Jamie Nash created “Txt L8r” to promote against distracted driving
As distracted driving becomes more and more popular, so do its fatal repercussions. Some people are not lucky enough to live and tell their story, but one North Texas woman is and she is telling it loudly and often.
On June 27, 2010, as she was driving on a dark, rural road in Ellis County, Jamie Nash decided to send a text that would change her life forever. The content of the text is not what altered the course of her life, like most people, it was the process of doing so. While sending the text, Nash says, “I lost control of the vehicle, and I flipped and hit a tree.” Upon hitting the tree, Nash’s PT cruiser burst into flames burning over 70 percent of her body. Although she may have survived the crash, it was not without lasting effects as Nash has been official labeled disabled due to the disaster.
Now, Nash is taking her story to high schools across the state begging teens to not make the same mistake she did. Her hope is that this dose of reality will be the driving factor that keeps teens from using their phone while driving. With devastating images of the accident and her recovery, it’s hard for teens not to be awakened by Nash’s story.
Nash is not alone in her efforts, nor should she be. Reports indicate that a driver is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident when driving distracted. AT&T acknowledges this alarming stat and takes on their own endeavors to fight distracted driving by trying to make it as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving.
With a new app that sends out an automatic message while in drive mode notifying the person texting or e-mailing that the person is driving, AT&T hopes that those sending texts will be less inclined to do so. Cathy Coughlin, AT&T Senior Executive Vice President states, “We want to make it very easy for people to let their friends, their family, anyone texting or e-mailing them while they’re driving, to let them know, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
In the meantime, take Nash’s story to heart and do not let yourself make the same mistake. It should not take an app to keep you from driving distracted; the chance of hurting yourself or someone else should be enough.
If, however, you are on the other side of such unnecessary calamities, then you are entitled to compensation that counters the cost of any ensuing finances. You should not be penalized fiscally on top of your physical sufferings because of someone else’s negligence.
Contact a skillful Dallas car crash attorney now to make sure of this.