Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
This week Florida Injury Lawyers is publishing a trio of articles on https://www.injury-lawyer-florida.com focusing on behavior that frequently leads to personal injury and wrongful death in preventable car accidents: Aggressive driving, speeding and distracted and sleepy driving.
Florida accident lawyers handle hundreds of cases each year involving car accidents, trucking accidents and motorcycle accidents caused by the negligence of aggressive drivers.
This is not an abstract threat — you are either at risk or putting people at risk of a car accident or other traffic crash. Consider this: In 2006 alone, an average of more than 700 crashes occurred every day in the State of Florida — claiming 3,365 lives, or more than 50 people killed in a Florida car accident in each and every county in the state.
Aggressive drivers are some of the highest-risk drivers on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at anytime. Their concern for fellow motorists is low.
They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in an out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk and flash their lights.
Signs you are an aggressive driver:
* You express frustration behind the wheel: Taking out frustrations on other drivers can lead to violence or a crash.
* You fail to pay attention when driving: Talking on the phone, reading, eating, drinking, applying makeup and other distractions are a major cause of traffic crashes.
* You tailgate: This is a major cause of crashes, which too often leads to serious injury or death.
* You run red lights: Do not enter an intersection on a yellow light. The several minutes you might save could cost you your life. Remember that flashing red lights should be treated as a stop sign.
*You speed: Going faster than the posted speed limit, or than road conditions or traffic will safely allow, is a frequent cause of serious car crashes.
Strategies for Safer Driving
*Concentrate: Don’t allow yourself to become distracted by anything but the task of driving.
* Relax: Tune the radio (while stopped) to your favorite station and relax. Music can calm your nerves and help you enjoy your time in the car.
* Don’t speed: Fewer crashes happen when vehicles are traveling at or about the same speed.
* Identify alternative routes: Even if it looks longer on paper, you may find it less congested.
* Use public transportation: It can give you a much-needed break from life behind the wheel.
* Just be late: If all else fails, be late. You will still arrive at your destination sooner than if you cause a serious car accident that injures you or someone else.
When confronted with aggressive drivers:
* Get out of the way.
* Put your pride aside: Do not challenge them by speeding up, becoming aggressive yourself, or trying to hold your own in your lane.
* Avoid eye contact: It sometimes enrages an aggressive driver.
* Report serious aggressive driving: You or a passenger may call police. But if you use a cell phone, pull over to a safe location.
Aggressive drivers pose a serious risk to other motorists on the road. Innocent motorists are seriously injured or killed each year because of their recklessness. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed by an aggressive driver or the negligence of another motorist, there are certain things you can do to help protect your rights.
Our Florida personal injury attorneys have spent four decades in Southwest Florida, representing serious injury and wrongful death cases resulting from car accidents, motorcycle accidents and trucking accidents.
They offer free appointments to discuss your rights at offices conveniently located throughout Southwest Florida, including Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Arcadia, Port Charlotte, Sebring and Venice.
