The Dangers Of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors that drivers can engage in, and too often, it happens almost without thinking. It only takes seconds for accidents to happen – sometimes even less time if a vehicle is larger and heavier. If you have been involved in an auto accident in Florida, and you suspect that the other driver was distracted, you may be able to leverage the facts into compensation for the harm you have suffered. An experienced attorney can help.

Eyes Must Be On The Road

The average person may take a second to view a text or take a drink, but every minute that a driver’s attention is off the road means the chance of an accident rises. Common distractions are grouped into three types – auditory, visual, and physical or kinetic – with each describing the type of attention that it takes away from the road. For example, there have been cases of people putting on makeup while they drive. This would take a person’s eyes and hands off the wheel (or at least one hand), which in turn takes that much attention away from the road.

This is why texting and driving is seen as a particularly egregious thing to do behind the wheel – it takes all three types of attention to perform. Without eyes or ears on the road, and without both hands on the wheel, the chances of an accident rise significantly. Data from 2023 estimates around 53,500 crashes in Florida were at least partially due to distracted driving, causing almost 300 deaths.

Financial Recovery Is Possible

If you have been injured in an accident and you believe that the other driver was distracted, it can feel overwhelmingly difficult to try and seek damages, particularly if you feel as though it would be your word against theirs. However, this is where a knowledgeable attorney comes in. One of the major tasks an attorney can perform is to help in evidence gathering; from surveillance footage to accident reconstructions to possible witness statements, everything can help.

Be advised that while Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to auto insurance, this does not mean a plaintiff with “significant [or] permanent” injuries cannot recover in court. For cases involving only minor damage to property or people, state law requires a person to file a claim with their personal injury protection insurer to be compensated. However, if the injuries rise to a more serious level, the tort immunity, as the law calls it, is lifted.

Contact A Maitland Distracted Driving Attorney

Being involved in any car accident can be a scary thing; if the other driver was distracted, the reckless disregard for others’ safety can feel even worse. A Maitland distracted driving attorney from the Hornsby Law Group can help you get the compensation to which you may be entitled. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

flhsmv.gov/2023/04/04/it-all-can-wait-flhsmv-launches-distracted-driving-awareness-campaign/