Distracted Driving Accidents
A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye, even quicker if your eyes are not actually on the road. One of the leading causes of driving accidents in Florida is distracted driving. Distracted driving is defined by any activity that takes mental or physical focus away from the act of driving.
- These activities include, but are not limited to:
- Texting
- Eating or drinking
- Talking to the passenger
- Reading a GPS, map, or any literature that takes your eyes away from the road
Texting is one of the leading causes for auto accidents that take place in Florida and the nation. In 2013, 3,154 people were killed and 424,000 people were injured because of distracted drivers. Not only that, but one in five drivers admit to looking at their phones while driving, whether it is to text or surf the web. According to the NHTSA, drivers in their 20s make up 27% of the distracted drivers who find themselves in accidents.
Florida’s Texting While Driving Law
Under the Statute 316.305, Florida state law prohibits texting while driving. According to the law,
A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data 1on such a device for the purpose of nonvoice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging. As used in this section, the term “wireless communications device” means any handheld device used or capable of being used in a handheld manner, that is designed or intended to receive or transmit text or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to the Internet or any communications service as defined in s. 812.15 and that allows text communications.
Unfortunately, more than nine people are killed a day due to distracted driving. If you do find yourself in an auto accident, it is important to immediately stop the car and survey the scene. After making sure that no one was injured, you will need to exchange name, address, and registration numbers with people involved in the accident.
Get in Touch with a Florida Auto Accident Attorney
If you were a victim of distracted drivers, you may have a case to file a complaint. You should not be responsible for someone else’s negligence.
Contact our Panama City auto accident attorney today and see if you have a case.