NEW YORK TEXTING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
TEXTING AND DRIVING LAWS
The first texting and driving law was passed in 2009, and it was only as a “secondary offense.” This means that they could be cited for it, but not pulled over for it – the driver would have to pulled over for another reason. In 2011, the law was amended, and “use of an electronic device while driving” became a primary offense. A police officer could pull over a driver if he observed a driver using a handheld electronic device while operating a vehicle. The officer does not have to even see what the driver is doing with the device, having the device in hand is enough for a pull over and citation.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
- Phones
- Gaming Devices
- MP3 Players
The law was further refined in 2017 defining electronic devices as “any portable electronic device that diverts a driver’s attention away from the road and prevents the full use of a driver’s hands.” The penalty became a fine of up to $200 for a first offense and 5 license points. The fine escalates with every citation.
The current 2011 law has a presumption of use if a driver is observed with some kind of electronic device in their hand. An officer does not have to know the driver is using the device. The fact that the device is seen in the driver’s hand is reason enough to pull over a driver and issue a citation without question. With strengthening laws, the number of tickets issued for texting while driving increased by 850% from 2011-2016.
NEW YORK PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS, TEXTING AND DRIVING VICTIMS HAVE STRONG CASES
Evidence that injuries were caused by a texting driver will strengthen your case. If the driver was ticketed for texting while driving, there should be little to no difficulty proving liability. New York Personal Injury Attorneys know that juries do not have sympathy for texting drivers that cause accidents, and will demand higher settlements when for their clients. A distracted driver is much more likely to cause accidents, especially fatal accidents, which will elicit sympathy for the victim.
New York Personal Injury Attorneys Wittenstein & Wittenstein have handled many claims for victims of texting drivers. We know everything about how to handle your texting and driving case. Please call us for a free no-obligation consultation.
Who’s The Best Accident Attorney in New York City?
If you’ve been injured in accident, you might be wondering, "Who's the best accident attorney in New York City?" Just like you would want to find the best doctor, auto mechanic or interior decorator, you want the best lawyer. Of course, you do! But [...]
Justice is Sweet – How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
HOW A NYC PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY CAN HELP YOU For many people, Personal Injury Attorneys are their lifesavers. They can help people who have suffered loss, accidents, or injuries an opportunity to rebuild their lives. When hard-working people are injured by the negligence, recklessness, [...]
LIABILITY COVERAGE VS. FULL COVERAGE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE
LIABILITY COVERAGE VS. FULL COVERAGE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE So after 5 long years you finally finished paying off your car. You are therefore no longer obliged to continue having full coverage (collision insurance) for your vehicle. While this may be the case, it may [...]
Why You Need a Specialist to Handle Truck Accident Cases
People are always asking about whether they should hire a Truck Accident Lawyer NYC. They might have been referred to somebody in their Neighbourhood by a friend or family member, but is that really who they want to handle their truck accident case? Truck [...]
HOW TO PREVENT SUMMERTIME ACCIDENTS
Summer is at full steam with everybody putting on their swimsuits and looking to cool off. Of course, this is also the time when pool, beach and lake accidents are at their peak. Whether you’re headed to Coney Island, Brooklyn or The Hamptons on [...]
Negligence Lawyers in Queens – Helping People Harmed by Others
Queens Car Accident Lawyers knows how to help victims of many types of negligence. Negligence is “failure to use reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury to another.” This can be anything from hitting somebody in the rear with their car to failing to [...]
No Case Is Too Big Or Too Small
Too many people are afraid to contact a personal injury attorney because they’re afraid their case isn’t big enough. It’s quite true that some cases are not worth pursuing, but the reason is usually not simply that they’re small. If you’ve been injured and [...]
New York City’s Top Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys
Wittenstein & Wittenstein has established itself as a Top New York City (Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, The Staten Island, and Long Island) Personal Injury Law Firm by offering great results to clients for over 60 years. Our legal team have successfully collected millions of [...]
The Personal Injury Lawsuit Process for Traffic Accidents
CLIENT INTERVIEW The client and attorney meet and discuss: How the accident happened The extent of the injuries Employment and when the client expects to return to work Health issues that might impact the rate of recovery for injuries The jurisdiction and venue [...]
Rate Jumping- It’s Not Worth It!
Rate Jumping- It's Not Worth It! While driving around in New York, you will sometimes see cars with out of state license plates. Some people may very well be driving into the city from neighboring states, or even from Florida for vacation. It is [...]