Texting while driving a vehicle is illegal in Texas and everywhere else in the United States. Anyone who decides to operate a car while texting is ignoring clear road rules and puts everyone else on the road at risk of becoming involved in a collision.
When you or someone you love gets hurt in a crash, and you believe the other driver was texting, speak with an accident attorney about pursuing compensation. Our legal team has experience handling texting-while-driving car accidents in Katy and could gather the evidence needed to prove liability in settlement negotiations or court.
Overview of Texas Texting While Driving Laws
There are visible signs along many Texas roads indicating that it is illegal to text behind the wheel. Incautious drivers may assert they did not know texting while driving was against the law, but ignorance of the law is no excuse in personal injury cases.
Using electronic devices while traveling on wheels is a common occurrence in Katy and across Texas. A range of laws are intended to combat this issue. The current extension of Texas Transportation Code § 545.4251 (2017) penalizes using a portable wireless communication device for electronic messaging while driving. Though mobile wireless communication covers laptops, tablets, and data-inputting devices, a cell phone is the most common wireless communication gadget.
There are some exceptions to this law. For example, drivers may be able to use certain approved wireless devices, such as a Bluetooth headpiece. Drivers may also use handheld devices while they are safely stopped. Law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel may also be exempt from this law while performing their job duties.
A Katy texting while driving lawyer could use physical evidence from a criminal conviction to prove negligence in a personal injury claim. That being said, a criminal conviction is not a requirement to pursue relief in civil courts, as these are separate proceedings with different burdens of proof.
Securing Economic Relief From a Texting Driver
Those injured by negligent motorists may be able to pursue economic relief in the form of damages. Financial damages can be collected as a lump sum or a series of payments. Recoverable damages in the cases may include:
- Property damage
- Loss of income and/or earning potential
- Past and future medical costs
- Pain and suffering
During an initial consultation, an attorney could review the details of a case to determine what forms of compensation may be recoverable. Then, a legal professional could handle the work of filing a case on the injured individual’s behalf. After a texting-while-driving crash, a Katy attorney could serve as an injured person’s advocate in settlement negotiations or the courtroom.
Contact a Katy Texting While Driving Car Accident Attorney Now
Every driver who gets on the road should be familiar with standard traffic laws and safety rules. Driver’s education courses, safety awareness campaigns, and signage along streets all continue to emphasize the importance of avoiding texting while driving. While people are often confident they will be able to quickly check a text without consequences, it takes only one moment of distraction at a busy intersection or on a highway for a devastating collision to occur.
When you or someone you love gets hurt in a texting-while-driving car accident in Katy, seek medical attention and then call KGS Law Group for guidance.