Florida
Car Accident Lawyer Blog

In 2008, Marion County has seen an increase in hit-and-run car accidents resulting in fatalities. Many of these crimes remain unsolved, according to authorities. In 2007, there was a small number of hit-and-run car accidents in the area, none resulting in deaths. This year, there have been six fatal hit-and-run car accidents so far, two involving child victims. Cpl. Mark Weber of the Florida Highway Patrol believes that half of the calls coming into his office are regarding hit-and-run car accidents.

According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 2003 and 2007, Florida is third in the nation for high rates of hit-and-run cases. The state saw 3 300 such cases in the 2003-2007 time frame. Only Texas and California saw more.

Many authorities say that a number of factors contribute to hit-and-run car accidents in Florida. Reckless driving in remote areas is one cause. However, the increasing number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers in Florida, say authorities, may be one of the main reasons why the number of hit-and-run car accidents is also on the rise.

Authorities claim that in most hit-and-run car accidents, the driver, if found, does not have insurance and a clean record. Drivers with insurance and good driving records tend to stay at the scene. During the holidays, experts believe that DUI cases contribute to hit-and-run car accidents, when drivers do not consider what they are doing when they hit someone.

Some experts think that the poor economy contributes to the number of hit-and-run car accidents, since people are less willing to take time away from work and are less willing to lose income. Most authorities agree, however, that most hit-and-run car accidents are caused by an immediate panic. The driver, for whatever reason, panics and leaves the scene.

During the holidays, the increased number of pedestrian traffic – as people walk to their cars after visiting their friends, or go on walks together while visiting – can also mean more car accidents and pedestrian accidents, especially at night.

Lee County’s Fort Myers-Cape Coral is one of this country’s one hundred largest urban areas. However, it also has another distinction: it has the highest per capita rate of teen driver automobile accidents during the holidays. The Allstate insurance company, which found the unfortunate statistic, claims that an average of 14 teenagers were fatally injured each year between 2000 and 2007 in Fort Myers-Cape Coral.

An Allstate spokeswoman found the average mortality rate significant. Although Tampa, for example, has six times the population of teenagers as Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Tampa also sees less than four times the car crashes. Allstate believes that the urban sprawl of Fort Myers-Cape Coral may contribute to the high numbers of teen car crashes. Fort Myers-Cape Coral is more spread out than other cities in the study (including Tampa) and roads outside a city tend to be faster.

Allstate spokespeople also point out that teen drivers simply don’t have the practical experience with various traffic situations to avoid car accidents. In addition, the holidays are an especially bad time for automobile accidents, since more drivers of all ages are on the roads, taking care of various holiday errands and visiting friends and family. For teenage drivers, the holidays also mean more time on the road because classes are done. Many teen drivers spend time traveling to parties or to visit friends and family, and this places them on the road more often.

A spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol also blames the number of electronic distractions in the average car. Video screens, call phones, MP3 players, and other gadgets can all distract a driver. According to Allstate, 5 000 deaths each year across the country are caused by traffic accidents in which teen drivers are participants. Of these deaths, 625 take place during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, she added. In almost 87% of the accidents, driver error is found to be the cause of the crash. In addition to these grim statistics, many car accidents involving teen drivers each year result in serious and even permanent injuries, including burn injuries, head injuries, broken bones, disfigurement, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries.

According to Allstate, Florida are among the top seven of the top 10 most dangerous cities for teen holiday car accidents. Allstate and other experts do disagree about the accuracy of the findings and the way the study was conducted, but all experts agree that parents need to speak with their teens about driving during the holidays. Most experts also agree that there should be more controls in place to protect teen drivers from distractions.

Parents can help by ensuring that their teens have adequate driver training and experience before driving alone or at night. Parents should also set limits, agree the experts. Parents may want to limit the number of passengers teens are allowed to have in the car, for example, or may want to limit the types of electronic devices teens are allowed to use while driving.

