--- title: Texting And Driving Makes Car Accidents More Likely description: You are 600% more likely to get into a car accident when you're distracted by your cell phone while driving. Everybody knows that they're not supposed to text and drive, yet plenty of people do it. If you are injured by a distracted driver you can read this article for some tips on how to respond. image: https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/TextDrive.jpg --- [![Foreclosure and Loan Modification Lawyers](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/images/forclosure-attorneys.png?width=360&height=117&name=forclosure-attorneys.png "Foreclosure and Loan Modification Lawyers")](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/) - Practice Areas - [Foreclosure Defense](https://amerihopealliance.com/foreclosure-defense) - [Claim Surplus Funds](https://amerihopealliance.com/surplus-funds) - [Loan Modification](https://amerihopealliance.com/loan-modification) - [Tax Resolution & Tax Preparation](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/amerihope-alliance-tax-resolution) - [Bankruptcy](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/bankruptcy) - [Probate](https://amerihopealliance.com/en/probate) - [About Us](https://amerihopealliance.com/about_us) - [Case Results](https://legal.amerihopealliance.com/case-results) - [Client Login](https://amerihopealliance.com/client_login) - [FAQ](https://amerihopealliance.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Contact Us](https://amerihopealliance.com/contact_us) - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - [Foreclosure and Loan Modification Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - [Personal Injury Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury) - [Referrals](https://amerihopealliance.com/surplus-case-referral) ph: (877) 882-5338 # Personal Injury Blog - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/blog) - Personal Injury Blog ## Texting And Driving Makes Car Accidents More Likely \[fa icon="clock-o"\] December 2018 \[fa icon="user"\] [Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/author/maxwell-swinney) \[fa icon="folder-open'\] [distracted driving](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/topic/distracted-driving) ![You are 600% more likely to get into a car accident when you're distracted by your cell phone while driving. Everybody knows that they're not supposed to text and drive, yet plenty of people do it. If you are injured by a distracted driver you can read this article for some tips on how to respond. #focusondrivingfl](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/TextDrive.jpg?width=450&name=TextDrive.jpg)You are **600% more likely to get into a car accident when you're distracted by your cell phone while driving**, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Distracted driving accidents, such as those caused by texting and driving, are **entirely preventable**. Just give your full attention to driving. Everybody knows they're supposed to do that, but look around next time you're in traffic and you'll probably see plenty of people **looking at their cell phones instead of paying full attention to the road**! And the consequences of driving distracted can be extremely serious. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2015 distracted driving was a major factor in **3,477 traffic deaths** and 391,000 injuries. **Texting while driving is one of the worst distractions** since you have to look at your phone, use your hands to type, and think about what you're writing. In the few seconds you take your eyes off the road to text your car can travel hundreds of feet. In that time pedestrians could walk into the road or cars could stop and you won't have time to react.  ## Legal status of distracted driving In Florida, texting and driving is prohibited, but it's [not a primary offense](https://www.dmvflorida.org/florida-traffic-laws/texting-and-driving). That means **you can't be pulled over for texting and driving**, but you can be fined for it if you're pulled over for something else. Florida is one of the only states in the country where texting and driving is not a primary offense. We're also consistently rated as a state with among **the worst drivers in the country**.  ## Avoiding distracted driving ![You are 600% more likely to get into a car accident when you're distracted by your cell phone while driving. Everybody knows that they're not supposed to text and drive, yet plenty of people do it. If you are injured by a distracted driver you can read this article for some tips on how to respond. #focusondrivingfl](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/FocusDriving.png?width=450&name=FocusDriving.png)To avoid driving distracted yourself, you can try using pure willpower to just not look at your phone. But willpower is limited. You can also use the technology that's causing you a problem to help by **putting your phone in do not disturb mode** or setting your apps to not give you notifications when you're driving. Or you can **use your phone hands free**. With voice commands you can have your phone read aloud and send text messages. Do that and your mind will be engaged, but your hands and eyes can still focus on driving. Texting and driving is not the only dangerous distraction when you're behind the wheel of a car. Other common causes of distracted driving include: **eating, interacting with passengers, and adjusting radio or climate controls**. ## What to do if you're injured by a distracted driver By not driving distracted yourself, you can have the best chance of avoiding accidents. Of course, even if you do everything perfect yourself, **it's still possible that someone else's distracted driving will cause you to get into an accident**. If [that happens](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/5-things-to-do-after-youre-in-a-car-accident), **call the police to the scene** and tell the responding officer what you saw. If you think there's any chance at all that you are injured, you should get medical treatment. Remember that **some injuries don't seem so bad** at the time of the accident, **but they get worse** days and weeks later. And in Florida, you have to start medical treatment [within two weeks](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/how-long-do-i-have-to-go-to-medical-treatment-to-settle-my-personal-injury-case) of the accident. So it's best to go to the doctor to be evaluated immediately.  