Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Some universities in Florida and across the country are starting awareness campaigns to warn student drivers about the dangers of distracted driving in a bid to reduce the number of Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents. Campaigns such as the “Put Down Ur Cell Fone” campaign try to raise awareness among the students about distracted driving through on-campus signage and demonstrations. The message is clear: to reduce your risk of causing a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident, put away your cell phone when getting behind the wheel of your car.
Targeting student drivers may be a smart move, since according to some studies, drivers under the age of 20 have the highest number of drivers who routinely drive distracted. According to some statistics, up to 16% of under-20 drivers drive distracted. The dangers of this type of behavior are well documented. A study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found that 6% of all car collisions are related to cell phone use. Cell phone use causes 636, 000 car accidents each year, and these accidents result in 330 000 injuries and 2 600 fatalities.
Cell phones are not the only danger. According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute 65% of near-accidents and 80% of all car accidents involve a driver who was distracted by some activity within three seconds of the collision or near-miss. Distracted driving can include texting, cell phone use, talking to passengers, adjusting music, searching for an item, eating, drinking, applying makeup, and any number of other activities. Researchers are very clear: don’t attempt to multitask while you drive.
Some states have banned texting while driving, but Florida so far has not taken that step. Nevertheless, law enforcement would like to see drivers voluntarily putting their mobile devices away when driving. Any distractions take away your focus and your eyes from the road. Even if this happens for only a few seconds, that is more than enough time for a Florida car accident to take place.
Distracted drivers face penalties for reckless driving. As well, if someone causes a crash because they have chosen to drive distracted, they can be held liable for the accident and can be sued. Insurance rates for such drivers also tend to increase. It is smartest – and safest – to put your entire focus on the road while driving.
If you have been in a Florida car accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group. Serving Hollywood, Miami, Homestead, and surrounding Florida communities, the compassionate and experienced legal team at the Flaxman Law Group has helped hundreds of clients and can quickly offer you advice and guidance as well as a free initial consultation to apprise you of your rights and options. It’s a phone call you can’t afford to delay. Call today to start on the road to recovery.