California hands free cell phone law takes effect, Jul 1
June 25, 2008
You better get ready as California’s hands-free cell phone law goes into effect July 1. The professionals at Elite Auto Network is ready to deliver and custom-install hands-free communication technology to put you in compliance with the new California cell phone law. I had them install a Parrot 3200 and it works like a charm. Call Tracy Porter today to schedule your appointment, 925-467-1000 or visit their site at eliteautonetwork.com.
According to the LA Times: “The threat of a $20 fine may not sway every California driver from using a hand-held cellphone when a state ban takes effect July 1, but a motorist who ignores the law and causes an accident could face huge civil judgments or even jail if fatalities result.
Click for some excerpts from the article:
“A cellphone violation during a fatal car accident may not be enough to bring a felony charge, but it could trigger a misdemeanor manslaughter charge, Thorpe said. Conviction on those charges can carry up to a year in jail for each death.”
“A predictable effect of the new law could be in civil cases, in which juries have already returned huge verdicts involving cellphone use. In 2003, a Palmdale jury stunned the legal community with a $7.3-million verdict in a nonfatal case brought by a motorist who was struck by a teenager who was allegedly talking on a cellphone. The case was later settled, reportedly for about $6 million.”
“Insurance industry attorneys agree about their clients’ increased exposure.
“Violations of a safety law would be powerful evidence of liability,” said David Snyder, vice president and assistant general counsel of the American Insurance Assn. “You could draw an analogy to drunk-driving laws or the speed limit.
“Insurers would still cover losses, unless future policies exclude drivers using hand-held cellphones, Snyder said. Afterward, they will be greeted with sharply higher insurance rates, he said.
“Michael Maguire, a State Farm attorney in Southern California, said the law could lead jurors to give out more awards and higher damages, even though they are supposed to compensate accident victims only for their actual costs, such as medical care and lost income.”
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