Woman patient at doctor after car accident.

Why Seek Immediate Medical Treatment After a Car Accident?

Car accidents can cause serious injuries that have long-lasting impacts on your health and well-being. The physical and emotional pain may never fully go away. After an accident, you may very well be disoriented, confused, and overwhelmed. You may be unsure of what to do next. Remember this, one of the most important things you can do after an accident is to seek immediate medical treatment.

Seeking Medical Treatment After a Car Accident

After an accident, seek immediate medical treatment. This is true whether you are in intense pain or only feel minor pain. The adrenaline triggered by an accident can all too easily mask the true severity of an injury. Additionally, some injuries may take time to fully manifest themselves. For instance, a head injury may not appear to be a problem at first, but symptoms may develop over the next day or multiple days. While some evidence of a head injury may appear immediately, such as a bruise, other times damage is sustained without symptoms immediately appearing. Waiting to seek treatment may mean that your head injury is not diagnosed till later or goes undiagnosed altogether. Either way, this poses serious dangers to your health.

Failure to seek immediate medical treatment after a car accident not only jeopardizes your health, but it also jeopardizes your potential to recover compensation for your losses. Should you wish to pursue a claim for personal injuries caused by a car accident, failure to seek immediate medical treatment will be used by an insurance company to undermine or outright deny your claim. An insurance company is likely to assert that this is proof that your injuries are inconsequential. It also gives them a reason to assert that this is evidence that your injuries are likely to have been caused by something other than an accident or they were pre-existing injuries. The record generated by your initial visit for medical evaluation and treatment will act as significant evidence that you were injured in the car accident.

It is also important to seek follow up medical care as prescribed by your treating physicians. Medical records are the main pieces of evidence in a personal injury claim. They are used to support the assertion that an accident was the direct cause of your injuries and other losses. Failure to receive consistent, prescribed follow-up care will most definitely be used to undermine or deny your claim. In the eyes of an insurance company, if you are not getting the care your doctor prescribes, you are not that injured. We all know that there are countless other reasons why you may not have gotten follow-up treatment, but these reasons will be most likely completely inconsequential when it comes to valuing your case.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

For your health, seek immediate medical treatment after being in a car accident. To preserve the value of your personal injury claim, seek immediate medical treatment after being in a car accident. Focus on your health. This is your priority. Let the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy focus on the legal fight. We stand up to insurance companies so that our clients may receive full and fair compensation for their injuries. Contact us today.

Woman looking at the damage to her car from a hit and run accident.

How Do You Recover Compensation in a Hit and Run Accident?

Few things are scarier than being involved in a hit and run accident. You are left alone at the scene. You may be injured. You may have difficulty processing what just happened. On top of the hurt and trauma that comes with being hit by a driver that flees the accident scene, you have the added stress of considering how you will cover all of the costs that can come following an accident. Who will pay for your medical care? This question can plague accident victims and this is even more true when the party responsible for the accident flees the scene.

I was just in a hit and run accident, how do I get compensation?

A person can run from an accident scene for a number of reasons. He or she may have been intoxicated or had a suspended driver’s license. The person may have been operating a stolen vehicle or had outstanding warrants out for arrest. Whatever the reason for leaving the accident scene, an accident victim left behind carries the burden of the hit and run driver’s negligence. If you have been involved in a hit and run accident, you can take steps to help find the driver who left the scene. You may be hurt and in shock. Do whatever you are able to under the circumstances. Try taking a photo of the other vehicle. Call the police and report the hit and run. Provide a description of the vehicle that is as thorough as possible. Note things such as the make, model, and color of the vehicle. It is often possible for the police to locate the vehicle that caused the hit and run accident.

If the hit and run driver is found, then you may seek recovery for your injuries through pursuing a bodily injury claim under his or her insurance coverage. If the hit and run driver does not have any insurance or the driver is never located, you will have to rely on your own insurance coverage to pay for your expenses resulting from the accident. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state which requires drivers to carry $5,000 in medical benefits insurance coverage. This coverage will help cover your medical bills after an accident regardless of who was at fault for causing the accident. Should you require more medical coverage, you may be able to file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim.

