Texting While Driving
"It Can Wait"
Learn about the Dangers from a Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970, it is the agency that is dedicated to setting the highest standards in the arenas of motor vehicle and highway safety. The NHTSA works tirelessly to help prevent crashes and their associated costs, on both a human and financial level. The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports that in 2011, 32,367 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States and an estimated 2.22 million were injured.
The U.S. Department of Transportation claims to be leading the national effort to stop texting and cellular phone use behind the wheel. In the past four years, the agency has held two national distracted driving summits, it has banned cell phone use for commercial drivers, it has encouraged states to adopt tough anti-texting laws, and it has launched large campaigns aimed at raising public awareness about the epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), each day in the United States more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes at the hands of a distracted driver.
The Three Main Types of Driver Distraction:
- Visual Distraction - Taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual Distraction - Taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive Distraction - Taking your mind off the primary task of driving.
Distracted driving can involve any form of distraction which takes the driver's attention away from the task of driving. This can include engaging in activities such as eating while driving, reading while driving (including a map or directions), eating or drinking, changing stations on a radio, using a navigation system, grooming, adjusting a CD or MP3 player, texting or using a cell phone. Out of all the forms of driver distraction, text messaging is by far the most alarming form of distraction because texting requires all three elements of distraction: visual, manual and cognitive.
Texting While Driving Laws in Florida
According to the FCC, currently there is no national ban on texting or using a cellular phone while driving; however, 39 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that ban texting while driving or using a cellular phone while driving, or require a recognized hands-free device to be used while driving.
To date, the state of Florida has not enacted any laws banning texting while driving or using a handheld device while driving. A bill to ban texting while driving is expected to fail during the last days of this year's legislative session. Due to the fact that Florida lawmakers have not enacted any laws prohibiting cellular phone use or texting while driving, it's safe to assume that Floridians are at a heightened risk of being injured in a distracted driving crash versus drivers in one of the 39 states which currently ban it.
Hit by Someone Texting & Driving in Clearwater? Call a Car Accident Lawyer!
If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of texting while driving, or any other form of distracted driving, we urge you to contact a Clearwater injury lawyer from Cope, Zebro & Crawford, P.L. immediately for legal assistance. We are well-aware of the dangers of texting while driving and the threats such negligent behaviors pose on our society. If you were injured by such egregious conduct, we welcome the opportunity to pursue maximum financial recovery on your behalf.
We are more than your average personal injury attorneys; we are experienced trial lawyers with more than 45 years of collective experience to offer you and with more than 50 jury trials to our credit. Should you go with our firm, you will benefit dramatically from our unique legal team which includes a former DUI prosecutor, a former insurance defense attorney and a former trucking company lawyer. We are in an advantageous position to maximize your experience with us and pursue as much compensation as possible, for each of these goals is always our top priority.
Speak with a Clearwater car accident lawyer to set up your free initial consultation. Contact Cope, Zebro & Crawford today!
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Thomas Cope did an outstanding job on my case. He is a great attorney and I would recommend him to anyone who has legal troubles. I trusted him and he kept me informed and told me exactly what I needed to do. I would like to thank him and his firm for the awesome job he did for me.- Derek -
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