By Matt

June 27, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

It has nothing to do with the cell phone…. If you look up the case in the court records it is shown that the cell call was after the crash and a witness has stated on the stand that it was made after the crash. Cell records show that the call was made the same time as many 911 calls. We can take this time to beat up on the cell phone useage by drivers, but it only takes a second to loose focus on the road and this could be you. It happens every day on Florida Highways, the differance here is a fat purse from the insurance company. Shame on the people who do this.. If it was the average driver what is there? 100k or 300k max? Next time you pay your insurance bill thank your fellow jurors for the increases.

By diane dompka

June 23, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

=I think they should be banned, I know I have made bad driving errors when on the cell phone, then you get the deserved “looks that could kill” from the one you almost killed. Brilliant the person who suggested the car implant with the cell phone interrupt, except for 911 calls. Overpopulation is a problem, however our Society has far more civilized ways of dealing with this issue, rather than “death by cellphone”, let’s just keep eating and drinking the water, slower, yet helpful to Doctors, the Pharmaceutical Industry, Bogus Diet Ideas,the bottled water industry, etc.=

Diane Dompka

By Don G

June 22, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this

“HELLO”!!!!!!! MANDATORY IN CAR SPEAKER SET UP. I.E., HANDS FREE! MY YACHT BROKER FRIEND HAS A HANDS FREE SET UP & IT WORKS PERFECTLY. “CLICK”

By chris

June 22, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this

I THINK TO GET PEOPLE TO COMPLY WITH NOT TALKING ON CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING CAN BE DONE BY HAVING A DEVICE INSTALLED IN EVERY CAR TRUCK ETC THAT INTERUPS CELL PHONE SIGNALS…IN THIS DAY AND AGE PEOPLE WONT LEARN BY THIS LOSS OF THIS WOMAN BECAUSE OF SOMEONE TALKING ON A PHONE…THEY SURE STILL DRINK AND DRIVE REGUARDLESS OF THE LAW…

By Linda

June 22, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

Yes we need to pass laws to ban cell phone use — I constantly see people talking on their cells phones and making bad traffic mistakes!

By THAT guy...

June 22, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

no, only a fool would try to legislate people talking on cellphones in cars by fining them. why waste police officers’ precious time enforcing laws that probably 80% of humanity will break and no ticket will prevent?!? want people to quit taking their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road to operate their cell phones? enact a law that mandates car companies and cellphone manufacturers to install a hands-free setup in every car sold, a la bluetooth. when a call comes, you press a button on the steering wheel and talk via a speaker phone embedded in the car itself. then you can concentrate on driving. adding laws is complex business and shouldn’t be taken lightly, you have to consider all the consequences, and legislation is already too invasive in the lives of normal citizens. make the companies themselves accountable and the people will follow.

By cecilia

June 22, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

yes, 100% to banned cell phones while driving I have lost a relative because people drive while drunk back in my country and I do not wish any one to face probles as that.

By Denise

June 22, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

Cell phones should not be banned, but limited in their use while driving. Please don’t chat. If you must talk on the phone, go in the right lane or on the shoulder. You put us all in danger if you don’t.

By Albert

June 22, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

there are laws prohibiting the use of electronic devices that would impair your hearing and concentration, this should include the use of cell phones while the vehicle is in motion.

By Bobbe

June 22, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

I NEVER talk on my cell phone when I am driving. If I need to talk, I pull over,out of traffic, so I don’t cause an accident. Cell phone should not be allowed to be used in vehicles and a stiff fine should be imposed on those that do.

By mommaA

June 22, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

When you talk to a person, you look them in the eyes…when your on the phone arguing with your other behalf…. your seeing a black cloud. Cell phones should be illegal, especially in Palm Beach. School bus drivers are the worst, and they have our children in their posession. Lawyers come second when it comes to zipping in and out of traffic with their little BMW’s yapping on the phone with the probability of being the result of one of his clients and dont even know it! Bring the payphones back if need be, i mean after all the cell phone business went up when the calls went from 10 cents to 25…..

