Distracted driving, whether it involves texting or using a hand-held device to talk, is a hazard on Florida highways and roads. In fact, many authorities think that distracted driving is currently a bigger problem than drunk driving. However, even though more than 70 percent of Florida citizens support laws that would outlaw these dangerous practices, the legislature continues to vote down attempts to impose a ban.
In the first 10 months of 2011, there were 2,218 auto accidents in Florida that resulted from a driver using an electronic device, including 145 reported incidents of texting. Some legislators have argued that distracted driving bans are too difficult to enforce. Police officers can administer a Breathalyzer® test with someone who denies being drunk, but what can they do if the driver who caused the accident denies texting? And why penalize the use of electronic devices when other behaviors – like eating or applying make-up or looking at a map – can also be dangerously distracting?
Pinpointing cause in any distracted driving accident can be a challenge. In addition to interviewing witnesses, skilled auto injury attorneys often work with accident reconstruction experts to get the full picture. If you were injured in a car collision caused by a driver who was not paying attention to the road, you may have grounds for a compensation claim. Florida may not have laws regulating distracting driving, but you do have the legal right to hold a negligent driver accountable for your injury-related expenses.