Wednesday, March 13, 2019

How does Snapchat contribute to danger on the road?

Across the country, personal injury attorneys are beginning to ask their clients if the car accidents in which they were injured may have involved Snapchat. Press releases and blogs are increasingly pointing out the dangers of the app’s speed filter feature which tracks how fast an individual is traveling while taking a selfie. What makes Snapchat photos even more dangerous than other electronic images is that Snapchat photos and videos disappear immediately after viewing, so they demand immediate and complete concentration.

If you are driving and view a Snapchat picture, you are momentarily completely distracted, and, we all know (or should know) it takes only a moment for a serious accident to occur, one in which drivers or pedestrians suffer severe injuries or wrongful death.

Only a few weeks ago, a Georgia resident sued Snapchat and the young driver viewing the device for a car crash that left him with serious brain injuries. Apparently, the driver of the car responsible for the crash, a young woman, eager to use the speed filter feature, was using Snapchat while she was speeding at over 100 mph. During her “momentary” distraction, her car crashed into the victim’s Mitsubishi, resulting in his brain trauma.

To make a tragic situation even worse, the driver at fault in this accident seems to have had only minimal car insurances ($25,000.), hardly enough to cover the medical costs of the injured party. This is part of the reason for the lawsuit against Snapchat, a firm that clearly has deeper pockets than the woman responsible for the crash.

Although Snapchat is not making any comment directly concerning the lawsuit, it has issued the following comment: “No Snap is more important than someone’s safety. We actively discourage our community from using the speed filter while driving, including by displaying a ‘Do NOT Snap and Drive’ warning message in the app itself.”

If you have been injured in a vehicular accident caused by distracted driving, or if you have suffered any injury as a result of the negligence or malice of another person, your first priority should, of course, be receiving medical attention. As soon as possible after that, you should consult with a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney to determine your best options moving forward.

What is being done to protect consumers from unscrupulous auto lenders?

For many individuals and families, having a car is essential to holding a job, making a living, and taking care of their responsibilities. In most cases, having a safe and reliable car requires obtaining financing from an auto lender, but many consumers become the targets of unfair and deceptive practices which are prohibited by state and federal laws.

Recently, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued separate reports regarding apparent deceptive the practices of auto lenders and complaints made to the bureau about leasing and lending practices .

The consumer watchdog found that advertisements by some lenders for GAP coverage, as well as disclosures regarding payment deferral terms, were deceptive. GAP coverage is designed to cover the remaining balance on an auto loan if a car is totaled, however this coverage typically has loan-to-value limit. While that limit it typically high, the lenders under review did not mention these limits in its advertising. With respect to the loan payment deferral options lenders uses as an inducement for consumers to buy an automobile, the disclosures did not accurately reflect that finance charges would ultimately be higher.

Complaints About Auto Lenders are Common

While the CFPB has yet to identify the lenders in question, they are probing the alleged violations and determining whether these lenders will be required to take corrective action. The bureau also reported that 60 percent of consumer loan complaints in the past five years concerned the auto lending industry, including loan, lease and title complaints.

Borrowers frequently reported having issues with managing and paying loans and leases, which was caused, in part, by failing to understand how fees and high interest rates effect the total cost of these financings. In addition, consumers often complained about payment processing issues, including payments not being applied in a timely manner. The bureau also found that lenders often neglected to address consumer complaints and align their business practices with federal consumer law.

While the CFPB has its eye on the deceptive practices of auto lenders, consumers in Texas are also protected by the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. If you suffered a financial injury because of the false, misleading or deceptive practices of a consumer lender in the state, should you contact an experienced consumer law attorney to explore your options.

Many of us have been guilty of it. We’re heading down the highway at 70 mph, and our phone dings — a text. We know that we shouldn’t, but what if it’s work (or the kids, our significant other or the babysitter)? So we grab the phone, glance down at it quickly, then back up at the road. Maybe we shoot off a quick answer; even a short “yes,” “no” or “LOL.” If we are lucky, nothing terrible results.

But to read or send a text, a driver looks away from the road for five seconds on average. At just 55 mph, vehicles can travel the entire length of one football field in that short span of time. At highway speeds of 70 mph, they can go even farther. A lot of things can go wrong in that time and distance when a driver is preoccupied with texting.

When luck runs out

In a twist of terrible irony last year, one North Carolina driver died only seconds after posting on Facebook, 

“The happy song makes me HAPPY,” 

an apparent reference to the Pharrell song dominating the airwaves in 2014. While the woman had not technically been texting, she certainly was preoccupied with things other than driving; in addition to the Facebook status that became her tragic epitaph, she had also been taking selfies while driving.

