Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
Distracted driving has become a national public health crisis. While food, drinks, children, and pets have always provided drivers with ample distraction from the road, technology is increasing the problem to unprecedented proportions. In-vehicle entertainment systems, navigation systems, and the ubiquitous smartphone are diverting drivers’ attention from the road as never before.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you have legal rights which must be protected. Miami residents trust the team at Gerson & Schwartz to secure fair compensation for the auto accident injuries. Our Miami car accident lawyers will aggressively protect your legal rights after any car accident including distracted driving accident cases.
What is Being Done About this Public Health Crisis?
Most states across the nation have enacted some form of ban on texting while driving. While this has created a confusing patchwork of regulations and enforcement, it has, nonetheless, brought attention to a serious problem. Here in Miami, the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law prohibits drivers from operating a motor vehicle while manually entering multiple symbols, letters, or character into a wireless device. However, a procedural quirk in the law has made it difficult for law enforcement officers to cite drivers for violations of this law. One state representative wants to change that.
In Florida, texting while driving is a “secondary offense”. This means that an officer cannot stop a driver unless he or she has committed an additional offense other than texting while driving. State Representative Emily Slosberg, a Democrat for Boca Raton, has long campaigned for road safety issues. The issue is personal: Slosberg was involved in a 1996 accident in Boca Raton which killed her twin sister and four other teenagers. Now, as a member of the Florida Legislature, she fights for improved texting bans. The Legislature voted down her proposed legislation to make texting while driving a primary offense in school zones and for drivers under eighteen. Now, she is campaigning local governments to make it a primary offense in their districts. The Boca Raton City Council passed her measure in a 5-0 vote.
Regardless of whether texting and driving is a primary offense or a secondary offense, the fact remains that the behavior has lethal consequences. Legislation will not address this problem until drivers accept personal responsibility for avoiding distracted driving. Avoid the heartache of death, permanent injuries, criminal charges, and heartbreakingly brutal civil litigation. Pay attention to the road, always.
The Right Car Accident Lawyer for your Miami Personal Injury Claim
With over forty-six years of legal experience, the lawyers of Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. have the skill and knowledge required to protect your rights after a car accident. We work hard to keep the roads of Miami safe, and hold distracted drivers responsible for their dangerous behavior. Call our office today at 305-371-6000 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Miami area car accident lawyer. You can also email our office through our online contact form. Our experienced Miami personal injury attorneys will fight hard for the compensation you deserve.