Types of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
If you are the victim of another driver’s negligence in the Fort Lauderdale area, resulting in injuries to you after a crash, you may be wondering whether you are eligible to seek car accident compensation. If you can show the other driver was behaving in a negligent manner before or during the crash, you have the right to seek damages for your medical bills, pain, and suffering.
Sometimes, certain types of car accidents will make the process of showing reckless behavior a simple and straightforward process. Other times, the reasons for a car accident may be more difficult to prove. For more information contact our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer.
Different Causes of Injuries
Understanding the different causes of car accident injuries can be helpful in filing and winning a judgment in your lawsuit. If you plan to take your case to court, an attorney may be able to help you investigate and determine fault so you can receive the fairest possible compensation.
Reasons for Car Accidents
The State of Florida can be a dangerous place for drivers. In 2017, there were more than 402,000 crashes reported, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). These crashes resulted in around 254,000 injuries and 3,100 fatalities. The circumstances around these injuries varied, resulting in many types of collisions, including:
- Rear-endings.
- Head-on collisions.
- Side-impact and T-bone collisions.
- Pedestrian accidents.
- Rollovers.
- Motorcycle crashes
Some Types of Car Accidents are Significantly Higher in Fort Lauderdale
Some types of car accidents are significantly more likely to cause major injuries to drivers. For example, victims of rollover accidents could suffer significant head trauma as the cage of the car collapses under the pressure of landing upside-down. Additionally, drivers or passengers could be ejected from the car in a rollover crash, often resulting in life-threatening injuries and death.
Many collisions, both major and minor, are often preventable. This can be frustrating if you suffer a car accident injury that causes you to miss work, leaves you with a significant disability, or negatively affects your quality of life going forward. The following sections outline two common causes of traffic accidents.
Impaired Driving
According to FLHSMV, impaired driving through the use of medications, drugs, or alcohol can cause significant problems. In 2016, 440 people in the State of Florida died after a crash involving a drug-impaired driver. Florida police also made more than 43,000 arrests for impaired driving involving alcohol or drugs in 2017.
Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol tend to have slower reaction times compared to sober drivers, in addition to impaired judgment and loss of motor control. This means that an intoxicated driver may not be able to avoid hazards on the road, leading to a crash.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can refer to any action that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, either visually, manually, or cognitively. This can include eating, applying makeup, texting, adjusting a navigational device, or interacting with passengers in the backseat. Texting and using a cellphone is often the most common offense, which can distract drivers from seeing potential hazards on the road.
Texting While Driving in Fort Lauderdale
For example, if a driver is checking a text while approaching an intersection, he or she might not notice when the traffic light turns red. This can result in a rear-end accident if there is a driver waiting at the red light. It can also result in a side-impact collision if the driver runs the red light and continues out into the intersection. Victims of a rear-end accident could suffer head and neck injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, or whiplash.
Florida Law Banned Using Smart Smartphone While Driving
A new Florida law banning the use of smartphones while driving became official at the start of 2020. This law gives police officers the ability to pull over drivers who are seen texting on a smartphone while driving. Previously, police officers had to have another reason for pulling drivers over before citing them for texting, as it was considered a secondary offense.
This change was made to help reduce distracted driving, which is a leading cause of many types of car accidents, including rear-end collisions, sideswipes, and intersection crashes. By making texting a primary offense, Florida aims to reduce preventable accidents and improve road safety statewide.
Understanding the Most Common Types of Car Accidents
Some of the most common types of car accidents can result in significant injuries for passengers and drivers. If you did nothing wrong to cause your collision and subsequent injuries, you should not have to bear the brunt of these medical bills.
As a no-fault state, Florida requires you to file an insurance claim under your personal injury protection (PIP) policy. Still, this does not mean the insurer will offer you a settlement that covers all of your injuries and damages. In this case, you may need to file a lawsuit in order to seek additional compensation.
Contact The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato
The team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato may be able to take on your case and defend your right to receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. We take pride in treating our clients like family. For a free review of your case, contact our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney at (954) 633-8270 today.
FAQs about Types of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
1. What Are the Major Causes of Car Accidents?
Some major causes of car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Driving while intoxicated
- Inclement weather, such as rain or snow
- Poor road conditions, such as potholes or debris on the road
- Merging or turning without signaling
- Driving while fatigued
- Vehicle errors or malfunctions, such as faulty brakes or a tire burst
2. The NHTSA Separates Causal Factors of Car Accidents into Four Categories
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all causal factors for motor vehicle accidents can be categorized as:
- Driver errors: A majority of accidents stem from driver-related reasons, which can involve incompetent recognition errors (e.g., failing to see a sign), decision errors (e.g., wrongly assuming another driver won’t turn when you do), performance errors (e.g., having little to no directional control), and non-performance errors (e.g., falling asleep at the wheel).
- Vehicle errors: Vehicle-related reasons include errors in the vehicle’s design, manufacturing, or maintenance that led to vehicle accidents. Common vehicle malfunctions involve tires, brakes, engine and transmission, and steering problems.
- Environmental reasons: Environmental conditions can contribute to accidents. Inclement weather like snow, fog, rain, and ice on the road can make it difficult for drivers to see or maintain directional control of their vehicles. Alternatively, sun glare, poor road design, and improper signage can disrupt or confuse drivers, putting them at risk of accidents.
- Unknown: Other causal factors for car accidents are unknown due to insufficient evidence at the accident scene.
3. What Is the Most Common Car Accident in America?
According to the NHTSA, the most common types of car accidents in the United States a front-impact collisions, meaning accidents that occur at the front end of the vehicle. These accidents can occur head-on or at an angle, such as when two turning vehicles collide.
The NHTSA provides detailed chart statistics. According to the agency’s data for 2019, 42.7 percent of car accidents involved front-end collisions, followed by rear-end collisions at 23.9 percent. You can view the chart here:
This data is further supported by the Insurance Information Institute (III), which found that most fatal accidents in 2019 occurred at an angle (18.2 percent), followed by head-on collisions (10.9 percent).
4. How Can Accidents Be Prevented?
You can prevent a car accident by:
- Following traffic laws and best safety practices
- Make sure to signal before merging or turning into a different lane
- Checking for other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists before merging or turning
- Driving at safe speeds for road conditions
- Choosing not to drive if you are drunk on alcohol, using substances, or are sleepy
- Performing regular maintenance on your vehicle
5. What Is the First Thing That Should Be Done When Accidents Happen?
If an accident occurs, the first thing you should do is check to see if you or others have been injured in the accident and seek medical help immediately if so.
Other important steps to take immediately after an accident is to:
- Report the accident to local law enforcement
- Collect contact, driver’s license, license plate, and insurance information from all involved parties
- Take photos of the accident scene, vehicles, and injured peopleThese steps are crucial regardless of the types of car accident involved—whether it’s a minor fender bender, a rear-end collision, or a more serious crash because proper documentation can support insurance claims and potential legal actions.
6. Why Is Road Safety Important?
Road safety is important to ensure all road users are kept from harm while navigating roadways. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by someone else, you may have grounds to hold them liable for negligence.
