As the busy summer season on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (NC) fast approaches make sure you keep your eyes on the road and away from the urgent text or email of your cell phone. Texting while driving is quickly becoming a very unsafe practice that is causing accidents resulting in injury or death especially among young drivers.
Frequently backed up and often at a stop and go pace the traffic along US 158 Bypass can make driving tedious and requires your full attention. However, anyone vacationing in Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Corolla, Manteo or any of the Southern Islands like Hatteras or Ocracoke will tell you it is well worth the effort.
Texting is starting to outstrip voice communications among users of wireless devices, CTIA — The Wireless Association, reported in 2008. CTIA, an association representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers, said 75 billion text messages were sent in June 2008 alone. It’s likely a few of those messages were written from behind the wheel of car doing 50 mph down U.S. 158 Bypass.
Law enforcement and North Carolina legislators say texting while driving is a distraction that leads to vehicle accidents. There are multiple bills before the General Assembly this year that would make it illegal for anyone to use their mobile phone’s digital media — texting, e-mail, camera, Internet, music, games and whatever else comes along — while operating a vehicle on streets, highways or parking lots. Both bills propose a $100 fine and court costs as punishment. No points or insurance surcharge will apply if a person is convicted.
“When you are focused on something that you use like a typewriter while you are driving, that is a no-no,” said state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, primary sponsor of one bill. “Multi-tasking is difficult when you are driving, especially with young drivers.”
As a law firm that specializes in personal injury we want you to be safe. If you have been injured in an accident and need the help of a lawyer please contact our office. Our firm may be able to help you recover medical expenses and loss wages. Our injury law firm maintains a NE NC office in Elizabeth City, and our main law office is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Four of our law firm’s injury lawyers are licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Virginia, and beyond. For over a decade we have been helping North Carolina residents, and those suffering injuries or wrongful death in NC.
Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia, with offices in northeast NC and Virginia Beach (VA), practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. The firm’s website is: hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits three injury law blogs: Virginia Beach Injuryboard & Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a video library covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects.
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