Miami Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Driving and using a cell phone or being distracted by other devices is extremely dangerous. In Florida, distracted drivers are one of the biggest causes of motor vehicle accidents. While it finally became illegal to text while driving in our state in 2013, it is still legal to make phone calls while driving. That being said, if a distracted driver causes an accident while being on the phone, this act may not constitute a crime, but he or she can still be held responsible in civil court; and that is where we come in. When you or a loved one is injured by a distracted driver, we want to help.
What Exactly is Distracted Driving?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) there are three main types of distractions, which are:
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road;
- Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and
- Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving.
Using a cell phone is the most obvious form of distracted driving. But other activities while driving can also be distracting, like eating, using navigation devices, and fiddling with the stereo. Basically, anything that you focus on other than driving constitutes distracted driving.
How Many Crashes are Caused in Florida by Distracted Drivers?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2010 and 2011 there were at least 85 fatal crashes in Florida caused by distracted drivers. The Palm Beach Post cites a 2009 study, which found that drivers who are texting are a full 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than someone who is just driving.
Distracted Driving Statistics Nationwide
The Federal Communications Commission has compiled a fact sheet about texting while driving. It indicates that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes. That means that 3,092 people were killed by distracted drivers that year. Of drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 who are involved in car crashes, 11 percent of them admit to texting when the crash occurs. Additionally, the CDC provides the following statistics:
Talking on a cell phone while driving:
- 69 percent of drivers in the United States ages 18-64 reported that they had talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days before they were surveyed.
- In Europe, this percentage ranged from 21 percent in the United Kingdom to 59 percent in Portugal.
Texting or emailing while driving:
- 31 percent of U.S. drivers ages 18-64 reported that they had read or sent text messages or email messages while driving at least once within the 30 days before they were surveyed.
- In Europe, this percentage ranged from 15 percent in Spain to 31 percent in Portugal.
Call Miami Distracted Driving & Texting While Driving Accident Attorney Alan Goldfarb, P.A.
Have you or a loved one been a victim of a crash caused by someone else’s distracted driving? We understand how difficult recovery from this type of accident can be, and we would like to help. We have the training and experience needed to handle this type of case. Please Alan Goldfarb, P.A. at 305-371-3111 or call toll-free at 866-936-9761 so we can talk about your situation.
