Florida
Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Miami Dade County is one of the busiest counties in Florida, home to major cities such as Miami, Coral Gables, Homestead, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, North Miami, South Miami, Pinecrest, and others. Over the years, new rules and increasing efforts by the Florida Highway Patrol and other agencies have resulted in fewer accidents in the county.

In 2000, Miami Dade County saw 51, 132 car accidents. By 2001, the car accident rate increased to 54, 519 before starting to decline. In 2002 and 2003, respectively, the area saw 49, 922 and 45, 731 Florida car accidents. In 2005, however, there were 48,537 car accidents in Miami Dade County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami Dade County in 2005 (the last year for which statistics are available) saw:

1) A disproportionate number of accidents in the city of Miami. Of the total 48, 537 car accidents in Miami Dade County, 10,814 of them were Miami car accidents.

2) A significant number of accidents were Miami drunk driving accidents. About 4.63% of Miami car accidents involved alcohol. 501 car accidents in Miami in 2005 were attributed to DUI. In Miami Dade County, 2,117 accidents were alcohol-related. 74 of these drunk driving accidents resulted in fatalities. 1,635 injuries were also attributed to drunk driving in Miami Dade County in 2005.

3) Miami Dade county car accidents claimed 336 lives in 2005. They also caused 37,879 injuries.

4) In addition to Florida car accidents, Miami Dade County also saw 45 fatal Florida motorcycle accidents and 8 fatal Florida bicycle accidents in 2005. That year also resulted in 444 injuries from Florida bicycle accidents and 1, 484 injuries from Florida pedestrian accidents. 81 Miami Dade County pedestrian accidents proved fatal in 2005.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol 2004 Florida car accident statistics, which are the latest year for which the statistics are available, Florida saw a high number of accidents in 2004:

1) There were 252,902 Florida accidents involving cars in 2004. In fact, Florida saw an average of 691 car accidents a day in 2004.

2) Some drivers had multiple accidents. In total, 376,111 drivers were involved in Florida car accidents.

3) There were 2,936 fatal Florida car accidents in 2004. 3,257 drivers lost their lives in these accidents. There were also 142,388 car accidents causing bodily injury. In these crashes, 227,192 Florida drivers sustained a personal injury of some kind.

4) In 2004, 23,000 Florida car accidents were found to be Florida drunk driving accidents. These accidents claimed 1, 093 lives and injured 17,580 passengers and motorists.

5) There were 8,084 Florida pedestrian accidents in 2004. These accidents caused 7, 551 personal injuries and 504 fatalities.

6) There were 5,203 bicycle accidents involving cars in 2004. 119 of these crashes were fatal. 4,820 bicyclists were injured in Florida bicycle accidents in 2004.

7) There were 7,367 Florida motorcycle accidents in 2004, resulting in 388 fatalities. In 6,558 of these accidents, serious injuries were sustained.

Many fatal Florida truck accidents and car accidents take place on highways. The high speed allowed on highways combined with occasional driver error and high traffic often results in dangerous conditions that lead to serious accidents. After the fourth of July weekend in 2007, for example, the Florida Highway Patrol reported 31 people were killed on Florida highways. There are many that such accidents on the highways can be avoided:

1) Wear a seatbelt. According to the FHP, in about 67% of fatal Florida highway car accidents, seatbelts were not worn. Wearing a seat belt is the law in Florida. You can receive a fine and ticket for failing to wear your seatbelt. Even more seriously, you could lose your life or sustain a serious injury in an accident if you fail to wear your seat belt. Many Florida brain injury patients and spinal cord patients sustained their injuries because they were in a car accident and were not wearing a seat belt at the time.

2) Do not drive under the influence. Florida drunk driving accidents claim many lives. Driving with an excessive blood alcohol limit in Florida can mean license suspension, fines, and even jail time. It can also cost lives. If you have had one or more drinks, avoid driving.

3) Do not drive while tired. Fatigued Florida drivers are an especial danger on Florida highways, since highway driving involves higher speeds and therefore faster response times. A small error caused by fatigue on a Florida highway can easily lead to a fatal car accident.

