Experts In This Article
- Michael T. Gibson, Esq., Lead Attorney & President at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney, Catastrophic Injuries Expert and Licensed for 17 years
- Todd Curtin Esq., Partner & Lead Trial Attorney at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney and Licensed for 8 years
- Amit Jhalli, Esq. Attorney at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney, Personal Injury Pre-suit Investigation & Brain Injury Expert and Licensed for 9 years
Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic. Texting and driving is proven to be the most dangerous distraction as it involves manual, visual and cognitive concentration. Sending or reading a text message can take your eyes off the road for up to 5 seconds. If you are traveling at a speed of 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field- blindfolded!
This year, the Florida legislature enacted a law making it unlawful to text and drive. However, the law defines texting and driving as a secondary offense, which means that to be pulled over; the offender must be caught committing another type of driving infraction. This does not mean all drivers are abiding by the new law. Many continue texting while driving and putting other drivers’ and pedestrians’ lives in danger.
Below are some steps to take if you are involved in a texting while driving accident:
- Immediately check the scene for emergencies and injuries: The first thing you need to do at the scene of the accident is to make sure there are no emergency situations. Check the passengers and the drivers of all of vehicles involved to be sure there are no life-threatening injuries.
- Contact the police so an accident report can be filed: It is essential to your case that you file an accident report to establish that the car accident occurred. In the accident report, law enforcement will include the following information: insurance information, contact information, diagrams of the accident, witness testimonies and whether any accident victims were taken to the hospital. All of this information will be crucial to your case if it ends up going to court.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the parties involved: You will need to exchange the following information: Name, Address, Phone Number, Email Address, Policy Holder, Policy Number, Driver’s License Number, Make and Model of Vehicle, Vehicle Registration and License Plate Number. It is important to get the contact information of any bystanders who may have witnessed the accident.
- Document damage done to your vehicle: Take out your Smartphone and take pictures of the damage done to your car. This will be valuable evidence in your accident claim.
- Speak with an experienced Orlando Auto Accident Lawyer: You should seek legal counsel immediately following an auto accident, particularly if you have been injured. An experienced Orlando auto accident attorney can guide you through the compensation and accident claim process. Everything you do and say at the scene of the accident can be used later in court. Your attorney can best advise you on who to speak with, what to say, what not to say and the information you need to obtain before you leave the scene of the accident.
- Seek medical attention: Many accident victims make the mistake of believing their aches and pains will go away following a car accident. In Florida, it is particularly important that you seek medical treatment immediately following your accident. A recent bill passed by Florida legislation requires accident victims to seek medical attention within 14 days of their accident to receive personal injury protection (PIP) medical benefits.
Get Help After A Texting Driver Caused Your Orlando Car Accident
Get an experienced Orlando Car Accident Attorney on your side immediately after any car accident. Texting While Driving cases can be hard to prove in court. Put our Orlando Car Accident Team, that has years of legal experience helping people file car insurance claims to work for you right now. We can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, future medical treatment, loss of wages, pain and suffering, etc. Feel free to fill out our quick contact form on this page or call us right now at 407-422-4529 for your free consultation.