“Tell Them You Mean Business”

Massachusetts bans texting while driving. Get the facts. Stay street smart.

Massachusetts recently became the 30th state nationwide to ban texting while driving for all drivers. The new law goes even further. It prohibits 16- to 17-year-old drivers from using a phone while driving. The new law also prohibits drivers from scanning the Internet on a mobile device.

So what happens if you violate the law? The first offense carries a $100 fine for adults texting while driving, $250 for the second offense and $500 for the third offense and all subsequent offenses for adults. Penalties vary for minors.

The new law comes on the heels of a nationwide ban earlier this year on texting while driving for all commercial truck drivers. But just because Massachusetts has outlawed texting while driving does not guarantee we will all be safer. One study found that texting laws do not reduce the number of car accidents.

But don’t be fooled. The evidence is clear. All of our lives are at risk when someone texts or even uses a cell phone while driving. Extensive scientific studies have found that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause an accident as other drivers.

That’s probably why many states ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Massachusetts is not one of them. You can legally talk on a cell phone while holding one in your hand while driving in Massachusetts.

Distracted driving has become a menace on our roads. Don’t become another statistic. Be aware. Stay safe. And if a driver using a cell phone injuries you in an accident, contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone. We know the law and know how to get results. We have years of experience vigorously defending victims of serious car accidents and getting them the compensation they deserve.

Don’t let someone else’s irresponsible behavior ruin your life. Take action. Call Mark E. Salomone today. We mean business.

Massachusetts schools safe? Know the facts. Be prepared.

School can be an amazing place for children. They learn about the world there. They make friends that last a lifetime. They discover who they are and what they want to be when they grow up.

Schools can also present unique hazards to children. In the classroom, bullies can turn the wonderful experience of attending school into a nightmare. The recent, on-going case in South Hadley, Massachusetts painfully reminds us of the life-threatening dangers bullies pose to students in school.

Getting to and from school can also be dangerous. Sadly, a staggering number of pedestrians injured and killed are under 15 years old. In 2008, pedestrians sustained 69,000 injuries and 4,378 deaths in accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those statistics include 15,000 injured and 316 killed under 15 years old.

But the statistics are even more startling for bicycle injuries and deaths for children. Cyclists under 14 years old account 24 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and 50 percent of all bicycle-related injuries.

Why do so many accidents happen? Sometimes, children aren’t paying attention while walking to their bus stop, riding a bike or walking to school. Other times, it’s the driver being careless. Texting while driving, talking on cell phones, fiddling with the radio – all of these activities distract drivers and put everyone at risk.

Accidents happen. Everyone feels sorry. But actions have consequences. Don’t let someone’s irresponsible behavior ruin your family’s lives. You need someone who will fight for your child’s rights. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone.

Serving clients throughout Massachusetts, our seasoned attorneys have years of experience defending families traumatized by injuries or deaths involving school children. We know how precious children are to parents. And we will do everything in our power to right any wrongs done to them.

Get back your peace of mind. Contact Mark E. Salomone. We’re on your side.