Venice Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Distracted driving has become an increasingly serious problem in Florida in recent years. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 1,000 people are injured in accidents caused by distracted driving on a daily basis. Fortunately, it is possible to hold distracted drivers accountable for the injuries their actions cause, so if you were recently involved in an accident in Florida and believe that it was the result of distracted driving, you should contact an experienced Venice distracted driving accident attorney who can explain your legal options.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS DISTRACTED DRIVING?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention away from driving. The CDC clarifies this definition even further by breaking these activities into the following three categories:
- Cognitive distractions, in which a driver’s mind is no longer focused on the act of driving;
- Manual distractions, which involve activities that take a motorist’s hands off of the wheel; and
- Visual distractions, which involve a driver taking his or her eyes off of the road.
While all of these kinds of distractions are dangerous when it comes to driving, the most perilous are those that satisfy the definitions of all three categories. Cell phone use, especially texting, for example, requires drivers to take their hands off of the wheel, their eyes off of the road, and their mind off of the act of driving. Other common forms of distracted driving include:
- Driving while fatigued;
- Using in-vehicle technologies, such as the radio or a GPS device;
- Engaging in grooming activities;
- Attending to children or pets in the backseat;
- Talking to passengers;
- Smoking or vaping;
- Eating and drinking; and
- Daydreaming.
While these may be the most common examples of activities that result in distracted driving, it is important to keep in mind that driving involves a complex set of ongoing tasks, all of which require visual, mental, and motor skill functions. As a result, any activity that affects these abilities in a negative way can qualify as a distracted driving activity.
RECOVERING DAMAGES
Generally, the severity of a car accident injury depends on a few different factors, including the health and age of the victim, as well as the type of accident in question, and the speed at which the parties were traveling prior to the collision. Distracted driving accidents, while they can involve a wide range of collisions, including everything from t-bone accidents to head-on collisions, almost always occur at high speeds, with little to no effort at braking on the part of the at-fault driver. Unfortunately, this means that the injuries sustained by victims of distracted driving tend to be severe, leaving injured parties to foot the bill for expensive medical treatment, all while being forced to take time off from work. It is especially important in these cases for victims to seek compensation from the distracted driver who caused their collision.
CALL TODAY FOR HELP WITH YOUR CASE
If you were in an accident caused by distracted driving, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Please call the experienced Venice distracted driving accident attorneys at Hale Law at 1-800-800-1414 to learn more.