Texting While Driving: A Leading Cause of South Florida Car Accidents

We’ve all been there: driving along and watching either an oncoming car or a car in front of us cross the center line of the road and weave back and forth across it. Chances are that the driver of the car was sending a text message on a cell phone and was distracted enough to not realize the danger he or she was causing. We all know that talking on a cell phone while driving is distracting and dangerous, but driving while trying to read or send a text message is even more unsafe and dramatically increases the chances of causing an auto accident. While adults with many years of driving experience should not be doing it, the problem becomes even worse when teenagers with limited experience get behind the wheel and begin texting while driving. Statistics tell us that more than one in three drivers aged 16 to 17 admit sending or receiving a text message while driving in the last month and more than one in five experienced adult drivers admit that they also have sent or received a text. Many people don’t realize it, but texting while driving is comparable to driving while legally drunk.

South Florida car accidents are caused by many things and anything that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road is a contributing factor. Repeatedly, studies have shown that talking on a cell phone while driving is extremely distracting. But, did you know that these same studies show that texting while driving is the most dangerous of all cell phone-related activities? Drivers who are sending and receiving texts while driving must take their eyes off the road an average of 4.6 of every 6.0 seconds of drive time in order to accomplish the task. This means that these texting drivers are only watching the road and operating their vehicles at 25 percent of their capacity!

Because of the danger of texting while driving and the increase in South Florida car accidents and those throughout the state, the Sunshine State is working on passing a law that would ban texting while driving. This law is based on scary statistics:

• One in five adult drivers send texts while driving.

• A driver who texts is six times more likely to cause an auto accident than a drunk driver.

• Texting drivers take their eyes off the road for nearly five seconds at a time which, according to reports, is enough time to travel the length of a football field at 55 miles per hour.

• Most Americans admit that talking on a cell phone and texting are two of the most dangerous things to do when driving. Yet, 67% admit to making phone calls while driving.

• 20 percent of drivers with cell phones say they text while driving. Among drivers under age 35, that number jumps to 47 percent.

• Studies indicate that distracted driving causes one out of every four U.S. crashes.

• According to the Florida Times-Union newspaper, "a California study found that a ban [on texting and driving] in that state reduced texting by 70 percent."

Don’t wait to become a South Florida car accidents statistic – stop texting while driving and get there safely!

For more information about compensation for your injury from South Florida car accidents contact the Florida auto accident lawyers at Joseph M. Maus, P.A.at 1-866-556-5529 or email them today.

Are You Covered? Florida Workers Compensation Information

We all feel confident that we’ll be taken care of if we are hurt on the job. After all, laws have been put in place to protect workers, right? Not always! The Miami Herald reported recently that 24 firms in South Florida were closed down due to violations of the Florida workers compensation laws. These closures were part of a state-wide sting operation that led to the closure of 70 businesses across the state. Through random visits to the companies, officials found that these firms had failed to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.

Assuming you are covered by your company, there are still many details and rights to be aware of when filing a Florida workers compensation claim:

1. To avoid the risk of having your workplace injury claim denied, report it to your employer as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the injury occurs.
2. After you report to your employer, they are required to report your injury to their insurance company within seven days. The insurance company must give you an informational brochure that outlines your rights and responsibilities concerning your injury.
3. Section 440.185 of the Florida Statutes gives you the right to report your injury yourself if your employer will not report the injury to their insurance company.
4. You must choose a provider from a list of authorized medical providers in order to get coverage for medical care, prescriptions, and treatment for your injury. This list is either available through your employer or through their insurance company.
5. If you are not happy with your treatment, you may petition for a one-time change of physician, but, since you can only change providers once, exercise this right carefully.

What about your job? Will your employer hold your position for you? What if you can not go back to the same job you held before your injury?

• Florida workers compensation laws specify that you will not be paid for the first seven days of work-related disability, however the insurance company might pay you if your disability lasts more than 21 days.
• Florida law does not require your employer to hold your work position for you until you are released to work again, however you may be protected under the Family Medical Leave Act..
• You are entitled to vocation counseling, transferable skills analysis, job-seeking skills, job placement, on-the-job training, and formal retraining (all at no cost to you) if you can not return to the type of work you did before your injury.
• Be careful if you settle your claim for medical benefits with the insurance company! If your condition gets worse after you have settled, you are responsible for your future medical needs and bills.
• Injured workers have the right to hire an attorney to help make sure their rights are protected and their injuries are properly compensated. Be sure to hire an experienced Florida work accident compensation lawyer: the Florida workers compensation laws are complex and go through an annual amendment process in the Florida Legislature.

Florida state law says construction-related companies must have workers’ compensation coverage if they have one or more employee, including the owner. Other businesses must have the coverage if they employ four or more employees, excluding business owners. Are you certain that your company is watching out for you by providing Florida workers compensation coverage?

For more Florida workers compensation information, contact Florida work accident compensation lawyer Joseph M. Maus at 1-866-556-5529, log on to his website at http://www.mauslawfirm.com, or email him today.