Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Sarasota, FL

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Tacking the Legal Complexities of Distracted Driving Accidents

When out on the roads, it seems that more and more drivers are changing lanes without using their turn signals, drifting into the shoulder of the road before making a sudden correction, running stop signs, and taking a long time before starting up again when stopped at a red light that turns green. It is not just in your imagination—drivers are more distracted than ever. Even though there have been many advancements in car safety and crash prevention technologies, traffic fatalities are holding even at about 40,000 deaths per year because drivers are choosing to allow distraction to control them when they get behind the wheel.

If you were injured in any traffic collision, that driver’s distraction is probably at least partially to blame. Hold them accountable for your damages by working with an experienced Sarasota distracted driving accident attorney at Hale Law.

The Three Types of Distractions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three types of distracted driving:

Visual—Taking one’s eyes off the road
Manual—Taking one’s hands off the steering wheel
Cognitive—Taking one’s mind off the road while driving

Visual distractions include looking in the backseat for a wallet or piece of paper, while manual distractions might be adjusting a side view mirror while driving. Cognitive distractions could be as simple as daydreaming or a loud child’s noise from the back seat. Of course, many forms of distraction check multiple boxes. Texting, for example, is a form of all three.

Other Examples of Distracted Driving

Texting
Using a cell phone for email, social media, taking a picture or video, or looking at directions
Adjusting or using a GPS device, including a cell phone or non-cell phone device
Talking to a passenger
Talking on a cell phone, dialing, or searching for a cell phone
Looking out the side window at something
Adjusting the radio or playlist on a phone
Disruptive passenger(s)
Adjusting the position of the seat
Searching for something in the rear seat or passenger seat
Eating or drinking
Applying makeup

The Dangers of Using Cell Phones On the Road

Using cell phones while driving is the ultimate form of distracted driving, causing an unknown number of fatalities and serious injuries every year. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone-caused collisions are under-reported, and there is no safe way to use a cell phone behind the wheel of a car, whether it is hands-free or not. While texting is obviously dangerous and illegal, talking on a hands-free or handheld phone is also extremely risky, as it causes drivers to miss seeing half of what is around them due to cognitive distraction alone.

Reach Out to Our Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

Regardless of how or why the other driver was distracted, Hale Law’s experienced Sarasota distracted driving accident attorneys can help you prove they were negligent and hold them liable for your damages. Call (800)-800-1414 today to schedule a free consultation with a Sarasota attorney.