According to a study done by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, those engaged in texting behind the wheel have three times the risk of wrecking. But the researchers are not alone in their conclusions. Studies done for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicated that the likelihood of causing a rear-end collision or near-miss is five times greater for texting drivers.

Who are the worst offenders?

Research conducted online last year from drivers all over America indicated that the worst culprits were those aged 19-39. More drivers from those groups admitted to sending or reading at least one text in the previous month while driving when compared with rates for older drivers.

Texas laws for texting and driving

At present time, it is only against the law for novice drivers to text while driving in Texas. Additionally, school bus drivers can’t use their cell phones with children aboard, and no drivers are permitted to use hand-held devices for any purpose in school zones.

However, numerous cities passed ordinances prohibiting texting behind the wheel. Austin was the first to take action, enacting a ban on all texting for drivers back in November of 2009. In the ensuing years, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, there are now 40 different jurisdictions in the state where texting while driving is illegal. But the jury is still out on whether or not bans on texting and use of hand-held cell phones while driving reduces wrecks. One study from 2009 found banning didn’t decrease the claim rates to insurance companies for collisions. While the reasons for this are not completely clear, driver non-compliance is likely a factor.

The damage it does

Nobody plans to end their life by posting a silly Facebook status, responding “LOL” to a texted meme or being otherwise distracted by an electronic device. Neither does anyone want to be the one to make parents grieve after a texting driver plows into a school bus full of kids or causes a family of children to be orphaned when their parents are killed in a head-on collision.

Even when the results aren’t quite that tragic, if a texting driver collides with your vehicle, it is likely that you will suffer injuries. Most certainly you will sustain property damage to your vehicle; it could even be totaled. Consider how you will meet all of your work and familial obligations without a car. Along with mounting medical and rehabilitative bills and associated expenses, it can be a real nightmare.

It’s likely the at-fault driver’s insurance company will offer to rent you a car for a few days or weeks and then make some sort of settlement offer shortly after your wreck. They are counting on your eagerness to resolve the matter and walk away with a few dollars and a repaired or replaced vehicle. But there are some caveats involved in being too quick to settle when the accident is clearly no fault of your own.

Why hiring a Texas car accident makes a lot of sense

You may be discharged by the doctor with a clean bill of health, yet find that those injuries that were assumed were resolved really were not. Here are some things to consider:

• Will your injured back and legs give you the support and stamina you need to host and prepare the upcoming holiday meals?
• What about all the raking, pruning and other seasonal yard work that needs to be done? Will your injuries allow you to complete these tasks, or will you have to shell out money to someone else now?
• Can you still cut down, carry and set up a holiday tree, gather decorations from the attic, bring them down and hang them up?
• Can you still toss your young children or grandchildren joyfully up into the air and then catch them, enjoying their giggles and pleas to “Do it again!”

Being too quick to accept a settlement check means that you can’t really be sure that you are still able to do all of your normal tasks and participate fully in family life and recreational activities as you did before. It is not a wise decision to accept the first low-ball offer that comes, as once you sign and cash that check, the insurance company’s liability to you for your injuries and damages ends.

At Chandler, Mathis & Zivley, we take great pride in working hard for our clients. We battle insurance companies all the time to get the most for our clients. When you are looking for a Texas car accident lawyer, give us a call.

 
Sources:

http://www.vtti.vt.edu/featured/?p=193

https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/distracted-driving/qanda

http://www.txdot.gov/driver/laws/cellphones.html

Car accidents are unfortunately one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that the highest rates of crashes by population occur when the drivers are between the ages of 16 and 17. The rate of crashes then decreases until about age 60 to 69, then tapers off.

Based on total numbers of miles, younger drivers also consistently have the highest rates of crashes per miles driven as well. As drivers get older—over 65 and beyond—this number increases as well, but never back to teen-driver levels. Based on these statistics, it is clear that age and the likelihood of being involved in a car accident are certainly correlated.

Teen Driver Statistics

In 2015, there were 2,333 teens in the U.S. between the ages of 16 and 19 who were killed in car accidents. Another 221,313 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries suffered due to a car crash in 2014. In 2013, those between the ages of 15 and 19 accounted for roughly 7% of the population, but they caused or contributed to $10 billion in motor vehicle injuries, or 11% of all injury costs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, male teens are twice as likely to be in motor vehicle accidents compared to females of similar ages. The crash rate per mile driven is also three times higher for those between the ages of 16 and 17 compared to 18 to 19 year-olds.

Having passengers in the vehicle also increases the crash risk as well. As the number of teen passengers increases, and so does the likelihood that the vehicle will be involved in a collision.

