Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC - Texting & Driving & Distracted Drivers

Texting and driving claims hundreds of lives each day. Sadly, texting and driving is not limited to motor vehicles. Just last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report indicating that texting by the pilot of a medical helicopter contributed to a crash that killed four people in Missouri. (click here for the full story)

The NTSB reports that distractions from electronic devices are a growing factor in incidents across all modes of transportation - planes, trains, cars, trucks and even ships. At Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, we have handled countless tragic cases that could have been avoided had the driver/operator not been distracted. Regrettably, sending a text message is not the only distraction that causes accidents. Operating any equipment, machinery, or vehicle of any kind requires your undivided attention. Using a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, fixing your hair/makeup, reading, using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting a radio, CD player, or other electronic devices are other similar distractions that can cause a tragic accident within seconds.

Encourage your family and friends to protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone or participating in any activity that distracts them from driving. Speak out if the driver of any vehicle you are in is distracted. Encourage friends and family to drive phone and distraction-free. The safest way to get from one place to another is to hang up, focus and drive. Powering down your cell phone or removing the distraction when you're behind the wheel of any vehicle can save lives - maybe even your own.