Distracted driving is quickly becoming an epidemic on our Florida roadways. The combination of a society that never slows down with the surge of smart phones and other multitasking devices is creating quite a dangerous situation, leading to hundreds of Florida auto accidents each year.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Florida car crash because of a distracted driver, you need to order your FREE copy of The Florida Accident Handbook: What You Need to Know After an Auto, Truck or Bicycle Accident. Written by the Sarasota accident attorneys at Mallard Perez, this book contains the information you NEED TO KNOW about Florida auto accident claims including what to consider BEFORE you have an accident.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 20% of car crashes each year are due to distracted driving. Although the use of cellular phones for chatting and texting has been receiving an increased amount of attention, there are many other sources of driver distraction. Distracted driving, which is any activity that takes the driver's attention away from the task of driving, can include:
- Eating or drinking
- Talking, texting, dialing or answering a cell phone
- Distraction by an outside object or crash scene
- Adjusting a radio, iPod or GPS device
- Talking to, arguing with or assisting other people in the vehicle
- Distraction by a moving object, such as a pet, spilled drink or dropped cigarette
- Fatigue, daydreaming or inattentiveness
- Personal grooming, such as shaving or putting on makeup
- Reading newspapers, magazines, email or internet pages
Three Types of Distractions
Anything that causes you to take your attention from the road can cause a Florida distracted driving crash. Distracted driving can be broken up into three categories, which are:
- Visual - Taking your eyes off the road
- Manual - Taking your hands off the wheel
- Cognitive - Taking your mind off the task at hand
While all distractions can be harmful, texting while driving is incredibly worrisome, as it causes the driver to be distracted in all three categories. Although Florida does not have any distracted driving bans in place, it is still advisable to follow the suit of many other states that have prohibited handheld cell phone use and texting while driving. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by a phone call or a text to a friend. Whatever it is it can wait - and if it can't, pull over to a safe location before engaging in talking or texting.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Florida car wreck because of a distracted driver, you need to speak with an attorney. Contact Mallard Perez at 1 (888) 409-3805 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Sarasota car crash lawyer today.
