Erie Car Accident Lawyers Featured on TV for Texting Conviction

June 7, 2012, ERIE, PA — The Erie car accident lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. will be featured in this evening’s news on the local ABC and Fox affiliates, WJET and WFXP. Attorney Eric J. Purchase offered commentary and analysis of the recent conviction and prison sentence of a Massachusetts teen who was texting during, or just prior to, a fatal motor vehicle accident.

The Massachusetts teen had sent 195 texts on the day of the accident, including one within a minute of the impact and several immediately thereafter. He was convicted under a Massachusetts law that not only made it illegal to text while driving, but that provided enhanced penalties in the event that the car accident resulted in a fatality or serious injury. The teenager was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, 1 1/2 of which were suspended.

Atty. Purchase noted that the sentence was unusually harsh when compared to historic penalties for similar traffic offenses. However, the sentencing judge made a point of noting that the behavior of texting while driving is unusually dangerous and that the sentence would call attention to the serious nature of the offense and serve as a deterrent to others. Atty. Purchase cautioned that while Pennsylvania does not have a statute that mirrors Massachusetts’ statute, there are other more general crimes with which drivers can be charged if texting while driving results in serious injury or death.

The Erie personal injury lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. have made education of the public about the dangers of texting and driving a mission of the firm. They are the Pennsylvania sponsors of Teens Against Distracted Driving (TADD) and, in partnership with the PA State Police and WJET, have been making presentations to local high schools about the risks of texting and driving. This summer, the Erie injury law firm is turning its attention to local employers and plans to make presentations to business owners and employees about the dangers of the behavior.

The Pennsylvania car accident law firm encourages people to call if they are interested in arranging a speaking engagement anywhere in Erie County, Crawford County, Venango County, Warren County, or Mercer County, PA. An experienced car accident attorney will be pleased to appear and offer information about the dangers of distracted driving.

Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. is an Erie-based personal injury law firm with offices in Erie, Meadville, and Franklin. The Pennsylvania injury attorneys are committed to educating the public about car accident cases and injury cases. To reach one of our experienced Erie car accident lawyers, call 814-273-2010 or toll free 814-273-2010, or use our online contact form.