Everyone knows that texting while driving could lead to serious consequences. Distracted drivers who have their hands on their phones instead of the wheel or who are glancing at their screens instead of the roads are much more likely to cause accidents. This is why almost every state now has laws about texting while driving.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash that involves texting, the experienced attorneys at LMD Injury Lawyers could help with texting while driving car accidents in Wesley Chapel. You need representation you can trust to help you maximize the amount of damages you could recover after suffering from the pain, inconvenience, and financial setbacks caused by the accident.
Unlike some jurisdictions, Florida is not a hands-free state. With the exception of school zones or active construction zones, drivers are legally allowed to talk on their cell phones while driving without needing a hands-free device. However, the state’s law prohibits using a wireless device for texting while driving. For the purposes of this law, a wireless device could be a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or even a handheld game, and texting means any kind of electronic emailing or messaging, including messages sent over apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp.
Texting while driving is a primary offense in Wesley Chapel. This means police officers could pull a driver over for this reason alone. If they do and learn that it is the driver’s first offense, the driver may be fined $30. However, the second offense within five years, which counts as a moving violation, results in a fine of $60, plus three points on the driver’s license. If the violation occurs in a school or construction zone, they add two more points. Worst of all, if texting while driving causes a crash, the driver may receive six more points in addition to the offense on their license. Getting too many points in a certain amount of time could lead to an increase in car insurance premiums or even a suspended driver’s license.
Violation of texting and driving laws carries liability and legal consequences. This includes civil liability for accidents due to texting and driving, as well as potential criminal charges in serious incidents.
Victims of accidents caused by texting drivers could pursue personal injury lawsuits and hold those drivers legally responsible. Legal representatives for the victims could establish negligence by proving the driver was texting, which strengthens the case and facilitates the recovery of compensation for their client.
A driver who causes a crash that results in serious injury or death due to texting may face criminal charges in addition to civil lawsuits. These charges could include reckless driving or vehicular manslaughter, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. In this state, texting while driving is a moving violation, and prosecutors would use this as evidence to seek a conviction for distracted-driving car accidents in Wesley Chapel.
Texting while driving is extremely distracting and dangerous, and it is also against the law in this state. Drivers who choose to text anyway should be held responsible for the damages that they cause to others on the road.
If a distracted driver has injured you in a texting while driving car accident in Wesley Chapel, then you deserve justice. Our team of knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys could help you handle the legal issues so that you can focus on your recovery.
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