Shocking Florida Car Accident Statistics

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car accident lawyerThe sad reality is that too many motorists fail to drive as carefully as they should. Despite how safely you and your loved ones drive, you can still end up in a car accident due to someone else’s actions. 

Florida experiences higher rates of accidents than many other states. To gain a better idea of how frequently car accidents in Florida occur, take a look at these Florida car accident statistics. They also serve as a cautionary reminder to stay alert while out on the roads. 

 

How many accidents happen in Florida every year? 

Every year in the United States, millions of people are involved in car crashes. Several state and federal agencies carefully track and analyze accident statistics to gain a better understanding of where the accidents occur and what caused them. 

With so many accidents to track and analyze, agencies typically cannot publish their reports for a couple of years. While we don’t yet have the 2020 data, we can take a look at statistics from 2019.

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles annual report in 2019, Florida alone accounted for 401,867 total crashes. While there was a slight drop in accidents from 2018 to 2019 (-0.44%), this is still a staggering number of accidents to occur in one state. Florida averaged over 1,100 accidents per day in 2019.

 

2019 Florida Car Accident Fatalities 

In 2019, 3,185 people lost their lives to crashes in Florida. Like any tragic passing, these accidents not only affected the deceased but their family, friends, and other loved ones.

What makes these deaths even harder for loved ones is that these accidents were often preventable. It’s not only motorists affected by crashes; take a look at these key car accident fatalities from 2019:

  • 521 motorcyclist fatalities
  • 734 pedestrian fatalities 
  • 156 bicyclist fatalities 
  • 19 other non-motorist fatalities 

Sadly, there was an increase in car accident fatalities in Florida from 2018 to 2019. Florida has one of the leading traffic fatality rates in the whole country at 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people. 

  

Key Florida Car Accident Statistics from 2019

Florida car accident statistics reveal a frightening scene of just how often crashes occur in the state:

  • Out of 401,867 total crashes, 2,951 were fatal
  • 59% of crashes resulted in an injury
  • 7.6% of injuries incapacitated the victim 
  • 21% of fatal crashes involved confirmed driver usage of alcohol or drugs 
  • Nearly 46% of all accident fatalities were suffered by vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists
  • 354 fatalities of drivers and passengers who were not wearing any type of seat belt. 
  • Drivers aged 21 to 24 were involved in 62,729 crashes

 

What You Can Do to Prevent Car Crashes

These statistics serve as a grim reminder of the importance of driving cautiously and defensively year-round. To help lower the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities, every Florida driver can do their part by doing the following:

  • Never text and drive 
  • Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Ensure you’ve had enough rest before driving
  • Limit distractions in the vehicle
  • Follow posted speed limits and road rules 
  • Drive defensively
  • Maintain a proper distance from other motorists
  • Avoid driving through the night if possible 

These safety tips may seem like basic knowledge. However, they can go a long way in preventing future car accidents, injuries, and fatalities. 

 

Know Your Rights as a Car Accident Victim

If you or a loved one have been in a car accident, it can be an incredibly frustrating and stressful experience. On top of dealing with the aftermath of the crash including injuries, recovery, and dealing with insurance agencies, you may also have a mountain of medical bills waiting for you.

Rather than leaving your possibility of recovering compensation to chance, turn to a trusted and experienced Florida auto accident lawyer. At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, and Fronrath, our goal is to fight for justice on behalf of car accident victims and ensure they receive just compensation for their injuries. 

Get help now by scheduling a risk-free case evaluation. Call us at (561) 655-1990. We look forward to assisting you. 

What To Do at the Scene of a Car Accident

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what to do at the scene of a car accidentEvery year, millions of car accidents take place. While most result in property damage, around one-third result in injury to the drivers or passengers of the vehicle. Although you might believe that you know what to do at the scene of a car accident, your emotions may take over during such a traumatic experience. 

These helpful tips will help you remain safe and guarantee that you have everything you need to file an accurate car insurance claim. You will also discover why it is beneficial to work with a West Palm Beach car accident attorney.

