Tampa Auto Accident Lawyers See an Increase in Cases Involving Drivers Distracted by Text Messaging

More often than ever, Tampa area drivers are getting into auto accidents while sending and receiving text messages. Armed with the latest cell phones designed to encourage text messaging, many drivers find themselves fidgeting with gadgets instead of paying attention to the road, leading to an increase in serious car accidents.

According to Tampa auto accident lawyers, police, and emergency room physicians, text messaging is responsible for an increase in injuries while people are driving, walking, biking, and rollerblading. So far, these accidents appear to be more common among younger drivers and pedestrians, presumably because texting is a popular activity for people in their teens and twenties. Unfortunately, this age group also boasts the least-seasoned drivers, creating a dangerous mix of distraction and inexperience.

Not surprisingly, studies show that text messaging is more dangerous than talking on a cell phone while driving. Similar to dialing a phone or adjusting a car radio, text messaging requires drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road simultaneously. According to AAA, the risk for auto accidents increases by 50 percent for people who are involved in texting while driving.

It is clear that people who attempt to read or send text messages while driving are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road, including pedestrians and cyclists. If you have been injured by a negligent driver in the Tampa, Florida area who was distracted by text messaging or other devices such as a cell phone or iPod, you deserve to be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.

Please contact the Tampa auto accident lawyers at the law firm of Dale Appell, P.A. for a free assessment of your case. You may either call us or fill out the form on our “Do I Have a Case?” link for assistance.