Florida Distracted Drivers: How The State Is Trying To Prevent Accidents Caused By Distracted Driving
If you've been injured in a car accident caused by another person, chances are that the other driver was distracted in some way. Whether they had children in the car crying for attention, or they were texting and driving, distracted driving is on the rise in Florida. With more and more drivers using electronics while behind the wheel, Florida has been trying to make some changes to reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers each year.
Texting and Driving is Banned Throughout Florida
You can't operate a motor vehicle and text at the same time in Florida, but it's important to understand that this is a secondary offense. What this means is that even if a police officer suspects a driver of texting while driving, they can't be stopped unless they have committed another traffic violation. If you get stopped by the police for a legitimate infraction and it is clear that you were also texting and driving, you can face a penalty for this.
Florida Has Created Safe Zones
Florida made the decision to implement safe zones for cell phone use, designed for drivers to pull over into these rest areas when they need to use their cell phones. With plenty of rest stops already in existence, this may not be enough to get drivers to pull over when they want to text and they are driving. The use of rest areas to interact with electronics is purely voluntary, and it's hard to measure if they are effective or not at this time.
Distracted driving isn't just using a cell phone or having children yelling in the car. Drivers are distracted when they aren't focused on driving, when their eyes are off the road, or when they aren't holding onto the steering wheel with both hands. With the abundance of mobile electronics available today, it's easy to lose focus while driving.
If you have been injured in a car accident by a distracted driver, you are not alone. In 2011, 1.3 million car accidents involved the use of cell phones. Text messaging makes a car accident 23 times more likely. When you have been hurt another party is at fault, you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages. If you believe you have a personal injury case, it's time to sit down with an attorney for an initial consultation to discuss your case.
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