Driving a car takes care, attention, and respect for other road users. Yet far too often, drivers become distracted behind the wheel, and the consequences can be tragic. If you sustained injuries in a Florida motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, you deserve compensation for what you’ve suffered — and the help of an experienced lawyer who can demand it on your behalf.
Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC for a free consultation with a Pensacola distracted driving accident attorney. Our legal team will review the details of your case and discuss the best strategy for recovering maximum compensation for your losses. There’s no fee unless we win.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when a motorist fails to devote their total attention and effort to driving. Distractions come in three forms:
- Manual distraction: A driver takes one or both hands off the steering wheel to perform another task.
- Visual distraction: A motorist takes their eyes off the road to look at something else.
- Mental distraction: Anything that takes a driver’s focus off the task of driving is a mental distraction.
Distracted driving behaviors may involve one, two, or all three distractions. For example, daydreaming involves only mental distractions, while texting while driving involves all three.
Florida’s Distracted Driving Law
Florida’s distracted driving law prohibits manually operating a wireless communications device while driving a motor vehicle. Manual operation includes texting, emailing, or instant messaging. The law prohibits reading or sending written communications or data on a wireless device.
However, the law does not apply to a driver sitting in a stationary vehicle. It also does not apply to drivers who are:
- Performing official duties as operators of authorized emergency, law enforcement, or fire service vehicles
- Reporting an emergency or suspicious activity
- Receiving messages relating to the operation/navigation of the vehicle, safety information, data used by the motor vehicle, or radio broadcasts
- Using a device for navigation
- Conducting wireless communication that does not require manual manipulation of the device except to activate or deactivate a feature or function
Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents in Florida
Many inattentive behaviors can lead to a Florida distracted driving accident, including:
- Texting or using a cell phone or other mobile devices
- Adjusting the radio, climate controls, or infotainment system
- Reaching around the passenger cabin for an object
- Eating or drinking
- Interacting with passengers or pets in the vehicle
- Reading
- Grooming or applying makeup
- Looking at objects outside the vehicle, such as a billboard or an accident scene
- Daydreaming
- Assisting children in the back seat
Consequences of Distracted Driving
Distractions can significantly increase a driver’s chances of causing a motor vehicle accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour will cover the distance of a football field in the time it takes its driver to read or send a text message. Even the briefest distraction can result in drivers traveling hundreds of yards with their eyes and attention off the road.
Distracted driving can also increase the severity of car accidents. A distracted driver may not notice an imminent collision or take action to try to avoid the crash by braking or swerving. As a result, distracted driving collisions often occur at higher speeds and cause more severe injuries for accident victims. The CDC notes that approximately 3,100 fatalities and 424,000 injuries occurred in distracted driving accidents across the U.S. in a recent year.
How Cardoso Law, PLLC Can Help if a Distracted Driver Injured You
You deserve to focus on rest and rehabilitation without having to deal with the hassle of a distracted driving accident claim. Getting experienced legal representation can take the stress of dealing with the insurance company off your shoulders. A Pensacola distracted driving lawyer from Cardoso Law, PLLC can help you pursue the compensation you deserve by:
- Investigating the car crash to recover evidence proving that the other driver was distracted, such as cell phone records, video footage, and witness statements
- Documenting your injuries and losses to calculate fair compensation
- Evaluating your legal options for financial recovery based on Florida law and applicable insurance coverages
- Filing your injury claim(s) and communicating with insurance companies or defense attorneys on your behalf
- Aggressively pursuing the compensation you need, starting at the negotiating table and in the courtroom if necessary
Damages You Can Pursue After a Distracted Driving Accident
If a distracted driver caused a crash that seriously injured you, Florida law says you can recover money for the harm you suffered. A distracted driving accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for losses like:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity and employment benefits
- Costs of long-term care for prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life due to disabilities
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Vehicle repair or replacement
Statute of Limitations for a Distracted Driving Accident
Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years to file a personal injury claim against the distracted driver who hit you. However, it’s best to get a car accident attorney working on your case immediately. Evidence can get lost or erased, and witnesses’ memories fade with time. Your lawyer can investigate your case, negotiate with the insurance company, and fight for the best possible outcome while you focus on healing. If you miss the deadline, you lose your opportunity to seek compensation from the driver at fault for the crash, so get started promptly.
Contact Our Pensacola Distracted Driving Accident Attorney for Help
If you suffered injuries in a Florida distracted driving crash, you deserve fair compensation to help you move on with your life. Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC today for a free consultation with a Pensacola distracted driving accident attorney.