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Our phones command our attention more often than we would like to admit. Nearly everyone knows the feeling of driving a car and glancing down at their phone to read a new text message. Unfortunately, on the road, anything can happen in the blink of an eye, making texting while driving one of the most common causes of catastrophic vehicle collisions.
Texting-while-driving car accidents in Harrisburg can result in severe injuries and a mountain of unexpected bills. When you or a loved one gets hurt in a crash caused by a texting driver, do not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable accident attorney to discuss your options for pursuing compensation.
State Laws Regarding Texting While Driving
Like many other states, Pennsylvania has a ban on using handheld cellular devices while driving. State law bans text-based communications behind the wheel, which include text messages, e-mails, instant messages, or other forms of virtual communication. The ban is not limited to just phones and includes the broader category of interactive wireless communications devices (IWCD). A notable exception to this ban is when a driver is reading, selecting, or entering a phone number or name into an IWCD in order to activate or deactivate a voice communication or phone call.
The penalty for violating Pennsylvania’s law banning texting while driving is a fine of $50, but the driver receiving a citation may not have any points taken off their driving record. Despite the threat of committing a summary offense and getting slapped with a $50 fine, many drivers continue to text while driving. A Harrisburg accident attorney can further explain the legal framework that criminalizes texting while driving, as well as the options injured individuals have for pursuing accountability.
Compensating Texting-While-Driving Accident Survivors
When someone suffers harm because of another driver’s reckless decisions, the injured person can seek justice and compensation through a personal injury claim. There are several forms of compensation available to accident survivors, and the benefit of hiring an attorney is having someone who is able to pick up on discreet details that someone else could not. A Harrisburg attorney can review an accident survivor’s medical bills and listen to their story to determine the full amount of compensation they should be entitled to after a texting-while-driving accident.
Compensation, also known as damages in the legal world, can cover both economic and non-economic losses. Some examples of recoverable damages in texting-while-driving injury claims include medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A skilled attorney can negotiate with insurance companies on an injured person’s behalf in pursuit of a reasonable settlement. If insurance companies are unwilling to provide a fair offer, an attorney can take an injury claim to court for a jury’s final verdict.
Call a Harrisburg Attorney After a Texting-While-Driving Car Accident
Despite knowing that texting while driving is dangerous, many Pennsylvania drivers continue to engage with their phones instead of focusing on the road in front of them. The reality is that someone being distracted by their phone for just a few moments can lead to lifelong consequences for that person and anyone else around them.
Experiencing physical harm because of someone else’s negligence is frustrating, but our legal team is here for you. After a texting-while-driving car accident in Harrisburg, the right attorney can help you seek accountability and the maximum compensation that you are entitled to. Call Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, to schedule your consultation.
