Distracted driving is a common cause of motor vehicle accidents on roads and highways across Florida. Fortunately, it may be possible to spot the signs of distracted driving before a problematic motorist strikes you or your vehicle.
A car swerves or moves erratically
A driver who is not looking at the road may have difficulty staying in the proper lane. If a driver is changing a radio station or reaching for something in the rear seat, it means that their hands aren’t on the steering wheel. This may also make it harder to maintain a lane or keep the car from going onto the shoulder.
Alternatively, a motorist who isn’t paying attention to road conditions may brake or accelerate at seemingly random intervals. Ideally, you will change lanes, increase your following distance or pull to the side of the road to get some distance between yourself and a vehicle traveling erratically in an effort to avoid a car accident.
Distracted motorists may ignore traffic control devices
A distracted motorist may fail to start moving again after a traffic light turns green. It’s also possible that someone who is looking at a phone, radio or passenger might go through a stop sign or fail to recognize a change in the current traffic pattern. Finally, a distracted motorist may also run into the back of another car or collide with another object without slowing down or taking other evasive actions.
If you get into a crash caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills or lost wages. Witness statements, video footage and other evidence may be used to establish that the defendant was acting in a negligent manner at the time a motor vehicle accident took place.