DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Distracted driving has become a pressing issue on Florida’s roads, endangering countless lives and causing significant damage. A car crash attorney can help you with any legal issues arising from a distracted driving accident. Luhrsen Goldberg is passionate about seeking justice for our clients.

Recoverable Damages in Distracted Driving Cases

Understanding the concept of recoverable damages is crucial. This monetary compensation is intended to alleviate the burden endured by victims and restore a sense of peace to their lives.

Types of Recoverable Damages

• Medical Expenses: Distracted driving accidents can inflict injuries, from minor bruises to life-altering trauma. Victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, including emergency room bills, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic tests, prescription medications, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. These costs, often daunting, can exert significant pressure on victims and their families.
• Lost Wages: Recoverable damages extend to economic loss, addressing the disruption caused to victims’ livelihoods. Victims can claim compensation for wages lost due to time spent away from work during recovery. Moreover, if the injuries sustained result in a reduced capacity to work or even complete disability, victims can seek reparation for the projected loss of future earnings.
• Pain and Suffering: The aftermath of a distracted driving accident encompasses physical injuries and profound emotional distress. Recoverable damages account for pain and suffering, acknowledging the psychological toll exacted by the traumatic experience. While quantifying emotional distress can be challenging, this category of damages recognizes that victims endure both visible and hidden scars.
• Property Damage: In many distracted driving accidents, not only do victims suffer personal injuries, but their vehicles also sustain damage. Recoverable damages encompass the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged vehicle, including any consequential financial losses resulting from the loss of use of the vehicle during repairs.
• Loss of Consortium: In cases where the distracted driving accident has significantly impacted the victim’s relationship with their spouse, recoverable damages may extend to include compensation for loss of companionship, affection, and support.
• Punitive Damages: In rare cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, the legal system may allow for punitive damages designed to punish the at-fault party and deter future similar behavior.

Potential Legal Consequences of Distracted Driving

The legal ramifications that stem from being found liable for distracted driving in the state of Florida are far-reaching and impactful.

Fines and Points on Driver’s License

Florida’s legal system institutes fines as one of the initial repercussions for distracted driving offenses. These fines can escalate based on the frequency of violations, underscoring the state’s commitment to deterring this hazardous behavior. In addition to financial penalties, accumulating driver’s license points is a significant consequence. Points are a tangible reminder of the infraction and can lead to increased insurance premiums.

License Suspension and Revocation

For more egregious cases or repeated instances of distracted driving, the potential for license suspension or even revocation becomes a stark reality. This interruption to driving privileges can impact various facets of an individual’s life, from employment to daily activities, underscoring the gravity of the offense.

Increased Insurance Rates

Distracted driving violations often result in insurance companies designating the driver as high-risk, which can result in substantially elevated insurance premiums. The financial repercussions can linger long after the incident, burdening individuals with increased expenses for an extended period.

Criminal Charges for Injury or Death

In the gravest of circumstances, where distracted driving leads to injury or loss of life, the legal consequences can escalate to criminal charges. Depending on the severity of the incident and the extent of harm inflicted, drivers may face charges ranging from vehicular assault to even vehicular manslaughter. Such charges carry potential imprisonment and permanently affect an individual’s criminal record.

Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents have many common causes, including those referenced below:

• Texting and Smartphone Usage: The allure of smartphones and their instant connectivity often leads drivers to engage in texting, browsing, or social media interaction while behind the wheel. Typing, reading, or responding to messages diverts visual and cognitive focus from the road, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Eating and Drinking: The fast-paced nature of modern life often prompts drivers to multitask, including eating and drinking while driving. Juggling a meal or a beverage takes a driver’s hands off the wheel. It directs their attention away from the road, compromising their ability to react swiftly to changing traffic conditions.
• Talking to Passengers: Conversing with passengers is common in communal road trips. It can become a distraction if it intensifies to a point where it competes for a driver’s attention. Animated discussions or conversations that require intricate cognitive engagement can hinder a driver’s focus on the road ahead.
• In-Car Entertainment Systems: The array of in-car entertainment systems, from navigation screens to infotainment consoles, can be enticing diversions for drivers. Adjusting these systems, selecting music, or interacting with navigation tools can demand visual attention and cognitive processing, diverting focus from the road.
• Grooming and Self-Care: Morning routines often extend into the commute, with drivers attempting to groom themselves while driving. Activities like applying makeup, combing hair, or adjusting clothing can be particularly hazardous, as they necessitate both hands and visual attention.
• Reaching for Objects: Frequently, items within the vehicle prompt drivers to reach across seats or into compartments. This physical act of reaching for objects—whether a dropped phone, a fallen item, or a beverage—shifts attention away from the road and can have dire consequences.
• Daydreaming and Mind Wandering: A wandering mind can be as perilous as external distractions. Daydreaming or letting one’s mind drift away from the task of driving can result in delayed reaction times and an inability to respond swiftly to changing traffic conditions.
• External Distractions: External stimuli, such as billboards, roadside attractions, and accidents, can pique a driver’s curiosity and draw their gaze away from the road ahead. Glancing at external distractions diverts attention and can lead to reduced situational awareness.

Typical Injuries from Distracted Driving

Distracted driving accidents cast a shadow of uncertainty over Florida’s roadways, often leaving a trail of varying degrees of injuries from distracted drivers in their wake. While some victims may experience nothing more than superficial cuts and bruises, others are confronted with a complex and challenging recovery journey.

From Minor to Severe

The spectrum of injuries resulting from distracted driving accidents is wide-ranging and nuanced. On one end of the spectrum are minor injuries, like superficial abrasions and contusions, which, while often manageable, still inflict discomfort and necessitate medical attention. 

