Fail: Florida House Says No To Texting While Driving Ban

Reports out of Tallahassee today indicate that the Florida House of Representatives has decided that it will not bring a proposed ban on texting while driving up for a vote this year.  The Florida Senate is poised to pass an identical measure that would punish drivers for texting behind the wheel, and Governor Crist has repeatedly expressed an interest in signing such a measure into law.

As many of you know, I believe that distracted driving, and particularly texting while driving, is a serious danger that only continues to get worse with technological advances.  I have previously posted about distracted driving on several occasions: here, here, and here.

Apparently, there is little sense of urgency about this problem in Tallahassee.  Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff, of Fort Lauderdale, was the committte chair responsible for moving the ban on texting through the Florida House.  She called the proposal "intellectually dishonest", and seemed to feel that texting while driving is no worse or different than other distractions that drivers face in their cars.  She suggested that the difficulty in enforcing a ban on texting while driving wouldn't be worth the effort to pass such a law.

I disagree with Representative Bogdanoff on this one.  Even if the ban on texting while driving would be difficult to enforce, if a new law made a driver think twice and put his phone down and not cause an accident, the "effort" to pass the law would be well worth it.  I know the people that we have represented who have been injured by distracted drivers would have appreciated there being some reason for texting drivers to think twice before doing so.

On a side note, I think it would be interesting to see who is lobbying against the texting while driving ban, and similarly interesting to see which legislators mobile phone companies have been contributing to in legislative this session.  Such information could provide a clue about why this measure is having trouble getting to the floor of the Florida House.

DJ-ing While Driving Is A Really Bad Idea

A driver distracted by reaching for a CD caused a major three-car accident on I-95 in Brevard County. Distracted driving is a huge problem and contributes to more and more car crashes. The Orlando personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kim Michael Cullen are serious about making distracted drivers pay for their negligence. Call Kim at 407-254-4901 with your questions.

Daytona Car Accident | Wrongful Death of 4-year Old

A 4-year old child was killed in an automobile vs. pedestrian accident on the sands of Daytona Beach. This was a tragic wrongful death that didn't have to happen. Daytona Beach can make the beach safer by banning cars. Orlando personal injury attorney Kim Cullen supports making cars a thing of the past on Daytona Beach.

Distracted Driver Almost Kills Hero

A driver distracted by her mobile cell phone almost killed paramedic Chad Lowery in a car accident in Orange County. Mobile phone use and particularly texting while driving is a serious problem, and can lead to catastrophic injuries. Attorney Kim Cullen is experienced in handling motor vehicle accident cases involving drivers distracted by cell phones. Call Kim at 407-254-4901.

Bar Can Be Liable For Overzealous Bouncer

Bars and nightclubs can be held liable for attacks by overzealous employees like bouncers or security staff. Bars have a duty to their patrons to protect them from violence, including attacks by their employees. Attorney Kim Cullen has experience handling claims against bars and nightclubs. Call Kim at 407-254-4901 to have your questions answered.

Theme Park Accidents Lead to Business As Usual

Orlando-area theme parks find business virtually unaffected by serious accidents and deaths at the parks. Kim Cullen and his law firm have experience handling cases involving accidents with injuries at theme parks and water parks, and believe that the theme parks and water parks should constantly be striving to improve safety.

YMCA Deserves Credit For Admitting Responsibility For Sexual Abuse Incident

Sexual abuse cases against children often feature defendants that immediately engage in denial or cover-up. The Tangelo Park YMCA deserves credit for admitting responsibility for the sexual abuse of a 7-year old by a 13-year old volunteer. The Law Offices of Kim Cullen has experience handling sexual abuse cases involving minors.

Shard Of Glass In Your Salad? 'Get Over It'

Foreign objects in food such as glass, bones, insects, and shells can cause serious personal injuries. Unfortunately, many representatives of restaurants seem to think that the restaurants do not need to accept responsibility for these kinds of hazards. Attorney Kim Cullen can help people who have been injured by foreign objects in their food.