THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING BY THE GOVERNORS HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION
DISTRACTED DRIVING
Driver distraction, including handheld device use such as texting and driving, is a contributing factor in many crashes. In 2017, distracted driving was reported in crashes that killed 3,166 people (8.5% of all fatalities),1 although many instances may go unreported.
Phone use – particularly calling and texting – while driving is one of the most common distractions. Many states and local jurisdictions have passed laws that address these behaviors. GHSA’s message to all drivers remains: don’t use cell phones or other electronic devices while driving, regardless of the current law. A list of tips for managing driver distraction is available here.
GHSA recommends states ban hand-held cell phone use for all drivers. While texting and hand-held bans are both critical, texting bans by themselves can be difficult to enforce. In states with texting but not hand-held bans, a driver may claim they were dialing a phone number when stopped by a police officer. Enforcement demonstration projects in New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and California have shown that hand-held cell phone bans can be enforced effectively and can reduce driver use of a cell phone.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team Handles a Wide Variety of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
The Schmidt Salita Law Team handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian car accidents, and bicycle accidents. It has many years of experience in workers, product liability, and medical malpractice cases.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has extensive experience with concussion injuries, traumatic brain injuries, neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries, broken bones, injured joint injuries (knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, ankle, spinal), amputation injuries, and vision and eye injuries.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has offices throughout the State of Minnesota. Their primary location is at 1600 Hopkins Crossroads in Minnetonka, near the intersection of I394 and I494. The offices offer handicapped access with ample parking.
The Schmidt Salita Team Offers Contingent Fee Arrangements
The firm offers contingent fee agreements (You don’t pay lawyers fees until you collect and then only as a percentage of the settlement). It also offers home and hospital visits to clients whose injuries present difficulty in coming to the office.
“PERSONAL INJURY WITH PERSONAL ATTENTION TO EACH CASE”
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Osseo, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Blaine, Shoreview, Woodbury, Falcon Heights, Columbia Park, Stillwater, Hastings, Inver Grove, Cottage Grove, South St. Paul, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, Richfield, Bloomington, Chaska, Chanhassen, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Hopkins.