Driving is an essential part of our everyday lives. It enables us to take our children to school, travel to work, and run errands. However, there are many drivers who think they can multitask behind the wheel, and this often leads to distracted driving car accidents.
Distracted driving is a serious risk for not only the drivers themselves but also for other road users and pedestrians in Venice. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) reported that there were almost 50,000 car accidents as a result of distracted driving. This number includes up to 3,500 people who sustained serious injuries and close to 233 deaths.
If you suffered injuries due to another person’s distracted driving, then you could be entitled to receive compensation for your pain and suffering and other losses in Venice. The at-fault driver could have been using their mobile phone, drinking coffee, reading, or adjusting a navigational system at the time of the accident, but regardless of what they were doing, they can still be held liable for your damages. In this case, you will need to hire a personal injury lawyer to protect your legal rights and fight for the compensation that you deserve.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience in managing personal injury cases and winning compensation for car accident victims in Venice and across the State of Florida. If you are looking for the best legal representation in town, then you should pick up your phone and speak to one of our personal injury lawyers today. We will discuss the details of your case and explain how we can help you. Our law firm will work day and night to collect all of the relevant information in regard to your claim, negotiate with the insurance companies involved, and win the maximum amount of compensation for your distracted driving case.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight for the compensation that you deserve after a distracted driving accident in Venice.
What Is Distracted Driving in Venice, FL?
A driver is classed as being distracted at any point that their attention is diverted from focusing on the road ahead of them. A distraction is any time that a driver loses concentration behind the wheel, takes their eyes off the road, or takes their hands off the wheel. A list of common distractions includes using a mobile phone, talking on the phone, changing the radio station, checking your makeup in the mirror, and many other things.
Even if a driver’s attention is only diverted for a few seconds, it is still long enough to lead to a serious car accident, especially if the driver is moving at high speeds on the Florida roadways.
The Law on Distracted Driving in Venice, FL.
The State of Florida has laws in place that are aimed at preventing distracted driving on roads and highways. One of the most recent laws has now banned texting, typing, sending an email, and many other activities while driving. However, these types of activities are safe to perform when the vehicle is not moving.
There are also some laws that ban the use of mobile phones in a school zone or crosswalk. Furthermore, a driver is not allowed to take a phone call when they are in a construction zone where machinery is being used, or workers are present.
Types of Distracted Driving in Venice, FL.
A motor vehicle presents a number of dangers on the road, and any type of distracted driving can lead to a car accident in Venice. If you or someone you love were hurt because another driver was not paying attention, then you deserve to be compensated for your losses.
There are three different types of distracted driving, including:
- Visual distraction.
- Manual distraction.
- Cognitive distraction.
Visual Distraction
A visual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road. A driver has a responsibility to focus when they are operating a motor vehicle, and they must avoid obstacles or dangers that could potentially cause a car accident. Examples of visual distractions include:
- Staring at a mobile phone, tablet, or navigational system.
- Looking for an item that the driver dropped.
- Turning around to check on a child or passenger behind.
- Reading information written on a map.
Manual Distraction
A manual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their hands off the wheel. When a driver is manually distracted, they are not in full control of the vehicle. It is almost impossible for a driver to react to obstacles or dangers on the road when they are manually distracted. Examples of manual distractions include:
- Texting.
- Smoking.
- Eating or drinking.
- Applying or checking makeup.
- Search through a bag.
- Helping a child in the back seat.
Cognitive Distraction
A cognitive distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their mind off driving. A driver must remain focused and keep an eye on what is happening around them. Examples of cognitive distractions include:
- Thinking about how to respond to a text message.
- Pondering work or personal issues.
- Engaging in a conversation with a passenger.
- Daydreaming.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI).
Distracted Driving Accidents in Venice, FL.
The Law Place is a witness to the consequences of distracted driving every single day in the State of Florida. The costs of distracted driving are not limited to only drivers, and there are many other distracted road users out there. Our law firm has handled a variety of distracted driving cases, including:
- Motorcycle accidents – It is a bad idea for a motorcyclist to text while traveling on their bike. But there are also distracted drivers who are guilty of swerving in and out of lanes, which leads to running over motorcycle riders and results in serious injuries.
- Pedestrian accidents – A person who is either on a crosswalk, getting out of a vehicle, or walking down the street can easily get injured or killed by a distracted driver.
- Truck accidents – A truck driver can also be guilty of distracted driving, and there are plenty of truck drivers who work long hours to meet deadlines, which can cause them to get easily distracted. It is possible for truck drivers to get distracted by using their mobile phones or adjusting a navigational system.
- Drunk driving accidents – A driver who is traveling under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is already committing a crime, but they can also be found guilty of distracted driving at the same time. A drunk driver who is impaired visually, manually, and cognitively is a serious danger on the road.
- Bicycle accidents – A bicyclist is at high risk for injuries and death from a distracted driver. But there are also bicyclists who try to text and ride, which is a bad mistake as well.
- Uber or Lyft accidents – An Uber or Lyft driver has many responsibilities to keep, and one of their main responsibilities is to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers. This means that they are not allowed to get distracted behind the wheel, or else they will face the consequences of causing an accident.
Injuries Caused in Distracted Driving Accidents in Venice, FL.
The Law Place will fight to recover the full amount of compensation to cover all of your injuries following a distracted driving accident in Venice. Our law firm will help any client that has sustained:
- Severe burns.
- Broken bones.
- Whiplash injuries.
- Head and neck injuries.
- Back injuries.
- Chest injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Internal organ damage.
- Concussions.
- Amputations and loss of limbs.
- Catastrophic injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Paralysis.
- Wrongful death.
The Statute of Limitations for Distracted Driving Accidents in Venice, FL.
Every state has different laws and regulations for distracted driving accidents. This is also known as the statute of limitations.
In this case, a person that has suffered injuries and other losses in a distracted driving car accident has up to four years to file a personal injury claim under the statute of limitations laid out in Florida Statute 95.11.
If there was a wrongful death involved in the crash, then you will have up to two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim under the statute of limitations in the State of Florida.
Contact The Law Place Today in Venice, FL.
If you were hurt due to another driver getting distracted behind the wheel, you could be entitled to receive compensation in Venice. It is important for a driver to be held accountable for their negligence if they caused a car accident, and you will need a personal injury attorney to achieve justice for your case.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in fighting for the legal rights of car accident victims in Venice and throughout the state of Florida. Our team of car accident attorneys has the necessary knowledge and resources to take on your case and determine who was liable for your crash.
If you put your faith in us, then a car accident lawyer will investigate your case, gather facts and evidence, negotiate with the insurance companies involved, deal with the paperwork and file your personal injury claim with confidence. We will do our best to make sure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and more in Venice.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight for the compensation that you deserve after a distracted driving accident in Venice.