Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer at Israel & Gerity, PLLC Weighs In On Texting and Driving Report
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) November 15, 2014 -- Phoenix personal injury lawyer Kyle A. Israel of Israel & Gerity, PLLC today said a new survey of drivers serves as another reminder that texting and driving continues to be a significant problem on Arizona roads.
Commenting on an Associated Press report published Nov. 4 in azdailysun.com (“Survey finds people text and drive knowing dangers”), Israel said the story reveals that many drivers are making careless decisions that pose a risk to everyone sharing the roads.
“Clearly, many people are taking chances with their own lives and the lives of others,” said Israel, personal injury lawyer in Phoenix with 20 years’ experience. “We have seen first-hand the devastating impact of texting and driving. That’s why we urge people to avoid using their phones while driving. Turn your phone off or leave it out of reach when you’re behind the wheel.”
According to the AT&T-sponsored survey of frequent drivers who text daily, nearly all of those surveyed (98 percent) said they understood the dangers of texting while driving. At the same time, 75 percent of them admitted to texting behind the wheel, either while stopped at a light or while the car was moving.
According to the AP report, more than 25 percent of those surveyed said they “can easily do several things at once, even while driving.”
Citing a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study, Israel said people who multitask while driving face a greater chance of causing an accident. The Virginia Tech study found that drivers who engage in “visual-manual subtasks” such as reaching for a phone and dialing and texting increase their chance of an accident by three times.
“While Arizona is one of the few states with no statewide texting ban for drivers, we urge drivers to make the responsible choice and avoid using their phones for talking or texting while behind the wheel,” Israel said. “Unfortunately, people will continue to cause accidents because they choose to text behind the wheel, even though they know it’s dangerous. But they should understand that they will be held accountable. We fight hard for victims of accidents to make sure they are fairly compensated.”
According to the AP report, the survey was designed by AT&T and David Greenfield, the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and a professor at the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine.
Greenfield told the AP that people should avoid using their phones while driving, but acknowledged that might be unrealistic. He said anti-texting apps on phones, public education and laws banning texting while driving may help change people’s behaviors.
Attorney Israel said the new survey shows that people continue to text and drive, which means all drivers should use extra caution. “Whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian, don’t ever assume that the other driver is paying attention,” Israel said. “Prepare to take defensive action. Approach intersections with caution and keep a safe distance between your car and others on the road.”
Israel said anyone who is injured or who loses a loved one in a texting while driving accident should seek the advice of legal counsel. He said an experienced attorney can help by holding the negligent individual accountable and sending a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
About Israel & Gerity, PLLC
Attorney Kyle A. Israel obtained his degree from the Arizona State University College of Law and has practiced law in Arizona since 1994. Israel & Gerity’s legal practice focuses on helping victims of car crashes, construction accidents, construction defects, lithium toxicity, dog bites, nursing home negligence and more. Attorney Israel was anonymously selected by his peers into the first class of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers, an honor reserved for 2 percent of lawyers across the state, and has received nearly 100 percent favorable verdicts in the cases he has tried to verdict.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one was injured in an accident, call (602) 274-4400 for a free case consultation.
Israel & Gerity, PLLC
3300 N Central Ave #2000
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 274-4400
http://www.ig-law.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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