Seek Medical Treatment 

One-third of vehicular accidents lead to injuries and nearly one in five are fatal. If you or another party needs immediate medical attention, call 911 and request an ambulance. Although it is generally a best practice to stay at the scene so that you can document the events, this is not possible if you are seriously injured.

Make the Scene Safe

In addition to taking care of your injuries and those of your passengers, help protect other drivers. You can do this by setting up lights or flares around the accident. Next, you should turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights if they are still functioning. After that, put as much space as you can between yourself and traffic. You can do this by sitting in your vehicle if it is in a safe location. 

If your car is too damaged, then situate yourself at the side of the road. This will help you protect yourself and others from further accidents.

Document the Scene

Once you have done what is necessary to protect the health of those involved in the accident, investigate the crash. This includes getting the name, address, and driver’s license number of those involved, as well as:

  • Taking photos of the scene, including the resulting damage, injuries, and weather.
  • Asking for witness accounts of the accident and receiving their contact information.
  • Searching for cameras in the area that may have captured a video of the incident.
  • Making sure the police are called to the scene to begin developing a police report.

Documenting the scene is an important part of the process for making an insurance claim. These initial details will also help should you go to court for this accident. By documenting the scene, you will be ready to provide evidence to your insurance company or your attorney. You will also have a better understanding of the events that occurred and why.

Start the Claim Process with Your Insurance Company

After documenting the scene, it is time to contact your insurance company. Your insurance representative will want to know where the accident occurred. They will also ask for details about the other drivers and passengers in the vehicles. Starting a claim is the first step to getting back on the road. The insurance agents will also conduct their own investigation and communicate with the other driver’s insurance company.

One important detail to note is that the other person’s insurance company will likely contact you after an accident. They may request a statement or ask you to sign a release form. Neither of these actions are in your best interest. 

Before you speak to the other party’s insurance company, it is always best to consult your car accident attorney. This will help you from paying too much if you are found at fault and can also maximize the amount you receive in damages for the accident.

Discuss the Accident with An Attorney

There are several things you should do outside of the scene of your accident. This can include beginning an investigation with an attorney to take legal action. It can also involve settling or filing a lawsuit. Both steps require adequate legal counsel. 

Contact law firm Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath at (561) 655-1990. Our experienced lawyers understand how to protect you after an accident and can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Distracted Driving in Florida: On the Rise and Unlikely to Change Any Time Soon

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Distracted Driving in Florida:

In honor of Distracted Driving Month in April, recently released statistics from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) showed that 2017 was the worst year on record for accidents involving distracted drivers in Florida.

In addition, even though more than 50,000 accidents occurred in 2017 that were attributed to driver inattention, the recent failure of proposed legislation in the Florida Senate that would have made texting a primary offense for which police officers could pull over and ticket drivers will mean this trend will not show any signs of slowing. Read more

Drowsy Driving Accidents and the Holidays

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Fatigue presents a serious safety issue for motorist during any season.  But much like drunk driving, driving accidents caused by drowsy drivers tend to spike around the time of major holidays. This is partially attributed to the fact that during the holiday season, more people travel longer distances or spend more time on local roads. In fact, Christmas and New Year’s following the Thanksgiving holidays are the top travel times for Americans. The average trip miles during Christmas and New Year’s is estimated at 275 compared with a national average of 261 miles for trips taken during the rest of the year. Read more

dirt bike accident

Star Delray Beach Football Player Killed in Dirt Bike Accident

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According to a recent Sun-Sentinel report, an Atlantic High School senior and star football player from Delray Beach was recently killed when his dirt bike crashed into an SUV in nearby Greenacres.  The accident occurred when the dirt bike, which did not have headlights, and a Chevrolet Equinox crashed on a dark stretch of road.  As the Chevrolet SUV was turning onto the road, the dirt bike slammed into its front passenger door. The dirt bike’s driver was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead a week later from his injuries.  The dirt bike’s driver was a starter and star player on last year’s Atlantic High School football team, which finished as the Florida Class 8A state runners-up.  He had already received multiple scholarship offers from Division I football programs.  This was a tragedy of a young football career cut short by the decision to drive on an off-road vehicle.

