Texas woman forms group to raise awareness about dangers of distracted driving
A Texas woman is leading the charge in a campaign to ban texting and talking on cell phones while driving.
Jennifer Smith, from Grapevine, Texas, founded “FocusDriven,” an organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Specifically, FocusDriven is dedicated to getting legislation passed that will ban talking on cell phones and texting while operating a motor vehicle.
FocusDriven is the first national nonprofit organization devoted specifically to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
Smith lost her mother in a car accident caused by a man who ran a red light while talking on a cell phone. Ever since her mother’s car accident death, this Texas native has been actively raising awareness about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.
In fact, Smith even brought a lawsuit against Sprint Nextel over her mother’s death, claiming the company did not do enough to warn consumers about the hazards of talking on a cell phone while driving.
The statistics certainly back up FocusDriven’s message about the dangers of distracted driving. In 2008, 6,000 deaths in the United States were attributed to distracted driving. Of the 1.4 million car crashes that took place in 2008, a staggering 200,000 were attributed to drivers who were texting while driving.
Texas in particular has been singled out by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety for its gaps in highway safety laws.
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, contact a Texas personal injury attorney to learn about your legal rights and options.
Exactly one week ago today, my wife's car was broadsided by a full size pick up while turning left at a green light. The man that ran the red light was admittedly speeding. He was cited by the police for both infractions. He claimed that he could not see the red light because the sun was in his eyes. That exuse seemed possible at the time, but not probable today, as I try to point out below. I suspect something else. I think that he could have been distracted his cell phone. I have no proof at this time, it's just a gut instinct. He is covered by insurance and they have accepted liability. I would like to know if cell phone use was a contributing factor in this accident. I did a little experiment this morning. I drove the same route that he was driving one week ago. It was at appoximately the same time of morning. The sun was bright, as it was at the time of the accident, but I had no problem in seeing the red light at the intersection where accident occured. The other party's insurance company has not yet offered to settle, and I am unsure of what would constitue a fair settlement in this case. It appears like my wife's car is totaled because the local body shop stated that the car would cost more to repair than the car is worth, though we are still awaiting the final decision. My wife was a couple months from paying off her 2005 Honda Civic w/46,000 miles. What is the best that we can hope for in a case such as this? Thankfully, my wife and grandson were not killed. They were taken by ambulance to the hosptial. It has been only one week since the accident, but they been able to return to work and school repectively. We have not given any sort of recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. My wife is currently driving a rental that is being provided by the insurance company. What can we hope to see in a case such as this? We don't want to get taken advantage of or sign away any rights regarding future medical expenes and we would like be able to get into a car that will put us back on track again. Also, can we obtain his cell phone records showing his activity at the time of the crash. Mind you, the insurance company isn't denying liability, but I want to make this sting a little if he was on a cell phone. My wife could have been killed, I have pictures of the damaged vehicle. If if can be proven that he was using a phone or texting, I want the settlement to be high enough to discourage him and future drivers from using electronics devices whild behind the wheel. Thank you in advance for any advice that you might have on this matter.
Thank You.