Car accidents could cause serious injuries and extensive damage to your car. Injured victims may turn to their own insurance provider for some help and file a claim against the liable party to recover monetary compensation for their accident-linked losses. But the success of your claim will depend on establishing and proving that the other driver caused the accident.
Knowing the leading causes of car accidents can help you understand how your car accident occurred and how the other driver could have caused the accident. While car accidents in FL can result from faulty vehicle parts and adverse weather conditions, according to an NHTSA survey, 94% of motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error, which you’ll learn more about below.
Distracted Driving
This could mean anything from speaking to your passengers and tinkering on the radio to eating while driving. In reality, however, the most common driver distraction is the use of mobile phones. To avoid a collision, you must recognize a hazard, react to it, and give your car sufficient time to stop.
The distance your car travels from the moment you notice a hazard until your brain recognizes it and the distance your vehicle will continue to travel once you’ve recognized the hazard until you hit the brakes significantly impacts your stopping distance. This means that when a distracted driver isn’t focused on driving, their ability to safely react to a hazard and prevent a crash will be dramatically limited.
Driver Fatigue
Besides being more likely to suddenly fall asleep on the wheel, a fatigued driver will likewise have a slower reaction time when responding to road hazards. Additionally, fatigued drivers are also known to miss stop signs and traffic signals when compared with well-rested and alert drivers.
Driving Under The Influence
When drivers get drunk and/or do drugs and then drive, they are sure to experience poor vision, reduced reaction time, and cloudy thinking. While DUI-related deaths decreased in 2020, Florida still saw 746 deaths from car accidents that involved alcohol and/or drugs, which is simply unacceptable.
Decision Errors
In 2019, speeding and aggressive driving resulted in 384 fatal crashes and 1,261 incapacitating injuries in Florida. The decision to make risky turns and passes, tailgate, drive too fast, or engage in aggressive driving tactics could cause a car accident before the driver could react safely.
Decision errors likewise result in unsafe speeds and risky driving behaviors considering local conditions such as visibility and weather. Those who are also most likely to make poor driving decisions are inexperienced drivers who are not equipped to handle high-speed hazards they might encounter while driving.
Contact an Experienced Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer Today
There’s simply no excuse for people who drive but then fail to follow the rules of the road and end up hurting other road users. If you have suffered injuries because of another driver’s negligence, Tragos, Sartes & Tragos can help you with your case. You can set up a free case review with our Clearwater car accident lawyer by calling 727-441-9030 or sending us a message online.