In April of last year, Governor Cuomo announced a statewide crackdown on distracted driving. Data indicates there was a 918 percent increase in tickets issued for texting while driving in the state of New York from 2011 to 2016. In 2015, 160 people were killed and over 33,000 were injured in New York State alone in a distracted driving accident.

How Texting and Driving Can Cause a NY Winter Accident

Throughout the winter, the roads and conditions are usually somewhat hazardous. The winter snow, sleet, and ice make for slippery conditions and shorter reaction times. Adding an additional distraction, such as texting and driving, is a certain recipe for winter car accidents.

Best Apps to Block Texting While Driving

With distracted driving becoming an epidemic, there have been several apps invented to prevent accidents involving cell phones. These three free apps can help you and your loved ones from getting into an accident and keeping their focus on the road.

• Lifesaver – This is a great app designed to mute your phone while driving. It is a great app for parents as well, to make sure their children are not texting behind the wheel. You can even check how often they make “Emergency” unlocks to ensure they are using it correctly. Available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

• Down for the Count – This app rewards you when you are driving safely. After you create a driving pledge campaign, you may select a driving time goal and a dollar pledge amount from a sponsor. Sponsors can be parents, relatives, or friends. Once you have completed your campaign goal, enjoy your reward! Available on the Apple Store.

• SafeRide – Once installed, this app will automatically lock your phone once your vehicle begins accelerating. Available on Google Play.

Apple’s Do Not Disturb While Driving Feature

If you have an iPhone, you may have noticed an update in iOS 11. Apple has introduced a “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature that was created to mute incoming calls, texts, and other notifications to prevent distracted driving car accidents. This feature can be customized to turn on automatically when the iPhone detects a car’s acceleration, when the iPhone connects to a vehicle’s Bluetooth, or manually.

To turn on the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, use the following steps:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Do Not Disturb
3. Scroll down to Do Not Disturb While Driving and select Activate. There you may choose if you want it to turn on automatically, when connected to Bluetooth, or manually.
4. Once selected, you can also choose an automatic reply to send for those who contact you while driving.

What to Do If You Are Injured by a Distracted Driver

Picture This: You’re driving home from working late one night during the winter. The roads are a bit slushy but you are taking your time driving through town. You come to a stop sign and take the necessary precautions to make a complete, safe stop in the intersection. Suddenly, a car comes up behind you and slams into your car from the rear. Your head propels forward and hits the steering wheel. You look back in a daze to find the person who hit you was texting and driving.

You are an innocent victim in this situation. The person that hit you made a conscious decision to break the law and now you have to suffer the consequences. You are now out of work due to a car crash injury that was not your fault. Luckily you realize there is help so you do not have to deal with this alone. So, you call car accident lawyers, Brindisi, Murad, Brindisi and Pearlman, and they take care of the rest.

If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, you need The People’s Lawyer on your side. Brindisi, Murad, Brindisi and Pearlman are experienced car accident lawyers armed with the knowledge and passion to fight for you and your rights. We are here to protect the innocent people in Utica, Syracuse, and the rest of New York State that are injured by someone else’s negligence. Free legal advice is available upon your first complimentary consultation. Contact our office today to get started.

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Tags: Car Accidents