iPhone’s New “Do Not Disturb” Feature Could Save Lives

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

What are my rights if I have been injured by a texting driver in California?

Apple recently released several new software features at its Worldwide Developer’s Conference.  One of these features could potentially save thousands of lives each year.  Apple plans to release an iOS that will include a feature known as the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” tool.  This feature will make it easier for drivers across the nation to avoid texting while driving.  With distracted driving car accidents killing well over 3,000 people a year, this Apple feature is a much-needed evolution in the mobile phone industry.  

Apple’s “Do Not Disturb” Feature

iPhones using the iOS 11 will be able to detect, either through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, whether or not the phone user is driving.  If the phone user is driving, then the phone’s screen will automatically lock and all notifications will be switched to off.  You will have the option to have your phone send out an auto reply message in response to any texts you receive while your phone is in the “Do Not Disturb” mode.  Users can bypass the feature to send an emergency text by typing urgent in response to the autoreply message.  

While Apple’s technology is fairly simple, its mass implementation could save lives.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that eight people are killed in car accidents involving distracted drivers annually.  Texting is a top cause of distracted driving accidents, one that Apple hope to significantly reduce.  

Your Rights as the Victim of a Distracted Driving Accident

If you are injured in a car accident and suspect the other driver was texting, it is imperative that you contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.  Texting is a difficult behavior to detect and your lawyer can assist you in gathering evidence of the other driver’s negligence, which could involve subpoenaing cell phone records.  Car accident victims injured by distracted drivers could be eligible to receive compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and potentially even punitive damages.  Take action to protect your legal rights following any car accident by contacting an experienced attorney today.   

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.