By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Texting while driving has become a major safety issue for teens and adults alike glued to their telephones while driving. Talking on a mobile phone can be distracting in that the driver’s mind is occupied with the conversation rather than the road, other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Texting is a bigger problem because drivers are looking at the mobile phone screen. Texting can be blamed for a number of deadly automobile crashes during the past few years including the following:
In Amarillo, Texas, Stephanie Phelps, who was driving her 4 month old daughter, ran a red light into a cement truck. Both Stephanie and her daughter died as a result of cell phone use and driver inattention.
In Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Janet Indermuehle was speeding and talking on her mobile phone when she lost control of her vehicle and crashed. Janet and two teenagers died as a result of this accident.
In Florida, Stephanie Phillips and Heather Hurd were killed when a trucker was reportedly distracted while text messaging on his mobile phone while driving on U.S. 27.
In Glendale, Arizona, Ashley Miller and Stacey Stubbs died in an automobile accident after Miller reportedly drove across the center line while she was text messaging.
You can read about other incidents of driver distraction and cell phone use / text messaging at Text Messaging and Cell Phone Use While Driving Is Dangerous.