By BrownBagginIt

June 22, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

This really does make the temptation of using a cell phone while driving less appealing. It would be nice if these attorneys put together a public service announcement on this matter….

By anonymous

June 22, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

I largely agree with John. How many of you have been in an accident? Were you talking to your friend? Changing the radio station? Looking the wrong way? I’m not saying that talking on a cell phone and driving is right. It’s stupid, and wrong, and you just shouldn’t do it. But remember this 21 million dollar verdict the next time you’re in an accident. If you are paying out 21 mill, two things will happen: you probably won’t ever have enough to pay in full, AND your children would always do without. She has to live with what she did every day, and now her children will suffer too. They’ll lose their house and everything they own. They have now lost their lives too because there’s no way to recover from such a huge financial setback. Who do you think is going to pay? The insurance company probably only insures up to $100,000 per person. More lives were lost in this than just the person who was killed. Just remember this the next time you accidently pull out in front of somebody.

By redskin9

June 22, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

Why does every individual who is at fault refuse to take responsabilty for their actions? Maybe Beers hit the accelerator, the oncomming SUV could have stopped. Give me a break.

It doesn’t matter if she was checking her makeup in the mirror or trying to find her favorite radio station, fumbling in her purse for a piece of paper or dialing her cellphone and trying to reach her husband,” he said. “Her failure to pay attention sent Lesley Beers to her death and sent Stephen and Zachary and Olivia to live every day for the rest of their lives with a gaping hole in their hearts that only Lesley Beers could fill and never will fill again.”

“I don’t think they should have denied responsibility,” Searcy said, after the trial. “If she had just said, ‘I’m sorry. It was my fault, and I’ll take responsibility.’ “

The bottom line is personal responsability.Suck it up and accept your punishment, $21 mill is peanuts when compared to a life. I think that she should have payed more and would have awarded it if I was in a position to do so.

By steve gasper

June 22, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

yes ban them. the people using them while driving are idots

By JAKE

June 22, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

ABSOLUTELY…The people down here can hardly drive as it is, give them a cellphone and your asking for trouble…While at they should also outlaw women in SUVS..

By John

June 22, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

The other John’s comment makes me wonder about the jury system generally if people like him ever get on a jury. Of course my wife is worth more than $20 million TO ME, but awarding me that amount for her loss is not “justice.” That’s why we are supposed to have neutral, dispassioned jurors - and we don’t allow friends and families of the victims to be on the jury. Talking on a cell phone while driving may be negligent, but not so grossly negligent that a jury verdict has to be so blatantly punitive. If I accidentally hit and kill someone while driving, but instead of talking on the phone I’m talking to my passenger, or someone in the backseat, what’s the difference? I’m still “distracted” by something. Is it punitively worse to be distracted by a conversation on a cellphone? Then if so, why not when distracted by the radio, or a passenger you’re talking to in the car, or what if I was just looking out the window at the scenery not paying attention to the road? Yes, being on the phone, and being distracted because of it is bad, is negligent if it leads you to cause an accident, but not more so than the million other things that can (and should not) take away your attention.

By Kari

June 22, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

I don’t like people driving while on the phone, nor do I like to….it increases possibilties of danger immediately! BUT, I do find myself making phone calls catching up with old friends while I’m stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour. I feel like a hypocrit, but I don’t see any danger crawling at 2 mph.
Just thinking about those kids breaks my heart….any kid who looses a parent, it just not the way it’s suposed to be!! -A mom of 2 very young.

By JUDY

June 22, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

YES cell phones should be banned while driving.

By Patty

June 22, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

I lead a very busy life and if it wasn’t for the time it takes to drive from place to place I would never get to talk to some of my friends… After reading this story I realize I am being selfish and need to make a change. Lesley Beers may not be here on earth anymore but, her story, with the tradgic loss of her life and the devastation to her family, hopefully will influence people of the potential danger while talking on a cell phone while driving. Enough to influence others to make a change in their lives too. God Bless the Beers family and friends.

By Steve Rowland

June 22, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

An ER doctor, talking on the phone while driving… hmmm if he got into an accident, he would lose his license for sure. “Someone”, I hope you’ll convince him to change his bad habits.

