Truck Accidents

Personal Injury Lawyers serving Englishtown, Newark, Jersey City, Monmouth & Middlesex Counties, and nearby areas of New Jersey

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What Are The Texting & Cell Phone Use Laws in New Jersey?

Distracted driving is deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,450 people in 2016. Unfortunately, individuals continue to let their attention wander when they are behind the wheel, despite knowing the risk of being involved in an auto accident.

DWINew Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in August 2019 enacted a new law that requires first-time DWI offenders to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in their cars. IIDs prevent a vehicle from starting if they detect alcohol in a driver's breath. In a press release, Murphy touted the law as a way to deter drunk driving without preventing offenders from providing for themselves and their families.

Unfortunately, fatal motor vehicle accidents continue to occur at an alarming rate. According to preliminary statistics released by the National Safety Council, 40,100 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2017 and another 4.57 million people required medical attention. The number of fatalities exceeded 40,000 in 2016 as well.

In New Jersey alone, there have been approximately 371 fatalities so far this year according to public information provided by the New Jersey State Police. The fatalities by county include: