According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Traffic Crash Facts from 2013, each day brings hundreds of traffic accidents to wreak havoc, delays, injuries, and death on Florida roads.
Each year in Florida, over 2,000 people are killed in traffic accidents. Around 200,000 are injured. In Volusia County, around 90 people are killed each year in a traffic accident, with around 5,000 injuries.
Even with those sobering statistics, many of us assume that traffic accidents happen to other people. To those who drive drunk, perhaps, or to those who are distracted by their cell phones or who drive recklessly. So long as I obey the laws, you might be thinking, I’ll be able to avoid an accident.
Unfortunately, reckless and distracted drivers often take good drivers down with them, causing injuries and property damage no matter how well the innocent driver was following the rules of the road.
Though there is no way to guarantee that you are safe on Florida’s roads, there are some things you can do to help increase your odds of getting home safely.
Drive Safely: Even if you don’t end up causing an accident, disregarding the basics of safe driving can have a disastrous effect on the drivers around you. Keep up on your own car’s maintenance to avoid mid-traffic break-downs. Get sufficient sleep and avoid intoxicating substances before driving. Signal well in advance of a turn or lane change so that other drivers can anticipate your movements. Don’t exceed the speed limit and slow down when the roads are slippery. Ignore that new text on your cell phone, and keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the controls. Don’t multitask while driving. If you are doing everything you can to keep yourself and others safe, you’ve at least eliminated your most personal road hazard.
Pay Attention: Observe the driving patterns of the cars around you. Is one car swerving in and out of the lane? Is another car following too closely or passing cars recklessly? Is the driver next to you talking on her cell phone while applying mascara? Is another driver searching for something in his backseat with one hand while adjusting the radio dial with the other? If you notice these or any other poor safety practices, the healthiest thing for you to do is to get as far away from these drivers as possible. Let them pass you and hurry on their way. Move several lanes over to give them a bigger buffer zone. Just keep away.
If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident with a distracted or reckless driver, the Daytona Beach Law Firm of Zimmet & Zimmet has the experience to help you recover your damages. Contact us today for a free consultation.
