A Florida Court awarded over 4 million dollars to a brain injury victim of a car accident caused by an individual who was texting while driving. The victim was 26 years of age. The Florida Highway patrol testified that the victim was a passenger in a vehicle being operated by her then boyfriend. The vehicle the victim was in vehicle that failed to stop for a stop sign and collided with a tractor trailer. The driver of the victim’s car was texting which prevented him from observing the stop sign or the fact that a tractor trailer was in its’ path.
Accidents caused by texting are occurring everyday throughout Florida cities like Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, and Pembroke Pines. For instance, Sunrise, Florida residents are coming upon many intersectional accidents that occur near Sawgrass Mills Mall because someone is too busy texting while driving.
In the case which was decided in Flagler County, the victim remained in a coma for weeks and yet still requires assistance to ambulate. In that case the party at fault was uninsured and yet the victim still wanted her day in court. The case was tried solely before a Circuit Court Judge and no jury.
We now know that texting while driving is many times more dangerous than driving drunk. There are texting and driving simulators that are being used in schools throughout Florida to demonstrate how serious it is.
Unfortunately, Florida’s legislature has failed to make texting while driving a criminal offense, and in fact, the fine is only $30.00 if you are caught texting while driving anywhere including Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
For further information or discussion on this topic feel free to contact the Weston, Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys at the Schulman Law Group at 954-349-3300, 1-877-529-0444 or at info@www.schulaw.com
