In South Carolina, bans on driving while texting were first explored in Columbia, Clemson, and the Lowcountry. Now, at least 13 South Carolinian cities have done so, and Greenville could soon follow suit. It is our hope that Lexington will do the same, as roadway safety laws can go a long way toward reducing the number of car wrecks in our communities.
Greenville’s city officials are addressing whether texting and driving should be made illegal within city limits after a statewide law did not pass this year.
Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth stated that texting while driving is an epidemic in Greenville, and must be dealt with.
South Carolina is one of only three states that does not have a statewide distracted driving law. More than 40 states have forbidden texting and driving. Twelve states prohibit all hand-held devices while operating a vehicle.
Greenville’s ban may extend to drivers who are sending, looking at, or retrieving any electronic data, not solely text messages. Punishment and fines might also increase with every offense. Greenville’s goal is to have a new distracted driving law in place by January 1, 2014.
Lawyers who help people injured in car wrecks have long known the dangers of texting and driving. Every car accident case we handle forces us to ask not only what happened, but why it happened. Too often, texting or some other form of distracted driving is the cause of the collision.
Though this news story concerns Greenville, accidents caused by texting and driving are prevalent in Lexington, Columbia, and across our state. I take distracted driving seriously not only because of my job as a Lexington car accident lawyer, but also because I have family and friends out on the roadways. When drivers choose to violate our roadway safety rules and put others in danger, my firm is here to help.
Get Legal Help After a Car Accident in South Carolina
If you were injured in an auto accident in the Columbia area due to a distracted driver—or any other reason—you should contact the Law Office of Kenneth Berger for a free consultation. A car accident lawyer can help injured people after an accident by handling the crash investigation, negotiating your insurance claims, and representing you in any lawsuits that you need to claim a full and fair recovery.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger have years of experience handling cases like yours, and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we proudly serve the Sumter and Florence areas, as well as the entire state of South Carolina. Call us today at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC), or start a live chat 24/7 with a real, live person to arrange a free and confidential consultation.
