Using a hand held mobile phone while driving is illegal in the United Kingdom. Those caught using mobile phones while driving in this country are prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving.
As an example, a lorry driver who caused a woman's death in a car accident last October was jailed for four years. The car accident occurred because the lorry driver was distracted by his mobile phone.
John Payne, 31, had been using his mobile phone and failed to notice a traffic queue ahead. His lorry smashed into a Peugeot 106 driven by Trinity Taylor, 23, rolling over the top of the car crushing it, and killing the woman driver inside.
Outside Winchester crown court, after Payne was sentenced, Ms Taylor's family said motorists caught using mobiles should face as much stigma as drink-drivers.
The court heard that in the minutes before the collision, Payne had told William Fowell, the driver's mate that he wanted to find out how to use the Motorola mobile phone. He missed warning signs of an approaching queue and did not notice the stationary cars which were visible more than half a mile away.
During the accident, a fire broke out inside Ms Taylor's car, which was so badly mangled that another driver who rushed over could not reach inside to feel for her pulse.
Ms Taylor, from Aldershot, Hampshire was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident after suffering massive chest and head injuries. Six other vehicles were severely damaged in the road accident, which one of the other drivers described as "like being in a washing machine".
Payne, who was transporting Jacuzzis from Hemel Hempstead to Dorset, was not injured. He was arrested at the scene of the accident, on the M3 near Basingstoke, Hampshire, but initially denied using a mobile phone.
When experts examined the lorry's tachograph they found that the vehicle had only slowed from 61mph to 47mph in the last few yards before the impact.
In mitigation, Payne's Defence Lawyer said the lorry driver was suffering depression and anxiety. He had admitted causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.
Judge Michael Brodrick also disqualified Payne from driving for seven years and ordered that he take an extended driving test.
If you have suffered injury in a car accident as a result of another driver causing the road accident because of using a mobile phone, you may be entitled to claim injury compensation.
Balinda & Co have many years experience and have helped a lot of people who have suffered injuries in car accidents to get compensation.
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