In most cases, Florida car accidents are attributable to the negligent behaviors of reckless or distracted drivers. This puts other drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other road users at an increased risk of serious injury. Understanding the behaviors that contribute to Florida car accidents can help prepare you in case you are injured by another driver’s negligence.
Floridians who have sustained car accident injuries as a result of another driver’s reckless behavior have the right to pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. The Florida car accident lawyers of Osborne & Francis regularly negotiate complex claims for our injured clients. To schedule a free consultation with our award-winning personal injury lawyers, you can reach us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando. We can offer you top-notch legal guidance and support as you navigate the personal injury claims process.
Drunk Driving Car Accidents Claim Lives
Floridians who drive drunk are prone to making critical errors that can lead to serious or fatal car accidents. By the time a person’s Blood Alcohol Concentration reaches the legal limit of 0.08 BAC, their memory, vision, judgment, and muscle coordination are significantly impaired.
A drunk driver can easily misjudge how much space they have to stop before rear-ending the car in front of them, or fail to see a pedestrian in their path. Not only does this jeopardize the life of the drunk driver, it also compromises the safety of every road user in their vicinity. In Florida, 814 people died in drunk driving car accidents in 2019, which accounts for over a quarter of all car accident fatalities that year.
Distracted Driving is a Leading Cause of Car Accidents
Many Florida car accidents could be avoided if drivers refrained from engaging in behaviors that take their attention away from the road. There are three types of distracted driving, and they are not mutually exclusive. Drivers can be cognitively, manually, or visually distracted while on the road.
Examples of distracted driving include:
- Eating
- Changing the radio
- Adjusting navigation devices
- Texting while driving
- In a conversation with passengers
- Rubbernecking
- Daydreaming
Speeding Contributes to a Quarter of Florida Car Accidents
Unsurprisingly, speeding is frequently listed as a factor in car accidents. Speeding drivers tend to be distracted or aggressive, neither of which create ideal conditions for rational decision making and coordinated maneuvering. According to the National Safety Council, nearly a third of fatal car accidents involved speeding in 2020.
Traveling above the posted speed limit gives you less time to react and come to a safe stop. Speeding drives are less likely to be able to avoid unexpected road hazards, pedestrians darting across the road, or vehicles slowing down in front of them. Additionally, in nearly half of the rollover crashes analyzed in a FMCSA study, excessive speed was the cause.
Florida Drivers Who Commit Road Rage Can Be Held Liable
Road rage is a term used to encompass a variety of aggressive driving behaviors. Drivers who commit road rage may cut other drivers off, tailgate, brake check, throw things from their vehicles, or engage in other types of dangerous outbursts. Aggressive drivers may be attempting to intimidate another road user or release pent up anger. Road rage can escalate quickly and even become fatal, as the aggressive driver is so enraged that they deliberately ignore traffic laws and disregard safe driving practices.
Running Red Lights or Stop Signs and Failure to Follow Road Signs
Road signs and traffic signals help regulate the flow of traffic. Road signs can alert drivers to changing conditions or new traffic patterns, which allow them to adjust their speed, and direction accordingly. When drivers have a standard set of rules to follow, it helps them anticipate the actions of other motorists. Drivers who neglect to observe traffic laws, like stopping for red lights and stop signs, are putting themselves and other drivers at a greater risk for serious car accident injuries.
Inexperienced Drivers Are at an Increased Risk for Car Accidents
In 2019, Florida teen drivers were responsible for 279 fatalities and 2,200 car accident injuries. Teenagers’ lack of experience making quick decisions while driving and their propensity to become distracted make them among the most dangerous drivers in the U.S. The first year a teen has their driver's license is typically when they are at the greatest risk for being in a car accident. The number of other teen passengers in the vehicle is a major contributing factor in the likelihood that a teen driver will be in a car accident, according to research from the NHTSA.
Not Adapting to Heavy Rain Endangers Florida Road Users
As any Floridian knows, when it starts to rain, you turn your headlights on and slow down. Visibility can quickly become an issue in a Florida thunderstorm, and maintaining unsafe speeds only compounds the issue. If you fail to adjust your speed accordingly, you run the risk of hydroplaning or being unable to avoid a collision with another road user. Hydroplaning occurs when your tires can’t get traction on the road, and it can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, with devastating consequences.
Car Parts Manufacturers Can Be Held Liable for Mechanical Failure
While negligent drivers are typically at fault for car accidents, defective car parts may also be at fault. For example, if a driver is unable to stop because of a faulty brake system and crashes into a motorcyclist, the maker of the brake system may be the one held liable for the injured motorcyclist’s damages. Which particular party is ultimately considered liable will depend on how it came to be defective. For example, if the brake system could have failed due to a design flaw or being installed incorrectly.
Fatigued Driving Is Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
Drowsy drivers threaten the safety of other road users as their ability to react quickly in constantly evolving situations is significantly compromised. Sleep provides the brain with the opportunity to process and recharge. When a driver is significantly fatigued, they often display many of the same dangerous behaviors as drunk drivers. This includes a lack of physical coordination, hindered memory and judgment, and inhibited decision-making capacity.
Not Checking Blind Spots is a Common But Dangerous Mistake
Many of us are guilty of backing out of a parking space or changing lanes before thoroughly checking the blind spots of our cars. This habit is a common cause of many Florida car accidents. When a driver fails to check their blind spots before merging into another lane of traffic, they run the risk of sideswiping the other car. Drivers who back up without double checking for pedestrians crossing behind them or another car in their blind spot can be held liable if they injure someone else.
Why Should I Choose Osborne & Francis to Represent Me?
Our team can offer a valuable perspective in your Florida car accident claim. After almost a decade of service, we have set the standard when it comes to maximizing compensation for our injured clients. The car accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis often handle complex claims referred to us from other personal injury law firms, which is a reflection of our ability to consistently negotiate fair settlements.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you should contact our formidable team of auto accident attorneys. Our team comes highly recommended by former clients and fellow car accident lawyers alike. At Osborne & Francis, we won’t back down from a fight to get you the fair compensation you deserve.
Contact Osborne & Francis if You’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident
After you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you can’t count on insurance companies to make you a fair settlement offer. That’s where the experienced auto accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis come in. We understand that car accident injuries impact more than just your health, and we are committed to securing a settlement that compensates you for your emotional and financial losses, as well.
Recovering damages in a Florida auto accident may become complicated if the negligent driver’s insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, but our personal injury attorneys won’t be deterred. Our team will work tirelessly to maximize your compensation, even if that means taking your auto accident claim to court.
The car accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis will utilize our resources and knowledge of the car accident claims process to obtain the compensation you need to get your life back on track. To schedule a free consultation with our dedicated car accident attorneys, you can reach us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando.
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