As of March 1^st, New Jersey police will have the authority to pull over and ticket drivers for using hand-help cell phones while operating a vehicle.  The revised law allows drivers to use hands-free devices, but makes using hand-held phones a primary offense, allowing police to pull over a driver without any other traffic violations.   Drivers caught talking or text messaging on a hands-held device can be fined up to $100 and face a surcharge of $250. 

The revised law will take effect despite evidence that hands-free devices still only have a marginal effect on the likelihood of being in a car wreck. Current research shows that there isn’t a difference between hands-held and hands-free in regards to the level of driver distraction.   Police reported 3,580 accidents across New Jersey that involved cell phone use in 2006. According to the Department of Transportation, 2006 is the first year that the type of cell phone use during car wrecks has been accounted for.   Of the 3,580 reported accidents, the number is evenly split in regards to hands-free and hands-held devices at 1,854 to 1,726. Out of the 3,580, 11 of the wrecks were fatal. Out of these 11, it is again split. Six fatal car wrecks involved drivers using hands-held and five involved drivers using hands-free. 

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car wreck due to driver distraction from a cell phone, contact a driver distraction attorney of Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-800-460-0606. An experienced driver distraction lawyer will be able to evaluate if you are eligible to seek compensation.

There has been a recall on children’s car seats from car seat manufacturer Evenflo. The recall applies to Evenflo Discover car seat models 390, 391, and 552 after a side-impact crash test showed the portable carrier becoming detached from its base, potentially exposing helpless infants to serious injury or death. Evenflo claims this recall is purely a precaution, especially since side impact crash tests are currently not required for car seats since no standards have been set. Though this recall only applies to 2005 year models and later, Evenflo is currently facing a handful of lawsuits claiming this defect has existed as early as 2002. The car seat defect can be neutralized by installing a dual hook on the seat. If you have a Discover model 390, 391, or 552 and have not yet ordered a dual hook, you can contact Evenflo at 800-356-2229 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that driver distraction is a leading cause of car wrecks. They estimate that driver distraction causes about 80 percent of wrecks and 65 percent of close calls.

It is well known that cell phone use while driving is a major cause of driver distraction, which can lead to car wrecks, serious injury and death.

In order to combat driver distraction through cell phone use, over 25 states have placed bans on cell phone use while driving.

Technologies other than cell phones are now beginning to take the stage in regards to driver distraction. Interior navigation screens, computers, and DVD players are playing a factor in distracting drivers from the road.

A study released in 2006 conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that the central factor in vehicle accidents was, what they referred to as, “secondary task distraction.” This includes any task that requires the driver to divert their attention from the primary task of driving the vehicle.

If you or a loved one has been seriously or fatally injured in a car wreck caused by driver distraction, you may be eligible for compensation. Please contact a car wreck attorney at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-800-460-0606. An experienced car wreck attorney will be able to evaluate if you are eligible to seek compensation.