Cranston, RI -- (SBWire) -- 02/26/2015 --Rhode Island personal injury law firm Bottaro Law has announced a new $1,000 college scholarship program that focuses on the dangers of texting and driving as well as the importance of higher education.

The "Don't Text & Drive" scholarship will be awarded to an enrolled college student who outlines how he or she would benefit from a scholarship and who pledges not to text and drive.

"At Bottaro Law, our mission is to help injured people and prevent future injuries, both through our legal services and through being active in our community," said founding attorney Mike Bottaro. "Our hope is that this scholarship raises awareness of the dangers of texting and driving while also helping a young person continue their education."

To qualify for the "Don't Text & Drive" scholarship, entrants must:

- Write an essay of 200 words or more explaining how the scholarship will benefit their education and future goals.

- Include in the essay a pledge not to text while driving.

- Include evidence of enrollment at a college or university in Fall 2015.

- Include a full name, address, email, and phone number.

The scholarship deadline is May 1, 2015 and the winner will be announced on June 1, 2015. The $1,000 scholarship award will be given directly to the student, for use on tuition, textbooks, school supplies, school fees, or living expenses. The scholarship application materials may be emailed to legal@bottarolaw.com

"Texting and driving has skyrocketed in recent years, along with the popularity of smart phones and mobile devices," said Bottaro. "Educating teens and college students about the dangers of distracted driving is an extremely effective means of preventing this dangerous activity and preventing serious traffic accidents."

According to the Pew Research Center, one out of three teens admit to texting while driving, while half say that they have been in a car while a teen driver was texting. According to the National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10% of all teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted at the time of the crash. In addition, according to the NHTSA, the average text message takes a driver's eyes off the road for five seconds, long enough for a car traveling 55 miles per hour to go the distance of a football field.

To learn more about Bottaro Law, the dangers of texting and driving, and the "Don't Text & Drive" scholarship, please visit http://bottarolaw.com

About Bottaro Law
The Bottaro Law Firm's mission is to be beacon of light in helping injured people. Serving families located across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Mike Bottaro and his team are committed to ensuring that each client is fairly treated by insurance companies, corporations, and the civil justice system as they navigate the process of recovering compensation after an injury or accident.

With eleven locations across Rhode Island and three in Massachusetts, the Bottaro Law Firm handles a variety of personal injury and disability cases, including traffic accidents, boat accidents, dog bite injuries, medical malpractice cases, product liability cases, premises liability cases, Social Security disability cases, workers' compensation cases, and wrongful death cases.

To learn more about Bottaro Law, or to request a private, no-obligation consultation, please visit our website at http://bottarolaw.com or call 401-383-5007.

Contact: Mike Bottaro
Phone: 401-383-5007
Email: legal@bottarolaw.com
Website: http://bottarolaw.com