St. Petersburg Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing threats to other drivers, occupants, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. Thanks to smartphones, drivers are spending less time watching the road, and more time dialing and swiping on their phones. In fact, Zen Drive found that drivers use their phones in 88 percent of car trips, with an average usage time of 3.5 minutes per hour. There are other forms of distracted driving, including eating, drinking, daydreaming, and simply talking to a passenger, and all can result in serious, yet preventable, collisions. If you were injured by a distracted driver, you have the capability of filing a personal injury claim against them. A St. Petersburg distracted driving accident lawyer at the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely can help you recover your medical costs,

The Four Kinds of Distraction

1. Visual—The driver takes their eyes off the road. This happens when a driver searches for something in the car, looks at their phone, or even stares out the window at something on the side of the road;
2. Physical—The driver takes their hand or hands off the steering wheel, or even their foot away from the brake pedal. Reaching for something, eating or drinking, and texting or calling a contact are all common types of physical distraction;
3. Cognitive—The driver becomes mentally distracted. This can be from a conversation, talking on the phone, or simply daydreaming; and
4. Auditory—The driver cannot hear potential hazards, such as a siren or honking, due to talking on the phone or music. Auditory distraction is another form of cognitive distraction.

What Types of Distraction Drivers Usually Engage in

According to the Claims Journal, most drivers say that distracted driving should be illegal. However, most drive distracted virtually every time they get in the car, with cell phone use, GPS, and dashboard infotainment screens being some of the most common forms of distracted driving. Types of distracted driving include:

• Using a cell phone in any manner, including talking, texting, sending email, using social media, taking pictures, and entering in GPS coordinates;
• Using a car’s infotainment screen;
• Talking to passengers and making eye contact;
• Daydreaming and staring out the side window;
• Searching in the backseat, passenger seat, cupholder, dashboard, or ground for objects;
• Looking at a GPS device or listening to the auditory GPS device;
• Eating or drinking;
• Tending to children or babies in the back seat;
• Dog sitting in the driver’s lap;
• Adjusting the music or radio;
• Applying makeup;
• Getting dressed or brushing teeth; and
• Watching TV or movies, believe it or not, on laptops, iPads, or other screens.

Reach Out to an Experienced St. Petersburg Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Today

Distracted drivers are a threat to us all. If you were injured because another person was too self-centered to give you and other road users the attention and care that the law demands, your best option is to file a personal injury claim for financial compensation. A St. Petersburg distracted driving accident attorney can help you recover your medical costs, pain and suffering, property damage, lost wages, and much more.  Call the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely at (727) 550-8800 to schedule a free case evaluation today.