State Police Keeping Watch on Rhode Island Drivers for Texting & Cell Phone Use

Texting while driving has been illegal in Rhode Island for many years now and less than a year ago the state banned the use of hand-held devices while driving. But as we all know; it still continues and we see first-hand the detrimental effects of car accidents caused by cell phone use and distracted driving every day as personal injury lawyers in Providence. In an effort to promote the severity of distracted driving, Rhode Island State Police stopped 813 vehicles during a highway safety campaign last week issuing 93 warnings or citations to drivers for using cell phones for texting or making phone calls while operating a vehicle. Tapalian Law feels strongly about promoting the dangers of texting and cell phone use while driving since April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, but also throughout the year in an effort to keep Rhode Island motorists safe on the road. The number of people hurt or killed in distracted driving crashes each day in the U.S., at least nine fatalities and 100 injured, speak for themselves about the severity of this preventable problem in Rhode Island and across the country.

What is the Fine for Texting & Driving in Rhode Island?

The State Police emphasize the dangers of distracted driving, especially texting and using a hand-held cell phone while driving, and fines are assessed in hopes of deterring negligent drivers in Rhode Island and preventing car accidents. Drivers using a cell phone while operating a vehicle in Rhode Island can be fined up to $100 and those texting while driving can be fined up to $100 along with a possible 30-day license suspension. Use of earphones, headsets, headphones, or similar devices while driving or riding a bike may lead to a fine of up to $85. The fines may seem hefty to some, but are a small price to pay to prevent a car crash and avoid potential serious injury and death.

Distracted Driving Can Be The Difference Between Life and Death

Fines are a minuscule price to pay to save a life. Ask any of our personal injury clients who have been hurt in a Rhode Island distracted driving car accident and surely, they will agree that getting hurt in a car wreck can have painful and life-long repercussions. Rear-end car crashes, commonly the result of a distracted driver looking at a cell phone, can cause significant injuries like whiplash, broken bones and head trauma, to an unsuspecting motorist. Studies show that taking your eyes off the road for just two second can double the odds of a car crash. A crash can happen quickly but the physical injuries and emotional trauma can last a lifetime. Victims may suffer injuries that require expensive long-term care down the road, not to mention monetary expenses for hospital stays, medication, doctors’ visits, physical therapy, surgery, and lost wages. As Providence car accident injury lawyers, Tapalian Law understands the anguish and pain that auto accidents victims suffer. Our dedicated accident attorneys work relentlessly to help injured people get back on their feet and be rewarded proper compensation for the losses.

Distracted Driving Accidents Resulting in a Fatality

Any type of car accident is stressful, but losing a loved one in a sudden and unexpected car crash is traumatic and no amount of money can change that. It is especially heartbreaking when a life is lost in an accident that is completely preventable, such as a distracted driving crash. Cell phones are certainly convenient to have in the car in case of a vehicle breakdown on the highway or to contact the police after a fender bender. But to use a hand-held cell phone to text or talk while driving is not only illegal in Rhode Island and many other states, it’s a threat to the safety of everyone else on the road. Distracted driving crashes often result in a tragic death caused by negligence that should never have occurred. If you have lost a loved one in a car crash in Rhode Island, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver who caused the accident. Seek the advice of an experienced Rhode Island wrongful death attorney who can determine if you are eligible to seek compensation on behalf of your loved one after a senseless death.

Contact a Distracted Driving Lawyer in Providence After Your Accident

In-vehicle technology and cell phones have changed the way we live, but in no way should these conveniences pose a threat to our safety. No convenience is worth the consequences of serious injury or death that these distractions can result in. On behalf of Distracted Driving Awareness month, take this opportunity to remind yourself, family, friends, and especially teenage drivers, of the dangers of distracted driving and how a quick glance at a text can result in a serious, and sometimes fatal, car crash. If you have been hurt in an accident in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, our top-rated accident lawyers in Providence can help you. Call Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000, or contact us online. Our personal injury law firm has offices in Providence, RI, Warwick, RI, and Seekonk, MA, and we offer a free, same-day, consultation. Let us help you get back on the road to recovery.