The Eight Most Common Causes of Florida Car Accidents

Florida car accidents can and do happen anywhere throughout Florida. Being hurt in a Florida car accident can have devastating consequences for you. This is true whether you are a resident of Florida or whether you were passing through on vacation. 

Too many common causes of Florida car accidents are linked back to preventable behavior on the part of one or more drivers. When you find yourself suffering the consequences of someone else’s negligence on the road and need help with a personal injury claim, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our Florida car accident lawyers can assist you in recovering the compensation you need and deserve to cover your damages.

Florida Car Accidents: The Most Common Causes

With countless drivers on the road and hundreds of thousands of traffic accidents in Florida every single year, the potential for a car accident in Florida is very high. Most of these accidents’ causes are traced back to incidences of human error. 

Speeding

Driving over the speed limit isn't just illegal, it's extremely unsafe. When someone fails to adhere to the posted speed limit in the area, their chances of being able to stop in time to prevent an accident are dramatically decreased. The chances of being involved in an accident when someone is speeding well above the limit are very high, and another driver may have little or no opportunity to avoid getting hurt in a crash. You can use many different types of evidence, including the police report, videos, photos, or even tire skids on the ground to illustrate that someone was speeding at the time of a crash.

Not Following Traffic Lights or Signs

Florida drivers are required to follow rules regarding slowing down or stopping at traffic lights or signs. Other drivers rely on Florida's rules regarding traffic lights and signs to help prevent accidents and injuries.

Texting While Operating a Vehicle

Like many other states, it is illegal to text and drive in Florida, but unfortunately, far too many people engage in this activity regardless. Using a cell phone for any purpose, including talking on the phone, texting, or selecting music, could lead to cognitive distraction from the road. 

Many people underestimate just how distracted they are when using a cell phone, and this could lead to just a few absent-minded seconds in which you end up in a serious crash. Anyone can be affected by a distracted driving accident, but those with less experience or teenage drivers are most likely to wind up hurt while operating phones.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous. You not only impair yourself but put others at risk. Drunk driving dramatically impairs your ability to exercise judgment on the road and to react quickly enough to avoid accidents. Drunk driving accidents often lead to life-lasting disabilities or fatalities as a result. Never drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

It is equally dangerous to drive under the influence of any type of drug, including prescription medications that come with a warning. Drugs will impact different people in different ways, but drug use in general impairs your ability to respond quickly enough to obstacles and other accident-causing elements on the road.

Poor Weather

Poor weather conditions are common throughout Florida, as the weather can change at any point in time. Hurricane winds, wet roads, or even strong rains can frequently cause accidents on roads all over Florida. Some people do not exercise additional caution when driving in poor weather, and this can lead to even more serious accidents.

Obstacles, Such as Animals

You may not realize that one of the most common causes of Florida car accidents is an animal. Animals and other obstacles on the roadway can cause devastating damage or for someone to lose control of the vehicle. Attempting to swerve out of the way of hitting an animal or striking an animal and then losing control of the car often ends up involving and endangering other vehicles in the accident.

Falling Asleep at the Wheel

Fatigue is one of the leading causes of car accidents across the country, and Florida is no exception. Exhausted drivers coming home after a long day at work or vacationers visiting Florida by car after a long road trip can all cause serious car accidents if their eyes involuntarily close for even a second. Tired drivers lack much-needed awareness for safe driving, have a slower response time to obstacles, and can actually fall asleep behind the wheel and lose control of the vehicle. Sleepy drivers are encouraged to pull over and rest if needed.