Textalyzer is like a breathalyzer test for detecting cell phone use while driving
Countless public awareness campaigns have urged drivers to stop texting while behind the wheel. Yet drivers continue to engage in this dangerous behavior that takes their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road, and their attention off of driving.
When distracted drivers cause accidents, they can and should be held liable for any resulting injuries or deaths. However, sometimes proving that a driver was distracted at the time of an accident can be challenging. New Textalyzer technology aims to change this, making it easy for law enforcement to tell if a driver was using their cell phone illegally while on the road.
Textalyzer is being touted as the breathalyzer equivalent for electronics. Once connected to a driver’s phone by law enforcement, Textalyzer would display a summary of the phone’s recent usage, including what apps were open, when incoming or outgoing calls were made, and when texts were received or sent. Textalyzer can even report on screen taps and swipes, complete with timestamps for each action. The technology would not show the content of any messages in order to preserve privacy.
Textalyzer is being developed by a company called Cellebrite, in collaboration with the father of a young man killed in a distracted driving accident.
Ben Lieberman’s 19-year-old son Evan was fatally injured in a car accident in New York state in 2011. The driver of the car drifted over the center line, causing a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle. Although Evan was wearing his seatbelt, he suffered severe internal injuries and died about a month after the accident.
Initially, the driver told police he fell asleep at the wheel. However, Lieberman suspected this was not the truth. Although the driver’s cell phone was sitting in the impound lot inside the wrecked vehicle, Lieberman was not able to check it without a warrant. After six months of diligent work, Lieberman was finally able to subpoena the driver’s phone records as part of a civil suit. The phone records confirmed that the driver had been texting at the time of the accident.
Lieberman recognized that there should be a better way to investigate the possibility of cell phone distractions being involved in car accidents, A) without a warrant; and B) in a way that allowed for detection of distractions besides calls and texts, such as emails, social media use, or web browsing.
Textalyzer promises to achieve all these goals. However, state legislatures will first have to pass laws approving its use. New York state is currently halfway through this process.
Have You Been Injured by a Distracted Driver?
If you have been involved in a car accident that you believe was caused by a distracted driver, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker can help. We will investigate the circumstances of your accident to see if you have grounds for legal action. If so, we will fight aggressively to secure the full and fair compensation you deserve. Call us at 800-333-0000 for a free consultation.
