Send a Text to a New Jersey Driver? If There’s a Crash, You Might Be Held Liable

The New Jersey appellate court's opinion could hold people who send text messages to drivers liable for accidents.

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An recent opinion from the New Jersey appellate court states “the sender of a text message can potentially be liable if an accident is caused by texting, but only if the sender knew or had special reason to know that the recipient would view the text while driving and thus be distracted,” as reported by The Verge.

The decision came about as the result of a case involving a driver who, while texting, injured a couple on a motorcycle. Damages were reportedly sought against not only the driver, but the girl who sent text messages to the driver as well (in the end, she wasn’t charged).

As The Verge’s Nathan Ingraham points out, “this isn’t a formal law, but more an admission that New Jersey will consider future prosecution of people who sent texts to someone who caused an accident.”

You can now be held liable for texting a driver in New Jersey [The Verge]