South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A selfie is a photograph that an individual takes of him or herself using a cell phone camera. The person can hold the cell phone at a distance by hand or use a selfie stick. With the rise of social media, selfies have been increasingly popular over the years. While these photographs are a great way to share memories with friends and families, no one should be taking selfies behind the wheel. Unfortunately, snapping a selfie while driving is more common than you may think and has contributed to car accidents resulting in serious harm. If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver, it is important to seek the help of a qualified Miami attorney who can assess the merits of your case.
Distracted driving causes many accidents in Florida and throughout the United States each year. According to Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, distracted driving within the state has increased by 25 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 10 percent of all fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all reported motor vehicle accidents were a result of distracted driving in 2013.
Driving requires your full attention. Even a quick snapshot can be enough of a distraction to cause a crash. If a distracted driver has injured you, you can take legal action by filing a negligence claim against the at-fault party. Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care while driving. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. For example, a driver who causes a crash because he or she was taking a selfie would likely be liable for any resulting harm. This is because a prudent driver would understand that focusing on a selfie as opposed to the road could lead to an accident and injuries to others.
A plaintiff who successfully establishes negligence can pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Typically, a plaintiff may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. While we aim to get each client a settlement as swiftly as possible, we are not afraid to vigorously advocate for your rights at trial.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a distracted driving accident, you may be able to seek wrongful death damages, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more. Wrongful death claims are complicated because only certain surviving family members can file these types of claims. Thus, it is important to speak to a qualified injury attorney as soon as you are thinking about filing such a claim.
At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car accident attorneys have helped many victims of distracted driving recover the compensation they deserve. You can rest assured that we can meticulously analyze the facts of your case and come up with a legal strategy suited to your needs. We proudly represent clients throughout South Florida. For more information, do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us online.
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