Today’s smartphones are our primary source for directions, entertainment, and communication while we’re in our cars. However, smartphone usage can endanger drivers and other people on the road.
Florida’s texting while driving laws strive to reduce distracted driving, but accidents still happen. Fortunately, our Fort Lauderdale texting while driving accident lawyers are here to help.
Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers began offering legal representation to distracted driving accident victims in 2013. Since then, our car accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale have helped secure over $250 million on behalf of accident victims. You and your family can trust us to prioritize your recovery, not placate insurers or dismiss negligent behaviors.
Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers believes in fighting for everyday, hard-working people like you. Let’s schedule your free texting while driving accident case consultation now.
What’s the Difference Between Distracted Driving and Texting While Driving?
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers recognize that distracted driving, as a concept, encompasses texting and driving. In other words, all forms of texting and driving constitute distracted driving, but not every instance of distracted driving requires someone to be using their phone.
Florida police officers have the legal right to pull over anyone they believe to be cognitively, visually, or physically distracted while behind the wheel of a car.
More specifically, Florida Statutes Section 316.305 allows officers to extend criminal punishments to anyone using a handheld device while driving.
You can discuss the difference between distracted driving and texting and driving in greater detail during an initial case consultation with our team.
Fort Lauderdale Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me
Get Free CONSULTATIONWhen Should You Contact a Fort Lauderdale Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer?
Should you find yourself involved in a texting and driving accident, our Fort Lauderdale attorneys can help you hold the negligent driver financially accountable for your recovery.
We can do this a few different ways, from filing an insurance claim in your name to pursuing a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
We encourage you to get in touch with one of our representatives fairly soon after a collision, even if you’re not sure whether or not you want to pursue a claim. Our early involvement in your case can prevent insurance claims adjusters and other parties from offering you insufficient settlements or otherwise curbing your right to legal action.
How Long Is Florida’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations?
Working with an attorney also helps you stay ahead of Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations. In Florida, victims of texting and driving accidents only have two years to complete a personal injury claim if they want to request compensation for their accident losses through the civil system.
You cannot miss your case’s deadline if you want to demand financial support for your losses. Florida’s courts will not consider cases filed after their statute of limitations has expired.
Fortunately, our office offers case consultations free of charge. You can have a fruitful conversation with our representatives without committing to legal action.
Scheduling a consultation a few weeks after a collision lets you learn more about your right to recover, at which point you can decide whether or not you want to move forward with a case.
Will a Liable Party Face Criminal Consequences for Texting While Driving?
The drivers who cause texting and driving accidents can face criminal consequences for their misconduct. The consequences they face will vary in severity based on the aftermath of their accidents.
For example, if a driver’s distraction results in considerable property damage and catastrophic injuries, they may face significant jail time and hefty fines.
However, if an accident is minor, officers may slap distracted drivers with a fine.
The criminal and civil aspects of a texting while driving case take place separately. However, if Florida’s criminal courts convict a liable party of misdemeanor or felony misconduct, you can work with your lawyer to submit that conviction as evidence of negligence along with your civil claim. A conviction can help prove your right to loss-based compensation.
What Compensation Can You Ask for After a Texting While Driving Accident?
The compensation you request when filing an insurance claim or personal injury claim should account for the full value of the losses you can tie to a negligent driver’s misconduct.
In other words, you need evidence to prove that someone else’s texting and driving caused you to take on:
- Emergency medical care and the affiliated bills
- Ambulance fees, as applicable
- Long-term medical treatments and the associated bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Filing a personal injury claim may also give you the opportunity to ask for support based on non-economic losses like your reduced quality of life, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Our texting while driving accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, FL, can calculate the dollar value of these losses on your behalf.
Call or text 800-602-5000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Discuss Your Right to a Case With Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
The state of Florida views texting and driving as one of the most dangerous distractions that drivers can take on while behind the wheel.
The choice to focus on a phone instead of the road not only shows extreme negligence but also actively endangers other motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other parties in need of protection.
Victims of texting while driving accidents, including you, have every right to work with a texting while driving accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to get justice for their losses. Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers hopes to make it easier than ever for victims and their families to take negligent drivers to civil court.
Our team has local offices that victims and their families can visit to start discussing their right to a civil case. We also take pride in making ourselves available at every opportunity; we will always return your phone calls.
Reach out today and schedule your free texting while driving accident consultation with a legal team that cares about you.