For those who will visit Washington DC, you should know that it’s illegal to use the phone while driving. Just wanna let you know!

By debra

June 22, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Ok so susan you are limiting your comments to “Illegal Mexicans” what do you have against Mexicans? And fo ryour information the illegal population consists of more than just Mexicans unles syou consider all of Central and South America part of Mexico. But never the less this was a very unfortunate accident that has nothing to do with “illegal aliens” using cll phones you need to read the article again,Sheila hulick is not a Mexican name where did you even get that from? I hope to god you don’t have a voter registration card I would hate to see how you interpret proposed legislation and how you form your rational for voting!

By MoNiQuE

June 22, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

I think we should DEPORT Susan…because we already have enough idiots here in the USA! How about we send all of them off together! The Island Of Idiots!!! NICE!!!

By Summer

June 22, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

In the end, $21 million doesn’t bring back this wife and mother of two, which you know that family would want more than anything. People just need to pay attention when they are driving. How can you react in time when you’re reading, applying make-up, talking on your cell phone, etc.? All are distractions! When you’re driving…DRIVE!!!! My heart goes out to the family.

By Summer

June 22, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

In the end, $21 million doesn’t bring back this wife and mother of two, which you know that family would want more than anything. People just need to pay attention when they are driving. How can you react in time when you’re reading, applying make-up, talking on your cell phone, etc.? All are distractions! When you’re driving…DRIVE!!!! My heart goes out to this family.

By Steve Rowland

June 22, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

JOHN! $21millions is not too much. What if it’s your wife or kids instead of Leslie Beers… huh???

By Michele

June 22, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this

While I think that $21M is a little excessive, I do agree that the family is entitled to something. My heart goes out to not only the widower but the two little children who had their mother ripped away from them. Why the heck doesn’t anyone want to take responsibility anymore? You better believe that is the same thing happened to this Sheila woman she would want the same verdict. She’s just mad because she’s the one who lost.

By John

June 22, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this

John’s post that the family did not desrve $21 million dollars and that the amount is rediculous, is interesting. I wonder what he would take to have the closest person to him, the love of his life, killed? I can tell you with absolute certainty that I love my wife so much that no amount of money could ever compensate me for her death. I have no children, but I am certain that this lady’s children would gladly take no money if they could just have their mom back. Have we lost all compassion for victims?

By v

June 22, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

How sad for everyone. My condolences to the family of this tragedy.

By Guy

June 22, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this

Law here in CT doesn’t work. No enforcement. I’ve been nearly run over twice in crosswalks by policemen on cellphones running red lights. Ban is good, but need to put teeth to law. Good luck.

By Beverly Falck

June 22, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

My prayers go the the family and especially the two children. Everyday while driving to/from work it is immediately evident when someone is on their cellphone by the way they are driving (serving, going too fast or too slow). There should definitely be a law passed forbidding cellphone use while driving.

By Jane

June 22, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

Susan you are just plain and simply put a Biggot… What does this story have to do with illegal aliens? Every time you post it’s always the same. Why bother posting anything, just put your name in the subject we’ll know what you planned on saying…

By don

June 22, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

I met Leslie Beers a couple of times. She was beautiful, vibrant and most of all a great mother. Hopefully this verdict will make people think twice about using a cell phone when driving. Through her children her memory will live on.

By Richard

June 22, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

I ride a motorcycle and everytime I see or read about a rear-end crash because some dumb b***h is yaking on her cellphone about absoulutely nothing important, it makes me want to drag them out of their car and beat them with their own cell phone. If I ever get hit by some woman gabbing on her phone instead of paying attention to their driving, she better have killed me or she will wish she was never born!

By paul McGraw

June 22, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

Talking on the phone or doing anything else while driving is just plain DUMB. This jury was right to award the family $21 million. It’s too bad it won’t bring back the person who was killed because of another driver’s inattention and selfishness.

By John

June 22, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

There’s no doubt that she was at fault, and the famoly deserves compensation, but $21 million? Is that all because of the cellphone? If someone is in an accident caused by listening to the radio and singing, should that be reason to award $21 million in a death case that, ordinarily would be worth $2-3 million? I don’t blame the defendants for rejecting the $12 million offer - that’s just ridiculous, too. And now their common sense will get punished due to a runaway verdict unless justice gets served and there is a reduction of the award.

