Texting Drivers Can Be Held Accountable for the Accidents They Cause

In the state of Illinois—as in most places in the union—it’s illegal to text while driving (to quote from the Illinois statute, “A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message”). Even so, people are killed or seriously injured by texting drivers (usually teenagers) virtually every week—and if you are the victim, or a victim’s immediate family member, you are entitled to sue for your damages.

You Can Hold a Texting Driver Responsible for His Negligence

In a way, there’s not much difference between suing a texting driver who causes a car crash and suing a drunken driver. In both cases, the individual has flouted the law by driving his vehicle in a reckless and negligent fashion. For example, a driver reading or writing a text message may fail to notice:

• A sudden change in traffic conditions (say, a tie-up on the highway that necessitates coming to a quick stop).
• Pedestrians crossing at an intersection, or walking or jogging along the shoulder or sidewalk.
• A vehicle making a left turn from the opposite lane.
• A hazard in the road (debris, potholes, objects falling from trucks, etc.).
• Any development on the road or highway, involving pedestrians, bikers, or other motorists, that demands quick reflexes and 100 percent of the driver’s attention.

A Texting Driver is a Dangerous Driver

Too often, courts are inclined to go easy on texting drivers, since the teenagers and young adults involved are too young to have their lives ruined by a careless mistake. However, if your life is ruined by that driver’s “careless” mistake—or, in the worst case, a family member has perished in an avoidable car crash—you owe it to yourself to sue that party (or her parents) for her willfully reckless behavior. Questions? Contact the Rockford car accident attorneys at The Fisk & Monteleone Law Firm 815-962–0044 for a free consultation today!