Auto Accident Lawyer serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton, and Port St. Lucie
Fetterman & Associates, PA feels it’s important that everyone in the State of Florida understand that texting while driving accidents can be extremely serious. Plus, a new law that went into effect in Florida in 2013 recognizes this danger by making it illegal to text and drive. Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer can help you.
Texting and Driving is Hazardous and Illegal in Florida
As of October 1, 2013, it is unlawful to text while driving in Florida. Texting is one behavior that comes under the classification of distracted driving. Distracted driving is responsible for the deaths of 3,092 people nationwide and for injuring 416,000.
If someone is caught texting and driving in Florida, the offense is punishable by a fine and court fees. Plus, if drivers are caught texting numerous times, they will be assessed points against their license.
Too many points may result in a license suspension, and insurance rate increases. Actions that are covered by the law and include additional penalties are texting while going through a school zone and causing a crash due to texting.
Texting involves various distracting behaviors that divert one’s attention from the road and compromise one’s ability to properly control the vehicle they are driving. Taking your eyes off the road for a mere second can be disastrous for you and others with whom you are sharing the road.
Other Types of Distracted Driving
All forms of distracted driving are dangerous. When a driver is involved in any action that takes their attention away from the road, they are engaging in distracted driving.
Such actions include texting or talking on a cell phone, as well as tuning or adjusting radios and GPS units. Also watching videos, reading, eating, brushing your hair, and talking to others in the vehicle fall under this type of behavior.
Research has been developed that reveals that texting while driving is especially dangerous. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) a driver’s eyes are taken off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds while texting.
At 55 miles an hour, a driver will travel about 100 yards during those 4.6 seconds. The DOT observes that texting while operating a motor vehicle creates a crash risk 23 times greater than driving when not distracted.
Injured by a Texting Driver
Auto accident lawyers at Fetterman & Associates, PA are dedicated to representing you if you have been injured in one of Florida’s numerous texting while driving accidents. If someone was texting when they were in an accident, they are engaging in negligent behavior.
If an accident is serious and terrible, life-changing injuries are involved, such as physical pain and suffering that compromise your ability to function normally and to work, then you may sue the negligent driver in civil court.
A lawsuit may be brought for medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent physical damages and disfigurement.
Back injuries, including those related to spinal damage, broken bones, concussion, internal injuries, and other types of extreme physical problems may be compensated.
Your Case in Court
Florida texting while driving accident attorney at Fetterman & Associates, PA will aggressively represent your personal injury lawsuit in court. In Florida, the qualitative threshold is a verbal one, which means that after hearing the evidence the court decides the extent of the damages and the amount of compensation that is appropriate.
In developing your personal injury case, we will utilize all applicable evidence, including if you were the victim of a text while accident, and present your case, including the manner in which you have been physically affected.
Contact a West Palm Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer
Text while driving accidents can cause life-altering changes in the lives of those who have been victimized by this type of distracted behavior.
If you have been in a serious auto accident, contact Fetterman & Associates, PA attorney at 561-845-2510. We will work with you to ensure that you have the best possible chance of receiving the compensation that you deserve.
West Palm Beach Texting and Driving Accident Lawyers
