Distracted Driving in Clearwater
The effects of a car accident in some cases are fairly minor. People may become made a bit anxious about driving, or their vehicles may be left with some easily fixed scratches. But far more frequently the driver and passengers of a vehicle involved in an accident are apt to suffer injuries that require at least some medical attention.
As a result, you may expect all drivers to be committed to doing whatever they can to avoid causing unnecessary collisions. Sadly, driver distraction is actually a common problem.
If you have been hurt in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver then you are likely entitled to pursue financial compensation beyond that which is available to you through an insurance claim or settlement offer. Contact the Clearwater car accident lawyers of the Law Offices of Tragos & Sartes, P.L., at 727-441-9030.
Dangerous Driving Distractions
Dangerous distractions that cause numerous accidents on Florida roadways each year include:
- Speaking with passengers
- Talking on a cellular phone
- Text messaging while driving
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Adjusting the climate control, radio, or other console-based devices
Texting While Driving
Text messaging has become a prominent form of communication in recent years and is now offered as a standard feature on many cell phone plans. While text messaging is a convenient means of communicating, it is not something drivers should do while on the road.
Texting is more dangerous than talking on a cell phone because it requires the driver to look away from the road and focus on a small screen to read and send messages.
Several studies have shown that drivers who text have severely delayed reaction times, making accidents 8 times more likely for drivers who text than for those who are completely attentive.
Cellphone Use
Many people drive while talking on their cell phones, but this is not a wise thing to do, as it makes accidents more likely to happen. People who talk on their cell phones while driving cannot dedicate their full attention to driving.
As a result, their driving may suffer. They may drive more rashly, using only one hand to steer the car. They may respond to changing road conditions more slowly. They may slow down while talking, causing other cars to slow down unnecessarily as well.
Some people have realized the extreme danger that talking on the cell phone while driving can be. The state of California has made it illegal for anyone to talk on a cell phone without a handsfree device while driving, for example. Most states, however, have not done this, so talking on the cell phone while driving still remains a major danger.
Impact of Distracted Drivers
Another danger is that people who are doing other things while driving may cause accidents. They may cut someone off when changing lanes, hit another car or a curb, or run a red light. These are all things that can occur when people do other things while driving.
People who cause accidents because of their negligence can face criminal prosecution as well civil prosecution seeking monetary damages.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today
The increasingly hectic pace of modern life has forced people to begin attempting to cram as many different activities into a limited span of time as possible. Multitasking, as it has been termed, is even considered a highly valued trait in the work environment. But there is no place for it when driving a motor vehicle.
Your health should not have been endangered by the negligence of another driver’s inability to properly attend to the task of driving safely. Contact the Clearwater personal injury lawyers of the Law Offices of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos, P.L.L.C., at 727-441-9030 if you have been the victim of a distracted driver.