by their negligence. Victims of serious car accidents involving injuries or death caused by a distracted driver often hire Rhode Island vehicle accident personal injury lawyers to file lawsuits against the responsible parties.
A Warwick, Rhode Island Police officer resigned from the police Department after allegations of irregularities in a car accident police report came to light. Other Warwick Police Officer have been implicated in an alleged cover-up of the Motor Vehicle collision. The incident in question involved a head on crash in which a Warwick Police Officer, motorist was allegedly texting while driving at the time of the mishap. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or killed as a result of the RI distracted driving automobile accident. In fact, no one even received minor injuries or whiplash in this pick-up truck and car crash.
A 911 call- a pickup truck crash
It all started when a 911 call was made to the Warwick RI police reporting “a pickup truck driving on the wrong side of the road on Warwick Avenue near Benny’s and Pilgrim Parkway.” Projo article A couple of minutes after the 911 call, there was a head on wreck caused by a motorist operating his vehicle on the wrong side of the street.
“According to that first police report, Zachary Davis, 31, Warwick, drove a pickup truck “on the wrong side” of Warwick Avenue near Toledo Avenue on December 17 just before 10 at night, and hit a car driven by a Riverside woman. No one was injured, but Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen McCartney said his department reviewed the incident after the driver of the car asked about the details in the first police report.” WPRI
Police report cover-up | texting while driving
After a detailed investigation into the Warwick wrong side of the road accident via an internal police investigation, new details emerged concerning the incident and the responsible motorist “drinking just prior to the crash.” wpri The second report also states that Davis was heard in an audio recording to the Warwick Police Department “slurring his words and thick tongue speech while speaking with the dispatcher.” Also added to the second report in the “Driver Distracted” field was a statement that Davis “acknowledged using his cell phone for text messaging just prior to the crash.” wpri
“A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence or other embarrassing information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, deception is used.” wikipedia
texting while driving
After a detailed investigation into the Warwick wrong side of the road accident via an internal police investigation, new details emerged concerning the incident and the responsible motorist “drinking just prior to the crash.” WPRI
The first police report did not indicate that the pickup truck operator was texting at or near the moment of the crash nor did it indicate that the at fault motorist had been drinking alcohol prior to the head on collision. The first police report did not indicate that the wrong side of the street driver was distracted at the time of the auto collision. After a detailed investigation into the Warwick wrong side of the road accident via an internal police investigation, new details emerged concerning the incident and the responsible motorist “drinking just prior to the crash.” Id.
Wrong way and wrong side of the road accidents are a major problem in our society today.
What makes these accidents even more tragic is that they are often caused by reckless driving, distracted driving or drunk / impaired operation of a motor vehicle. “Wrong-way collisions occur relatively infrequently, accounting for only about 3 percent of accidents on high-speed divided highways, but they are much more likely to result in fatal and serious injuries than are other types of highway accidents.” NTSB
The Government lists the following types of distracted driving including texting while driving:
“Texting Using a cell phone or smartphone: Eating and drinking, Talking to passengers, Grooming, Reading including maps, Using a navigation system, Watching a video, Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player” Distraction
“In 2010, near Munfordville, Kentucky, a truck-tractor in combination with a 53-foot-long trailer, left its lane, crossed the median, and collided with a 15-passenger van. The truck driver failed to maintain control of his vehicle because he was distracted by use of his cell-phone. The accident resulted in 11 fatalities.” NTSB
Post by Rhode Island Personal injury Attorney, David Slepkow who is Located in East Providence RI