The Dangers Of Distracted Driving
A young man paid the ultimate price for texting while driving after a recent overnight accident on U.S. 1 cost him his life. According to police, the man was driving an SUV lost control of his vehicle and crossed the highway median after hitting a few trees. He struck another vehicle head-on; miraculously, the driver of that second vehicle suffered no serious injuries, but the SUV driver died in the accident. His cell phone was found still in his hand.
Florida’s Texting While Driving Law
By now we have all heard, many times, the warnings against distracted driving – texting and driving in particular – yet people continue to die as a result of this dangerous practice in tragic numbers. It is hard to argue with the statistics – texting drivers are causing accidents in which they put not only themselves but others with whom they are sharing the road at extreme risk. Florida has banned this activity; the law is set forth in Florida Code Section 316.305 and its message is easy to see from its name – Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law. The intent of the law is to improve the safety for all of those who use Florida’s roadways, to prevent accidents that are caused by texting and driving, and to reduce the costs of these types of accidents both in injuries and lives lost as well as monetary costs related to insurance, healthcare, and property damage. The law grants the authority to law enforcement to issue citations to drivers who are found to have been texting while driving when they are stopped for another, or primary, reason. The law does not authorize police officers to stop drivers simply based on texting while driving; they must have already been pulled over for something else first and they may then be issued the citation for texting while driving as a secondary offense.
This Applies to All Drivers
The ban applies to all drivers with few exceptions for those who must use a cell phone for a safety-related or emergency reasons such as medical or emergency personnel or reporting unlawful activity to police. Unless you have a really good reason, using your cell phone – and particularly texting – can wait until you are out from behind the wheel.
Contact Us for Professional Help
When you have been injured as a result an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, turn to the legal professionals at Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale for help in understanding your rights and responsibilities under Florida law. Our years of experience handling all types of personal injury cases allows us to know exactly how to handle cases of every kind. We know the issues to look at when determining where the fault for the accident lies and will fight tirelessly for the rights of our injured clients. Let us go over the facts of your case with you and get you the best possible results in the courts or through settlement of your case. Reach out to us by phone today at 954.556.5260 or contact us via our website to get the best representation possible for your legal matter.
