Clearwater Texting While Driving Lawyer

Cell phones and other electronic devices have become so commonplace in the lives of Floridians that near-constant engagement with them has begun to feel almost natural.

While there can be no doubt that these technological marvels have provided society with all sorts of valuable, time-saving functions, their popularity has led to a new and extremely dangerous type of distracted behavior, namely, texting while driving.

Though the act of sending or reading a text is something scores of people perform countless times per day, doing so while behind the wheel is a behavior that can, and often does, have devastating consequences.

If you are among those who have fallen victim to texting motorists, you may be entitled to significant compensation. A Clearwater texting while driving lawyer stands ready to investigate the facts of your case and provide the legal advocacy you deserve.

Alarming Facts About Texting and Driving

Recent statistics have made it quite clear that distracted driving represents a hazardous epidemic contributing to unacceptably high numbers of individuals sustaining serious injuries each year and worse in accidents attributable to this type of conduct.

According to the official U.S. government website for distracted driving, in 2014 alone, 3,179 individuals died and 431,000 were injured in car crashes in which distracted drivers were involved.

While distracted driving can encompass a broad array of behaviors, the phenomenon of texting while operating a vehicle presents a particularly egregious type of risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are three primary categories into which acts of distracted driving tend to fall, and they are:

• Manual distraction, which involves removing the hands from the steering wheel
• Visual distraction, which involves averting eyes and visual attention from the roadway
• Cognitive distraction, which involves shifting focus away from the task of driving

Whereas other types of risky behaviors involve just one of these classifications, texting combines all three, making it perhaps the most dangerous activity that can be undertaken by a driver.

Research conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and widely cited by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has suggested that a driver who takes his or her eyes off the roadway for a period longer than two seconds faces a doubling of the risk of a crash.

Anyone who has ever sent or received a text message understands the time involved almost always exceeds that threshold, considerably boosting the chances that a serious accident will occur.

Relevant Florida Law

Law enforcement agencies nationwide have begun to take texting and driving very seriously and have stepped up their efforts to ebb the tide of this extraordinarily hazardous trend. Florida legislature in late 2013 banned texting while driving in an effort to bolster public safety.

However, texting behind the wheel remains classified merely as a secondary offense, meaning that police can only cite motorists for engaging in this activity if they have initiated a traffic stop for some other reason.

Reasons to Pursue Compensation

As is true of all types of vehicle accidents, those stemming from texting and driving are capable of producing truly debilitating harm and sometimes even death. Traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, disfiguring burns, and spinal cord damage are among the categories of injuries regularly suffered in such events.

The massive medical bills and ancillary expenses that follow these types of tragedies can prove crippling and leave entire families wondering how to move forward.

In cases such as these, it often makes good sense for victims to explore their legal options, which can provide a pathway to full, fair and necessary financial compensation. Though the process of holding responsible parties accountable may not always be simple, a dedicated injury attorney will provide zealous advocacy and fight to obtain the maximum level of resources possible.

Fighting for Florida’s Injured

If you or a family member has been victimized by the negligence and irresponsibility of a texting driver, there is no need to continue suffering in silence. A Clearwater texting while driving lawyer is ready and willing to defend your rights and protect your future. To learn more about how we can help, contact our office today.