UM coverage is not required in Pennsylvania, but our office strongly recommends that clients purchase this additional coverage. All too often drivers choose to operate vehicles despite not having the required auto insurance coverage. Other times, drivers leave an accident scene. In either of these cases, your UM coverage would be available to you. If you are the victim of a hit and run accident and you have UM coverage, you can make a claim under your UM coverage to help you pay for expenses associated with the accident.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have been the victim of a hit and run accident, the team of trusted personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy will help you pursue every avenue of recovery. We are here to help you in your time of need. Contact us today.

 

Red car with broken headlights

How to Determine Fault in a Car Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligent action or inaction of someone else, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim seeking compensation for the harm you have incurred. Determining who is at fault for a car accident, however, can be complicated. There can be many different parties involved and this issue can be difficult to unravel. Who is at fault for causing a car accident, however, is critical as it will determine who will be on the hook, or whose insurance carrier will be on the hook, for paying your damages.

Determining Fault in a Car Accident

There will be several different parties looking to determine who is at fault for an accident. First, the police will look to decide who is at fault. When they arrive at the accident scene, law enforcement will immediately gather evidence to determine who is at fault for the accident. This will include getting statements from the parties involved as well as witnesses. There may be tickets issued for any traffic violations. The official police report generated by the police arriving at the accident scene will play a central role in your personal injury claim. It is an impartial description of the accident. However, oftentimes the police investigation yields no determinative conclusion as to fault. 

Insurers of the parties involved in the accident will utilize things like the police report to make their own determination of who is at fault for an accident. An insurer, however, is likely to look at any evidence that could potentially exonerate them of responsibility for paying injury claims resulting from the accident. If a settlement cannot be reached with an insurance company, a personal injury claim may go to court and the judge, arbitrator(s), or jury will decide who was at fault for the accident and, therefore, who needs to pay and who needs to be paid. As the plaintiff in a personal injury case, you will be able to provide evidence to support your narrative of how an accident occurred. This is why it is important to gather your own evidence at the accident scene if you are able to. Take pictures, get the names and contact information of any witnesses, and write down any accident details you recall as soon as possible. These can be important pieces of evidence in support of your case.

In most instances, it will be found that one driver was at fault in causing an accident. This, however, is not always the case. Sometimes, more than one person is found to be at fault, including the plaintiff who is seeking compensation from another party. In these instances, it is important to be aware of Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence standard. Under the modified comparative negligence rule, the plaintiff in a personal injury case can only recover from the defendant if his or her percentage of fault in causing an accident is less than 51 percent. In other words, if a plaintiff assigned a percentage of fault that is 51% or greater, he or she will be unable to recover compensation from the defendant for damages sustained in the accident. If the plaintiff is 50% or less responsible, recovery is still possible, but it will be reduced by the percentage of fault he or she has been assigned.

Pennsylvania Auto Accident Injury Attorneys

Personal injury cases are not cut and dry. Every case is different and requires a fact-intensive analysis to make sure things are done right. You want to be able to pursue full and fair recovery from the correct parties. This can be complicated. That is why the team of trusted auto accident injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy tirelessly work to make sure we fully protect the best interests of our clients. We fight to make sure that the responsible parties are held accountable for the damages they have caused and that our clients are properly compensated for their losses. Contact us today.

Person on their laptop accessing social media.

Why You Should Stay Away from Social Media After a Car Accident

Social media has become ingrained in our everyday lives. We go there to keep in touch with people, to share life updates, to seek support from our community, and so much more. It is only natural that after a car accident, you would go to social media to update your friends on what happened. Do not do this. Using social media after a car accident can jeopardize your opportunity to seek compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim. It can have a far-reaching impact beyond what people usually think about.

Why Car Accident Victims Should Stay Away from Social Media

The reality is that insurance companies are all about their bottom line. They are businesses. When you pursue a claim with an insurance company seeking compensation for injuries and other losses you have sustained due to negligence on the part of their insured, they will use any opportunity to deny or undermine your claim. Social media provides them with big opportunities to gather the information they will utilize to get out of paying you anything or to justify paying you less than what you actually deserve.

