Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer

Let Our Experienced Team Represent You After an Accident Caused by Texting While Driving

It is against the law in Florida to text and drive, but hundreds of drivers do it each day. While they assume that driving is routine and doesn’t require much attention, even glimpsing to read a text can take your eyes away long enough to miss something on the road.

It doesn’t take long for an accident to occur and research has shown that only a few seconds away can lead to a devastating accident.

In the five seconds it takes to glimpse at your phone, you could travel as long as a football field—all without seeing what you just drove past. That is extremely dangerous and texting while driving is a growing problem in the United States.

Frightening Statistics

The statistics regarding cellphone use are only increasing. And, while you can still talk on your phone using a hands-free device, this does not mean drivers will not text.

• According to the NSC (National Safety Council), there are 1.6 million crashes each year from cellphone use.
• Each year there are more than 300,000 injuries in accidents that were caused by texting and driving drivers.
• In the United States, one out of four accidents is caused by texting and driving.
• Texting increases the chance of an accident by six times compared to drunk driving.
• Just answering your text takes five seconds, but allows you to travel the distance of a football field at a rate of 55 miles per hour.
• Texting increases your time your eyes are away from the road by 400 percent.
• Texting is the most dangerous cellphone activity to date.
• 94 percent of drivers think texting while driving should be banned.
• 74 percent of drivers think that all cellphone use should be banned while driving.

Unfortunately, teens are the biggest offenders when it comes to texting and driving. Just some of the recent statistics show:

• There are 11 teens that die in the United States each day because they were texting while driving.
• 94 percent of teen drivers know texting and driving is dangerous, yet 35 percent still admit to doing it anyway.
• 21 percent of teen drivers that were in fatal car accidents were distracted by their phones.
• Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to be in an accident because of texting while driving.

Texting is Illegal in Florida While Driving

While there are plenty of people who get behind the wheel, email, text and check status updates while driving, it is, in fact, illegal in the state of Florida.

But, if someone chooses to get behind the wheel and use their phone while driving, they are guilty of negligence. If that negligent driver causes an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries they cause.

Compensation You Could be Entitled To

If you are injured in a car accident because of a texting driver, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. In order for your claim to be successful, our attorneys will need to:

1. Prove that the driver was in fact texting while driving – which usually involves pulling cellphone records or taking witness statements.
2. Proving that their texting and driving caused the accident; therefore, causing your injuries.
3. Proving that you have losses because of your injury – such as medical bills, lost wages, personal property damage, etc.

Just some of the compensation you may be entitled to can include:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• Funeral expenses (if wrongful death occurs)
• Pain and suffering
• Personal property damage
• Disability

You Need an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

While you may think you can negotiate with insurance companies, the last thing an insurance adjuster wants to do is give you maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you want someone who understands how insurance companies work and can get you the most for your settlement, you need an experienced car accident lawyer by your side.

The team at Hardesty, Tyde & Ashton can help you do just that. We will fight for you to get the maximum compensation for your case and we won’t rest until you get a fair settlement.

Call us now to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation and meet us at one of our two convenient Jacksonville locations.