Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

These days, it seems like a car is now more of a piece of consumer technology than anything else. Today's drivers can talk to their friends, jam out to their iPod play lists and find their destinations without ever taking their eyes off the road, according to the Denver Post. Or at least that's the claim of manufacturers. In reality, an increasing array of distracting technology is being added to cars.

Some would argue that these devices are making our roadways safer by allowing drivers to multitask without ever taking their eyes off the road. Others argue that any type of electronic device in a vehicle serves as a distraction and increases a motorist's risk for a car accident.

"Consumers are wanting, expecting and you could say demanding more technology in their cars," said Tim Jackson, president and chief executive of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. "As their lives have become more technologically driven, they want those same creature comforts in their cars."

Our Missouri car accident lawyers understand that the race is on to have the most modern and technologically advanced car. Unfortunately, a number of these new devices, mostly designed to make your trip in the car easier, do nothing more than take driver attention away from the road and endanger all motorists. "Certainly, car companies should focus on streamlining the interface, enabling you to perform what you need to perform with a minimum of buttons being touched, maybe controls from the steering wheel," said Jeremy Anwyl, vice chairman of Edmunds.com.

Jim Buczkowski, director of Ford electronics and electrical systems engineering, concurs. "The most important thing we've found in our research and various studies is keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel," Buczkowski said.

A number of electronic devices now allow you to make phone calls, reply to a text message, surf the Internet and get driving directions without ever taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. A number of these new features are all voice activated: Ford and Toyota are two companies that offer such features.

But the number of car accidents in our country are still entirely too high. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,500 people were killed in the U.S. in car accidents that reported distracted driving in 2009. The number one distraction reported in these accidents was the use of a cell phone - reported in nearly 20% of these accidents.

Continue reading "Automotive Technology & Distracted Driving: Are Innovations Making Missouri Motorists Safer?" »

It seems like you can't watch the news lately without hearing something about distracted driving. Whether it's an accident report, proposed distracted driving laws, or research findings, distracted drivers are certainly commanding a great deal of media attention in Missouri and nationwide.

Consider these articles from various news outlets:

USA Today: Parents distracted while teaching kids to drive
A State Farm survey reveals that the majority of parents admit to using electronic devices while driving or - even more shockingly - while teaching their teenage children to drive. 53% of parents say they've been distracted by cell phones while giving their teens driving lessons. And teens? They say it happens even more often: 61% reported seeing their parents distracted by cell phones during these lessons. What's more, 54% of teens surveyed said they had seen their parents talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, either "sometimes," "often," or "all the time."

State Farm's Chris Mullen called the findings "alarming": "There is a need to remind parents that they are the role models. Whether it's deliberate or not, we're showing these teens what's acceptable in the car," Mullen said.

MSNBC: Feds to crack down on texting while driving
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has recommended that automakers take voluntary steps to limit the use technology in moving vehicles. These recommendations develop a set of safety criteria that would affect hands-free calling, navigation systems and entertainment systems. The article reports that "the guidelines are mainly an attempt to reach younger drivers, who are the most inexperienced and whose daily lives are most influenced by wireless technology."

Note: In addition, USA Today also reports a growing interest in smartphone applications that stop people from using their phones while a vehicle is moving: they are especially popular with corporate fleet managers and the parents of teen drivers.

Continue reading "Distracted Driving: Still Making News in Missouri & Nationwide" »

Too many of our clients are the victims of accidents caused by distracted driving. Because of this, Springfield Missouri injury lawyers have addressed this subject many times in our blogs. Although changing the laws can help, this increasing problem will probably only be solved by bringing more public awareness to the issue. Now, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, KRCG-TV and Joe Machens Ford have come up with a wonderful and pro-active idea.

As part of an awareness campaign to discourage distracted driving across the state, they are sponsoring "Focus on the Road", which includes a chance to win what else--but a new 2012 Ford Focus. Licensed Missouri drivers have until midnight of Dec.14th to enter the drawing for the new car, and the winner will be announced Monday, Dec.19 after 13 excited finalists each try their key in the car to determine the winner.

Read MoDot's press release about "Focus on the Road" here.

Although it is difficult to get exact statistics about distracted driving related car accidents, it is estimated that distracted driving causes around 8,000 crashes nationwide every day. Everyone probably knows that cell phone use, including dialing, talking and texting comprises the biggest hazard. But many people are unaware of other less publicized distractions such as map reading, fiddling with the cd player, or putting on makeup.

Continue reading ""Focus on the Road" Campaign Seeks to Discourage Distracted Driving in Springfield Missouri and Statewide" »

Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys recently received information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol regarding the use of cell phones while driving and auto accidents. According to the release, in 2009 cell phone usage contributed to more than 1,780 traffic accidents in Missouri alone. That is a pretty high number. Cell phone related car crashes were the cause of 20 Missouri fatalities and 779 injuries in 2010 as well.

Here is a quote from Colonel Ron Repogle of the Highwway Patrol: "Inattention is a leading cause of traffic crashes. If you're focused on sending a text message, then you aren't paying attention to your driving. Cell phone usage, particularly texting while driving, can lead to tragic consequences."

Despite this, the Missouri Car Crash Lawyers at Aaron Sachs and Associates were surprised to hear that the proposed legislation to make texting while driving illegal failed to pass in the Missouri Senate this month. (It had previously passed in the House.) In 2009, the Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 701, which did ban texting while driving but only for motorists 21 years old and younger. This made Missouri one of the 38 states nationwide that have passed anti-texting while driving laws.

One of the things discussed in the Senate was difficulty with enforcement of an anti-texting law. The law currently on the books has various enforcement issues. Capt. Hull explains, "The general use of a cell phone is not prohibited at any age in Missouri, so you have to be able to differentiate between someone just using their phone and someone who's texting," Hull said. "Then of course, you have to decide if the person looks 21 or younger."

If you have ever sent a text while driving, it is obvious to see how it is equally distracting for everyone, regardless of age. Removing the age limitations and having the law apply to everyone would be a huge help to law enforcement officers, because they would be able to spot violations immediately, without having to determine the driver's age.

Continue reading "Proposed Anti-Texting While Driving Bill Fails in the Senate--Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys Ask Why?" »