The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2011, 3,300 people were killed and 416,000 people injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. Texting accidents account for nearly 20% of all fatal crashes, making driving and texting 300% more dangerous than drunk driving.

These alarming facts should be enough to motivate legislators to create a national law that prohibits texting and driving.  But so far, anti-texting laws have been created only on the state level.  Florida’s no-texting law will finally go into effect on October 1, 2013 as a secondary offense.  This law prohibits all drivers, including school bus drivers, from texting while driving.  However, unlike California, which prohibits school bus drivers and novice drivers (under 18) from using handheld cellphones while driving, Florida places no restrictions on cellphone use.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created an online directory that provides valuable links to a variety of firms and organizations that produce educational and outreach activities to educate consumers about technology available to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents.

As a car accident lawyer in Miami, I am constantly on the lookout for products that can make our roads safer.  While I do not specifically endorse any particular device, I am impressed with the specially designed software made by 10n2 Technologies that eliminates the primary problem associated with distracted driving–by disabling drivers’ cell phone capabilities (except for 911 calls) while they are behind the wheel of moving vehicles.  This proprietary technology can distinguish the driver’s cellphone from a passenger’s and thus allows passengers to continue to text or talk.  I hope that software like this will one day be required in all new cars and trucks in our country.

When our law firm is retained to investigate a traffic accident anywhere in the State of Florida, one of the first things our lawyers do is determine if any of the drivers were texting or using smartphones at the time of the collision.  More and more often we have found that texting or talking on a cellphone has been a cause of the accident or a contributing factor.

We are dedicated to helping those who have been injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accident obtain compensation for their lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering–for injuries ranging from sprains and strains to fractures and, sadly, death.

If you need legal help following a traffic accident, please call our law firm today at 866-597-4529 or 305-441-0440 to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer.  Or email me, Spencer Aronfeld.  We offer free initial consultations 24/7 and handle accidents across the State of Florida.  We are ready to help you.