By stevereenie

June 22, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

I’d be happy if they just passed a law that banned the use of cell phones just in the parking garage in my condo……..steve

By TAZ

June 22, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

Florida and every other state need to pass a law that bans using a cell phone without a hands free device while driving. Too many people are being killed by drivers who are on their phones. Holding a phone and driving a car are extrememly dangerous. Each day when I am driving down the road and I see cars swerving on I-95 and other busy highways, the majority of them are too busy yaking on their cell phones and not paying attention to the road. I am sure most of the calls are nothing that important and can wait until you are in a safer place or position to talk. It needs to stop!!!!!

By TAZ

June 22, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

Florida and every other state need to pass a law that bans using a cell phone without a hands free device while driving. Too many people are being killed by drivers who are on their phones. Holding a phone and driving a car are extrememly dangerous. Each day when I am driving down the road and I see cars swerving on I-95 and other busy highways, the majority of them are too busy yaking on their cell phones and not paying attention to the road. I am sure most of the calls are nothing that important and can wait until you are in a safer place or position to talk. It needs to stop!!!!!

By TAZ

June 22, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

Florida and every other state need to pass a law that bans using a cell phone without a hands free device while driving. Too many people are being killed by drivers who are on their phones. Holding a phone and driving a car are extrememly dangerous. Each day when I am driving down the road and I see cars swerving on I-95 and other busy highways, the majority of them are too busy yaking on their cell phones and not paying attention to the road. I am sure most of the calls are nothing that important and can wait until you are in a safer place or position to talk. It needs to stop!!!!!

By Dominique

June 22, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

Susan did not pass the FCAT, well at least not the reading portion.

By Robert

June 22, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

There is no dought that She should pay, only thing is, if she was working for someone, theen there is no way that $21 mil will ever appear….when too much gets awarded, then nothing gets dispersed…..too bad if they awarded less then the family might have actually seen the money

By Fred

June 22, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

Another good thing that will come out of making car cell phone use illegal is an end to the expectation of employers, customers, etc. that they can call at any time and get an immediate answer. Now we will have the excuse that we are driving, even if we aren’t. I remember an era when it wasn’t always possible to get people on the phone instantly, and it was a better era in all respects.

By Someone

June 22, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

My husband is a ER doctor. He got called all the time when we are driving. He always answered phone. He has to or patients/ER nurse became very upset. We always argue over this. He shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving. I really wish police will stop him and send him to jail for several days so he would stop answering these calls. Hate this and put my life in danger too.

By tony

June 22, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

more deaths are caused by old people but nobody does anything about that beacause they vote and young people dont so the politicians don’t want to p**s them off so they get the votes. welcome to floridaaa 101

By lantana jim

June 22, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

lets enforce the laws already on the books this is a good beginning, drivers who allow themselves to be distracted while driving should be treated as criminals.

By Mary

June 22, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

To Susan, sounds like you have comprehension issues.. What the heck does your comment about Mexicans not having cell phones have to do with what is being discussed here…

I think if they checked cell phone records when someone is in an accident, they will discover that 90% of the time they are on the phone….

By David

June 22, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

It amazes me that people commit murder in this country using guns and knives. All you have to do to kill someone is hit them with your car. She should be fighting for her freedom not her employer’s money.

By Phil Zaccagnini

June 22, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

I’ll bet more people die on the highway from accidents caused by cell phone use while driving than all the gun deaths in this country each year. Do the Math!!!!

By Phil Zaccagnini

June 22, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

I’ll bet more people die on the highway from accidents caused by cell phone use while driving than all the gun deaths in this country each year. Do the Math!!!!

By Lee

June 22, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

Susan stated: “I believe that illegal Mexicans…”what the heck does that have to do with this story? Duh! Sad the family lost their mother/wife, my condolences. Cell phones should not be allowed to be used while driving, it has been said that talking/using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent to Driving Under the Influence.