4) Obey posted speed limits and other signage. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to lose control of your vehicle. As well, when you speed on Florida highways, you often do not leave yourself enough time to respond to a potential hazard, increasing the likelihood of a car accident. Road signs are there to protect you – obey them.

5) Avoid distractions when driving. Texting, talking on your cell phone, or being distracted in any way behind the wheel is as dangerous as drunk driving – and may contribute to just as many accidents. Before getting in your car, turn off your mobile devices and prepare to give your full attention to driving. Distracted driving is especially dangerous on Florida’s highways, where you may have only seconds to react to prevent an accident.

Many things can affect your visibility on the road, and all these factors can increase your risk of a car accident. Keep in mind that these factors can affect your ability to drive safely:

1) Excessive light. Street lights, headlights, the sun, and glare can all affect your ability to see correctly. Too much light is blinding and in Florida there are many bright days where visibility on the roads is affected. There are many ways that you can ensure a safe drive, even when the light is too bright. Using a sun visor and sunglasses can help, especially on bright days and at sunrise and sundown. Following other cars at a safe distance helps to ensure you are not blinded by their headlights. If you are being blinded by high beams from oncoming traffic, look at the white lines on the side or right of the road until the car passes.

2) Inadequate light. Many Florida truck accidents and car accidents in rural areas are caused at least in part by inadequate light. Poor streetlight placement and dark nights can make it hard to see, even when you use your headlights. In these situations, it is best to use your headlights and to reduce speed to get home safely.

3) Poor weather. Florida fog, rain, wind, and storms can create poor visibility conditions that lead to Florida car accidents and traffic accidents of all types. If possible, avoid driving in bad weather. If you must drive or are caught in bad weather, slow down, turn your headlights on so that other cars can see you, and use your windshield wipers to keep your view as clear as possible. In foggy conditions, use low-beam headlights to light your way. If the weather suddenly becomes so bad that you cannot see the road in front of you, pull over and wait a few minutes (leaving your blinkers on) until the weather improves.

4) Roadway obstructions. Florida construction, hills, and winding roads can affect your ability to see what is coming up, making it harder to anticipate hazards and avoid them. Even trucks can be a problem if they block your view of the road. In these conditions, slow down and try to scan ahead as much as possible. Use signage in construction areas to guide you and to help you avoid a Florida pedestrian accident.

Florida streets and highways have become busier than ever over the past generation, and experts agree that increased traffic also means an increase in the number of Florida truck accidents, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents. In fact, some research suggests that nationally the number of registered vehicles has tripled while the number of licensed drivers has doubled over the last three decades. The increased traffic means more people sharing the road, which means more congestion and more risk.

While many Florida drivers are safe and do their best to avoid Florida pedestrian accidents and other traffic accidents, not all drivers are skilled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration polls drivers annually about their driving behaviors. Drivers in a recent survey admitted to the following risky behaviors in the week before taking the survey:

*26% failed to stop entirely at a stop sign
*23% drove at least 10 mph over the posted speed limit at least once on a highway
*8% drove after drinking

Breaking such bad habits can help prevent many Florida driving accidents, since these bad habits contribute to far too many accidents each year. Florida drunk driving accidents, for example, claim lives all year long, but preventing these accidents is so simple. There are many ways that you can break bad driving habits and make the roads safer for everyone:

1) Take responsibility for your driving. Many people assume that others are bad drivers and research has shown that most drivers overestimate their driving ability. Even if you believe that other drivers are responsible for bad habits, do admit your own bad habits and take charge.

2) Learn what your own bad habits are. Do others point out driving mistakes you are making? Have you received a ticket for a traffic violation lately? No one likes to hear criticism of their driving skills, but take a deep breath and consider the areas where your driving could use some work.

3) Get regular upgrades of your driving skills. Even if you drive every day, you can help break bad habits and help avoid accidents by improving your driving skills periodically. Taking a refresher course, racing course, or defensive driving course can help you brush up on your skills and can help you develop better habits – good habits that can help prevent a Florida accident some day. If you drive as part of your job, your employer may even be willing to cover part of the costs of your training.

