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West Bridgewater Police Pull Over 51 Drivers in Four Hours for Texting Behind the Wheel

January 28, 2013

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The West Bridgewater Police Department recently stopped 51 motorists in fours for allegedly texting while behind the wheel of an automobile. 14 drivers received a warning ticket and the remaining 37 motorists were issued a $100 citation for engaging in the unsafe practice. In 2011, Massachusetts State Police reportedly cited 504 drivers for texting while driving. During the first nine months of 2012, that number was 603. Judging by the number of tickets issued in West Bridgewater, law enforcement agencies throughout the state could easily issue thousands of texting behind the wheel citations every year.

According to Alicia Tantillo, a Brockton driving instructor, texting while driving is dangerous because an accident can result quickly when a driver is distracted. She reportedly believes that teenagers in particular are at risk of being harmed because they are extremely anxious to respond to their mobile devices. Tantillo said it is especially important for young motorists to refrain from sending or reading text messages while behind the wheel. She also added that teen drivers know the practice is illegal because they were required to complete a mandatory driver's education course prior to becoming licensed.

Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that at least 3,000 individuals were killed and about 416,000 were hurt by distracted drivers across the nation in 2010. Motorists who were distracted by text messages, email, watching videos, eating, speaking with passengers, and a variety of other reasons allegedly caused 18 percent of all traffic wrecks in the United States during the same year. NHTSA officials said texting and driving is especially dangerous because of the numerous types of distraction involved. Texting reportedly requires a motorist's visual, mental, and manual attention to shift away from the road. In fact, a driver is allegedly 23 times more likely to become involved in a traffic accident if he or she is texting behind the wheel.

Car accidents in Massachusetts may be caused by any number of factors including driver inattention or distraction. The victim of an automobile collision may be entitled to receive financial compensation for their medical costs, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you or a loved one was injured in an unexpected traffic wreck, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.

If you were hurt in a Massachusetts car accident, please give the Law Offices of Sousa & Sousa, P.C. a call at (508) 230-5300 in Brockton. Our dedicated Bridgewater traffic collision attorneys focus their practice exclusively on personal injury law. The knowledgeable advocates at Sousa & Sousa have more than 37 years of combined experience helping the victims of terrible car and other injury accidents receive the compensation they deserve. The Law Offices of Sousa & Sousa, P.C. is available to assist clients who were injured in Easton, Stoughton, Norton, Brockton, Taunton, Bridgewater, and many other surrounding towns. To speak with a capable personal injury lawyer today, contact the Law Offices of Sousa & Sousa, P.C. through the law firm's website.

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