Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
A spate of serious and fatal traffic collisions in Southwest Florida has authorities urging caution as we enter the height of tourist season.
Tragically, a 3-year-old died in a collision authorities are blaming on a drunk and unlicensed driver, The News-Press reported. A 21-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision on I-75, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A 28-year-old was killed in a collision involving two semis. A rollover crash in North Fort Myers sent an occupant to the hospital. Another closed a portion of Daniel Parkway and caused long traffic delays.
Our car accident lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know the next two months are the most dangerous of the year on the roads of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Resolving to be a defensive driver, and avoiding the most dangerous driving behaviors, can go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe on the roads in 2024.
The vast majority of collisions are preventable. Primary causes include:
- Distracted driving: By some estimates, nearly half of all collisions involve some form of driver distraction. Most commonly smartphones are involved, but in-car electronics, talking to passengers, eating, grooming, and external distractions can all take the driver’s mind off the road.
- Aggressive driving: This is a catchall category of dangerous driving behaviors that are far too common, including speeding, tailgating, failure to use signals and failure to obey traffic control devices.
- Intoxication: Alcohol remains the primary threat, of course, but other narcotics, including marijuana, may also degrade driving ability, as can prescription or even over-the-counter medications.
Defensive Driving – Driving Safety
Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers know there are other things drivers can do to reduce their chances of being involved in, or blamed for, a serious traffic accident in Southwest Florida.
- Beware Vulnerable Road Users: Motorcycle riders, bicycle riders, and pedestrians account for over half of all traffic fatalities in Florida each year. The fact that they are year-around activities here in Southwest Florida only serves to heighten the risk. Motorists should take special care around these users, and give them the right of way. The few extra seconds is well worth avoiding a tragedy.
- Intersections and Parking Lots: These natural points of traffic conflict are the site of a large number of accidents. Take special care. Obey traffic laws, signs and markings, and yield the right of way.
- Young and old drivers: Florida is a retirement mecca. Check often on the older drivers in your family. Take a ride with them. Make sure they have their car serviced. The same goes for young drivers, who statistically are most likely to be seriously or fatally injured in a traffic collision. Make traffic safety a routine topic of conversation in your household. Limit the number of teen passengers they can have in their vehicle and limit nighttime driving. Making sure your teen develops good driving habits is one of the best things you can do to protect them on the roads for years to come.
If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.
