April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. While the educational campaign is a nationwide effort to combat distractions while driving, the problem is particularly bad in Texas.
That's why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is doing everything possible to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving through its "Talk.Text.Crash" educational campaign.
"A lot of that (accidents caused by distracted driving) is 100%" preventable, TxDOT spokesperson Bambi Hall said in an interview with Fox 26 News. "Even though we're human beings, we can make human decisions by not driving distracted."
How common are distracted driving accidents in Texas?
According to the Fox 26 News story based on information provided by TxDOT, one of every six accidents in Texas is caused by a distracted driver. In 2023, those figures added up to 2,793 people injured and 399 fatalities due to distracted driving accidents in Texas.
Another traffic safety study based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) accident data found that 9.29 percent of all traffic fatalities in Texas were due to distracted driving. Some states had a higher percentage of distracted driving fatalities, but Texas had the highest total number of distracted driving deaths.
What is Texas doing to prevent distracted driving accidents?
Texas' "Talk.Text.Crash" campaign aims to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, especially when it involves talking on a cell phone or texting. According to TxDOT, "The campaign addresses and discourages all forms of distracted driving when behind the wheel, with the overall goal of saving lives and reducing crashes."
The educational campaign also encourages Texas drivers to focus only on driving and nothing else. One of the best ways to do that is to put your phone away and out of sight while driving.
Does Texas have distracted driving laws?
If educational campaigns don't work, Texas also has strict laws against texting while driving. Since 2017, it has been illegal to text while driving in Texas. This includes reading, writing, or sending a text message or other electronic messages (such as emails) while driving, according to Texas Transportation Code, Section 545.4251. Drivers who violate this Texas law can be fined up to $200 for each violation.
How can a distracted driving accident attorney help?
Your case might initially seem straightforward if a distracted driver caused your car accident. However, the reality is that many distracted driving accident claims in Texas often turn into complicated legal battles. The driver who caused your collision might deny doing anything wrong. Then insurance companies get involved and often do everything they can to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all.
At Coby L. Wooten, Attorney At Law in Fort Worth, we know how to handle complicated legal cases. That's because Coby L. Wooten and his talented legal team have been tackling tough cases in Texas for years.
We know how to find evidence of distracted driving. We understand the laws that apply to distracted driving in Texas. Most importantly, we never take anything for granted. We work hard to build the strongest possible legal case and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Don't take chances after your car accident. Take control. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation. Our office is in Fort Worth, and we handle personal injury claims and lawsuits throughout Texas.