A few basic errors by Florida drivers result in a disproportionate number of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. Among the riskiest behaviors are:

1) Speeding. About two out of three polled drivers admit to speeding on occasion. However, even going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit can put you at an increased risk of car accidents, especially in bad weather or with poor road conditions. Many Florida car accidents are caused by people simply driving too quickly for Florida conditions. About one third of all fatal car accidents are caused at least in part by speeding. Speeding can increase your risk of an accident up to sixfold, but usually only saves a few minutes of time.

2) Not giving right of way. Florida drivers are busy drivers, and even courteous drivers sometimes fail to follow right-of-way rules. About 40% of all car accidents and Florida truck accidents take place at intersections, meaning that right of way rules played at least a part in the collision.

4) Tailgating. Not giving other vehicles enough room can increase the risk of collisions. Following too closely is especially dangerous around large commercial trucks. Many Florida trucking accidents each year, for rexample, are caused by passenger vehicles following trucks too closely. Trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles, so give them more room. As well, in poor conditions, all vehicles take longer to stop, so it pays to give additional room.

5) Distracted driving. Drivers often feel that they can multi-task while they drive, but this is not the case. Research has concluded that distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Whether you are talking on the phone, applying cosmetics, changing CDs, texting, eating, or fixing your hair, your eyes and mind are not on the road – which is where they should be.

6) Drunk driving. Unfortunately, even with extensive education campaigns, Florida drunk driving accidents are all too common. Even one drink can put some people beyond the legal blood alcohol limit. Drinking coffee or sipping water will not sober you up – only time can do that. If you have been drinking, it’s simple: don’t get behind the wheel.

Distracted driving has been in the news. Most Florida drivers know that distracted driving can help increase the risk of Florida car accidents. However, many drivers may not realize just how significant a risk distracted driving really is. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a sturdy in 2006, in which they studies motorists using 100 cameras for more than one year. The cameras were used to capture all types of motorist behaviors in an effort to determine what activities impacted driving ability.

Researchers found that drivers were sleepy and were eating, applying cosmetics, drinking, smoking, reading, and using mobile devices while driving. Researchers also concluded that in about 65% of close calls and in about 80% of all car accidents, distracting behaviors such as these played a key role. The study found that sleepiness increased the risk of a car accident by a minimum of fourfold. Researchers concluded that women were more likely to be in car accidents caused by distracted driving.

The 2006 study concluded that cell phones, cosmetics, and mobile devices posed a special risk in cars. Drivers who were dialing a number on their mobile devices increased their risk of a car accident 2.8 times when compared with non-distracted drivers. Female drivers applying cosmetics were 3.1 times more likely to be in a car accident than non-distracted drivers.

Eating and drinking can also be major distractions when it comes to driving. According to the study, motorists who ate on the road had 1.6 to 1 odds of being in a car accident. While drinking alone was not associated with a higher risk of collision (provided that the drink was not alcoholic), the major risk with drinking is spilling one’s drink and being distracted by it. Researchers found that dropping an object (such as a drink) and trying to recover it increased the risk of a close call or car accident nine fold. It proved one of the most dangerous activities to do while driving.

Although the study found that smoking was not necessarily a distraction, researches found that anything which removed motorists’ eyes from the road for two seconds or more increased risk of a collision or near miss. The implication for Florida motorists is clear: To prevent Florida car accidents and the injuries caused by collisions, motorists’ eyes must remain on the road. Any activity that removes the eyes from the road for even two seconds can cause a serious accident.

Many Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities are caused by accidents on our roads. To help prevent these devastating collisions, drivers must start to look beyond just gadgets as a distraction. Any activity that removes your eyes from the road can cause a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident.

Driver training and licensing are meant to ensure that all new Florida drivers have the basic skills needed to safely operate a car. Despite this, young drivers and new drivers do have a higher accident rate. Partly, this is because even the most advanced Florida driving schools and training classes simply cannot cover all the possible elements of driving safely. Most schools do not carefully instruct drivers about driving in bad weather, night driving, and other necessary driving skills. There is simply no time. As well, even the best Florida driving instruction classes do not make up for practice, which is really what is needed to improve your driving skills.

