Distracted driving is an increasingly dangerous cause for car accidents in North Port and throughout the State of Florida. It is a very serious issue as there are more drivers that are distracted behind the wheel than ever before.
Driving is an essential aspect of our everyday lives, as it enables us to travel to work, take our children to school, run errands and drive in emergencies. However, a driver also has an important responsibility to drive in line with the rules of the road and operate their vehicle in a safe manner that ensures not only the safety of themselves but also the safety of everyone else around them. There are many drivers on the road who fail to take caution when behind the wheel, and as a result, they end up causing an accident.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that close to 3,000 citizens of the United States were killed in a distracted driving accident in the year 2010. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident as a result of another person that was distracted behind the wheel, then you could be entitled to file a personal injury claim in North Port.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of collective experience helping people who have been injured in distracted driving accidents to recover the compensation that they are owed from the at-fault party. Our law firm has worked under personal injury law for decades now, and we can confidently say that we will succeed with your case in North Port if you put your faith and trust in us.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight to win the compensation that you deserve for your distracted driving accident in North Port. Phone lines are open 24/7.
What Is Distracted Driving in North Port, FL?
Distracted driving is any situation where a driver takes their attention away from the road. Car accidents involving distracted driving have grown exponentially since the rise of technology in the modern world. For example, the use of a mobile phone demands the visual, manual, and cognitive attention of a driver – all at the same time. It may take the attention of the driver for only a few seconds, but those few seconds of distracted driving could end up changing their entire life.
The risks of distracted driving are at an all-time high, and the damage caused by an accident can be devastating for all parties involved. If you were hurt in a car accident by another driver who was using their mobile phone at the time that the crash occurred, then a distracted driving accident lawyer from The Law Place will help you to hold the at-fault party fully liable for your injuries and other losses in North Port.
Types of Distracted Driving in North Port, FL.
When the mind of a driver wanders, it puts everyone on the road at risk. There are three different types of distracted driving, and each one of them is equally as dangerous.
- Visual distractions – When your eyes are off the road and looking at an object, person, or event.
- Manual distractions – When your hands are not on the steering wheel, and they are being used to eat, drink, send a text message, check emails, apply makeup, adjust a navigational system, or anything else that requires you to use your hands.
- Cognitive distraction – When your mind is not focused on the road ahead, and it is occupied by thinking, feeling, or daydreaming.
Key examples of visual distractions include:
- Using a mobile phone, navigational system, or other technological devices.
- Searching for something that was dropped in the car.
- Turning to check on a passenger or child in the back of the car.
- Looking at a map.
Key examples of manual distractions include:
- Using a mobile phone to send a text message, check emails, watch a video, or scroll through social media applications.
- Eating or drinking.
- Smoking.
- Searching through a bag.
- Applying makeup.
- Helping a child to find their toy or adjust their seatbelt in the backseat.
Key examples of cognitive distractions include:
- Occupied with thinking.
- Thinking about personal issues or work problems.
- Daydreaming.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Engaging in a conversation with another passenger in the vehicle.
Proving Fault in Distracted Driving Accidents in North Port, FL.
Proving fault in a distracted driving accident might seem like a daunting task, but with the help of The Law Place, you will be sure to succeed. Our team of car accident lawyers will investigate the accident scene, gather facts and evidence (including video footage and photographs), and speak to eyewitnesses to prove that the distracted driver is at fault for your car accident in North Port.
In addition, your distracted driving accident lawyer will deal with the related paperwork, build a personal injury claim, and negotiate with the insurance companies involved to recover the compensation that you deserve.
Types of Distracted Driving Accidents in North Port, FL.
- Pedestrian accidents – A person who is crossing the street, walking on the sidewalk, or exiting a vehicle can get struck by a distracted driver.
- Bicycle accidents – A bicyclist is at high risk for accidents, and they are more likely to suffer the worst consequences in a distracted driving accident due to their lack of protection.
- Truck accidents – A truck driver tends to work around the clock to make their deliveries on time and get paid. However, they are also more likely to get tired and distracted by using navigational systems and other devices to help them get where they need to be. A navigational system is of great value to a truck driver, but it is also distracting.
- Motorcycle accidents – The risks are higher for a motorcycle rider. If a distracted driver were to swerve into the lane of a motorcyclist without realizing it, then it could potentially result in serious injuries and damage.
- Drunk drivers – The addition of alcohol or drugs to driving distracted can result in severe consequences.
- Uber or Lyft accidents – The passengers in an Uber or Lyft accident can face serious injuries if a driver is distracted behind the wheel.
Distracted Driving Laws in North Port, FL.
The State of Florida is very strict when it comes to distracted driving. The law has recently banned texting while driving, as well as reading, typing, and sending an email behind the wheel. If the car is stopped, then it is not considered illegal for a driver to perform these types of activities. However, there are certain laws that ban the use of mobile phones in a school zone, crosswalk, and construction area where there are workers present or machinery being used.
Drivers have a legal responsibility to operate their vehicles in a careful manner. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) reported that over 370,000 car accidents happen in the State of Florida every single year. A driver’s duty of care includes following traffic laws, adjusting speed according to road or weather changes, and remaining sober behind the wheel.
Your duty of care also requires you to:
- Secure your children and/or pets safely, so they are not moving inside of the vehicle, as this could take your attention away from the road.
- Not drink or eat in the vehicle.
- Do not apply makeup while operating the vehicle.
- Refrain from daydreaming or thinking about other tasks while you are driving.
- Avoid adjusting the temperature, radio, navigational system, or any other controls while the car is in motion.
- Keep your mobile phone out of reach when you are driving so that you are not tempted to check it.
Compensation Available for Distracted Driving Accidents in North Port, FL.
Injuries sustained in a distracted driving car accident have the potential to be very severe cases. If a distracted driver was the cause of your crash, then The Law Place will take legal action against the at-fault party to recover the compensation that you deserve. We will negotiate with the insurance companies involved to settle on a compensation amount that is satisfactory for you.
There are two types of compensation available for your distracted driving case, which includes economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Past, present, and future medical bills.
- Loss of wages and reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of quality of life.
If a loved one was killed at the scene of a distracted driving accident or they passed away as a result of the crash, then you could be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party to recover compensation such as funeral expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and more under Florida Statute 768.21.
Contact The Law Place Today in North Port, FL.
If you or someone you love were injured in a distracted driving accident in North Port, then you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer today who can help you to understand your legal rights under Florida law. The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in managing personal injury cases for people that have been injured by distracted drivers in North Port and all over the State of Florida.
We understand the devastating repercussions of a distracted driving accident, and we want to be the ones to help you recover the compensation that you are owed. Our team of car accident lawyers will investigate your case in order to hold the distracted driver liable for your injuries and other losses.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight to win the compensation that you deserve for your distracted driving accident in North Port. Phone lines are open 24/7.
Call or text 941-444-4444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form