Straight Talk Law: Debunking Cell Phone Emergency Myths | Seattle Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Lawyer

View PDF | Print View
by: MattCBA
Total views: 49
Word Count: 834

Millions of e-mails are received daily in the United States. Our inboxes, whether they are our personal or work accounts, are flooded with messages, advertisements, articles and anything else that you can put into text or a link. Once in a while, you may receive a message or a link to a site that contains “useful or informative information.” While the majority of the time the information seems very helpful, it is important that you double check to make sure that what you are reading is in fact true before relying on it. There are many articles floating around that give you advice or safety tips on certain things, and one we came across recently had to do with different ways that they claim cell phones can save lives in an emergency.

(Before listing the points stated in the article we came across, we must remind you to never let your cell phone interfere in driving safely and cautiously. Using a phone or texting while driving causes a shocking amount of car accidents in our country and it is something that needs to stop. Cell phones need to always be used responsibly when you are on the road.)

The first subject claims that if you dial “112” on your cell phone anywhere in the world, whether if you have cell phone service or coverage at the time or not, you will be connected to the nearest existing network and connected to someone who can help you with your emergency. This is not entirely true. While you may be able to connect in some parts of the world with the “112” feature, it primarily works in Europe. Dialing “112” will connect you to the emergency service that is in your area, but you will not be able to use this feature if your cellular signals are blocked. In conclusion, do not count on this to work in all circumstances in any location world wide.

Perhaps you have heard the myth that you can unlock your car simply by using your cell phone. Rumors, including the email forwarded to us, claim that if you lock your keys in your car, all you need is a cell phone and a spare pair of keys. If you have remote keyless entry (the button you press to unlock your car) the email claims you can connect to someone that has a spare remote, put your cell phone up to your door and have the other person press unlock. Supposedly the signal from the remote will travel through the phone and unlock your car. This does not work, so do not rely on it to bail you out if needed. This is not to be confused with an iphone app that, if configured correctly, will perform this function. See http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2009-10-12-iphone-app-unlocks-car_N.htm for more information on that app.

If your cell phone is lost or stolen, you may have heard that all you have to do is dial *#06# . Allegedly, this will display a 15 digit code that you can give to your cell phone provider and they will immediately be able to cancel the service on that device, preventing thieves from being able to use it. Yet, this only works on some cell phone services, and it only works sometimes (not to mention that you have to have the foresight to do this before your phone is lost!). Instead, the simple thing to do is to immediately contact your cell phone provider and tell them you no longer are in possession of your phone. They will cancel the service on whatever device that you ask them to as long as you can prove that you are the individual in charge of the account.

Finally, it is important to understand the guidelines when using “free” information services. While using such numbers as (800) FREE 411 will not charge you for using the service, it does not mean that you won’t get charged for using cell phone minutes by your wireless provider. Also, with the increase in popularity in texting, there are free services you can receive information via text. A reliable one is ‘ChaCha’. Simply text you question or information request to the number 242242 (CHA CHA), and you will receive a response intended to answer your question shortly after.

If you are ever involved in an emergency it is important to contact authorities as soon as possible. In some situations, you may not have much time and need to reach someone as quickly as you can. Hopefully this article will help prevent you from depending on a solution that is not reliable. It is important to do research whenever you receive an email or come across information like this online before you decide to rely on it in emergency situations.

For more free “Straight Talk Law” information, please visit my website athttp://www.straighttalklaw.com , where you can order free books on personal injury lawyers, Washington auto accidents, auto insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by myself and my law practice in Seattle, Washington.

About the Author

Jason Epstein joined Premier Law Group as a partner in 2007. Jason is a litigator handling all types of personal injury cases with an emphasis on serious plaintiff’s personal injury and insurance coverage. Jason is a member of the Washington State Association for Justice and serves within its leadership. Jason often speaks at CLEs and serves as an arbitrator for both private and mandatory arbitration matters. Jason completed a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Strauss Institute of Dispute Resolution and the Trial Advocacy program through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Jason has been dedicated to representing injured people since 1999. Jason Epstein has been representing individuals against insurance companies and large corporations since 2001. He limits his practice to personal injury and wrongful death cases including auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, or other serious and catastrophic injuries. Hopefully you have already visited StraightTalkLaw.com. This website is loaded with tons of information, and is constantly updated to keep you informed of recent developments. You can also stay up to date by following the blogs which are linked toStraightTalkLaw.com Jason understands that providing the best legal representation to his clients means limiting the number of cases he accepts. He takes fewer cases so he has more time for you. By limiting his caseload, Mr. Epstein is able to give each client and each case the time and attention that they deserve. If you would like to see if your case qualifies for Mr. Epstein to represent you, please contact us throughStraightTalkLaw.com, request one or more of Jason’s books, or call us toll free at (888) 333-1873.

Comments

Add Comment