Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
In today’s fast-paced world, technology has become an essential component of our daily routine. Although there are many advantages to technology improvements, they have also led to an increase in incidences involving distracted driving. Distracted driving is a critical issue that jeopardizes road safety.
The bottom line is that cars today have more features than cars 20-30 years ago, which makes it much easier to become distracted behind the wheel. We are constantly getting text messages and have large screens in our cars where you can play satellite music or even “car play” where you can play music from your phone, listen to podcasts and audiobooks, the list goes on.
Distracted driving is often attributed to teen drivers, but that is not always the case. Our Florida Car Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton have seen distracted driving accidents involving truck drivers, bus drivers, moms and dads in minivans and SUVs, grandmas/grandpas in sedans, and of course, teen drivers.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), a car crash happens every 44 seconds in Florida, with one in seven accidents involving distracted drivers. According to preliminary data, distracted driving claimed the lives of roughly 300 people in Florida in 2023—a 23-percent increase from 2022.
Distracted Driving Kills
In 2016, a family was stuck in traffic on I-75 in Brooksville at a dead halt when a driver slammed into their car from behind going almost 80 mph, killing a 9-year-old boy, and injuring the rest of the family. The driver pushed a total of six cars 76 feet, injuring others. Before the collision, the driver was seen using his phone to text and talk. In May of 2023, the driver was convicted of vehicular homicide and reckless driving in Florida’s first texting and driving case to go to trial. In June of 2023, the at-fault driver was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Talk To Your Loved Ones About the Dangers of Distracted Driving
We can all help to end distracted driving by talking about it openly and honestly. Yes, talk to your teen drivers, but also your friends and family members. We can all work together to minimize the number of distracted driving accidents because they are 100% preventable.
If you are involved in an accident and you think the other driver was texting, or messing with their radio, or even eating French fries, or dealing with their child passengers, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can investigate the facts of the crash and identify what happened. Let us help you understand your rights – call us anytime at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to request a free consultation.