According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety in addition to Motor Vehicles,1 each yr about 200 Floridians are killed, 3,000 endure incapacitating injuries, in addition to 10,600 to 32,000 endure personal injuries every bit the upshot of “distracted driving.” In Florida, “distracted driving” is defined every bit a crash that occurs because a driver was doing 1 or to a greater extent than of the following:
- Using an electronic communication device;
- Using some other electronic device;
- Texting;
- Talking to passengers;
- Eating/Drinking;
- Reading;
- Grooming;
- Adjusting the radio,
- External factors, such every bit witnessing an accident, and
- General inattentiveness.
Nationwide, the Center for Disease Control’s Injury Center2 reports that distracted driving causes nearly 1 inwards 5 motor vehicle crashes.
Categories of Distracted Driving
There are by in addition to large 3 categories of distracted driving:
- Visual: When a driver’s eyes are non on the route at the fourth dimension or right away earlier the accident;
- Manual: When a driver’s hands or feet lose contact amongst the steering bicycle or pedals, and
- Cognitive: When yous are non focused on driving, i.e., daydreaming.
Although it seems hard for the typical driver to icon how some other driver tin lose manual command of the vehicle due to distraction, a 2015 survey3 reported that some drivers genuinely alter wearing clothing in addition to brush their teeth behind the wheel!
Importantly, the argue why texting spell driving is extremely unsafe is because it takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, in addition to hear off of driving all at the same time. This way yous are visually, manually, in addition to cognitively distracted, spell many accidents are caused past times only 1 of these categorizations. Unsurprisingly, drivers nether the historic menstruation of xx receive got the highest charge per unit of measurement of distraction-related fatal machine crashes, the bulk of which are attributed to texting in addition to purpose of electronic devices. It was farther reported that, when compared to European drivers, Americans had a higher charge per unit of measurement of distracted driving incidents overall because they were to a greater extent than probable to live on e-mailing, texting, or talking on a jail cellphone weep spell driving.
Florida Distracted Driving Law
It is reported that distracted driving may live on reduced if a set down passes in addition to enforces potent distracted driving laws, such every bit laws against texting in addition to jail cellphone weep purpose spell driving. Florida, however, has some of the weakest distracted driving laws inwards the nation. Under Florida law,4 texting spell driving is illegal, but it is non punishable every bit a “primary” offense. This way that if yous are stopped at a ruddy calorie-free in addition to a police describe officeholder sees yous texting, yous cannot live on stopped for this alone. You must receive got committed some other traffic offense, such every bit speeding, in addition to a violation of the texting statute would live on “secondary” to that offense.
Further, Florida does non receive got a ban on handheld devices, i.e., jail cellphone weep use, or a ban on jail cellphone weep purpose for drivers xviii in addition to under. Florida is 1 of only a few states that permits drivers nether the historic menstruation of xviii to purpose their jail cellphone weep spell driving, which tin receive got a unsafe affect on Clearwater.
Crashes Caused past times Distracted Driving
Although many machine crashes are caused past times a combination of factors, such every bit aggressive driving, distraction, in addition to intoxication, for sure accidents are to a greater extent than probable to live on caused past times a distracted driver. One such accident is a “rear-end” accident, which occurs when the front-end of your vehicle impacts the back-end of the vehicle inwards front end of you. This is mutual if yous are visually or cognitively distracted such that yous exercise non realize the machine inwards front end of yous has slowed or stopped earlier it is every bit good late. Another type of distracted driving accident is an intersection accident, which is normally caused when yous lady friend traffic command devices such every bit halt signs in addition to ruddy lights in addition to drive directly into oncoming traffic. This tin upshot inwards yous T-boning some other vehicle, which is an extremely unsafe type of accident if it occurs spell yous are driving over 55 mph.
How to Prevent Distracted Driving inwards Florida
Education close the dangers of distracted driving, peculiarly for those nether the historic menstruation of 20, is the telephone substitution to preventing many distracted driving accidents. It is speculated that if immature drivers are presented amongst the statistical likelihood of suffering or causing a fatal or serious injury due to texting or jail cellphone weep use, it would decrease their likelihood of engaging inwards distracted behaviors. It is farther speculated that stronger distracted driving laws in addition to strict enforcement of those laws volition also attention to trim distracted driving accidents.
While on the route yous cannot ever protect yourself from some other driver’s negligence, peculiarly if they are distracted, however, in that place are some tips for staying safe:
- When stopped at an intersection, facial expression 2 seconds later the calorie-free turns greenish earlier proceeding. This volition permit whatever drivers who mightiness receive got speed-up to pick out deal of or missed the ruddy calorie-free to pass.
- When at a multi-way stop, never assume some other vehicle is going to halt or give yous right-of-way. Be for sure that the other vehicle has come upward to a consummate halt at the halt sign earlier proceeding.
- If yous witness a driver swerving or engaging inwards abnormal behavior, alter lanes in addition to seat distance betwixt yourself in addition to the driver and/or study the driver to the police.
Injured past times a Distracted Driver inwards Clearwater? Contact an Experienced Florida Personal Injury Attorney Today
If yous or a loved 1 has been injured due to the negligence or distraction of some other driver, yous are non alone. In this modern technological era where both navigational services in addition to email are available on your mobile phone, nearly 70% of drivers receive got admitted to using their device spell operating a vehicle. Further, drivers nether the historic menstruation of xx receive got been raised amongst this technology, in addition to it is ingrained into most aspects of their lives.
The Dolman Law Group understands the challenges faced past times Florida drivers inwards this modern era, peculiarly when they are without the total protection of Florida law. We are your go-to personal injury firm for distracted driving accidents inwards Clearwater. With sense treatment complex truck, car, in addition to multi-car cases, our attorneys are hither to ensure yous instruct all of the compensation yous deserve. Contact us today at (727) 451-6900 for a free, no-risk consultation.
Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 451-6900
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 451-6900
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