Distracted Driving Accident

According to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol, a jogger was hit and killed in Palm Coast by a driver distracted by passengers in his back seat on November 30, on Sesame Boulevard about 4:20 p.m. A 54-year-old female jogger was on the boulevard near Seven Wonders Trail when a 36-year-old man told troopers he turned about to address two children in the back seat. In just the time it took to turn around and scold the children, he collided with the jogger. The news report online by Channel 4 in Jacksonville doesn’t say when she died.

It’s a terribly sad story all around when a moment of carelessness wipes out the life of someone who was trying to stay healthy and presumably obeying the law. Our condolences go out to her friends and family for their loss.

Distracted Driving

You hear a lot of talk about distracted driving, usually in connection with cell phone use or texting. However, many different situations can distract a driver. An argument can be distracting, reaching for some gum or food, watching a video, changing a station, grooming, or trying to keep an animal still in the car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are three types of distraction while behind the wheel – visual, cognitive, and manual.

In 2009, more than 5,000 roadway fatalities involved distracted driving. And according to NHTSA, the age group most distracted are the age-20 and under drivers. About 16 percent of fatal crashes involving young drivers involved some form of distraction while driving.

The 30-39 age group had the highest reported cell phone use while driving.

When you are facing many questions following an auto accident, a Florida pedestrian accident lawyer at Farah & Farah is just a phone call away at (800) 533-3555. We will offer you a complimentary consultation to provide some options to turn to for help.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/FHP-Pedestrian-killed-by-distracted-driver/-/475880/4854898/-/xyx8cb/-/index.html; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf

It’s been a catch-22. Florida remains one of the 16 states that has yet to ban texting while driving, at the same time, Florida has no idea how many accidents are associated with this form of distracted driving! Without this vital information, state lawmakers haven’t felt it was necessary to ban texting by law. It’s tough to get excited about a problem you don’t have any handle on. Now, that is changing.

Law enforcement is trying to get a more accurate count on the extent of the problem, reports The Florida Times-Union, so beginning this year, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is including a line on the accident report form to list anything that might have been a distraction to the driver before they were involved in a collision. Since there is more cell phone usage today than ever before, FHP thought it was a good idea to understand what impact cell phones in particular are having on Florida drivers.

Driving distracted in Florida is thought to be responsible for only four deaths in the state during 2009 among 1,964 fatal crashes, but the suspicion is that the problem is much bigger than that. The revised accident report form will also include other distractions beside texting and using the cell phone such as eating, putting on makeup, arguing, yelling at the kids, or reaching for something in the car. A spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) expects all states will eventually outlaw the use of cell phones behind the wheel or the federal government may withhold federal funds from those states.

The distracted driving car accident lawyers in Jacksonville at Farah & Farah law firm remind every driver that no phone call is that important. Put the phone away while driving or have a blue tooth that allows you to speak with one press of the button so you can focus on driving.

Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-08-06/story/legislators-trying-no-florida-law-yet-texting-while-driving

A traffic accident on Interstate 75 that occurred on Wednesday, January 26 has been blamed on cell phone use and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has charged both drivers. A 61-year-old man from Longwood, Florida was charged with careless driving for taking his eyes off the road when he went to look for a cell phone at I-75 and Mendoza Road. His Jeep then drifted to the side of the road where it collided with a parked semi-trailer. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries. The tractor-trailer driver, a 48-year-old man from Ft. Myers, was charged with improperly parking on a limited access roadway. There is not much more information in this story from WTSP as to why the semi was on the side of the road.

Distracted Driving
Florida remains one of the few states in the U.S. that does not have a law limiting cell phone use by anyone behind the wheel, despite the fact that there are many Florida cell phone car accidents every year. That could all change this March when the Florida Legislature meets again and lawmakers attempt to tackle the problem. Distracted driving is estimated to have contributed to the deaths of 5,500 people nationwide in 2009 and injured nearly 500,000.

If you or a loved one is injured by a distracted driver, or you believe cell phone use may have contributed to your crash, contact the Florida cell phone accident lawyers at Farah & Farah. We will bring in investigators to determine if someone was on the phone talking or texting when the accident occurred. The at-fault driver can be held responsible for the other driver’s medical costs, lost wages and the cost of pain and suffering. Call us for an evaluation of your case.