What Are Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents in Texas?

“Supernatural” TV star and Austin native Jensen Ackles recently spoke about the dangers of distracted driving in a PSA for the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT. The ad is part of a new “Heads up, Texas” campaign that TxDOT launched in response to recent distracted driving accidents in Texas involving mobile phone use. Ackles raised awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, and how your phone can cause serious accidents. It’s also now against Texas state law.

Why Distracted Driving Is Dangerous

A texting-while-driving ban passed the Texas Senate last year. House Bill 62 was passed as a statewide ban on reading and sending electronic messages from a cell phone while operating a vehicle. This ban is in response to alarming statistics relating to distracted driving in Texas.Roughly 100,000 of reported car accidents in Texas last year, or 19 percent, involved some sort of distracted driving. These distracted driving accidents resulted in 452 deaths statewide.Keep in mind that certain cities in Texas have different levels of restrictions on phone use while driving. For example, Austin has a stricter ordinance that completely prohibits cell phone use while driving in city limits.If you have been involved in a car accident due to someone else’s distracted driving, you could potentially seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Mike Love & Associates, LLC to speak with a car accident attorney about your situation.