ATTORNEYS VOLUNTEER FOR NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS EFFORT

Distracted driving is responsible for more than 5,000 deaths and close to 450,000 accidents in the US every year. Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. Drivers who use handheld devices are 4 times more likely to get into an injury-producing crash.

These are just a few of the startling and tragic statistics that result from distracted driving.

As part of April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, O’Connell & Aronowitz attorneys Pam Nichols and Tom DiNovo have teamed with The Casey Feldman Foundation, EndDD.org and 60 for Safety as local speakers in their North American End Distracted Driving: Student Awareness Initiative. They will join more than 750 (and growing) attorneys, judges and advocates in all 50 states and throughout Canada to present a unified awareness and education message throughout the month of April.

Locally, the first presentation took place on Monday, April 2nd at Rensselaer High School. In Mr. Stranahan’s health classes, 60 students heard first-hand stories of the tragic aftermath resulting from the simple act they do literally thousands of times a day – sending a text.

On the motivation to participate in this national volunteer effort, Pam Nichols explains, “As attorneys, we represent people in personal injury cases after serious injury or unnecessary death have occurred. We know that awareness and education will help save lives.”   Ms. Nichols, who along with Mr. DiNovo hope to present this program to 1,000+ students during April, will speak at high schools throughout a 13-county area. “We were very excited to take part in a program focused on community safety. It’s very motivating to know we can make a difference in preventing injuries and deaths.”

At Rensselaer High School, Mr. Stranahan’s health students were an engaged audience. “The End Distracted Driving program sent a powerful message on the effects of distracted driving,” he said. “The integration of personal stories along with the informational PowerPoint gave our students the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions before driving and getting into an automobile. This is an outstanding program by the law firm of O’Connell & Aronowitz.”

O’Connell and Aronowitz is one of the Capital District’s largest and most diverse law firms. With more than 35 attorneys and offices in Albany, Saratoga, and Plattsburgh, the Firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals throughout the State. If you have questions about the Firm or its services, please contact Pam Nichols, Managing Partner at (518) 462-5601, or visit the Firm’s website at www.oalaw.com. Mr. DiNovo can be reached at the same number.