When you see those flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror, you probably don’t get a good feeling. It usually means you’re up for a traffic ticket. But even worse than the ticket is the hike in your insurance rates.
Because with a ticket, insurance companies are going to see you as a higher-risk driver and will probably charge you more.
If you’re hit with a combination of some of the worst violations, including an accident or two, car insurance companies may even refuse to write you a policy, according to MSN Money.
Our Fort Myers accident lawyers understand that traffic tickets are kind of like your driving report card. Only you don’t want anything on this card. Your tickets are going to be matched (and even exceeded) by the cost of your insurance premiums. Some may violate road laws and get away clean, but the risk isn’t worth the gamble and the luck always runs out.
It’s tough to pinpoint just how much your rates are going to jump after a violation, as companies calculate costs differently.
But here are some of the worst violations, along with the estimated increase in your rates:
-Driving under the influence – 25 percent.
-Reckless driving – 15 to 20 percent.
-Speeding – 10 percent.
-Running a red light – 10 percent.
-Driving without a valid driver’s license – 10 percent.
“Driving is a privilege, not a right,” says Loretta Worters, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute (IIHS).
And many of these violations are common in the state of Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Motor Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were close to 235,500 motor-vehicle accidents recorded by officials in the Sunshine State in 2010. Many of these accidents were the result of one of the dangerous driving behaviors listed above.
The truth of the matter is that road laws are not designed to slow you down and should not be treated as an inconvenience. They’re designed to help move traffic safely and efficiently. When these laws are ignored, the risks for an accident increase.
And we thus find ourselves at increased risk for injuries and fatalities. In 2010, there were close to 2,500 people killed and another 195,100 people injured on Florida roads. There were also close to 108,500 property damage-only accidents.
But it isn’t only drivers and other motorists who are getting hurt out there. It’s the bicyclists and the pedestrians who are feeling the wrath of dangerous driving and they’re at extremely high risk for serious injury or even death in the event of an accident.
Be a safer driver today, not only to reduce your risks of a serious accident but to also keep your insurance coverage affordable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
Florida Car Accident Risks in the Summer, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, July 9, 2013
AAA Reports Multitasking a Myth Behind the Wheel, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, June 27, 2013