If you are a new driver – whether you are 16 or 60 – you can help prevent Florida car accidents by exercising some additional precautions for the first 3-6 months after you get your license:

1) Get additional training. The driver’s training you take to obtain your license is usually very rudimentary. Additional training with a qualified instructor can help you hone your skills and can help you stay more confident behind the wheel. Defensive training, additional in-car sessions, and even racing schools are excellent investments that can help you avoid accidents and injuries.

2) Drive with an experienced driver. Driving occasionally with a good driver can help ensure that you don’t develop bad habits early on. A good driver can notice and help gently correct and problems you are having.

3) Avoid night driving until your driving skills improve. Night driving means lower visibility as well as more intoxicated drivers on the road. Since your driving skills and defensive driving skills are only developing, it is too easy to get involved in a Florida drunk driving accident because of someone else’s negligence. If you need to drive at night, at least get some in-car night driving training with a qualified instructor first.

4) Do not drink and drive. Even small amounts of alcohol (amounts that keep you below the legal limit) can make you drowsy and can affect your driving skills. Do not add to Florida drunk driving statistics – do not have any alcohol while driving. As well, take another look at the over-the-counter medications and prescription medications you take. Do any of them make you drowsy? If so, talk to your doctor about getting different medication, since these substances can also increase your risk for accidents.

5) Do not take on passengers until you improve your skills. Passengers are a distraction, even when they don’t mean to distract. The more passengers you take on, the greater your risk of being in a Florida pedestrian accident or traffic accident. Wait until you hone your skills first.

For many Florida teens, a driver’s license is a rite of passage. Even with graduated licensing, getting a Florida driving license involves getting a permit and getting basic training behind the wheel. While teens have to pass a road test to get their driver’s license, most newly-licensed teens do not have the extensive experience needed to stay truly safe on the roads. As well, many teen drivers may be at risk because they are easily swayed by peer pressure and because some teens overestimate their driving skills.

Although teens account for only 7% of all drivers, nearly 14% of fatal car accidents involve teen drivers. Male teens under 24 years of age have a an auto-related death rate that is 2.5 times the national average. For teens ages 15-19, car accidents are the leading cause of death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4, 877 teens were killed in 2000 alone as a result of preventable car accidents. Many more sustained serious injuries as a result of accidents. According to the NHTSA, 36% of teens involved in car accidents in 2000 were drinking and 58% were speeding when a collision took place. In addition to causing injuries to teen drivers, car accidents involving teen drivers also cause serious injuries to innocent motorists and bystanders. Many Florida head injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries are caused by teen drivers each year.

Researcher Dr. Dennis Doverspike has studied teen drivers and risk-taking attitudes among teens at the University of Akron and has concluded that it can take years for driving skills to develop and most teens simply do not have those years of on-the-road experience it takes for driving to become automatic. As well, Dr. Doverspike notes that no states require teens to demonstrate a proficiency in high-speed traffic or different weather conditions before getting a license.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many accidents involving teen drivers occur when a driver has been drinking, during recreational driving, after dark, and when there are multiple passengers in the car. However, according to the NHSTA, when parents become more involved, teen car accident risks can dip. There are many things that the NHSTA reports parents can do to help keep teen drivers safe:

1) Insist on seat belt use. According to the most recent statistics, up to 50% of teens who were killed in car accidents in previous years were not wearing their seat belt at the time of impact. Many Florida spinal cord injuries and brain injuries could be prevented each year as well if everyone wore a seat belt every time they stepped into a car.

2) Get familiar with your teen’s driving habits. Drive with your teen. Does he or she drive aggressively, use a cell phone while driving, or exhibit other bad habits? Consider your own habits – are you a good role model for your teen when it comes to driving? If your teen is making dangerous mistakes, consider additional training and classes to boost your teen’s driving skills.

3) Discourage your teen from taking the car on the weekend and at night. This is when car accidents are most likely to happen. At the very least, ensure that your teen gets some training with a professional instructor specifically addressing high-traffic driving and night driving.

4) Have your teen pay their own car insurance. Since any infraction can increase premiums, this can be a nice motivator for your teen to keep their records clean.

5) Restrict the number of friends your teen can have in the car at one time. Teen drivers are more likely to crash if they have multiple passengers.