Former Prosecutor | Former Insurance Defense Attorney

Click To Call : Free Consultations

Criminal Defense
View Practice Areas

Personal Injury
View Practice Areas

Naples, Florida

The grave consequences of distracted driving

On Behalf of | Jan 15, 2021 | Distraced Driving

When behind the wheel, a driver’s sole responsibility is to operate the vehicle as safely as reasonably possible. Unfortunately, many drivers assume they are able to efficiently multitask, driving while also using their phones. Most people cannot safely do this, and distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in Florida and across the country.

Cell phones are one of the primary sources of distraction. Glancing at a phone for even a moment can cause an accident that may result in grave consequences for innocent individuals. Victims of distracted driving accidents may have grounds to pursue compensation from the liable parties through a personal injury claim. If you believe your accident was the result of distracted driving, this could be an option for you.

Why are phones dangerous?

In the hands of a person who is driving, phones can be quite dangerous. They are capable of affecting a driver’s ability to notice hazards and react in enough time. A driver looking at his or her phone may be more likely to do things like swerve, drive at erratic speeds, drive through intersections and more. Some of the main ways phone affect a driver include the following:

  • A phone can cause cognitive distraction, which is what happens when a driver’s mind is on something besides driving, such as responding to a text or reading an email.
  • A phone can cause visual distraction, which is when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road, even for a moment. This can happen when looking down at a screen.
  • A phone can cause manual distraction, which happens when a driver removes one or both hands off the wheel while driving. When checking or operating a phone, a driver has one hand off the wheel.

Phones are only dangerous when used improperly or at the wrong time. Every driver is responsible for the choices made while behind the wheel, even if it’s just glancing down a phone for a second.

Your rights and options

If you are the victim of a distracted driving accident, you have options. You could have grounds to pursue restitution for your losses through the civil justice system. As soon as possible after your accident, you will benefit from a case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney who can inform you of your options.

Categories

Archives