The Arizona State Senate gave preliminary approval to a ban on texting while driving Thursday.

The vote on Thursday resulted in 17-11 approval of the bill. The measure will get a finale Senate roll-call vote next week, and still needs to pass the House. The bill was introduced more than three years ago, but Thursday's proceedings are the first time the measure has gained Senate approval.

The proposed law would result in a $50- $200 fine for texting drivers involved in an accident. 

Senator Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, thinks the bill is unnecessary, he questioned why the particular distraction of texting merited a law. Pearce said "If you drink your BIg Gulp, its OK... If you're reaching down to get somethig off the floor and not looking at the road, you're OK. If you're changing the radio station, you're OK. If you're putting on makeup, you're OK..." 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Arizona car accident, please contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-763-0964.

Toyota announced on Thursday that a software glitch iscausing braking problems in 2010 model Prius’s.

The car company changed the software in their braking systemin January as part of their “constant quality improvements.” Toyota officialsexplained the braking problem as a “disconnect” in the vehicle’s complexanti-lock system that causes a one second lag. To put this in perspective, avehicle traveling at 60 mph would cover almost 90 feet before the brakes beginto take hold.

Hybrid cars like the Prius operate differently from brakesin most cars. The electric motors in hybrids help to slow the vehicle inaddition to the brakes, generating electricity to recharge the battery.

When asked whether a recall was in the works, Toyota’smanaging officer, Hiro Yuki Yokoyama said “we would want to be given a littletime.”

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Arizonacar accident, please contact the Phoenix personal injury lawyers of Haralson,Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. by calling 877-366-5557.

Thousands of pounds of beef were recalled for the second time by Beef Packers Inc. They have recalled 22,723 pounds of beef due to contamination of a strain of salmonella.

The recall includes all ground beef sent to stores in Arizona and New Mexico. Consumers are urged to check the "sell by dates" and discard any meet with dates between September 28 through October 11. The recall products include:beef, beef patties, meatballs and stuffed peppers.

If you or someone you love has been injured or become ill because of a consumer product, contact the Pheonix product liability laywers of Haralson,Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C by calling 877-366-5557 today.