Keeping Younger Drivers Safe

Many of the tips and tricks to keep teen drivers safe are the same as those keeping adult drivers safe. However, teen drivers may need to some extra emphasis on these safety tips because they have not yet developed good habits when it comes to safe driving. If you are a parent, friend, or acquaintance, help younger drivers by encouraging safe driving habits.

• Always wear your seatbelt every time you get in the car and encourage all passengers to do the same.
• Never drink and drive or drive while you are drowsy or otherwise impaired.
• Keep your focus on the road; avoid texting, calling, or using your smart phone while you drive.
• Set navigation and music preferences before you begin to drive.
• Always follow the rules of the road carefully and do not engage in reckless or risky driving behaviors such as sudden stopping, tight turns, or quick acceleration.
• Do not speed. Slow down on curves and in construction zones.
•  Be sure that all of the necessary functions of the vehicle are working properly, including turn signals, brakes, headlights, and windshield wipers.

Night time driving can be particularly challenging for teens, so take extra precautions after dusk. Your teen should also avoid driving with passengers until he or she is more experienced and comfortable behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, you may have a legal claim. Our team can discuss your options with you. Contact us today.

Is it illegal to text and drive in Texas?

While most other states have had a ban on texting and driving in place for years, Texas has just recently adopted such a measure.  Texting while driving is known to be incredibly dangerous, not just for the texting driver, but for all other road users as well.  According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 1,600,000 accidents are caused by texting each year, resulting in over 330,000 injuries and thousands of deaths.  Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to crash.  Yet despite widespread knowledge of the dangers of distracted driving, drivers of all ages continue to engage in this hazardous behavior.  Recognizing the need for increased regulations to prevent distracted driving car accidents, Texas lawmakers are taking action.  

Texas’ Texting While Driving Ban

Governor Greg Abbott recently signed a ban into law that would make texting while driving illegal.  It would result in a fine of up to $99 for first time offenders and $200 for repeat offenses.  With passage of the law, now only three states in the country are without a texting while driving ban.  The law specifically makes it illegal for drivers to read, write, or send electronic messages while driving.  However, the law left unclear the fate of dozens of city laws relating to distracted driving.  Several cities in Texas already have laws in place banning texting.

Now, the Texas senate has given tentative approval to a law that would pre-empt all local ordinances concerning driver’s cell phone use.  With this measure in place, Texas would have one uniform law that makes it illegal for drivers to text and drive.  Opponents to the bill are calling for a stronger statewide law, if indeed the more stringent city laws are to be eliminated.  The bill will now head to the House for final approval.  

Texas’ new texting while driving law will hopefully make drivers think twice about picking up their phones while behind the wheel.  Anyone who has been injured by a suspected texting driver should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to explore their legal options.  Drivers injured by distracted drivers could be eligible to receive compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.  

Is it illegal to eat and drive in Texas?

Eating while driving is an often unrecognized danger for drivers across Texas and the rest of the nation. While most of us realize that texting and driving is illegal and hazardous, we may not be aware that we can put ourselves and others in immense danger by attempting to eat and drive.  Distracted driving is said to be the cause of about a quarter of all car accidents, but many believe the true figure is far higher due to difficulties in identifying distracted drivers.  Before you eat while driving again, take a look at some frightening facts about eating and driving below.  If you or a loved one is injured in a distracted driving car accident, contact our Texas personal injury attorneys at Chandler, Mathis & Zivley for experienced legal assistance.    

Eating While Driving Statistics

Several recent studies have investigated the potential dangers of eating while driving.  According to a Lytex study, drivers that eat or drink behind the wheel are 3.6 times more likely to be in a car crash.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that driving and eating increases the likelihood of an accident by 80 percent.  Despite these dangers, 70 percent of drivers admitted to eating while driving in an Exxon Mobil survey, and even more drink beverages when on the road.  

The dangers of eating and drinking while driving lie in the extensive level of distraction these behaviors cause.  Eating and driving typically incorporates a combination of all three levels of distraction: visual distraction, manual distraction, and cognitive distraction.  Visual distraction happens when the driver’s eyes are diverted from the road, which could include looking down to open a wrapper.  Manual distraction occurs when drivers take their hands off the road, such as to hold a food item.  Lastly, cognitive distractions take a driver’s mind and focus off the road, which can happen when a driver focuses on their meal instead of the road.  

To avoid the dangers of eating while driving, it is imperative that you wait to eat or eat before leaving your house.  Pull over to eat if you must eat on the road. With some planning, you can ensure that you do not become a distracted driver.