Dealing With Distracted Drivers On Florida Roads
While driving, everyone may have a moment where their full attention is not on the road. However, the risk of accident and injury rises the longer your attention is diverted, and the consequences can be quite severe. Distracted driving plays a major role in significant number of Florida car accidents, and if you believe that you have been injured by a distracted driver, you may be able to obtain compensation based on their negligence.
Statistics & Causes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined that over 3,000 lives were lost in 2017 due to distracted driving accidents, with far more injuries sustained as well. There are multiple different causes of distracted driving, some of which are more likely to cause a crash than others. Texting is one of the most common and most serious distractions on the road, because it causes a disruption in one’s visual, manual and cognitive abilities, all at the same time, but any action that causes one to turn away from the road can be distracting.
Just under 10 percent of those fatalities occurred in accidents involving teen drivers, who are the most frequent users of handheld cellphones and other electronic devices. Generally, teen drivers are more likely to become distracted on the road, but they are far from the only culprits. Drivers of all ages may do things like eat, apply makeup, read directions or maps, or talk to passengers too passionately.
If You Are Injured
If you have been injured in an accident with someone you believe was driving distracted, you maybe able to use that distraction as evidence of negligence. If a motorist fails to exercise reasonable care regarding the other drivers on the road, they can be said to have breached a duty, and if the plaintiff can show that breach of duty was the direct cause of the harm they suffered, the motorist can be held liable for the plaintiff’s medical bills, as well as other expenses like lost wages or mental anguish.
Keep in mind that Florida considers a violation of the state’s texting and driving law to be per se evidence of negligence – that is, the mere existence of the violation means that the defendant was negligent, so the plaintiff does not have to spend time in court proving it. This can save trouble in court, so if you believe you can show that negligence, it is important to do so. Medical bills will only add up as time goes on.
Contact A Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer
Distracted driving has become an epidemic on U.S. roads, and the sheer volume of Florida traffic raises the risk for every driver in the state. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a distracted driver, it is a good idea to contact a Tampa car accident lawyer at the Rinaldo Law Group, so that you can be sure to have experienced legal help in bringing your case to trial. Call our offices today for a free consultation.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.305.html
nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
