Texas Texting While Driving Laws: Avoiding the Risks

This video features Justin A. Smith, a Medical Malpractice attorney based in Texas.

Attorney Justin Smith | 888-364-6814 | Free Consult

“One of the biggest things right now is cell phones and driving, texting while driving. It’s about the worst problem in Texas, and about the leading cause of wrecks in the state of Texas.”

Texting takes our eyes off the road and our minds off the task at hand, which is no small hazard when you are driving a vehicle many times larger than a human being. When you get behind the wheel, you have a responsibility to make safe decisions. Drivers who fail to uphold this responsibility can cause devastating crashes and severe harm.

Justin Smith is an attorney with Sloan Law Firm based in Longview, Texas. He primarily focuses his practice on catastrophic personal injury litigation, including auto collisions. He has also assisted clients with matters related to commercial litigation, civil rights, employment-related class actions, police brutality, and legal malpractice.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-364-6814 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Key Takeaways From Justin Smith:

Every state has laws regarding cell phone use while driving, including talking on the phone or texting on the phone. A study performed by the state of Texas proved that texting while driving is equivalent to being two and a half times over the legal limit for alcohol while behind the wheel.

Texas has county ordinances as well as a state-wide statute regarding texting while driving.

Texas texting while driving laws are more “patchwork” than in many other states due to the independent nature of the legislation from county to county. However, every state including Texas has strict distracted driving laws that can have severe consequences to life and property when violated.

In the time it takes to look down and read something on your phone, you may have driven hundreds if not thousands of feet.

Looking down to read something on your phone even for a few seconds can result in severe consequences for yourself and anyone on the road with you. Even if you only glance at your phone for a moment, you may miss a stop sign, traffic light, or hazard on the road which could cause a serious car wreck to occur, risking the life of anyone in your car or around you.

When a lawsuit is filed, attorneys will ask the accused party for their cell phone information.

After an auto accident, an attorney can contact the accused party’s cell phone carrier with a list of written questions regarding the date and time the accident occurred, and that cell phone carrier is legally required to provide accurate information. This can reveal whether a driver was on the phone or if texts were being sent or received before or during the collision.

Young people are particularly at risk for texting while driving.

Many high school students are subjected to presentations regarding safe driving practices, including not drinking and driving, or texting and driving, but Smith says it’s also up to the parents of these new drivers to be involved in the conversation. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding texting while driving has not yet reached the level of the stigma against drinking and driving, but he hopes to see a shift that way in the future. Cell phone carriers are helping by providing parental locks which can be turned on while the new driver is on the road.

If you suspect the at-fault party in a collision was texting while driving, call the police.

Regardless of the suspected cause and especially if you suspected the other person was driving distracted, if you are in a car accident, it is essential to call the police immediately after so they can arrive at the scene and begin an investigation. After calling the police, it is essential to seek medical treatment if you suspect you may have been injured. We are all responsible for how we operate our vehicles, and texting while driving is one of the most significant dangers for the modern day drivers.

To learn more, contact Justin Smith directly by calling 888-364-6814 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

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