Dirt Bikes, ATV’s, Off-Road Vehicles and the Dangers They Can Pose

Riding in or driving a dirt bike, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or other type of off-road vehicle can be extremely dangerous.  Unfortunately, many people get behind the wheel of such vehicles and sometimes engage in reckless behavior by driving at breakneck speeds, taking sharp turns without braking, and other dangerous behaviors.  This coupled with the fact that many off-road vehicles lack even basic safety features like headlights or seat belts, can make the incidence of death or serious injury extremely high.  This can spell danger for motor vehicle drivers in the vicinity or even passengers in the ATV, who can be thrown from the vehicle and suffer serious injuries or even death.  In addition, if a dirt bike or ATV is driven in the vicinity of motor vehicles, accidents can often be fatal for off-road vehicle drivers and passengers, as many do not wear helmets or other protective gear despite the lack of safety features on such vehicles.

Damages Recoverable in an Accident Involving an Off-Road Vehicle

In a dirt bike or other off-road vehicle accident like the recent incident in Greenacres, the same damages apply as in any other personal injury lawsuit in Florida.  These include the costs of any repairs to a vehicle or other property that is damaged as a result of someone else’s negligence, any medical treatment for injuries caused in the accident, as well as pain and suffering for any injuries associated with an accident caused by one party’s negligence.  Therefore, in the accident above, if the high school football player on the dirt bike was determined by a jury to be at fault in the accident, his estate could be sued for each of these damages by the driver and passengers in the Equinox.

The Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys of Lytal Reiter Are Here to Assist Victims of Dirt Bike, ATV or Other Off-Road Vehicle Accidents in Florida

At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrathour experienced personal injury attorneys have decades of combined legal experience representing victims of dirt bike and other ATV accidents.  We have successfully represented individuals who have been injured in accidents involving off-road vehicles in the past. Therefore, if you have been involved in an accident involving a dirt bike, all-terrain vehicle or other off-road vehicle in Florida and have been injured by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, please call us today for a free consultation at (561) 655-1990 for a free consultation regarding your situation today.

Protecting Your Rights When You Have Been in an Automobile Accident

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Protecting Your Rights

Most people do not spend much time thinking about what they would or should do if they are in an automobile accident.  But a little forethought about what actions you could take if you survive an automobile accident may help to…

  • Minimize injuries.
  • Preserve your legal rights to compensation.
  • Protect against fraudulent claims from others.
  • Make the claims process easier.  

Read more

Lax in Driving Safety Laws May Explain Spike in Traffic Fatalities

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Recent studies indicate a possible and surprising reason for an increase in traffic fatalities.  According to a “2017 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws” report that rank effectiveness of roadway laws nationwide, unenforced or inadequate safety regulations may be directly related to the rising number of motor vehicular accidents and deaths.  In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 28,000 people died in traffic accidents in the first nine months of 2016. This represents an 8% increase from 2015 and the greatest surge in vehicular deaths in at least fifty years.   Read more

How to Be Compensated for Injuries Sustained in a “Low-Impact” Collision

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Millions of people are injured every year in vehicles that sustain zero or minimal property damage. That means there is little or no “visible” damage to the vehicle. A common trend by insurance companies is to dispute or undermine injuries sustained in these low impact collisions.  As a result, most accident victims are usually marginally compensated or receive no reimbursement for medical bills, care services or lost wages resulting from these injuries. Read more

The Chiropractors Role in Auto Accident Personal Injury Litigation.

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Unless electro-mechanical engineers design a “whiplash” proof vehicle soon, the role of the chiropractor in the personal injury litigation process may be static for some time.  Despite the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) focus on mitigating whiplash and related injuries, the number of cases continue to rise. In fact, studies have shown whiplash to be the most common injury sustained from an auto accident.  Residual pain associated with this type of injury also rank as the top reason people head to the chiropractor after being checked out at a hospital following a car wreck. Read more