Teens and Distracted Driving Could Require a Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer

As an experienced injury lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Marion Munley has seen many teens start out as careful, cautious drivers, but it only takes a few months behind the wheel before teens feel over-confident in their driving skills and get involved in a car accident. Dialing cell phones, texting, eating, and talking to passengers are all examples of things that teens may do while driving. Multitasking distracts teens and all drivers from the road, a skill that still requires their full attention.

This topic was recently published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine from a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development. The data reveals that, compared to experienced drivers, new drivers engaged in secondary tasks less frequently during the first six months. Between months 7 and 15, they matched experienced drivers. And for months 16 through 18 new drivers were engaging in non-driving tasks more often than experienced drivers – a two-fold increase in risky distractions during the last three months of the study.

Marion Munley, a mother herself, understands that a new teen driver in the house can be a source of concern. “Take cell phones. They can be a huge distraction for drivers of any age, but especially for inexperienced teen drivers who love to text.

Laws to Help Prevent the need for a Personal Injury Lawyer in Pennsylvania

The state of Pennsylvania prohibits all drivers from texting while driving. Specifically, they are banned from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device, to send, read or write text-based messages while their vehicle is in motion. This is a primary law,” says Attorney Munley, “which means that a police officer has the right to pull you over and give you a ticket for texting while driving, without having to witness another moving violation.

Advice from a Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer

Some of the best advice Marion has to offer is to communicate with your youthful driver. Set rules and boundaries regarding cell phone use, friends, eating, and other common distractions. Don’t be afraid to hold your son or daughter accountable if they break the rules, even if it means taking away the car keys.

“Set a good example. Point out defensive driving behaviors and safety tips when you’re in the car with your new driver. Drive the way you would like your teen to drive.” Attorney Munley also suggests parents provide as much adult-supervised driving time as possible – even after your teen gets his or her permanent license.

If your teen has already been in a car accident in Pennsylvania and you require an injury lawyer, talk to the experts at Munley today for no charge, by calling 1-855-866-5529.