Every time you post on social media, you may be inadvertently giving information about the accident or your resulting injuries that an insurance company could later hold against you. For instance, you may accidentally admit fault. Anything you say about what happened in the accident has the potential for someone to place blame on you. Saying things like “the other car came out of nowhere” or “I was eating lunch when it happened,” can be used as evidence that you were not paying attention or you were driving while distracted. There is so much that can be misconstrued. It is always the safest bet not to say anything at all.

Physical injuries and emotional distress claims resulting from the accident are particularly susceptible to being undermined by social media posts. Any pictures or statements made on social media relating to your activities, having fun, enjoying life, etc. can and will be used by an insurance company to show that you really are not as hurt as you claim and any assertion of emotional distress is clearly unfounded because you are still finding ways to have fun and enjoy life. Is this unfair? Absolutely, but it happens all of the time.

Posting anything negative about the insurance company on social media can be used to support the assertion that you are not negotiating in good faith. It is easy to get frustrated with an insurance company. You may be seeking an outlet to vent your frustrations on social media, but if the insurance company can show that you are acting in bad faith, they may claim that they should not have to enter into negotiations with you at all. 

To best protect you and the value of your claim, avoid social media altogether until your claim is resolved. Let friends and family know not to tag you in anything as well. Yes, this may seem extreme, but it is also the safest bet to ensure social media use does not harm your claim. If this is something you cannot do, update your privacy settings. Make sure all your accounts are set to private so only your current friends can see your posts. Do not add any new followers unless you know they are trustworthy. Be mindful of what you post.

Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorneys

Insurance companies will look for any opportunity to get out of paying your personal injury claim. At Cooper Schall & Levy, we stand up to the big insurance companies and zealously advocate on behalf of our clients. We are here to work for you and your right to full and fair compensation for your car accident injuries and losses. Contact us today.

Car driving at night in a city.

The Dangers of Night Driving and How to Stay Safe

We all know that driving at night can be dangerous, but do you know just how dangerous? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of fatal traffic accidents triples at night. While the NHTSA estimates that there is 60 percent less traffic on the roads at night, the significantly increased chance of being involved in a devastating motor vehicle accident is still there. Here we not only discuss the unique dangers presented by driving at night but also how you can take steps to keep yourself and others on the road safe.

Tips for Driving at Night

Why can driving at night be so much more dangerous than daytime driving? Well, for one, we humans are naturally sleepier at night. We are diurnal, which means we have a natural tendency to be more aware and awake during the day and more fatigued at night. Our reaction time slows and we are less alert. Most of us also tend to spend all day working or accomplishing various tasks that leave us exhausted at the end of the day. Sleepy drivers mean less aware drivers with slower reaction times.

Another obvious reason for increased danger associated with night driving: It is dark at night. An obvious truth, but one that is important to consider when evaluating the dangers of nighttime driving. The dark compromises our vision. It affects our depth perception, peripheral vision, and color recognition. Additionally, the tools we use to cope with the effects of the dark have their own effects. The lights of oncoming traffic can be blinding and leave our vision-impaired for a critical amount of time afterward. The dark also means it is more difficult to see things like pedestrians, animals, road obstructions, and damaged roads. Trying to avoid any of these things when you don’t see them to the last minute can lead to things like dangerous swerving.

There are also dangerous driving behaviors that do happen during the day but can prove to be more dangerous at night. For instance, speeding is never a good idea. At night, when conditions compromise your vision and people tend to have slower reaction times, speeding becomes even more dangerous. Additionally, more people tend to drive while impaired at night. In fact, over half of the fatal car crashes that occur at night are drug or alcohol-related.

To stay safe at night, try to avoid driving whenever possible. If you have to drive at night, make sure your car is properly maintained. You will want to be sure that your headlights, signal lights, mirrors, windows, and wiper blades are all clean and functioning. If you find yourself sleepy, pullover. Never drink and drive. Keep a greater distance between yourself and other cars.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

Night driving is sometimes unavoidable. If you have to drive at night, take care out there on the road. Although, it happens all too often that we take every safety precaution possible and still fall victim to the negligent action or inaction of another. If you have been injured in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, talk to the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy. We pursue full and fair compensation for our injured clients. Contact us today.

A car insurance policy with car key on top.

