Distracted driving is one of the top reasons behind car accidents in Florida, with cellphone use as the most common culprit. Whether it’s texting or browsing on social media, even a brief lapse in attention can result in devastating injuries or fatalities. For personal injury attorneys, cellphone records are powerful tools for establishing negligence in distracted driving accident cases.
How Cellphone Use Supports Injury Claims
Florida law prohibits using handheld devices while driving, and proving that the driver was not paying attention to the road because of that is paramount in lawsuits. Cellphone records help establish that, as they create a timeline of the driver’s actions before the accident.
Cellphone data can further prove fault when combined with other evidence, like surveillance camera footage or eyewitness testimonies. It exhibits that the driver engaged in a prohibited behavior that directly caused the crash. Ultimately, these records increase the chances of recovering just compensation for injuries and other losses.
What Is Used as Evidence?
Cellphone data offers detailed information that can strengthen a distracted driving lawsuit. Authorities often use the following:
Text Messages
Answering text messages requires looking away from the road. Even if it’s just for a few seconds, it can slow down drivers’ reaction times, placing it among the most dangerous digital distractions.
Text message records can confirm when the driver received, read, and responded to texts. While accessing the message content requires further legal steps, the timestamps alone can demonstrate that the driver was not focused on the road when the accident occurred.
Call Records
These logs show all phone calls made and received with timestamps and their duration. Calls linked or sent to voicemail are particularly valuable, as they indicate whether the driver was engaged in active communication. Attorneys can use records showing that the driver was on a call before or during the crash to verify that their attention was not entirely on the road.
App and Data Usage
App usage records can show if the driver used mobile apps while driving. Cellphones have built-in features that log the actions done, timestamps, and duration of use, whether streaming music, watching videos, or scrolling through Facebook.
For example, records of the driver posting on social media seconds before the collision can be compelling proof of negligence. Lawyers can also cross-check the data with other evidence to corroborate the claim.
Location Records
GPS data can reveal the driver’s whereabouts before the car accident. It allows authorities to verify the timeline of events and cross-reference with other recorded cellphone activities. It also helps confirm inconsistencies between a driver’s statement and their actual location.
Strengthen Your Claim With Digital Evidence
Evidence makes all the difference when car accidents happen. Cellphone records can reveal the truth behind the driver’s actions and help you pursue rightful compensation. If you got injured because of a distracted driver, call Hale Law’s Florida attorneys today. We’ll help you secure proof and hold the responsible party accountable.