The Four Leading Causes of Car Accidents in the State of Florida

Accidental injuries are the number four cause of fatalities throughout the United States. In 2014, upwards of 35,000 deaths nationwide were the result of motor vehicle collisions.  

Car, motorcycle, bus, and truck accidents cut short the lives of tens of thousands of people in the United States every single year. The four factors listed below are the leading causes of these fatal accidents.

Driver Distraction

When you are behind the wheel of your car, have you ever noticed how many other drivers are using their cell phones? Especially among teenagers, cell phones are now the number one cause of driver distraction and inattention. In 2014, approximately 41% of all automobile accidents were due to a driver’s distraction, lack of attention, and not being aware of their surroundings.

Speeding

Errors in judgment were responsible for about 34% of all car crashes in 2014. These errors in judgment include poor decisions such as driving too fast for current road conditions, taking corners at too high a speed, or misjudging the actions of the people around them. 

A driver who chooses to go too fast in the rain, for instance, could find themselves hydroplaning which then leads to them over-correcting. Drivers who fly through stop signs and traffic lights also increase everyone’s odds of being involved in a serious accident. 

Bad Driving

Errors in performance made up approximately 7% of all car accidents in 2014. Dissimilar to speeding, which is a deliberate choice made by the driver, a person’s capacity for reacting quickly or compensating correctly while they are driving is not something that he or she is able to control. 

For instance, if a driver has a tendency to misjudge the distance between his or her vehicle and the vehicles around them, there is a good chance they may cause an accident while attempting to change lanes. 

Drowsy Driving

According to the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who get five to six hours of sleep a day, which is the majority, are twice as likely to be involved in an accident. A lot of drivers think they are safe, especially if there are only a few miles between them and home, but any degree of drowsiness behind the wheel can potentially be enough to cause a crash. In 2014, falling asleep at the wheel was responsible for 145,000 accidents.  

As with every kind of personal injury case, the endless number of variables makes your claim unique. Someone with a case that sounds very similar to yours could end up with a very different outcome than what you should expect. This is just one of the many reasons why hiring a skilled attorney is beneficial to your Florida personal injury claim. 

Tampa Car Accident Attorneys

Your attorney will know the most thorough and efficient way of collecting vital evidence that proves you were not at fault for the accident. Establishing this fact is essential to the success of your Tampa personal injury case.

If you have sustained injuries during any kind of accident that was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, there is evidence out there that will substantiate your claim. A reputable personal injury attorney from Fulgencio Law will be able to help you. Call us at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your free Tampa personal injury consultation today.