How Much Car Insurance Is Required in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania drivers should all be aware of the fact that state law requires you to carry minimum amounts of insurance while you’re out on the road. This requirement is in place to help ensure that damages sustained in a car accident are always covered. That is why all Pennsylvania drivers must carry proof of car insurance and a driver’s license. 

If you are caught without the requisite auto insurance coverage, there are penalties you will face. Penalties include upwards of $300 in fines as well as the suspension of your driver’s license, registration, and license plate for up to 3 months. You will also incur fees associated with the restoration of your driver’s license and vehicle registration. In some cases, your vehicle may be impounded.

Car Insurance Requirements in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s minimum auto insurance coverage requirements are unique. In fact, Pennsylvania is only one of 12 states that have adopted no-fault auto insurance. This type of insurance requires insurers to pay the medical expenses of their own covered drivers regardless of who is at fault in causing an accident. 

These no-fault benefits are also referred to as “first-party benefits” and “medical benefits.” If you are injured in an accident, your insurance coverage will pay out these benefits even if you are at fault in causing an accident. In Pennsylvania, you are required to carry a minimum of $5,000 in first-party benefits. You may opt for higher limits.

In addition to first-party benefits, you are required to carry bodily injury liability coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident. Bodily injury coverage comes into play should you injure someone else in a car accident you cause. The coverage will pay for things such as the injured person’s medical bills and rehabilitation costs, among other damages for which you are found liable. You must also carry a minimum of $5,000 in property damage liability coverage that will cover any property damage someone sustains in an accident you cause.

Finally, there is uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. Pennsylvania requires that you have $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unless you explicitly reject the coverage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage applies to you and your passengers for bodily injury expenses should you be hit by an at-fault uninsured or underinsured motorist. Underinsured means the other driver did not carry enough bodily injury liability coverage to fully compensate you for the harm caused. This type of coverage does not apply to property damage. You may also opt to stack this coverage, which allows you to multiply the coverage by the number of vehicles you have insured under the policy.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

The required auto insurance in Pennsylvania is meant to protect you and others on the road in the case that there are injuries resulting from an auto accident. If you have been hurt in an auto accident caused by someone else, talk to the trusted personal injury Attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy. We fight for our clients to get the money they are legally entitled to when they have suffered due to someone else’s negligence. Contact us today.

People driving in winter weather.

Dangers of Winter Driving

Winter is officially here and Pennsylvania drivers need to be aware of the potential dangers on the road that this season brings. Our winters do not just bring extreme drops in temperature, but also snowstorms and icy streets and highways. Stay vigilant out there to keep yourself and others safe. Always let someone else know of your travel plans and route before you head out. Keep some basic supplies in your car, such as non-perishable food and bottled water. A map is also a good idea to have in the event the GPS and cell phone devices fail. Also, be mindful of some of the other commonly presented dangers of winter driving.

Common Winter Driving Hazards

Snow obviously is one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of driving in winter. It can seriously impact visibility and sticks to windshields like rain does not. Ice on the roads and black ice are also dangerous for drivers. When the road is wet and surface temperatures drop below freezing, ice will form on the road. It may stay on the road after the temperature outside warms up because the ground is slower to warm than the air. Black ice, in particular, is scary to encounter on the road as it does not appear to be ice, but looks more like the road is just wet. Either way, ice can make it difficult for your tires to grip the road surface and lead to loss of control of steering and the ability to easily stop the vehicle.

Snow and ice on your windshield is not the only thing that can cause visibility problems in the winter. Yes, you should definitely take time to remove ice from your windows and mirrors before you head out in your vehicle, but also check your headlights. Just because your headlights have not yet burned out does not mean they do not need replacing. Headlights will dim over time and will not only make it more difficult for you to see on the road, but will also make it more difficult for others to see you, especially in harsh winter conditions.

Battery failure is another danger of winter driving. The cold weather can affect a battery’s ability to start a car, especially if the battery is aged and temperatures fall below freezing. Consider buying a new car battery or, at least, checking the health of your current battery. Take a look to see if it is at all corroded and needs cleaning. It is also a good idea to keep a portable charging source in your vehicle should you get stranded due to a dead battery.

