Cell phone likely cause of serious Missouri car accident
Two people were seriously injured in a head-on collision likely caused by a cell phone call Sunday in Cole County, Missouri.
The accident, which occurred on Route B, occurred when Jeffery Anderson, 33, tried to make a phone call while driving his 1999 Nissan. According to the initial crash report, Anderson took his eyes off the road and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. There, his car crashed head-on into a 2008 Chrysler with passengers Sylvester Redel, 80, and Juanita Godsy, 78.
Redel and Godsy were both seriously injured and taken to Capital Region Medical Center. Anderson did not suffer significant personal injury according to the investigating officer.
This accident is the type of incident that is fueling debate now over cell phone use in cars. Many groups are lobbying for a state or federal ban on cell phone use behind the wheel. These groups cite studies that claim cell phone use is an impairment to drivers on the same level as being legally drunk.
Despite the fact there is not yet a ban on cell phone use, if a personal injury attorney can prove a driver lost control of his vehicle due to talking on the phone, that driver may be considered negligent and forced to repay damages to the other drivers.
