While car accidents may often simply be accidents, individuals can also often cause an accident by failing to act reasonably. When an individual fails to act reasonably and breaches a duty of care to others, he or she is acting negligently. Accidents caused by negligence can result in serious physical and emotional injuries.
In 2015, Florida crashes have resulted in 220,340 injuries, 2,498 fatalities, and damage to property on 191,371 occasions.[1] When these accidents are caused by negligence, victims have a right to recovery for damages. Some examples of injuries for which a victim may recover include:
- Brain Trauma
- Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Emotional Trauma
- Death
Since negligence occurs whenever an individual fails to act reasonably, accidents caused by negligence can be avoided. Some common causes of negligence resulting in car accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has become a serious cause for concern. Often, individuals associate distracted driving with the use of electronic devices. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity in which a driver “takes [his or her] eyes off the road, [his or her] hands off the wheel, and [his or her] mind off [the] primary task: driving safely.”[2] Thus, distracted driving occurs whenever a driver becomes visually, physically, or cognitively distracted from driving. Common examples of distracted driving include:
- Talking on a cellphone
- Texting, messaging, or emailing
- Accessing the internet via a smartphone
- Reading, including maps or directions
- Using or programming a navigation system
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
While distracted driving is inherently dangerous, texting is perhaps the most dangerous as it requires the driver to take his or her eyes off of the road, remove his or her hands from the steering wheel, and focus his or her attention on the message as opposed to the road. This high-risk distraction is a factor in 1.6 million crashes nationwide and increases the risk of an accident by 23 percent.[3]
Drunk Driving
An individual who drives drunk places other drivers at risk of injury. Individuals who are intoxicated do not have full control over their cognitive and motor skills. Thus, drunk drivers run the risk of being unable to stay in lanes, accurately judge their speed, and properly react to potential obstacles and hazards on the road. This often leads to accidents which cause serious injury or death. In fact, the Florida chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) found that drunk drivers accounted for over 28% of Florida’s traffic-related deaths over the course of the last year.[4]
Speeding
Speeding is common on Florida’s roads as it is across the country. Speeding occurs whenever an individual exceeds the posted speed limits on the roadways. Across the United States, speeding tends to account for approximately 30 percent of all traffic related fatalities. Moreover, speeding caused more deaths on minor roads than on freeways or interstates.[5]
Driving at excessive speeds increases the risk of injury. Naturally, traveling at higher speeds, such as when racing, makes it more difficult to stop in case of an obstacle or a hazard on the road. It also increases the driver’s risk of losing control of his or her vehicle. When speeding, the force transferred during a collision at a high rate of speed is far greater. This can result in serious injuries and death.
Contact a Clearwater, Florida Personal Injury Attorney if You Have Been Involved in an Auto Accident
You have a right to recover those losses you have suffered as a result of another driver’s negligence. You should seek to receive compensation for items such as medical bills, lost wages, and for pain and suffering. Having a knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced attorney can help ensure that you receive the amount you deserve. At the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA in Clearwater, Florida, we will thoroughly investigate your case to identify any possible negligence claims related to your accident. We will ensure that you are able to bring forth any necessary causes of action in order to ensure you receive nothing less than adequate compensation. Call us today at 727-451-6900 and schedule a free consultation with one of our team’s skilled auto accident attorneys if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
References:
[1] https://firesportal.com/Pages/Public/QuickStats.aspx
[2] Distracted Driving
[3] https://www.donttextdrive.com/statistics/
[4] https://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/state-stats/Florida.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/
[5] Fatality Facts 2019 Yearly snapshot