Unsafe tire pressure is also a danger of winter driving. Cooler temperature changes air pressure leading to drops in tire pressure. The drop in atmospheric pressure leads to a drop in tire pressure. Loss of tire pressure will decrease the effectiveness of your tires.

Pennsylvania Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Stay vigilant this winter season by taking proper safety precautions before you set out on your seasonal travels. The dangers of winter pose real threats to you and others on the road. Should you be injured in a car accident this winter season, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy will fight for your right to be fairly compensated for your injuries. Contact us today.

Pennsylvania traffic at night to receive improvement funding.

Pennsylvania Governor Says Philadelphia Will Receive Traffic Improvement Funding

It is no secret that the streets of Philadelphia can be dangerous. The city’s infrastructure needs some major improvements in an effort to keep motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians safe. Too many people are being injured out there because the roads do not foster a safe environment for those traveling by various means. Fortunately, it looks like 2020 will kick off some major traffic improvements for Philadelphia.

Traffic Improvement Funding in Philadelphia

Governor Tom Wolf recently announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is set to distribute $13.1 million in Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE) revenue to fund 41 improvement projects across 34 municipalities, Philadelphia included. The $13.1 million in funding comes from fines paid from red-light violations at 31 intersections in Philadelphia. Pursuant to state law, these fines must go towards funding projects that are focused on improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion in traffic areas.

To receive grant money from the ARLE fund, municipalities across the state submitted a total of 116 applications. The applications totaled close to $33.6 million in requests for traffic improvement funding. Applications were reviewed and selected by a committee with eight members. The committee reviewed project applications for potential benefits and effectiveness as well as cost and cost-sharing. The potential regional and local impact of the project was also considered in the application review project. With the distribution of the $13.1 million in ARLE funds, the ARLE funding program will have awarded a total of $91.59 million since its inception in 2012. This money went to fund 457 safety projects.

Philadelphia is set to have several key safety projects funded with the $6.6 million in ARLE funds it is set to receive. Much of the money will go towards several improvement projects for Old City Market Street, from 6th to 2nd Street. These improvements will include things like rightsizing and protecting bike lanes as well as signal improvements. Bus boarding and pedestrian islands will also be added. Additionally, there will also be several other lower-cost safety improvements made to the city streets and sidewalks. Pavement marking will be improved, rumble strips will be added and so will curb extensions. There will also be green bicycle conflict zones.

On top of all of this, there are big plans to expand the ease and safety of bicycle access in the city. A redesign of high-quality bicycle network streets is in the works that will include both protected bike lanes as well as neighborhood bikeway corridors. Philadelphia’s Modern Roundabout Program will also continue. Intersection modifications will take place to slow traffic in these areas. To do this, the sight distance between drivers and pedestrians will be improved and pedestrian vulnerability will be reduced by reducing pedestrian crossing time. Lastly, there will be city-wide fiber optic signal integration and LED street lighting to promote walkability in commercial and residential areas.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys

Let’s hope that all of the traffic safety projects that received funding help make Philadelphia a safer place for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Even the safest of roads, however, can still prove to be dangerous. If you are hurt in Philadelphia, talk to one of the skilled personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy. We will consult with you regarding the potential you may have to bring a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your damages. Contact us today.

Man at a dram shop, about to drink and drive

What Is Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Law?

The vast majority of states have some kind of dram shop law in place. Pennsylvania is included in this majority. If an intoxicated individual has caused you harm, whether it be in a drunk driving accident or some other way, you may be able to seek compensation for damages. The term “dram shop” comes from England where gin used to be sold by the “dram.” Pennsylvania’s dram shop law applies to businesses that serve alcohol, such as bars and restaurants. It also can apply to private events where alcohol is being served. 

Governed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, the state’s dram shop law allows a person who has suffered harm caused by an intoxicated person to, under certain circumstances, file a civil claim seeking money damages from the business or person who provided the intoxicated individual with alcohol. These damages can cover losses incurred by the injured party, such as medical bills and lost wages. It can also help cover the value of lost future wages, property damages, and pain and suffering.

