Louisville, KY Car Accident Lawyer At The Shelton Law Group Comments On Loss Of Federal Distracted-Driving Grant
Louisville, KY (PRWEB) October 17, 2013 -- Louisville personal injury lawyer Rob Shelton of the Shelton Law Group today said he hopes politicians work out the details next year that prevented the State of Kentucky from receiving a $100,000 federal grant aimed at educating people about the dangers of distracted driving and other highway safety issues.
Shelton commented on a story in USA Today, “States lose out on federal distracted-driving grants” (Sept. 10, 2013).
“It’s unfortunate that the State of Kentucky did not receive this funding from the federal government this year,” said Shelton, who represents victims of negligence and families who lost loved ones in accidents. “The state already has a law on the books banning texting while driving, but more needs to be done to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving. The more we can do to let people know that distracted driving is dangerous, the better off we all will be.”
According to the USA Today article, there seems to be a lot of confusion about which states are eligible for the federal grants designed to reward states that have laws banning texting while driving. A total of 38 states were thought to be eligible for the funding, but only seven states and Guam received such federal grants, according to the news story.
Kentucky was hoping to receive $100,000 in federal funding for highway educational campaigns, USA Today reported. Kentucky has banned texting while driving since January 2011. But the state failed to qualify for the federal funding, because Kentucky’s law states that drivers cannot legally text while “a motor vehicle is in motion,” according to Bill Bell, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, who spoke to USA Today.
Kentucky is one of 41 states – in addition to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands – that have laws that ban texting while driving for all drivers, according to Governors Highway Safety Association website, which was last updated in September 2013.
Many states throughout the country have banned texting while driving because of numerous studies documenting the dangers of texting while driving. One study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting while driving increased the risk of being in a car accident by 23 times, according to the New York Times, “In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin” (July 27, 2009).
Any federal funding Kentucky could receive to educate people about the dangers of texting while driving would be a huge benefit, according to Louisville, KY car accident attorney Rob Shelton of the Shelton Law Group.
“Texting while driving accidents often involve serious injuries or even fatalities,” Shelton said. “That’s why it’s critical that Kentucky and other states get the word out to as many people as possible about the dangers of texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving. We know how devastating serious car accidents in Kentucky can be for people. The lives of entire families are often instantly changed forever by reckless drivers who put everyone’s lives on the road at risk. Personal injury lawyers can help these families pursue the compensation and closure they need. They also can help send a message that careless behavior behind the wheel will not be tolerated in Kentucky.
About the Shelton Law Group
Located in Louisville and serving clients in Kentucky and across the country, the experienced personal injury lawyers at the Shelton Law Group are committed to helping injury victims successfully resolve their legal issues. The knowledgeable attorneys in Louisville, KY handle a wide range of cases, including personal injury, car and truck accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, workplace injuries and disputes, Medicare fraud claims and product liability cases. The firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means clients do not pay any fees if they don’t win.
For more information about what to do after a car accident in Louisville or elsewhere in Kentucky and the legal options available to families, call (888) 761-7204 for free consultation or go to: http://www.robsheltonlaw.com/contact-us/
The Shelton Law Group
9300 Shelbyville Road, Ste. 215
Louisville, KY 40202
http://www.robsheltonlaw.com/
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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