Even though you may have been a licensed driver for years now, this does not mean you can take the task less seriously. That is, whenever you get behind the wheel, you make yourself vulnerable to many external factors beyond your reasonable control. This is to say that operating your standard motor vehicle requires your undivided attention. This includes keeping your handheld cell phone outside of your reach and temptation for the duration of your travel. With that being said, please continue reading to learn how texting while driving can likely lead to a collision and how an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A., can help you hold such a negligent driver accountable for their destructive actions.
How can texting while driving lead to a car accident?
A driver may only glance at their handheld cell phone for a few seconds. However, this is long enough for a driver to cause a car accident with another innocent driver. To put it into context, say a driver takes their eyes off the road for five seconds while they drive at 55 miles per hour. Well, given this time and speed, they may travel the length of a whole football field.
Especially on a busy highway or roadway, they may pass or be surrounded by several other vehicles at this time. In turn, they may fail to stop at a stop sign or red light and get T-boned by an oncoming vehicle. Or, they may not notice the vehicle ahead of them braking on time and rear-end into them. Lastly, they may fail to maintain their lane and sideswipe into a neighboring vehicle.
How else can a driver get distracted while behind the wheel?
Even before the invention of cellular phones, drivers have unfortunately found ways to become distracted while they are supposed to be operating their vehicles safely. In short, if you believe a driver involved in your car accident was distracted in any of the following ways, you may have valid legal grounds for a personal injury claim:
- A driver may get distracted by changing the radio station, climate control settings, or GPS while behind the wheel.
- A driver may get distracted by applying makeup or fixing their hair in the sun visor mirror while behind the wheel.
- A driver may get distracted by turning to look at backseat passengers during conversation while behind the wheel.
- A driver may get distracted by their current emotional state while behind the wheel (i.e., tears blurring their vision).
- A driver may get distracted by eating food or consuming beverages (i.e., alcoholic or non-alcoholic) while behind the wheel.
- A driver may get distracted by staring at attractions or accidents surrounding them while behind the wheel (i.e., rubbernecking).
If you desire more clarity before you head into potential personal injury claim proceedings, please do not wait any longer to reach out to a skilled Tampa auto accident lawyer. Retain the services of Merricks Law Group, P.A., today.