The latest data available from Florida’s Palm Beach county’s traffic division is from 2007 and the information is not good. The information shows that high-risk intersections in the county cause many car accidents each year. Cars running red lights, distracted drivers, and road rage are blamed for the crashes, which range from fatal accidents to minor fender benders.

Among the county’s worst intersections for car accidents are the Foresthill Blvd and Military Trail intersection. At this one intersection alone, 195 car accidents took place in 2007. High traffic volume may contribute to the high rate of car accidents – the intersection sees 92 000 vehicles pass through its streets daily. Another high-risk intersection in the county, Military and Okeechobee, sees more than 106 000 cars pass through each day.

The top 10 intersections for car accidents in Palm Beach for car accidents are also the most congested and the busiest intersections in the county. The high volume of traffic may contribute to accidents as drivers lose their tempers and make poor driving choices. The Safety Council of Palm Beach County, however, notes that multiple cars coming from several directions are also contributing to accidents. The Safety Council of Palm Beach County points out that many things happen at an intersection and drivers need to be extra alert at busy, dangerous intersections.

The 10 most dangerous intersections in Palm Beach county saw 130 injuries, 3 fatalities and nearly $4 million of damage in 2007 alone. In addition, there were 27 car accidents that were pedestrian accidents or accidents involving bicyclists. The Palm Beach County Traffic Division has noted that when information such as this is made available, engineers and city planners do evaluate possible solutions, such as adding flashing lights or extra traffic signals, to reduce accidents. However, many of the accidents – 56% to be exact -- at the top 10 dangerous intersections in Palm Beach County were rear-end collisions. Experts note that such collisions are caused by driver inattention, and therefore additional traffic lights would be of very limited use.

Experts note that many people at intersections are impatient and take risks in order to get to work or their destination more quickly. Also, some drivers use the time they wait at intersections to apply makeup, use mobile devices or read text messages. This can distract drivers and cause them to be less aware of drivers around them, leading to accidents.

Although many experts blame devices such as cell phones and BlackBerries for distracted driving in Florida and around the country, many experts also note that familiarity may be a factor in many car crashes. Drivers who take the same route each day become familiar with specific intersections and develop bad habits as they drive. Many drivers are familiar with certain intersections and therefore not longer look for or anticipate the unexpected in these locations, which can lead to accidents.

Eyewitness News has found that red light cameras installed at Orange County intersections make the streets safer and reduce car accidents. The cameras were installed in Apopka in August 2007, and at that time Eyewitness News reports that 262 red light runners were caught. Over time, however, drivers exercised more caution and by last month only 35 red light runners were caught at the same intersections.

The accident reports from the same time period, however, really show the effect that red light cameras have had on safety in the area. Crashes at 441 and Sheller Avenue in the area have dropped 72% since the cameras were installed. The Park Avenue camera area has seen a 64% decline in accidents.

This drop in car accidents can not only reduce fatalities and the injuries -- including broken bones, head injuries, permanent disabilities, burn injuries and other injuries that are all too common in car accidents. According to police, the decrease in accidents also frees up more police officers to focus on other types of crimes, thus reducing crimes. In the past, the Apopka Police Department had five or six officers running a detail in the afternoon to try to keep up with accidents and traffic violations. Those officers can now patrol and try to halt crimes.

Apopka policymakers consider the red light cameras a success and there is some discussion of installing more cameras. Currently, violators caught running a red light on camera are given a $125 citation. Part of the funds raised in this way are used to defray the costs of operating the cameras, and this helps make the cameras affordable for the city.

Some Florida residents, however, claim it is nor red light runners that cause accidents but teens who are talking on cell phones or texting as they drive. Some residents and even policymakers have voiced concerns over the fact that some drivers appear to be focusing on their mobile devices rather than the road. At least some fatal accidents have been linked to cell phones and texting and some police departments in other regions have voiced their worries over this driving habit. Florida has stopped short at banning mobile devices in cars.

While the red light cameras do seem to have an impact on driving accidents, even a few car accidents can cause enormous pain, suffering, and damage. Any steps that can be taken to reduce such accidents make Florida a safer place.