Nowadays, with a lot of technology easily accessible at our fingertips, it’s easy to find yourself in a car accident due to a distracted driving incident. 

Drivers can easily become distracted for numerous reasons, not even because of technology, and cause just as much damage or health concerns for all parties involved. Car accidents are very common and happen every single day across the world. 

Car accidents are a risk every time you get behind the wheel. Due to distracted driving, here is how drivers become distracted on the road and what you should do if you’re involved in a car accident. 

Common Distractions on The Road

Cell phones, talking, mindless driving are just a few common distractions that make drivers preoccupied while out on the road. They certainly aren’t the only ways to cause distracted driving.

Here are other ways drivers get distracted and can cause accidents:

• Texting while driving
• Checking social media
• Taking eyes off the road
• Messing with the navigational system or radio
• Eating and drinking in the car
• Speaking on the phone
• Falling asleep (yes, it’s possible)

Three types of distractions can take a driver’s attention off the road: mental, physical, and visual. Even if you are still looking at the road, your mind is drifting off to focus on something else, and this can lead to distracted driving. 

It’s easy to find yourself getting distracted while driving, but it’s imperative for your safety and the safety of others to keep yourself focused. Even if you are focused while driving, keep a close watch for other drivers who may be distracted to avoid a potential accident. 

Distracted Driving Car Accident Facts

The CDC has found tremendous statistics and facts about distracted driving that will make you think twice about picking up your phone while behind the wheel.

While we know car accidents are an everyday occurrence, it’s recorded that approximately 3,000 people die each year from a distracted driving related incident. Most distracted driving accidents, as recorded in 2018, are caused by young adults ranging in age from 15-19. 

The CDC also found that in 2019, 60% of young adult drivers texting or emailing were found to be a very common act in drivers 18 years or younger. This is a major problem that can lead to severe consequences. However, this is not to say adults aren’t to blame for the distracted driving problem. 

If you are the parent of a young adult who is about to get their license, it’s important to have a discussion with them about the importance of always keeping both hands on the wheel and their eyes and mind on the road.

What To Do If You Were Involved in An Accident Due to Distracted Driving

No matter your age, if you are in a car accident and are not severely injured, there are steps you should take to ensure your car accident is handled properly. Florida has a no-fault system in place when it comes to car accidents, but you should still take these steps to ensure you have all information and your tracks are covered. 

The first thing you should do after an accident is call the police. The police will file an unbiased report after visiting the scene and speaking to all drivers to get a sense of what happened and who was at-fault. If you are able to file a lawsuit, the police report can be used as evidence.

The same applies to medical records. Even if you don’t have a scratch on your body, do not skip the medical assistance. It’s possible you could have an internal injury that needs to be addressed, and your medical records can also be used as evidence if your case allows for a lawsuit. If you forego medical assistance, your lawsuit could look less serious to a jury. 

You should also get out of the car and get the contact information of the other driver. Having their name will make it easier to track them down if you decide to file a lawsuit. 

Know Your Car Accident & Legal Rights

Another step you should take after a car accident is filing a claim with your insurance company. Since Florida has the no-fault system, which states that all parties involved in a car accident are to blame, it’s a requirement that all residents have personal injury protection.

You should have a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection to help financially with medical bills or time off work. Personal injury protection does not help with car damage, so you will need to have collision coverage separately. 

In Florida, you are not allowed to file a car accident lawsuit unless your case meets one or both of the following requirements:

• Your medical bills exceed several thousands of dollars.
• You suffer a severe injury that is considered to be one of the following
  • Death
  • Amputation
  • Life-altering disabilities
  • Scarring

Speak with your lawyer to see if your case qualifies for stepping out of the no-fault system. If you are able to file a car accident lawsuit, you have two years from the date of the crash to do so. You can speak to one of our attorneys for a free consultation to see if you may qualify.

How An Attorney Can Help Your Case

Ideally, you should hire a lawyer before you file a claim with your insurance. Your lawyer can help you negotiate a higher settlement if the first offer comes back unfairly small. 

Hiring a Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer is great for several reasons. First, and most importantly, they do the work for you. Your lawyer is the person who will collect all evidence, draft papers, and speak for you if your case makes it to court. All you have to do is listen to their advice and answer questions when asked. 

Finding the right attorney to work with is not a decision that should be made quickly or taken lightly. It should be your goal to find a lawyer in Boca Raton, Florida, who has a proven track record of success for car accident claims. Since car accidents are difficult to file claims for in Florida, the help and legal knowledge of a Florida-licensed attorney can help you.

Find A Lawyer to Help

At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we understand how complex and severe car accidents can be. If you have suffered an accident by a driver that was distracted, it’s even more unfair to be in this predicament. 

You need the help of one of Boca Raton, Florida’s leading legal firms (by appointment only). Our team has been fighting justice for car accident victims for over 40 years, and we are confident we can help you succeed in your case.

You can start by calling our firm at (561) 800-8000 or filling out our free case evaluation online to leave your contact information. Someone from our firm will reach out to set up a time for you to discuss your case with one of our attorneys. If you decide we’re the right fit, we’ll start building your case immediately. 

Don’t let any more time pass within your time limit to sue. Contact our firm today to get started with your case.