When a distracted driver causes an accident in Tampa, the consequences often extend far beyond the initial collision. Victims may face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and life-altering injuries. Insurance companies often seek to minimize claims. At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, a Tampa distracted driving accident lawyer strives to understand the impact these preventable crashes have on victims and their families. Our Florida-licensed legal team has recovered nearly $250 million for clients nationwide. This includes significant settlements for distracted driving accident victims.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a distracted driving accident, contact our Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers Tampa office at (813) 605-1100 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we secure compensation for your case.
Why Choose Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers for Your Tampa Distracted Driving Accident Case
Distracted driving accident cases require attorneys who understand the legal issues and the emotional toll these crashes take on victims. Our Tampa legal team brings decades of combined experience handling distracted driving cases throughout Florida. When you work with Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, you gain access to a team committed to pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries.
Proven Results for Injury Victims
Our results demonstrate our commitment to pursuing compensation for our clients. We’ve recovered nearly $250 million for clients nationwide. This includes significant settlements for accident victims. Our attorneys have secured substantial recoveries in difficult cases, including a $19.15 million settlement for a mother and daughter killed by a semi-truck and $1.8 million for a trucking accident victim. While every case is unique, our track record shows our dedication to pursuing compensation. Review our case results and client testimonials to see how we’ve helped injury victims throughout Florida. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers have consistently delivered results for clients in the Tampa Bay area.
Local Knowledge and Recognized Advocacy
Our team includes Florida-licensed attorneys with knowledge of Tampa’s roads, courts, and legal procedures. Attorney Gregg Spagnolia handles cases from our Tampa office. He brings nearly a decade of experience in Florida personal injury law. Our firm has earned recognition from legal organizations. This includes Super Lawyers recognition for founding attorney Ross Jurewitz and Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership for multiple attorneys. Learn more about our experienced attorneys and their commitment to serving injury victims. Our Tampa distracted driving accident lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve.
Our Commitment to You
We represent injury victims, not insurance companies or corporations. This means our interests align with yours. We handle all distracted driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your case. Additionally, we advance all case expenses. This allows you to focus on recovery while we handle the legal aspects of your claim. For more information about how Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers serves accident victims, visit our homepage.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention from driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines it as any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving. These distractions can be visual, manual, or cognitive, or a combination of all three. Understanding what constitutes distracted driving is essential when pursuing a claim for injuries caused by a negligent driver. Many Tampa car accident victims suffer injuries due to distracted driving that could have been prevented.
Three Categories of Distraction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies distractions into three categories:
- Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual distractions: Taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive distractions: Taking your mind off driving.
Texting while driving combines all three types. This makes it particularly dangerous. Distracted driving causes many car accidents in Tampa and across the nation. In 2022, the NHTSA reported that 3,308 people were killed in distracted driving accidents. These preventable deaths highlight the serious danger distracted drivers pose to everyone on the road. If you’ve suffered injuries in a distracted driving accident, Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers can help you pursue compensation.
Common Types of Distracted Driving in Tampa
Texting and phone use represent common forms of distracted driving. Texting while driving significantly increases your crash risk, according to the NHTSA. When you text, your eyes leave the road for approximately five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. This is why texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of driver distraction.
Other common distractions include:
- Eating and drinking while driving.
- Adjusting vehicle controls (radio, GPS, or climate control).
- Passenger conversations.
- Grooming activities (applying makeup or combing hair).
- External distractions (billboards or roadside accidents).
Each of these distractions increases the likelihood of a collision. When a distracted driver causes an accident, victims may pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation for their losses.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving significantly increases your risk of crashing. When drivers are distracted, their reaction time may slow. They may not respond as quickly to traffic changes, pedestrians, or other hazards. This delayed reaction time often results in severe collisions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration emphasizes that distracted driving is a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries. Victims of Tampa car accidents caused by distracted drivers often face life-altering consequences.
Severe Injuries and Life-Altering Consequences
Distracted driving accidents cause serious injuries. Victims suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and severe lacerations. Many victims experience emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following these crashes. The injuries from distracted driving accidents are often severe because distracted drivers may not brake or take evasive action before impact. If you’ve sustained injuries in a distracted driving accident, Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers‘s Tampa legal team can evaluate your case and explain your legal options. Our brain injury lawyers have years of experience in cases involving traumatic brain injuries from accidents.
Establishing Liability in Distracted Driving Cases
Proving liability in a distracted driving accident requires establishing that the other driver was negligent. In distracted driving cases, you must prove that the driver’s distraction caused the accident and your injuries. This requires careful investigation and analysis of available evidence. Our Tampa distracted driving accident attorneys have the experience and resources to conduct thorough investigations.
Evidence used to seek to establish distraction includes:
- Phone records: Showing texting or calls at the time of the accident.
- Witness testimony: From people who saw the driver using their phone.
- Traffic camera footage: Capturing the driver’s distraction.
- Police reports: Documenting admissions of distraction.
Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law
Florida’s law allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Under Florida Statute § 768.81, you can recover damages as long as you are 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you can recover $80,000. This modified comparative negligence standard provides an important protection for accident victims in Florida.
Types of Compensation Available in Distracted Driving Cases
Distracted driving accident victims may recover several types of compensation:
- Medical expenses: Emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages: Compensation for income lost while recovering.
- Lost earning capacity: If injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress.
- Property damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
The amount of compensation available depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of your medical treatment, and the impact on your ability to work.
Why You Need a Tampa Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Insurance companies representing distracted drivers often use tactics to minimize settlements. They may pressure you to accept a quick settlement that fails to account for your long-term medical needs. Having an experienced attorney on your side protects your rights and gives you the best opportunity at receiving fair compensation. Our distracted driving injury lawyers in Tampa understand these tactics and know how to counter them effectively.
Preserving Evidence and Meeting Deadlines
Distracted driving investigations require diligent legal work. Your attorney acts to preserve critical evidence, such as traffic camera footage and phone records, before they disappear. Furthermore, Florida’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (under House Bill 837) is strict. If you do not file your claim within two years of the accident, you may lose your right to pursue compensation. Contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers immediately for help filing your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Driving Accidents
What counts as distracted driving under Florida law?
Distracted driving includes any activity that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off driving. Florida Statute 316.305 specifically prohibits texting while driving as a primary offense. This statute reflects Florida’s commitment to reducing distracted driving accidents on its roadways. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, our team can help you pursue compensation.
How much time do I have to file a distracted driving accident claim?
You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a negligence-based personal injury claim in Florida. This shortened timeframe makes it important to contact an attorney quickly. The sooner you reach out to Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, the sooner we can begin investigating your case and protecting your rights.
Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes, under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you can recover damages as long as you are 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you retain the right to pursue compensation. Our personal injury attorneys can explain how this law applies to your specific case.
Contact Our Tampa Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident in Tampa or anywhere in Hillsborough County, don’t wait to seek legal representation. The distracted driving accident attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are ready to evaluate your case and explain your legal options. Our team has the experience, resources, and commitment to pursue the compensation you deserve.
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, our firm works on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers today at (813) 605-1100 to schedule your free consultation.
