What if a Child is Injured in an Automobile Accident by a Distracted Driver?

Highway View Since people began driving automobiles, there have always been a problem with distracted driving. Now that virtually every driver out there owns a mobile phone or has access to one, distracted driving is even more prevalent if there is any mobile phone use during the driver. That’s right, any mobile phone usage. Whether it is a quick check of a text message or a telephone call, mobile phones take a driver’s eyes, ears, and / or mind off the primary task and responsibility of driving. It is estimated that in 2012, there were over 3,000 who died as a result of automobile accidents caused by distracted driving. Another disturbing figure involves the number of people suffering personal injuries as a result of distracted driving. In 2012, over 420,000 people suffered personal injuries as a result of distracted driving. Most such accidents are avoidable and preventable. Children, as drivers or passengers, are often injured due to the negligence, fault, and / or distracted driving of another person. Here are some types of distracted driving:

  • Mobile Phone Use (talking - conversation);
  • Text Messaging;
  • E-Mail, Text or Web Browsing;
  • Reading a book, newspaper, or other print item;
  • Reaching for or searching for an object in the vehicle;
  • Writing a note;
  • Watching a video;
  • Changing the radio station; and
  • Inputing or reviewing information on navigation system or GPS.

The truth is that none of the above activities are needed to properly and safety operate a motor vehicle. What these activities all have in common is that they all serve as distractions for drivers out on the road. Of course, there is no need to prove that a driver was distracted if the driver was at fault for the accident. For instance, let’s say a driver rear ends the driver / vehicle in front of him. The other driver was stopped at a red light on a clear, sunny day. There is no excuse for crashing into the stopped driver / vehicle. As such, there is no need per se to prove that the at-fault driver was distracted at the time of the accident or crash.  

When a child is injured as a result of an automobile accident, bicycle accident, or pedestrian accident, a parent is often faced with many issues and challenges. A Florida Child Injury Lawyer can help a parent get through the many issues and challenges that arise including medical bills, medical treatment, insurance claims, compensation, and other matters. The book titled - When the Wheels Stop Spinning - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Parents Need to Know After the Accident - has chapters on Automobile Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents, Wrongful Death, and other topics. You can get this book for free at When the Wheels Stop Spinning.