New York, NY January 23, 2010 -- When you get behind the wheel of an automobile, put your cell phone away and focus on driving, says New York attorney David Resnick. That simple decision could save your life or the lives of your family.
More than a quarter of all traffic accidents in the U.S. occur when people talk on their cell phones or send text messages while driving, a new study released by the National Safety Council says. According to the study, 1.4 million traffic accidents occur annually when people are talking on cell phones, and another 200,000 occur as people are sending text messages. In total, 28 percent of all traffic accidents involve talking and texting on cell phones or other mobile devices.
Your car is not a phone booth... Serious accidents happen when people try to talk on the cell phone or text while driving. “Your car is not a phone booth,” says Resnick, a New York personal injury attorney whose Manhattan law firm, David Resnick & Associates, represents victims of traffic accidents and their families. “Serious accidents happen when people try to talk on the cell phone or text while driving. It’s such a common problem it has a name—distracted driving.”
“This new study just underscores what a huge national problem driving distracted really is,” Resnick says. “Something that seems harmless is quite dangerous.”
Nineteen states have banned the sending of text messages while driving, including New York. The federal government last year banned all federal workers from sending text messages while driving government vehicles or while using government-issued cell phones in a car.
“It’s not only dangerous to send a text message while driving in New York, it’s illegal,” Resnick said. “Police should enforce this law because it will save lives.”
About David Resnick & Associates, PC
David Resnick & Associates PC provides professional and compassionate legal assistance to victims of injury and negligence. Founded in 1998, the firm is experienced at handling multiple types of injury and negligence cases, including personal injury, car accidents, slip and fall, construction accidents, wrongful death and premises liability.
David Resnick & Associates serves clients in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx and all of New York City. Mr. Resnick can be reached at (212) 279-2000.