An Overview of Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Law

Pennsylvania’s dram shop law holds a business or individual that provides alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated accountable for any damage that the intoxicated individual may cause. The dram shop law is often applied in cases where a drunk driver has injured someone in an auto accident. A lawsuit is usually filed against both the drunk driver and the business that provided alcohol to the drunk driver. This law can also be used in cases where a visibly intoxicated individual starts a bar fight and causes injury to another patron. The injured patron could file a claim for damages pursuant to Pennsylvania’s dram shop law. 

Additionally, the state dram shop law includes civil liability against social hosts who provide alcohol to minors. If the minor causes harm to someone else after the host has provided them with alcohol, then the social host may be on the hook to pay damages. It is important to note, however, while social host liability is applicable in cases where the alcohol was provided to a minor, it is not applicable in claims involving intoxicated adults, even if the adult was visibly intoxicated.

In order to hold a bar or other business liable pursuant to Pennsylvania’s dram shop law, you must be able to show that an employee or agent of the business served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated. Visible intoxication does not depend on a person’s actual blood alcohol content (BAC). Rather it depends on outward signs of intoxication being displayed by the person. Signs supporting “visible intoxication” include things like bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. You must also be able to prove that the business serving the alcohol to the visibly intoxicated person directly led to your injuries.

Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

Intoxicated individuals can cause serious damages, especially on the road. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you may have a chance to recover compensation not only from the drunk driver but from the establishment who provided that driver with alcohol. The dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy are here to pursue every avenue of recovery for you. Contact us today.

Cooper Schall & Levy’s lawyers serve victims of bicycle accidents throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as well as neighboring counties such as Montgomery County and Delaware County and cover neighborhoods such as Norristown and Drexel Hill.

Man driving his car while using his phone.

What Is Philadelphia Doing to Address the Distracted Driving Problem?

Philadelphia has a big problem: distracted driving. In fact, 75% of people on Philadelphia-area roads are using their mobile devices while driving, according to a 2018 report issued by the Traveler’s Institute. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that sending or reading a text leads a person to take their eyes off the road for 5 seconds and that, at 55 mph, this means you are essentially driving the full length of a football field with your eyes closed. If three-quarters of drivers in Philadelphia are using their mobile devices while driving, this means that there are far too many drivers operating their vehicles as if their eyes were closed.

Distracted driving is dangerous driving. The NHTSA reports that, in 2017, distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives. Although mobile device-use such as talking, texting, and e-mailing, has become the biggest source of distracted driving, it is not the only one. Anything that takes your full attention away from the road is a distraction. This includes drinking, eating, and interacting with other passengers. Though using a mobile device while driving seems to be the biggest problem for people between the ages of 20 to 37, novice or teenage drivers are found to be distracted by other passengers in the car more often. NHTSA statistics show that a teen driver that has other teen passengers are more likely to crash than if they were driving alone or with an adult passenger.

How Philadelphia Is Fighting the Distracted Driving Problem

Unfortunately, Philadelphia, as well as the entire state of Pennsylvania, has a great deal of room for improvement in its efforts to curb the prominent problem of distracted driving. Like other states, Pennsylvania has enacted a distracted driving law, but many critics say the law does not go nearly as far as it should. 

Pennsylvania’s distracted driving law only bans texting while driving. More specifically, the law prohibits a driver from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) in order to send, read, or write a text while his or her vehicle is in motion. An IWCD could be anything from a smartphone to a personal digital assistant or any similar type of device that can be used for things such as texting, emailing or internet browsing.

The law prohibits texting while driving as a primary offense. This means that law enforcement officers are empowered to pull someone over specifically for this offense. They do not need the driver to be in violation of another law first. Unfortunately, texting while driving bans are notoriously difficult to enforce and drivers are not often ticketed for this offense. Even if a driver is ticketed for the offense, the violation carries no points as part of the penalty, and it is not recorded on the driver record for non-commercial drivers. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorney

Distracted driving leads to devastation on the roads. Those who have been the victims of distracted driving often sustain devastating injuries that will impact the rest of their lives. If you have been hurt by a distracted driver, the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy will fight for you. We will fight for your legal right to be compensated for the harm you have suffered at the hands of a negligent driver. Contact us today.