Even though increasingly more states are enacting bans on cellphone use while driving, far too many people still text from behind the wheel. Texting while driving is responsible for a significant number of traffic accidents in Florida. If you believe that the driver of the car responsible for hurting you was texting at the time of your accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries. A Kenneth City texting while driving car accident lawyer could determine if you have a valid claim. By working with a dedicated car crash attorney, you could fight for the compensation you deserve.
Florida Law Prohibits Texting While Driving
The state of Florida bans the use of cellphones while driving for “interpersonal communication,” as outlined in Florida Statutes Annotated section 316.305. Drivers are not allowed to read or type texts, emails, or instant messages while the car that they are driving is moving. Police officers can stop drivers if they suspect that drivers are texting because texting is a primary offense in Florida.
Why is Texting While Driving So Dangerous?
Texting is one of the most dangerous type of distracted driving because texting simultaneously affects a driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive functions. Texting requires a driver to look away from the road, creating a visual distraction. Drivers must also take their hands off of the steering wheel to text, rendering them unable to operate the vehicle with full capability. Reading or replying to a text also takes a driver’s mind off of their driving.
In the time a driver is looking at their phone, a car could easily veer into another lane or even into oncoming traffic, and the driver would be oblivious to the danger. Drivers who text cannot take steps to avoid or mitigate the effects of a serious accident before it happens due to their distraction..
How a Kenneth City Attorney Could Help
Because texting while driving is illegal in Florida, if a plaintiff can prove that the at-fault driver was texting when the accident occurred, then they can most likely prove that the at-fault driver was negligent. However, unless the driver outright confesses that they were using their phone, proving that the driver was texting is not easy.
A skilled local attorney could review all of the police records from the accident to see if there is any mention of the at-fault driver’s cellphone usage. It is essential to hire an attorney as soon as possible so that the witnesses’ memories of the accident are still fresh. If the victim suspects that the at-fault driver was texting and yet there are no witnesses, their attorney can subpoena the at-fault driver’s cellphone records from their cellphone provider. However, cellphone providers do not hold onto this information forever, so claimants should contact a lawyer with experience in these types of cases quickly.
Contact a Local Distracted Car Crash Lawyer For Help
If somebody’s texting while driving caused them to crash their car into yours, they should be held accountable for their actions. Call a Kenneth City texting while driving car accident lawyer today to learn more about your legal options and get the justice you deserve.
