Posted on March 09,2018 in Uncategorized

The issue of distracted driving isn't new. Since cars took to the road, drivers' attention has wandered away from the road and caused accidents. Since people began talking to passengers, eating, shaving or even reading a newspaper, the danger existed.

However, technological advances in recent years increased instances of distracted driving, with serious and deadly consequences. The technology that should make life easier also involves complicated maneuvers to use, which creates significant distractions. In 2017, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released research regarding technology and distracted driving.

What the AAA Foundation discovered

The foundation evaluated 30 vehicles that rolled off the assembly line in 2017. Each of them included "infotainment" systems that require a driver's mental, visual and sometimes tactile involvement in order to use. During the evaluation, drivers had to perform the following actions while in motion:

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 Posted on February 07,2018 in Uncategorized

Staying connected has often been a goal of many people. With loved ones and friends living far apart, it is not unusual for parties to want to find ways in which they can easily communicate and stay updated on recent personal news. With social media and apps within arm's reach, constant communication has never been easier.

Cell phones can easily allow you and others to conduct many different activities simply using a device in the palm of your hand. If you need to ask a quick question to a friend, you can simply send a text. If you need to give a general update about your day, you can post to social media. Even if you need to check your bank account, you can likely access an app that gives you information regarding your balances. Though this may seem convenient, when is cell phone use too much?

Cell phone addiction

You may initially think it humorous to think about, but cell phone addiction is a real problem. While you certainly know that setting electronic devices down and giving your attention to other activities is beneficial, some parties may find this action incredibly difficult. If a person exhibits at least four of the following signs, he or she may have a cell phone addiction:

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 Posted on January 09,2018 in Uncategorized

Sadly, as you may be aware, Texas regularly leads the nation in DWI fatalities. Of course, you already know the dangers of driving while intoxicated and the increased risk it means for both you and any passengers, not to mention everyone else on the road, pedestrians included. You know how important it is to arrange alternate transportation ahead of time if you're going to be drinking. If nothing else, you can call an Uber.

What you may be less certain of, however, is how to spot when another driver on the road has been drinking. Perhaps even more important is knowing what to do about it. Figuring out the signs of impaired driving can help you take preventative measures, if necessary, to keep you and your passengers safe, and reporting a drunk driver to the appropriate authorities can potentially save the lives of any number of others.

How to report a drunk driver

Reporting someone driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances removes that danger from the roads, keeping not only you safe but possibly countless others as well. Before doing anything, though, you'll want to pull over, to avoid unintentionally causing your own accident in the process. Above all, do not try to follow the vehicle or detain the driver − that is what the police are for. Instead, after you've safely pulled over, you'll first want to call 911 and tell the operator you would like to report a drunk driver.

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 Posted on December 08,2017 in Uncategorized

Every driver in Texas will likely admit to getting behind the wheel while in a hurry and driving a bit too fast at least once. However, as you know, speeding is dangerous, and the reality is that driving too fast greatly increases the chance of a car accident and the severity of a collision.

If you were hurt in an accident caused by a speeding driver, you have options. Victims of excessive speed are able to hold liable drivers accountable through personal injury claims. You have no time to lose in ensuring the protection of your rights and learning more about your options for obtaining compensation after an accident.

Too fast is simply too dangerous

When the speed is especially high, driving too fast is a type of reckless driving. Many people speed, and some may think that it is not that bad as long as no one gets hurt and they don't get caught. In reality, speeding is simply too risky. Consider the following about excessive speed and car accidents:

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 Posted on November 08,2017 in Uncategorized

Distracted driving accidents have been on the rise in Texas and across the country, despite increased education and law enforcement efforts. While not necessarily as risky as distraction behind the wheel, distraction on the part of pedestrians is also an issue.

In fact, statistics show an 11-percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed in the United States last year, and pedestrian distraction was a contributing factor.

Factors to Consider

As vehicles these days come with more safety features than ever before, you might assume that the number of car accidents would decrease, but that is not the case. Overall, the number of motor vehicle accidents has increased by 6 percent, and a significant number of these collisions involve people on foot. Researchers note a variety of contributing factors:

• Better gas prices and a stronger economy mean more people driving, which raises the risk of vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents.