By See what?

June 22, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

I see them everyday. People either going 10 miles under the speed limit, not using blinkers, cutting people off, etc.. The drivers down here are bad enough, but put a cell phone in their hands and they become lethal weapons. Hands free only please or someone is going to be a victim of my “road rage” one day.

By susan

June 22, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

I believe that illegal Mexicans should not be allowed to use cell phones, they are law breakers, only those born in this country who pay taxes should be permitted to open a cell phone account.

By Vic

June 22, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this

“ITS TIME TO OUTLAW CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING”

From my observations drivers on phones barely have a grip on walking and chewing gum at the same time.

By Hands Free

June 22, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this

I BET MORE DEATHS are caused by people using their cell phones “legally” while driving… Than by people who own hand guns “legally”

MAKE IT A LAW HANDS FREE USE ONLY

By Laura

June 22, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

A law should be passed, hopefully in the near future, no cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. Multi-tasking very dangerous, driving with your knees, etc.. How about I’m coming off I-95 , Woolbright exit to be exact, a woman in an SUV is stopped halfway on the ramp as I’m coming up the ramp to the light, I thought maybe her vehicle stalled, oh no she was talking away on her cell, I luckily had no other vehicles around me so, I swerved around her, traffic was building up behind her and she’s just talking away, knowing the vehicles are coming up from behind going at least 45-60 mph, to the exit, eventually the light changed and she just drove off still talking and driving not looking while merging into the lanes. Speed kills, and cell phones do too.. If a person gets pulled over for speeding, etc.. check for a cell phone and see if the person had been on the phone, you should not be surprised…

By SuzyQ

June 22, 2007 7:03 AM | Link to this

I am probably one of the few people that do not own a cell phone. I have always believed that if you need to use it, PULL OVER to the side of the road!! Whether you are using headphones or not, your brain is distracted from driving! I almost got run over by a woman in a Monster SUV at a Publix shopping center due to her cell phone use. She blew the stop sign in front of the store and I yelled to slow down. She had the balls to bother me in the store. So I gave her a piece of my mind again! Cell phones cause car accidents!

By Fred

June 22, 2007 6:42 AM | Link to this

This could have exactly the opposite effect that is intended.

If I’m talking on the cellphone with a hands free device (relatively safe), there will be “cell phone records”.

But if I am composing a single text message (very unsafe while driving) and crash before I hit “send”, there is no record of that!

I would also predict a large increase in fatal roadside accidents on interstates, people who are expecting urgent calls will pull onto the shoulder to try to avoid this kind of liability and will instead become part of a fireball with a drunk/driving challenged driver.

And if I’m calling FHP to report Ninja motorcycles going 200 MPH on the cell phone? Jail time for me???

The good thing about this “treat cell phone usage like blowing a 0.20 concept” is that technology may move on, away from these money gouging, merging cell phone companies who continue to drive the monthly rate for their “service” through the roof.

By Sing U Lars

June 22, 2007 3:29 AM | Link to this

r.u. kidding a cell phone record check should be run for all accidents. just like a breath alyzer test is done. Doesn’t anybody realize the world is driving around text messaging and absolutely not paying attention to their driving it is a travesty.i believe that cell phone usage is probably the #1 cause of accidents. rendering them worse then driving while intoxicated.there should be an electronic device which disables cell phones from working in cars that are in motion.it’s unbelievable, i saw a woman putting on her make up, talking on the phone and drinking coffee and smoking all at the same time while driving.

By susan

June 22, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this

when my daughter was living in VA she was accused of talking on a cell phone while being charged with an accident,she does’nt even own a cell phone.it was all over the news and a talk radio show even had a 3 hour show about her,and others on cell phones.it was big news.so i really do think people are upset over people driving and talking on cell phones.a good samaritan allowed her to use a cell phone while she was sitting on the side of I-64.i think this is how the story was made up.what happened is ,she being from south florida,and new in the hampton roads area of VA, the on ramps are the far right lane,so you have no merge lane like here in FL.she did’nt realize she was in a regular lane.and she and a semi got into a crash.she learned real fast that not all roads are the same in every state.