More serious injuries include broken bones, which can lead to prolonged immobilization and rehabilitation, representing a tangible setback in the lives of victims. Whiplash, commonly associated with rear-end collisions, can cause neck pain, headaches, and diminished mobility, impacting victims’ daily routines.

Long-lasting Impact

Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are at the more severe end of the spectrum. With their potentially lifelong implications, these injuries cast victims and their families into physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and altered behavior. In contrast, spinal cord injuries may result in partial or complete paralysis, forever changing a victim’s life trajectory. 

Beyond the physical toll, these injuries impose emotional hardships on victims and their families, transforming their lives and requiring substantial support systems to navigate the arduous path of recovery.

Property Damage Related to Distracted Driving

The impact of distracted driving accidents extends beyond the immediate physical harm to those involved and includes property damage. Understanding the complexities and implications of property damage becomes crucial to navigating these unfortunate events’ aftermath.

Vehicles in Disorder

The first and most visible form of property damage from distracted drivers involves the vehicles themselves. Collisions, whether minor fender-benders or more severe crashes, can significantly damage vehicles’ exteriors and sometimes render them inoperable. Repairing these vehicles is a financial endeavor and a logistical challenge. Victims often struggle to find reputable repair shops, manage insurance claims, and ensure their vehicles return to roadworthy conditions.

Public and Private Property Impact

Beyond the damage inflicted upon vehicles, distracted driving accidents can extend their impact to encompass public and private property. Collisions with guardrails, traffic signs, utility poles, and even structures near roadways can result in structural damage that requires substantial resources for repair. 

Public property damage can strain local resources, diverting funds that could have been allocated to other community needs. Similarly, collisions with private property—such as fences, landscaping, and buildings—impose financial burdens on property owners who must shoulder repair costs.

Pitfalls to Avoid After Being Involved in a Distracted Driving Case

Navigating the aftermath of a distracted driving accident in Florida requires a strategic approach that safeguards your rights and ensures fair compensation for your losses. During the challenges that arise, it’s essential to remain alert and avoid potential pitfalls that could inadvertently weaken your position. By removing these pitfalls, you can strengthen your legal standing and optimize your chances of achieving a favorable outcome:

• Admitting Fault at the Scene: The immediate aftermath of an accident can be disorienting and emotionally charged. However, admitting liability for distracted driver or apologizing at the accident scene can have profound implications for your case. Such statements can be misconstrued and used against you during legal proceedings, potentially complicating your efforts to seek rightful compensation.
• Providing Statements Without Legal Representation: Discussing with insurance adjusters or law enforcement without proper legal representation can be perilous. Insurance companies often seek to minimize their payouts, and statements given without legal advice might inadvertently downplay the extent of your injuries or damages. Having distracted driving attorneys by your side ensures that your rights are protected and that you provide accurate, well-informed statements that bolster your case.
• Accepting a Quick Settlement Offer: Insurance companies might offer swift settlement offers shortly after an accident. While these offers might appear tempting, they often fall short of covering the full extent of your losses. Accepting such offers prematurely can leave you without the resources to address ongoing medical treatments, rehabilitation, and other hidden costs that may emerge in the accident’s aftermath.
• Neglecting to Document Evidence: Gathering evidence immediately after the accident can substantiate your claim. Failing to take photographs of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, and injuries and not collecting witness information can weaken your case. Comprehensive documentation preserves crucial details that can later be used to build a strong case in your favor.
• Delaying Medical Treatment: Seeking prompt medical attention after the accident is crucial for your well-being and building a solid legal case. Delaying medical treatment can raise doubts about the causality of your injuries. Insurance companies may use it to argue that your injuries were not directly caused by the accident.
• Failing to Consult a Distracted Driving Lawyer: Perhaps the most significant pitfall to avoid is navigating the post-accident process without the guidance of experienced distracted driving lawyers. A skilled personal injury attorney specializing in distracted driving cases can navigate the legal complexities, negotiate with insurance companies, and advocate for your best interests, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.

Why You Should Work with an Attorney on Your Case

The complexity of a distracted driving case in Florida can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. As you grapple with the aftermath of an accident and seek compensation, it becomes evident that having the right legal ally can make a difference. This is where the expertise of an experienced attorney is valuable.

Expertise and Advocacy

An attorney’s deep understanding of Florida’s legal landscape and proficiency in personal injury and traffic law equips them to provide expertise that can significantly enhance your prospects of securing fair compensation. When you engage their services, they can embark on a comprehensive journey of gathering and preserving vital evidence, including accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and other information that strengthens your case.

Negotiating and Protecting Your Rights

An attorney’s pivotal role is serving as a skilled negotiator on your behalf. Engaging with insurance companies can be challenging, with adjusters often aiming to minimize payouts. An experienced attorney, armed with knowledge of case precedents and legal standards, can negotiate from a position of strength. Their objective is to ensure that you receive compensation that accurately reflects the full extent of your losses, sparing you the potential of settling for inadequate offers.

An attorney is a vigilant guardian of your rights throughout the legal process. They can guide you in every step, ensuring your actions align with legal requirements and best practices. This protection becomes particularly vital when dealing with complex legal proceedings, where a small misstep could potentially compromise the outcome of your case.

Contact Luhrsen Goldberg for Distracted Driving

An experienced distracted driving attorney from Luhrsen Goldberg brings not only Law Powered by Women® legal assistance but also the commitment to advocate for your rights and ensure that justice prevails. In a time of uncertainty, our team can offer clarity, empower you with informed choices, and pave the way for a resolution that facilitates physical, emotional, and financial recovery. Contact us today.