Ocala Truck Crash Shows Importance of Watching the Road
The news from our Central Florida neighbors has focused recently on a terrible Florida trucking accident that happened between a semi truck and a school bus on September 23. The truck rear-ended the school bus in Citra, near Ocala, causing both vehicles to burst into flames. The accident killed a 13-year-old girl, a middle school student on the bus. Nine other students were injured, along with the bus driver and the driver of the truck.
Importantly, the Florida Highway Patrol believes the truck driver was using a cell phone right before the accident. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the driver told the FHP he was using the phone on the day of the accident, but refused to say exactly when. Authorities told the paper that the driver will be charged with reckless driving, at a minimum, depending on whether their investigation turns up new information.
Banning the use of cell phones while driving isn't popular with everyone; only a handful of states require drivers to use hands-free headsets on the phone. But as the article notes, this accident serve as a wake-up call for Florida drivers who continue using their phones on the road. As a Florida auto accident lawyer, I see plenty of accidents that were caused by distracted driving -- using a cell phone, eating, rubbernecking and other activities that take the driver's eyes off the road. In fact, a 2006 study by the AAA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that distractions made a driver almost three times more likely to be in an accident. Phones, drowsiness, reading and eating were the most common distractions the study found.
The Governor of California signed a law banning text messages for drivers of any age in the same week that the accident occurred. California had already banned talking on the phone while driving. Those laws may be a tough sell in freedom-loving Florida, but I believe they would make our roads safer. A serious traffic accident is a life-changing event that causes death or very serious injuries, and we should do all we can to prevent them. But if you or someone you care about has already become a victim of a serious traffic crash, you should speak to us at Cohn, Smith & Cohn to discuss your rights as an accident victim and the legal options open to you. You can reach our main office at (954) 431-8100 or click here to fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.
