Anapol Schwartz Attorney Honored by MAJ for Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign

Anapol Schwartz attorney Joel Feldman received the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award at the Association’s 61st Annual President’s Dinner on May 3. Joel was honored by MAJ for his successes in raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving through his nationwide End Distracted Driving (EndDD.org) campaign.

Since 2009, Feldman has been working to spread the message that any kind of distracted driving — not just using a cell phone — is risky driving, and that distracted driving crashes are 100 percent preventable. He has worked with lawyers in Maryland and other states across the country to educate them about distracted driving and handling cases involving distracted driving. Feldman has also enlisted the help of lawyers and other professionals to spread the word in their communities.

Feldman admits to having been a distracted driver for years, even though he represented injured people and family members of those killed by distracted driving. He continued to drive distracted until his daughter Casey was killed by a distracted driver in 2009.

“Like everyone else,” he said, “I never thought it could happen to me.”

In accepting the award from MAJ, Feldman said, “There is no group better equipped to going into communities and providing safety messages to teens than trial lawyers.” He discussed the success of his EndDD.org presentation and noted that the number of teens who have seen an EndDD.org presentation will reach 200,000 very soon. And with the help of MAJ, thousands of Maryland teens will be part of that growing number.

Joel also spoke about how he measures his life as what happened before and after Casey’s death. He also urged the lawyers present to be more compassionate with their clients as they face life-altering injuries or losses.

“As personal injury lawyers, we are definitely part of our client’s support networks and must provide needed support.” Joel stated that, “I am fortunate for all of the help and support I receive from so many across the country and for being able to remember Casey in such a special way.”