Car Accident
At Morgan Law Group, our Florida auto accident attorneys know that even when safe drivers follow the rules of the road, they have no control over distracted drivers who are operating their vehicles nearby.
Unfortunately, we have all witnessed drivers with cellphones in hand, looking down instead of focusing on the road. This is a terrifying sight, and an act that can directly lead to a catastrophic collision.
Last year, across the U.S., nearly 3,150 fatalities were caused by distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Centers for Disease Control reports that throughout the country, nine people are killed every day in crashes involving a distracted driver.
Sadly, one in five of those killed by distracted drivers were outside of a vehicle and included bicyclists and pedestrians.
The NHTSA has established April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to remind drivers to take responsibility for the choices they make when they are on the road.
What is Considered Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that takes a person’s eyes or attention off the road or their hands off the wheel.
Some of the most common forms of distracted driving include:
- Eating and drinking
- Talking or texting on cellphones
- Smoking
- Interacting with passengers
- Grooming
- Operating the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system in the vehicle
In Florida, the Wireless Communications While Driving Law requires drivers to put their cellphones down and focus on driving. Drivers may be stopped and ticketed for distracted driving throughout the state.
How Can I Help Prevent Distracted Driving in Florida?
While it is impossible for alert and safe drivers to control the actions of drivers around them, it is important to lead by example.
Helpful ways to avoid distracted driving include:
- Placing cellphones on “do not disturb” mode before putting the car in drive
- Setting all vehicle systems, including mirrors, navigation, and hands-free connections before putting the car in drive
- Not eating, drinking, or smoking while driving
- Limiting the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle
- Properly securing kids, pets, and belongings to avoid movement in the vehicle
- Parents talking with teen drivers and young adults about the dangers of distracted driving, and set consequences for the behavior
- Speaking up as a passenger when the driver is distracted and help reduce the behavior by assisting with navigation or other tasks.
- Employers reminding commercial vehicle drivers of their safety obligations and the laws against cellphone use while driving through continued education and presentations
Our skilled Florida personal injury lawyers hope you never need us. However, if you have been injured or tragically lost a loved one in a crash with a distracted driver, we can help.
Contact Our Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Florida for a Free Consultation
Contact our experienced Florida car accident attorneys at Morgan Law Group to schedule a free consultation today by calling 888-904-2524 to learn how we can help you pursue the liable party’s insurance coverage for your complete financial recovery.
