Technology has made us reachable around the clock. We have phones that are always on our person, allowing us to text, email, and post messages on social media with ease. These always-on advances make it tempting to take a quick peek at a smartphone, even while driving. However, this technology must be used responsibly because it comes with some risks and consequences when used at the wrong time.
If you have been in an accident and believe the cause was distracted driving, it can be hard to prove, especially if you are recovering from injuries sustained in the accident. A Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer could help. Read on to learn more about distracted driving.
How Distracted Driving Affects Fort Lauderdale’s Streets and Highways
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) cites the following statistics about distracted driving:
- 1,116 distracted driving accidents occur every week across the state
- Drivers under the age of 30 represent nearly 40% of these accidents
- Distractions are a common cause of accidents involving teen drivers
Glancing at or paying attention to anything else can lead to a lapse in focus that lasts for the length of an entire football field when traveling at a moderate 55 mph. Accidents at this speed can cause serious injuries—possibly even fatal injuries—to the occupants of both involved vehicles.
People in Cars are Not the Only Ones Affected by Distracted Drivers
The drivers and passengers in both vehicles can be seriously injured and suffer psychological trauma due to a distracted driver. Sadly, others outside the car can also be affected. Per Public Health Reports, other injured parties can include pedestrians and bicyclists, who can suffer serious, even fatal, injuries since they are largely unprotected from the force of the collision.
Distracted Driving Is More Than Texting and Talking
Anything that distracts a driver and causes them to take their concentration off of the road and their vehicle has the potential to be disastrous. While texting is a primary form of driver distraction, it is not the only one.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, there are three types of distractions:
- Manual distractions
- Visual distractions
- Cognitive distractions
These three types of distractions can include such behaviors as:
- Sending or receiving emails
- Reading or responding to social media posts
- Talking on a cell phone
- Programming or glancing at a navigation device
- Grooming oneself and adjusting or removing clothing
Nothing that distracts you from the safe and attentive operation of your car is worth it. This includes eating, drinking, arguing with passengers, and rubbernecking to observe accidents and other activities happening outside your car.
A Distracted Driving Car Accident Can Cause More Than Physical Injuries
By its nature, a car accident is sudden, violent, and unexpected, which, in addition to physical injuries, can have a direct mental and emotional impact on the victim. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a car accident can cause symptoms like:
- Flashbacks of the accident
- Sleeplessness or sleep disturbances
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Fear of driving or riding in a car
- Irritability, anger, or depression
Getting medical attention for your physical injuries after a car accident is critical. Help dealing with PTSD symptoms is equally as important. The costs of treating both types of personal injuries can be recouped from the at-fault driver.
Distracted Driving Can Be Difficult—but Not Impossible—to Prove
Investigating a car accident usually starts with each side telling their version of events. If the other driver alleges that they were not distracted when the accident occurred, you have to prove they were in order to recover damages.
If you opt to handle your case on your own, you should collect the following types of evidence:
- Police report, which will provide a third-party perspective describing the conditions of the accident and the activities of both drivers
- Phone and social media records that document the distracted driver’s activities
- Witness statements and their contact information
- Traffic and dashcam footage from the accident scene that might capture images of the driver and their distracting activity
If you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you, they will have the resources necessary to handle evidence collection for you. They will also organize your case file and present it to the at-fault party and their insurer on your behalf.
Compensation You Can Recover for a Distracted Driving Accident
When the evidence you or your attorney collects proves the other driver was distracted, you can recover damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage
- Property loss
- Wrongful death damages, if applicable
Your evidence can also help you avoid a stressful and potentially lengthy trial and lead to an out-of-court financial settlement.
Get a Free Review of Your Distracted Driving Accident Case
Distracted driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, can leave you with serious injuries and all the financial implications they carry. Our personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation from the at-fault party and start putting your life back together.
Call (954) 633-8270 to contact one of our consultation team members at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato to get your free case review.
