Florida Car
Accidents

Florida Car Accidents Are a Daily Occurrence

According to a Crash Stats report from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), in 2017, there was an average of 1,098 automobile accidents every day—or 402,385 automobile accidents throughout the year. That’s an accident every 1.3 minutes. This car accident statistic should be keep motorists on high alert.
 
Despite every advancement in safety technology for motor vehicles, Florida car accidents continue to claim lives or permanently injure drivers and passengers each and every day.
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What Causes Automobile Accidents?

Florida car accidents can be caused by any number of factors, including:

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Poor Vehicle Maintenance

If cars are not maintained well, they can break down while on the road or fail to respond when the driver needs them to.

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Alcohol/Drug Abuse

As noted in the 2017 FLHSMV report, alcohol abuse was confirmed in 5,125 crashes, 350 of which were fatal. An additional 668 crashes were confirmed to be drug-related, and 310 of those car crashes resulted in fatalities.

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Adverse Weather Conditions

Florida drivers are no strangers to high winds and rain—especially during hurricane season. Inclement weather is often a precursor to a Florida car accident. According to the report, 54,319 accidents occurred while it was raining—though only 159 of these were fatal.

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Inattentive/Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become a severe issue in recent years. Many motorists have gotten into easily avoidable accidents because of distractions such as cell phone use. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) stated that “Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,166 lives in 2017 alone” in the USA.

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Unsafe Driving Habits

Many accidents are caused by drivers speeding, failing to check their blind spots during lane changes, following other vehicles too closely, and other unsafe driving habits. When driver negligence is the cause of the crash, many victims opt to search for an automobile personal injury lawyer to pursue their case.

Common Effects of Car Crashes

Car accidents can have a variety of consequences for those involved, including:

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Spinal Cord Injuries

frequently result in spinal cord injuries (SCIs) that can leave crash survivors permanently disabled. In fact, car accidents are the most common cause of SCIs—leading to 47% of known cases.

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Whiplash Injuries

For drivers and passengers using seat belts, whiplash injuries are fairly common. The rapid back-and-forth motion of the head as it continues to move with inertia when the vehicle is suddenly stopped can lead to contusions and stress fractures of the neck or skull, among other injuries.

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Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are another common result of a car crash—especially when drivers or passengers are not wearing seat belts or similar safety gear. Unbelted vehicle occupants may be thrown against glass or the vehicle’s interior frame, resulting in severe injury.

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Death

While modern vehicles have a number of safety features designed to protect drivers and their passengers, death is a common consequence of a Florida car accident. Failing to wear protective gear, driving while inebriated, and high speeds or abnormal crash types (such as T-bone collisions) can all contribute to the lethality of an accident.

Other minor injuries such as bruises and broken bones are common side effects of an automobile accident.

Have You or a Loved One Been Involved in a Florida Car Accident?

Following a Florida car accident or similar event, it’s only natural to want to determine who is at fault and to seek fair compensation so you can focus on recovery. One of the first things you should do once you have been treated is to consult an experienced Florida car accident attorney to review the particulars of your case and help you determine who is liable for the damages.
For example, was there a manufacturer defect in the car that caused the crash? Was the road not maintained properly? Was a driver particularly careless and creating a situation where the accident was inevitable? Is there a vicarious responsibility that can be applied for a vehicle owned by a company that should have been regulating their employee’s behavior on the road better?
An automobile accident attorney can help you investigate liability in a car crash to find the parties at fault.
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