It’s perhaps no surprise that the top 5 causes of car accidents in Florida involve reckless driver behavior. Common car accident causes include distracted driving, speeding, driving while intoxicated, running stop signs, and teenagers… doing teenager stuff behind the wheel. While people don’t generally think of it as a very risky activity, driving is the most dangerous thing most of us do on a daily basis.
With so many car accidents in Florida, physical damage like bruising, whiplash, neck and back injuries, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones keeps car accident attorneys busy fighting insurance companies to recover financial losses for car crash victims. Understanding the causes of car accidents may help drivers be more mindful of their behavior on Florida’s roads and reduce the pain and suffering that car accidents cause.
Avoiding the Top 5 Causes of Car Accidents
Distracted Driving
Here are some tips from Geico to help keep you from distracted driving:
- Use your cell phone for emergency situations only. Not only is using your cell phone or texting while driving unsafe, but it’s also illegal in many places. You can get a ticket for texting while driving in Florida.
- If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Fatigue can slow down reaction times and affect your judgment.
- Limit the number of passengers and the level of activity inside the car. More than half of distracted driving accidents are due to the driver talking with passengers.
- Don’t Eat and Drive. Eating while driving is one of the most common forms of distracted driving.
- No multi-tasking behind the wheel. Multi-tasking can have a negative influence on driving performance.
Speeding – Going faster than you should causes more than a third of traffic fatalities. Slow down.
DUI – Driving while intoxicated is illegal and dangerous. Don’t do it.
Running Stop Signs and Red Lights – Blowing through stop signs and red lights is a common cause of car accidents and fatalities. Pay attention to traffic signs and signals.
Teenage Drivers – Every day, car crashes end more teen lives than cancer, homicide, and suicide combined,” according to AAA. Talk to your kids about highway safety.
Personal Injury Attorneys and Car Accidents in Florida
Life can be very difficult after you’ve been injured in a car crash. Aside from the trauma and pain of physical injuries, the financial situation can get stressful very quickly. Rent or mortgage and car payments don’t stop coming, even if you’ve lost time at work. Medications are pricey. Physical therapy sessions, doctor appointments, and high copays become a way of life.
The insurance company then calls and offers a financial settlement. They are making their first and lowest offer, hoping that you will accept it and go away. They do not want you to begin your search for the top personal injury law firm in your area. When you look for a car accident lawyer, it pays to do some research. Most folks just type “Best Orlando car accident attorney” into Google. But you can and should dig a little deeper.
Ask a lot of questions. Is the lawyer a specialist in injuries from car accidents in Florida? You can check with the Florida Bar Association. See if Martindale gives your personal injury attorney a good rating. Is your lawyer a member of a prestigious legal organization, such as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum? Have any of the firm’s attorneys received Super Lawyer magazine recognition?
Martinez Manglardi personal injury attorneys provide a free case evaluation, so there’s no reason to not consult with us. And we charge on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay anything unless you win. Martinez Manglardi’s Orlando automobile accident attorneys have been fighting for the rights of accident victims for nearly 35 years. Call 866-730-1882 to schedule a free case review with a specialist at one of our convenient Central Florida locations.
