Florida Lawmakers Scheduled to Consider Six Distracted Driving Bills in 2012

Florida legislators are scheduled to review at least six bills in the coming year that target distracted driving in general and texting while driving in particular. James O. Cunningham and other Orlando personal injury lawyers are hopeful that Florida will finally pass substantive distracted driving laws, but their optimism is tempered by lawmakers’ repeated failures in recent years to adopt such laws protecting Floridians. Currently, Florida is one of only 15 states that do not have laws that ban drivers from using their cell phones to talk, text and send and receive messages while driving, despite irrefutable evidence that using these devices sharply increases the likelihood of accidents.

Regular readers of this blog know that the National Transportation Safety Board recently requested that all states pass laws banning the use of cell phones while driving. Numerous Florida lawmakers have sponsored bills in recent years to do just that, but these bills have died in committee again and again. Two Florida legislators, Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, and Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, have recently sponsored bills banning texting while driving. Detert’s Senate Bill 416 is scheduled for review by the Senate Transportation Committee sometime this month.

Other legislators have filed for at least six distracted driving bills for the 2012 legislative session, and Mr. Cunningham and other personal injury attorneys throughout the state would like to see at least one of these bills signed into law in the coming year. He, along with public safety officials, distracted driving victims and their families and others are strongly encouraging lawmakers to take steps to make Florida roadways safer for everyone. Our state ranks in the top three in the country for numbers of auto accidents and people injured and killed in these accidents, and any legislation that reduces these grisly statistics would be welcome.

Even though our state has not yet passed distracted driver legislation, people injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers still have options to seek damages against at-fault drivers. Every year, countless Central Florida pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and passengers are injured by distracted drivers, and many seek the counsel of experienced Florida auto accident attorneys such as Mr. Cunningham. He has been helping injured people since 1977 and has the experience, skills and resources to help victims receive the fair and just compensation they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Cunningham, call his law offices today at 386-243-4994.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.