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Year-Long Distracted Driving Campaign Aims to Improve Roadway Safety

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
texting while drivingDistracted driving causes an estimated 3,000 fatalities across the country each year. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has initiated a year-long safety campaign targeting adult drivers to reduce driver distraction across the state. The Adult Distracted Drivers traffic safety program, which runs through September 2017, will conduct more than 100 driving enforcement operations throughout California. The program will also organize more than 600 traffic safety presentations. The goal of the campaign is to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving by encouraging drivers to practice safe driving behaviors behind the wheel. The risk of accident involvement grows exponentially when drivers engage in distracting behaviors such as:
  • Texting while driving
  • Talking on a cellphone
  • Eating while driving
  • Holding conversations with passengers
  • Adjusting audio systems
Distracted driving is responsible for 80 percent of all car accidents. Cellphone use has remained the number one source for distracted driving accidents. Cellphone use while driving is illegal in California and can amount to a $161 ticket. The CHP has offered these tips to help drivers reduce distractions for themselves and others:
  • Turn phones off when driving.
  • Do not call or text others if you think they could be driving.
  • Program GPS and MP3 players before getting behind the wheel.
  • If you need to adjust devices or read a map, pull over safely.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, the attorneys at the Arnold Law Firm are here to help. Our trusted Sacramento car accident attorneys will provide you with a free consultation and review your claim to determine if you have a case. We work on a contingency fee basis and do not get paid unless you receive compensation.

Call (916) 777-7777 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form now to get started.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.