If you're texting while driving and you have an accident - it's your fault. But what about the person who was texting with you? That question is at the heart of a lawsuit in New Jersey.
David and Linda Kubert's lives were shattered in seconds -- about the time it takes to send a text message. "This is a senseless crash that didn't have to happen," David said.
Accident photos tell the story. On September 21st, 2009, the Kuberts were riding their motorcycle about a mile from their New Jersey home. A Chevy truck swerved across the center line and hit them head-on. "What I saw was a gentlemen in the truck steering with his elbows, with his head down. And I could tell he was text messaging," David said. "I looked down after the impact and my leg was torn off. I asked my wife is she was ok and she told me the bones of her leg were through her pants." Both Kuberts lost a leg in the crash.
Kyle Best, then 18, pleaded guilty to three motor vehicle violations, including using a handheld device while driving.
Texting while walking banned in N.J. town
The Kuberts are now suing him as a distracted driver for civil damages -- and in a novel twist -- are also suing Shannon Colonna, his girlfriend, for sending him text messages while he was driving, and distracting him. Phone records show they exchanged 62 texts that day.
Skippy Weinstein, the Kuberts' lawyer, argues Colonna was "electronically present" in the crash. He says she should have known Best was driving home as they exchanged text messages leading up to the crash. She says she "may have known" he was driving. "What I find interesting was her testimony at depositions was that she answered by saying, 'This is what teenagers do,'" Weinstein said. "I believe that if she knew he was driving and answering her back with texts, that she's partially responsible too," Linda said.
Lawsuits in distracted driving cases increasingly involve third parties. "We all know indeed it takes two people to text," said Dallas trial lawyer Todd Clement. With a specialty in distracted driving, Clement argues the text sender could be held liable.
"It seems to make sense that both people involved in the activity could very well be liable including the sender who is not actually behind the wheel," Clement said. "As this case goes forward, I think what you're going to see is a new awareness throughout the country. A new responsibility on the part of both the sender and the receiver of the text message not to continue this kind of negligent activity."
The Kuberts say both text senders and receivers need to be held accountable. "If we get this out to the public, and hopefully we are, maybe somebody won't end up like us. Or worse," David said. Friday, a New Jersey judge will decide whether the Kuberts have a case against the sender of the text message.
Thirty-eight states have banned texting behind the wheel. Government statistics say 24 percent of vehicle crashes can be attributed to phone use while driving.
Legal analyst Rikki Klieman thinks the case shouldn't have a chance at this stage. "We do have sanctions against people who text while driving," Klieman said Wednesday on "CBS This Morning." "We do not yet have any against those who send the text. And judges shouldn't be in the business of lawmaking."
Judge: Text sender is not liable for “electronic presence” in a car accident
The New Jersey judge ultimately dismissed the case against Colonna since she cannot be held accountable for Best’s decision on when he should have read her text, reports CBS News.
Of course, it’s no surprise that the Kuberts’ argument seems rather flawed. If the judge ruled that Colonna is in fact responsible, every text message we ever send would become liable to whatever decisions the recipient makes while reading the text. While it seems fair to note that Colonna can be more careful, in the end, it was Best who committed the crime.
Do you agree with this legal analyst? In my opinion, these cases should be decided on their own facts. I also believe that judges are often in the BEST position to decide the standards for a community, and to decide what is and is not good public policy. A legislative enactment is too broad and cannot possibly cover the nuances of each situation. A judicial determination can be absolutely tailored to each and every individual case.
Liability against the sender? I have to know more.
Did this sender know that her friend was constantly behind the wheel that day? Was he incessantly responding to her? If so, I can envision a shared liability.
Otherwise, one of the great things about texts, emails, etc... is that they are “non-intrusive”. That means that they stay there, and we can respond when convenient, when safe or perhaps just when we feel like it (or not). The primary responsibility must be on the one behind the wheel, but if the sender is well aware that the “conversation” is occurring when one party is behind the wheel---I am not sure that holding them liable offends me—or is contrary to sound public policy.
What are your thoughts?