Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Distracted driving car accidents in Vero Beach, Lake Worth and elsewhere took the lives of more than 5,400 people in 2009. Officials believe this number to be even higher because not all accident causes were properly reported to officers.
To help raise awareness about the dangers of these types of accidents, the National Safety Council (NSC) recently released a few short videos to address the risks and the consequences of such incidents. The “Understanding Distracted Driving” campaign features David Teater, the Director of Transportation Initiatives for the NSC, as he knows all too well the results of a distracted driving accident. Teater lost his 12-year-old son in an accident with a distracted driver back in 2004.
According to Ocala.com, more drivers are seeing prosecutors using text-messaging and cell phone records in court to help prove charges against drivers accused of causing a distracted driving car accident. Our car accident attorneys in Tamarac, Sunrise and Margate know that these types of accident cases are so common in the state of Florida because we are one of the last states to enact some sort of law to regulate distracting behavior by drivers. Without state laws, the safety of our roadways relies on the discipline of drivers. Hanging up you cell phone while driving can help to save lives.
The “Understanding Distracted Driving” videos consist of two short videos that discuss the answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding how distractions work against drivers, including how dangerous the behavior is and how employers can enforce a cell phone policy in the workplace to help keep everyone safe.
Teater continues to push for laws to regulate the distractions behind the wheel. He has previously spoken with several state legislatures and the U.S. Congress in an attempt to sway them into creating some sort of federal regulations on cell phone use by drivers.
With Florida being one of the last states to regulate this behavior, distracted driving car accidents are a big problem in the Sunshine State. In the event of a car accident, many local and state law enforcement officials look at phone records of the drivers involved in an attempt to see if cell phone distraction contributed to the collision. When a death is the result of an accident, charges against the blamed driver can be more severe. Motorists are urged to hang up the phone while driving to decrease the risks of experiencing a serious accident or to avoid a criminal conviction.
Sometimes a driver’s use of a cell phone can be considered reckless driving and can turn into a felony charge in court.
“We can and will continue to look at phone records to deter this behavior,” said Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Mark Welch.
If you or someone you love has been in an distracted driving-related car accident in Cooper City, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach or the elsewhere in the surrounding areas, contact the personal injury lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez. Call for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights at 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
Pregnant Mother and Unborn Child Killed in Miami Car Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 23, 2011
Two Vehicles Submerged in Recent Car Accidents in Palm Beach County, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 21, 2011