Port St. Lucie Distracted Driving Lawyer
Distracted driving might be the biggest challenge to public safety. Although Florida has tried to reduce distracted driving recently, it has proven difficult to stamp out. Far too many people on the road fail to drive with sufficient care because they are distracted. At Smith, Ball & Báez, we have worked with many victims of distracted driving accidents. In addition to serious injuries, our clients usually suffer emotional trauma which makes moving on from the accident difficult. Please call us to speak with a Port St. Lucie distracted driving lawyer about bringing a possible legal claim. Drivers should pay for the injuries they cause for failing to drive safely.
Sources of Distraction
Driving is challenging enough when focused on the road. Pedestrians, pets, and other motorists can scoot out in front of you, forcing you to hit the brakes or take other defensive action. But driving is that much harder when you are distracted.
Distraction can impair a driver in several ways:
-
Visual distraction. If you aren’t looking at the road, you can’t see whether or not you need to swerve or brake. The risk of running into someone goes up substantially. Common sources of visual distraction include children in the backseat, accidents you pass, as well as cell phones. In fact, electronic devices are probably the biggest source of visual distraction.
-
Manual distraction. It’s harder to turn the wheel when one or both hands are used for something else. People who drink a beverage, handle a phone, or try to eat soup are manually impaired.
-
Cognitive distraction. This is probably the least appreciated type of distraction. You can be looking at the road but not able to process what you see because you are mentally thinking about something else. Texts and emails are a major source of cognitive distraction. Some studies have shown that a motorist is distracted for almost a half-minute after finishing a text.
When distracted, motorists can hit pedestrians in a crosswalk, T-bone other vehicles, and rear end cars in the parking lot or at an intersection. Hundreds of people each year end up in the back of an ambulance due to a distracted driver.
Accident victims have rights. Distracted driving is usually illegal, but any victim can bring a claim for compensation. In Florida, you will use your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits first. With very serious injuries, you can typically sue the driver for additional compensation. Because many drivers are going fast when they hit someone, injuries tend to be serious.
Put a Stop to Distracted Driving
A personal injury claim seeks compensation to cover economic damages like medical bills, property damage, and lost income. But you can also send a message to Florida motorists that distracted driving isn’t okay. We can seek a favorable settlement for economic and non-economic damages like emotional distress and physical pain. Call our law firm to find out more. One of our Port St. Lucie distracted driving lawyers can meet with you to listen to your story and help you understand what are the best steps to take next.