If you are injured in a car accident that was someone else's fault, you should consider **hiring an attorney** to help you handle your personal injury claim and get fairly compensated. Personal injury attorneys [don't cost you any money](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-a-personal-injury-attorney) out of pocket. Instead, they are paid a percentage of the money they recover for you. So **they have an incentive to get you as much money as possible**. **Be safe out there, and keep your eyes on the road!**     [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/161513/4e9c0c4a-0409-4d2d-b95a-a8b902a5bf51.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/161513/4e9c0c4a-0409-4d2d-b95a-a8b902a5bf51) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs-fs/hub/161513/file-397888097.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=file-397888097.jpg) #### Written by [Maxwell Swinney](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/author/maxwell-swinney) ### About this Blog Amerihope Alliance Legal Services is a leading loan modification and foreclosure defense law firm with attorneys licensed in 5 states. We have helped over 7,000 homeowners fight back and keep their homes. 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You may schedule a [free consultation](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/free_consultation) at any time. ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Popular - Recent - Topics ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/MedBills.jpg) [Who Pays Your Medical Bills If You're Injured In A Car Accident In Florida?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/who-pays-your-medical-bills-when-youre-injured-in-a-car-accident-in-florida) Published February 7, 2019 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/ClockChain.jpg) [How Long Do You Have To Get Medical Treatment After An Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/how-long-do-i-have-to-go-to-medical-treatment-to-settle-my-personal-injury-case) Published August 19, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/DogCar.jpg) [What Can You Do If Your Dog Is Injured In A Car Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/what-can-you-do-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-injured-in-a-car-accident) Published August 30, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/Memes/UberLyft.png) [What If You're Injured In An Uber or Lyft Accident?](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/what-if-youre-injured-in-an-uber-or-lyft-accident) Published December 2, 2018 ![feature image](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hubfs/images/TextDrive.jpg) [Texting And Driving Makes Car Accidents More Likely](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/texting-and-driving-makes-car-accidents-more-likely) Published December 23, 2018 ### Lists by Topic - [car accident (7)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/car-accident) - [personal injury (4)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury) - [personal injury settlement (4)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-settlement) - [Dog Is Injured In A Car Accident (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/dog-is-injured-in-a-car-accident) - [distracted driving (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/distracted-driving) - [medical bills (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/medical-bills) - [negligence (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/negligence) - [pain and suffering (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/pain-and-suffering) - [personal injury attorney (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-attorney) - [personal injury claim (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-claim) - [personal injury protection (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/personal-injury-protection) - [uber and lyft (1)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/personal-injury/tag/uber-and-lyft) see all [![New Call-to-action](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs/cta/cta/default/161513/5a1cfa41-2f25-4042-be8d-84677e3a244d.png)](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com/hs/cta/cta/redirect/161513/5a1cfa41-2f25-4042-be8d-84677e3a244d) ### Foreclosure Process Handbook ### Sitemap - [About](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/about_us) - [Case Results](https://legal.amerihopealliance.com/case-results) - [Free Consultation](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/free_consultation) - [Blog](https://blog.amerihopealliance.com) - [Client Login](https://www.amerihopealliance.com/client_login) ### Subscribe [![Do You Need To Hire A Foreclosure Attorney? 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