Talking and Driving Accidents in The Villages, FL

Were you or a loved one hurt in an auto crash because another driver was distracted by talking and driving? You may be entitled to damages, and an experienced auto crash lawyer can help you secure your rightful compensation.

While several states have enacted laws that prohibit talking on a handheld cell phone while driving, Florida is not one of them. In Florida, it is legal to talk on the phone -- handheld or hands-free -- while you drive.

Of course, this does not mean that talking and driving is any safer in Florida. In fact, compiled state and federal government data shows that approximately 10 percent of all distracted driving accidents nationwide occur in the Sunshine State. A large portion of these accidents involve drivers who are talking on the phone at the time of the crash.

Talking and Driving: Not Illegal, but It Can Be Negligent and/or Reckless

Although talking and driving is legal in Florida, there is a civil remedy for those who are injured or who lose loved ones in distracted driving accidents. Distracted driving is negligent and/or reckless driving, and Florida law makes clear that drivers who choose to put themselves and others at risk can be held financially accountable for their mistakes.

At the Babiarz Law Firm, PA, we represent individuals and families in The Villages, Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and throughout Central Florida who deserve to be compensated for injuries and losses resulting from cell phone accidents. We fight to protect your rights and hold negligent and/or reckless distracted drivers accountable.

Handheld and Hands-Free: The Risks Are Similar

Despite efforts in some states to ban handheld cell phone use, recent research suggests that hands-free calling -- using a Bluetooth earpiece, in-car phone connectivity or speakerphone functionality -- can be just as dangerous as talking while holding the phone to your ear. This is because the primary risk associated with talking on the phone is what is referred to as “cognitive” distraction (i.e. taking your mind off of the road).

With both handheld and hands-free cell phone use, a driver’s risk of causing an accident increases substantially. The cognitive distraction of talking on the phone while driving can cause:

• Delayed reaction time
• Reduced ability to process moving images
• Reduced field of view
• Slower processing of potential dangers

Today, the risks of talking on the phone while driving are well known. Unfortunately, many Florida residents and visitors continue to talk and drive. If you were injured in an accident and the evidence (i.e. witnesses, traffic camera footage or the at-fault driver’s phone records) shows that the driver who hit you was on the phone, our firm can help you seek just compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional distress
• Loss of comfort, society and support (consortium)
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Other financial and non-financial losses

If you lost a loved one in a cell phone accident in Central Florida, the compensation available in your case will be different. Learn more about filing a claim for motor vehicle wrongful death.

Speak With The Villages Auto Crash Lawyer Tim Babiarz About Your Rights

You have rights as the victim of a distracted driving accident, and we fight to uphold them. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with The Villages auto crash lawyer Tim Babiarz, call (352) 205-7599 or tell us about the accident online today.