You place a lot of trust in the hands of other drivers whom you share the Florida roads with. This is why it is nothing less than disappointing and devastating when another driver chooses to be distracted with another task while behind the wheel; which ultimately serves as the driving catalyst of your collision. You must take certain initiatives no matter the type of crash that transpired, but specific measures must especially be taken in the event of a distracted driving accident. Read on to discover what initiatives you should take after being made the victim of distracted driving and how a seasoned Tampa car accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help kickstart your legal case.
What statistics should I know about distracted driving?
Unfortunately, distracted driving accidents occur more often than you may initially assume. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, more than 50,000 distracted driving accidents occur within its state borders each year. This makes Florida the tenth state in the country for the highest rate of fatal distracted driving accidents.
What’s more, teen drivers are the most prone to drive distractedly, whether it be due to their inexperience or immaturity, peer pressure or overconfidence, or their more prevalent use of mobile devices. Further, below lists the most common forms of distracted driving reported to occur on Florida roads:
- Texting or talking on the phone while driving.
- Using hands to eat food or drink beverages while driving.
- Navigating a GPS or adjusting radio settings while driving.
- Looking in the rearview mirror to apply makeup while driving.
- Daydreaming instead of following changing traffic conditions while driving.
- Reaching for items in the glove compartment or backseat pocket while driving.
- Turning to speak with passengers in the passenger seat or backseat while driving.
What initiatives should I take after my distracted driving accident?
Immediately following your car accident, you must follow standard procedures such as taking photos of your bodily injuries and car damages; speaking with law enforcement officers and witnesses; seeking medical attention; and sending a report to your insurance company; among other things. Though there are specific pieces of evidence that you must collect if you wish to prove that the other driver was distracted and therefore negligent at the time of your accident. Such pieces of evidence read as follows:
- Dashcam footage, redlight camera footage, or surveillance camera footage that captures the other driver’s distraction.
- Expert testimony by someone who can offer their opinion as to whether the other driver’s distraction was a factor in the accident event.
- Witness testimony by someone who saw firsthand the other driver’s distraction at the time of the accident event.
- The other driver’s phone records and social media history that shows their phone usage at the time of the accident event.
- The other driver’s previous citations for distracted driving or other traffic violations.
Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against a distracted driver may come with its benefits, so long as it is carefully conducted. So please seek the assistance of a competent Tampa auto accident lawyer from Merricks Law Group, P.A. We look forward to having a conversation with you.
