Updated on: 2/21/2019
Though distracted driving is still a very real issue in the United States, awareness efforts put forth by advocacy groups and policymakers alike have been successful in, if nothing else, spreading the word. The evidence of awareness could not have been more apparent than during the Davis Law Group’s Viral Video Scholarship Contest, in which hundreds of contestants submitted homemade videos on public safety.State policymakers have fallen to recent scrutiny after setting cell phone bans, some more strict than others, for those operating a motor vehicle.
And as we have seen with the drunk driving epidemic, when positive strides are made in the direction of curbing such a disastrous trend, it is inevitable that someone is going to make an example of the situation by underestimating the risks and dangers.
Such was the case in Connecticut on March 24, when a 16-year-old distracted driver from New Canaan fatally struck a jogger with her Toyota SUV. The man was breathing when paramedics reached him, but he died after being transported to nearby Norwalk Hospital.
The victim, 44-year-old Kenneth Dorsey, was a fitness enthusiast who was running on the shoulder of a busy road with his back to traffic that morning. The girl was reportedly using her cell phone at the time and drifted into the shoulder lane, striking Dorsey in the back.
The girl, who turned herself in to authorities on May 12 after learning that there was a warrant out for her arrest on charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, is expected to receive jail time as a result of the death.
Connecticut is among 31 states, plus Washington D.C., that ban all cell phone use by novice drivers. 38 states in total currently have a ban on texting while driving for all drivers, and Ohio is awaiting the signing of a ban which would make them the 39th.
Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Seattle, WA
Davis Law Group helps victims of distracted driving accidents get financial compensation for their injuries and lost wages. We work closely with the criminal prosecutor to make sure that all avenues, both criminal and civil, are being pursued. If you have been the victim of negligence and sustained personal injury, contact Davis Law Group at 206-727-4000.