Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
Recently, the National Safety Council (“NSC”), a nonprofit organization dedicated to injury and death prevention, designated the month of April distracted driving awareness month and introduced a plan asking all motorists to participate in remedying this problem plaguing our nation’s roadways.
Distracted driving is becoming an increasingly serious issue across America. Despite a rising number of distracted driving car accidents each year, many states, including Florida, have been slow to adopt measures to curb the problem.
Indeed, Florida has yet to pass any law banning the use or cell phones in any capacity while driving. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have already adopted texting while driving bans and many others have restrictions on cell-phone use. As has been discussed by this blog before, several bills proposing statewide bans on texting while driving have passed through the Florida Senate, but failed in the House of Representatives.
According to recent statistics, of the more than 170,000 crash reports filed in Florida during the first ten months in 2011, over 100 involved motorists that were texting at the time of the accident. That number is almost certainly too low, however, as most driver’s would be reluctant to admit to texting while driving. Studies have found that almost a third of motorists admit to using their to using their cell regularly while driving. Over two-thirds of drivers professed to using their cell phone while driving at least once in the previous month.
Further, according to a 2009 report compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted drivers. Of the distracted driving crashes resulting in the death of an individual, 995 were reported to involve a cell phone as the distraction. Of the distracted driving crashes resulting in an injury to someone, over 24,000 were reported to involve a cell phone as the distraction.
As part of the plan to raise awareness of and curb the danger posed by distracted driving, the NSC is encouraging motorists to:
● Stop using cell phones while driving.
● Recognize and understand the hazards associated with distractions to the brain.
● Notify individuals that call you while driving that you’d be happy to continue the conversation once they have reached their destination.
● Educate other people regarding the dangers of cell phone distracted driving.
The Florida accident lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA are encouraging all drivers to participate in the NSC’s distracted driving awareness program so we can make our roadways safer for everyone. However, if you, your family or friends have been involved an car or auto accident due to the negligence of another and in which you sustained personal injuries at the hands of a distracted driver, you should hire competent legal representation to protect your right to compensation.
The Miami, Car Accident attorneys at Gerson & Schwartz, PA have extensive experience representing individuals who have been injured by in auto, bicycles accidents and motor vehicle accident cases. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured, contact the Miami, Florida personal injury attorneys at Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. today. For accidents in Miami Dade call 305-371-6000, for accidents in Fort Lauderdale call 954-845-0535. Were also available toll free at (877) 475-2905.