Texting and Driving – The New Drunk Driving

In recent years, many people have become increasingly aware of the hazards of imbibing in alcohol and then driving. This is mainly because of the efforts of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and other similar organizations. All of us should know by now it is not only illegal to drink and drive, but it is also dangerous. Sadly, when we finally realize this problem, a new issue has now come up in the 21st century, people texting when they are driving.It was not too long ago that cellular phones were only for the wealthy. Today, they have become so affordable that even little kids carry one. No one can dispute the fact that cellular phones have made it easier to communicate with one another in fact, it may just be a bit too easy today. Today, we can even text or call people when we are traveling in our cars, and this sometimes endangers the drivers or others.According to The Ryder Law Firm (ryderlaw.com), texting while driving has compared to drunk driving by many. The data gathered so far backs up this comparison. The truth is that texting and driving at the same time could be more hazardous than drunk driving! In spite of many of the states having banned the use of handheld phones while driving, about 25% of the drivers admit to conversing on their mobile phones on a routine basis while driving as far as information gathered by the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention). The percentage is about 40% for those in the 18 – 29 year old bracket, and this is also the group that does the most texting.

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) issued a report stating that a driver looks away from the road for about 4.6 seconds on average to receive or send a single text message. To give a visual to this, think about driving blindfolded across an entire football field from goal post to goal post at expressway speeds. What is the comparison facts about texting and driving compared to the drunk driving? We turn to the Car and Driver magazine’s experts to learn more about these facts.

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Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

For anyone who has suffered injuries as the result of a personal injury accident, retaining the services of a personal injury law firm is often the first step in leveling the playing field when it comes to receiving compensation for those injuries. Unfortunately, a victim is often at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiating a fair settlement from injuries sustained as the result of a personal injury accident because the defendant is frequently covered by liability insurance, meaning the victim has to negotiate with a team of experienced claims handlers and attorneys who are trained to limit the company’s exposure.

Finding out that the party responsible for your injuries was covered by liability insurance is good news in the long run; however, it means that all negotiating and/or litigating must be done with the insurance company in order to receive compensation for the injuries caused by the defendant. This can be extremely complicated, frustrating, and sometimes futile, without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.

Although an insurance company is legally obligated to cover damages caused by an insured’s negligence, they are certainly not obligated to pay them without contesting the insured’s negligence or contesting the amount of damages sought by the victim. A victim may be the victim in a personal injury accident once in his life, whereas the claims adjuster or attorney for the insurance company spends all day, every day, processing or litigating personal injury cases. If you have been the victim of a personal injury accident, you are in jeopardy of losing out on the compensation due to you if you do not have an equally competent and experienced personal injury lawyer working for you on your side.

The Ryder Law Firm Adds Sarah Bryan

The Ryder Law Firm proudly announces that Sarah Bryan has joined the firm as an associate.  Ms. Bryan attended Vanderbilt University on a full academic scholarship, and graduated with high honors with a dual degree in Chemistry and Communication.  She then graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, again with honors.  A native of Pulaski, Tennessee, Ms. Bryan has been admitted to practice in both Alabama and Tennessee.

During her time at Washington University, she served as a teaching assistant for the School’s Legal Profession course and represented clients before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  She plans to use these experiences; along with those she gained working with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee after law school, to zealously represent the clients of the Ryder Law Firm, P.C.

The Firm will continue to represent individuals who have been seriously injured, including those who were involved in motor vehicle wrecks, received inadequate care in nursing homes, sustained injuries while on the job, and experienced difficulties dealing with insurance companies, in addition to various other related matters.

The Ryder Law Firm remains committed to educating the public, particularly teenage drivers, on the dangers associated with distracted driving and to protecting the rights of runners and cyclists.

To learn more about the Ryder Law Firm, call us at 256-534-3288

Women and DUI Stats

Men are most commonly arrested with far greater frequency for DUI than women. in recent years  the number of arrests of women for DUI has increased significantly; 36% over the past decade. These figures are not just general estimations. They are based on analytical research performed by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation.

This study also revealed that the average woman who is arrested for drunk driving is older than males arrested for the same violation. Curiously, the education level of the women is much higher and they are known for being the primary caregiver of their children. These facts alone may be enough to shatter more than a few of the common stereotypes about those who are arrested for DUI’s.

The study points out there are many women who care for their children and suffer from alcohol dependency. However, the amount of alcohol they drink during the day may not seem significant enough to be a problem so they do not assume they have issues with alcohol. Of course, it is not the amount of alcohol that determines whether one has a problem. Rather, it is the impact the consumption has on one’s behavior. A women having two or three glasses of wine per day may not see the amount as problematic but if it leads to impaired driving then it certainly is a problem.

In some instances, the amount of alcohol a woman may drink per day is very obviously a dangerously high volume. However, the woman may have convinced herself she is not drinking to excess and no substance abuse issue exists. Such denial of a substance abuse issue will frequently lead to errors in judgment such as getting behind the wheel of a vehicle intoxicated.

The safety risks and the legal ramifications inherent in such behavior do little to deter the actions. This is why the condition of alcoholism is a serious one and the crime of DUI is equally serious.

Driving Pet Peeve of the Day

Almost every morning when I’m driving into work someone is tailgating and flying in and out of cars to get ahead. To those that are compelled to do this to hurry the rest of us up; my observation over several years: After 3-5 miles of travel your car is still right next to mine at the stop light.

Since you really aren’t making up for not leaving the house on time; slow down, enjoy the ride, and get there at the same time as you would while driving crazy and potentially causing an accident

Fast Drunk Driving While Texting

Speeding, drinking, and tweeting/texting have go to to be the stupidest thing possible. It didn’t turn out so well for Ervin McKinness, who performed under the names Inkyy and Jew’elz. His last tweet? “Drunk af going 120 drifting corners #F**kIt YOLO.”  That wil be his last tweet ever. He died in a car wreck shortly after the tweet. Read More

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