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August 12, 2021 by Greg
Texting while driving is against the law in Texas and leads to many accidents. Yet, people continue to habitually text on their cell phones while driving on the roads.
Some think there is no harm in typing a quick “Driving, can’t text” or “Give me a sec.” But the reality is in the five seconds that your eyes are off the road and focused on what you a typing. Your vehicle could have traveled the length of a football field without you paying attention.
Yes, texting is dangerous while driving. The results can and often are deadly. While this extremely dangerous practice of texting and driving is against the law in Texas and most states, it may be one of the hardest offenses to prove.
Driving under the influence can easily be detected through smell or a breathalyzer test, but proving someone was texting and driving at the time of an accident that may have caused you injury is difficult to prove.
However, it’s not impossible, and with an extensive accident investigation, proving texting can be done.
If eyewitnesses or police officers aren’t on the scene of the accident, hiring an attorney is the wise next move if you suspect the at-fault driver was texting at the time of the accident.
Consulting or hiring a personal injury attorney to protect your rights and interests is always the best practice in all accidents. Still, it’s especially important when you suspect texting while driving was involved in an accident.
An attorney can obtain a subpoena of the driver’s phone record, which will come with a timestamp of all calls and text messages on the party’s phone.
Always remember that if you have been hurt or injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you must obtain any evidence to help you prove your case. That means gathering eyewitness statements, accident reports, and, most importantly, obtaining cell phone records. Your right is to request and review evidence proving the person was texting while driving.
The latter may be hard for an ordinary citizen, but for a lawyer, obtaining the cell phone records can be done by demanding the same from the defendant in written discovery or issuing a subpoena.
Defense attorneys usually fight to keep secret cell phone records. The reason is that an experienced personal injury attorney in Houston may be able to prove other distractions that contributed to the other driver’s negligence. Smartphones are now used for directions, news, games, and many other uses that take a driver’s eyes off the road.
In some instances, a careful study of the data records can show cell phone use other than texting around the time of your accident. Such evidence can be used to prove negligence.
After a car collision, one driver may say something helpful to prove fault. This can be something as simple as “I am sorry I was looking at my phone.” Or “I was on the phone and not paying attention.”
If the other driver made a similar comment to you, that generally is an admission that you can repeat at trial to show the other driver’s conduct as an admission against interest or present sense impression.
It’s against the law to text and drive in the majority of the states in the country. Texas became the 47th state to ban texting and driving when House Bill 62 became law on September 1, 2017.
Still, law enforcement in this state and all others has been slow to crack down on texting while driving. Nearly 30 percent of all car accidents in Texas involve someone texting or talking on their cell phones while driving.
Texting while driving significantly increases your chances of having an accident. The real dangers of texting and driving are shocking. Texting is just a form of distracted driving.
In this country, over 1,000 people are injured daily because of distracted drivers. The National Traffic Safety Administration says texting and driving can be more dangerous than driving with a .08 BAC. We all know how dangerous a drunk driver can be.
Call an auto accident attorney in Houston for a free consultation if you were hurt in an accident with a texting driver. Our personal injury law firm in Harris County, Texas, has held negligent drivers responsible for over three decades! Contact us for a free case review.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
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Since founding the Baumgartner Law Firm in 1985, Greg Baumgartner has established himself as a leading personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas, with a focus on representing severely injured accident victims and families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. His commitment to excellence in legal advocacy has earned him recognition from prestigious organizations, including Super Lawyers and the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and others. With decades of experience, Greg is consistently peer-reviewed and holds a preeminent rating, reflecting his dedication to achieving justice for his clients.
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