Idaho Law Blog
By: Fred Lewis and George Casper
It is widely said that there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. This statement is incorrect. There are actually three certainties in life: death, taxes, and car accidents. Ever since Henry Ford created an assembly line able mass produce his Model-T at an affordable price for all middle-class Americans, there have been car accidents. There are, on average, about 10 million car accidents a year in the United States. This figure includes every type of car accident from the minor scrape to the colossal, car-totaling catastrophes that generally result in personal injury. It is said that the average person gets into 3 to 4 automobile accidents in their driving lifetime, so why increase the chances by using a cell phone while driving? Most everyone knows that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, but still do it anyways. This is especially true for the younger population, whom consider their cell phone to be their lifeline to society.
A study conducted in 2006 by David Strayer, Frank Drews, and Dennis Crouch on the effects of operating a cell phone while driving found drivers using cell phones “actually exhibit greater impairments (i.e., more accidents and less responsive driving behavior) than legally intoxicated drivers.” To put this in perspective, the most recent traffic safety data found that 32,719 people died from alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States. The phrase “using cell phones” includes taking phone calls, texting, and using hands-free technology. Texting was found to be the most dangerous from of cell phone use for fairly obvious reasons. The Idaho State Legislature enacted Idaho Code 49-1401A in 2012 in order to ban texting while driving.
The enactment of Idaho Code 49-1401A has decreased the number of car accidents due to driving, but it still has not deterred many from texting while driving. The amount of proof needed to find a driver guilty of texting while driving can be tough for police to compile on the spot. This is mainly due to the fact that police cannot search a driver’s phone without their permission and the law doesn’t account for voice activated uses of a cell phone that still need to be activated manually to start the function. Therefore, drivers to feel they can get away with the act.
Give Racine Olson A Call Today
When seriously injured in a car accident, it can be devastating to you, your friends and family, and your finances. Your family members or close friends may be injured in the car accident as well. If seriously injured, you will certainly miss work and you will most likely accumulate significant medical bills. In order to get the most for your claim, you need a passionate and experienced Idaho personal injury attorney to help guide you through the process. If you have been injured in a car crash for any reason, call our office today at (208) 232-6101. We answer all your questions for free.
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