Should Florida Ban Texting? A Personal Injury Attorney in Tampa Weighs In
Late last year, the city held a Distracted Driving Summit in which they tried to persuade Florida lawmakers to ban texting while driving – something that has already been enforced in the majority of U.S. states.
Many Tampa residents believe this ban should be enforced. In many of the most horrific car wrecks from 2012, where cars are nearly torn in two – and drivers or passengers killed – strong evidence indicates that drivers were texting at the time of the crash.
Texting while driving does not only lead to reckless driving but endless heartache for family members of those who are killed. Wrongful death lawsuits are in abundance in Florida, and many lawyers believe the ban would clear many of these out of court – providing people with the retribution they desire and deserve, as well as keeping the legal system free to deal with other issues.
So why doesn’t Florida ban texting? Lawmakers like former House Speaker Dean Cannon, a republican from Winter Park, believes such a law would violate the public’s “personal liberty.” However Senators like Nancy Detert, another Republican lawmaker, is in favor of the ban and continues to sponsor bills aimed at enforcing a ban.
Florida car accident lawyers like Roman & Roman Law, a Personal injury attorney, Tampa, suggest a few things that can be done to prevent fatal accidents until the law is passed. First, turn off your phone before starting your car. It may sound simple enough, but it’s really difficult for many people who are accustomed to being “connected” at all times. Instead, you may opt to install an app on your phone that blocks texts or calls while you’re driving. There are many available including Textecution and TXTBlocker, which actually allows parents to receive information as to where the phone currently is at, if the car accelerates beyond a set speed limit.
Tampa residents know that a law doesn’t need to be passed in order to make wiser individual choices. Let’s make 2013 a year where driving is safer than ever before.
Texting or not, if you are in a car accident, stop at the first safe spot and exchange information with the other driver. This is the law in Florida and failure to do so can result in tough penalties. You or someone else should call the police, which can assist you in exchanging the correct info and also ensure you get the medical attention and anything else you need.
Even if you don’t “feel” injured, if the accident is severe enough you should still be examined by a doctor. If necessary, a car accident lawyer can help guide you through the process of what your legal rights are and how accident insurance works. Whether you are responsible for the collision or someone else was not paying proper attention to the road, it’s essential to follow these steps to ensure quick and accurate resolution.
