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ToggleThe Most Common Reasons for Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Like any city, Fort Lauderdale sees its share of car accidents. Our car accident attorneys have compiled a list of the common causes of car accidents we’ve seen in Fort Lauderdale. Hopefully, this list will help you when pursuing fair compensation following your own car accident.
Prevalent Factors That Lead to Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
The following are the most prevalent factors of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and across Florida. Many of these factors are related to poor decisions and reckless behavior behind the wheel:
Distracted Driving
Any time a driver takes their attention away from the road, they place themselves and their fellow drivers in danger. Distractions typically fall into one of three categories:
- Cognitive: A cognitive distraction is any time the driver is thinking about something other than driving their vehicle.
- Manual: Manual distractions pull the driver’s hands away from the wheel.
- Visual: Finally, a visual distraction diverts the driver’s eyes away from the road.
The biggest culprit of distracted driving today is the cell phone. Cell phone use while driving causes all three types of distractions. The incidence of accidents related to cell phone use led to Florida Statutes § 316.305 banning texting while driving.
Failure to Yield
Many car accidents in Fort Lauderdale occur at intersections, and often, the cause is a driver failing to yield. Whether they are making an unsafe turn, ignoring traffic signs or turn signals, or making rolling stops, drivers who fail to follow traffic laws at intersections and yield the right of way have caused accidents and left victims suffering.
Fatigue and Night Driving
Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer and the beach offer a lot of nightly activities for the community and tourists, but visibility is greatly diminished when driving at night. Plus, long hours up and active, fatigued drivers have an increased likelihood of causing an accident due to lowered reaction times.
Under the Influence of Alcohol
Fort Lauderdale has numerous restaurants and bars where people can enjoy themselves, but driving and alcohol do not mix. Alcohol is a depressant, and as such, it lowers your reaction time, reducing your ability to make quick, sound decisions while operating a vehicle. As a tourist location, people can enjoy an alcoholic drink, but they should take advantage of services to drive them about the city or home.
Increased Volume Due to Tourism
Speaking of tourism, Fort Lauderdale enjoys the benefits that tourism brings to the city and the state, but with that comes a higher volume of traffic on the city’s roads. Increased congestion and unfamiliarity with the area can lead to accidents.
Hit and Run Accidents
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) recorded12,537 hit and run accidents in the greater Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area for 2022. That figure included 2,486 injuries and 40 fatalities.
Often, drivers commit a hit and run out of fear. Some do so because of a past crime they are trying to evade or avoid being charged for a present crime, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Some flee the scene because they lack car insurance. In fact, FLHSMV reported 7.15% of motorists in Broward County for January 2022 were uninsured.
Additional Negligent Driving Behaviors That Cause Car Accidents
As personal injury attorneys representing Miami car accident lawyer victims, our law firm has also seen negligent drivers cause accidents because of the following reckless driving:
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is any tactic a driver uses to intimidate another driver. Tailgating is an example of aggressive driving.
Unsafe Lane Changes
This reckless habit could be any instance where the other driver cuts too close to the front or rear bumper to change lanes because they lack an open space to do so.
Speeding
Driving over the posted speed limit or for the conditions of the road cuts down on reaction time and can lead to a traffic accident.
Florida’s Weather Can Be a Cause for Car Accidents
Our state is hit by hurricanes and tropical storms every year. With it, Florida receives heavy rain and flooding in some parts. Water on the road can lead to drivers hydroplaning.
Commuters also deal with sun glare traveling east into the city in the morning and west as they drive home afterward.
Our Roads Are Under Constant Construction
As Fort Lauderdale grows, our city planners and designers are adjusting our roads to meet the new demands of residents and tourists with bigger roads and more lanes. As such, construction meant to reduce the impact of more travelers and increase road safety ends up closing lanes, causing heavy traffic, and leaving debris in the roads.
Discuss the Cause of Your Car Accident With the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato
If you have been in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale, call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato at (954) 633-8270. Our staff can provide a free consultation. Our contingency-based legal representation can investigate your motor vehicle accident, negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurer, or represent your case in court if we cannot reach an agreement. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Contact our accident lawyers today.