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 Posted on October 08,2017 in Uncategorized

Driving in the Dallas area can be a challenge at times. Highways and interstates are often heavily laden with traffic, and chances are you have witnessed some close calls. No matter how cautious you are, your best efforts may not be enough to avoid a collision, especially if a distracted driver is in your midst.

Anytime a driver takes hands off the wheel, mind off the task of driving, or eyes away from the road, that driver is distracted.

Texting while driving is known to be the most dangerous form of distracted driving — just as dangerous as drunk driving — but there are other forms of distraction.

These are the most common kinds of distracted driving that make roads in Dallas County unsafe:

• Eating or drinking while driving: crashes occur when people drop hot liquids on themselves; try to brush crumbs off their clothing; try to fix the wrappers of sandwiches; reach for food; and generally focus on eating or drinking more than on driving. This kind of distraction leads to more crashes than you might think.

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 Posted on September 15,2017 in Uncategorized

Following the lead of other states across the nation, Texas recently enacted a statewide texting-while-driving ban. As of Sept. 1, it is now illegal to text while driving in Texas. A number of cities had already passed distracted driving ordinances, but state lawmakers had struggled to get a law passed until Gov. Abbott signed the new law in June.

It's important to understand that each year thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries are caused by distracted driving nationwide. Now Texas law recognizes the dangers of texting behind the wheel.

Details of the new law

The law allows a police officer to stop a driver and give a ticket if the driver is seen using a handheld device while the vehicle is in operation. A violation could involve reading, writing or sending a text message while driving.

The penalty for the first offense is a $99 fine, and the second offense results in a $200 fine. The law is not comprehensive and does allow for some use of smartphones among drivers. A driver can use the phone for GPS purposes, to make a phone call and to change the song on a music playing app. The law against texting also does not assign points on the licenses of those commit violations.

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 Posted on August 11,2017 in Uncategorized

These days people live their lives constantly attached to their cellphones, and in many ways, cellphones make aspects of life more convenient.

On the other hand, mobile devices also cause a considerable amount of distraction, particularly when it comes to driving.

Research has shown that use of hands-free or handheld technology behind the wheel quadruples the risk of an accident.

Texting or talking on a cellphone is known for causing frequent car accidents, and often the main hazard is attributed to taking hands off the wheel and eyes off the road in order to send texts or answer calls. However, even with hands-free technology, cellphone use continues to put drivers and other travelers at risk.

Many people are under the impression that going hands-free will allow them to use their cellphones in a safer manner. Unfortunately, this notion does not hold up under scrutiny. In fact, studies have shown that using a hands-free device still distracts drivers because they take their minds off the task of driving.

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 Posted on July 12,2017 in Uncategorized

Distraction is a threat to every Texas motorist, including you. Drivers who choose to participate in a distracting behavior can cause devastating harm, even in a matter of a few seconds of distraction.

Technically, distracted driving is any type of behavior that takes a driver's attention from the road and the obligation to drive safely. All forms of distraction fall into at least one of three main categories, and every form of distraction is preventable, negligent and dangerous for every person on the road.

What are the three main types of distracted driving?

As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving falls into these three categories:

• Visual: Visual distraction includes anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for any reason, for any amount of time. From reading a phone screen to looking at a billboard, a visual distraction can be incredibly dangerous.

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 Posted on June 15,2017 in Uncategorized

Like drunk driving, drugged driving is a dangerous and inexcusable behavior that puts other people at risk of collisions and serious injuries. The choice to get behind the wheel while under the influence of any type of intoxicating substance could be a decision that results in the physical harm or death of an innocent person.

If you were hurt in a Texas car accident that you believe was the result of drugged driving, you may be entitled to significantly more compensation than the insurance company initially offers.

Drugged driving is a growing problem in Texas and nationwide.

As with alcohol, drug use can affect a driver's ability to think clearly and make prompt, appropriate decisions while behind the wheel. Even a small amount of an illegal drug in a driver's system can lead to devastating consequences. In fact, marijuana, one of the most common recreational drugs, can cause the following types of behaviors in drivers:

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