Common scenario: you’re driving on I-64 or 264 in Virginia (VA) and you notice someone in a car talking on their cell phone or texting. A word of advice: move over to the next lane to avoid that driver.
It should go without saying, but using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of an automobile accident.
On May 8, 2009 the operator on the Boston-area MBTA transit was distracted while texting his girlfriend on a cell phone and a crash occurred injuring 50 people, according to The Associated Press. Boston transit officials banned the use of cell phones for operators while on the job.
The risk associated with cell phone use while operating a vehicle isn’t relegated to Boston. In December of 2008, a woman died in a car accident in Suffolk, Virginia (VA) on Holland Road while using her cell phone to call her bank, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
Virginia (VA) legislators already banned the use of cell phones by drivers under the age of 18. My kids were not fans of this law, but I know it’ll help keep them safe while on the road.
However, legislators did not extend the prohibition to adults. Del. Robert Mathieson of Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) introduced legislation to prohibit hand-held cell phone use by all drivers but it has not gained any momentum in the General Assembly.
The National Safety Council called for a nationwide ban on using cell phones while driving an automobile. This is due to a recent study indicating 6 percent of all car accidents can be attributed to cell phone use.
As a personal injury lawyer practicing for over 20 years, I’m always concerned about the safety of drivers. I wrote an article in March of 2009 showing that cell phone use in cars is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Considering the mounting evidence, its clear there should be further restrictions on using cell phones while driving a car.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.
PA
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
Comments for this article are closed.