The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports that 227,998 traffic crashes occurred in the state in 2011. That’s an average of 625 accidents every day – 26 every hour!
In Hillsborough County, home to Tampa and the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., there were 18,027 crashes in 2011. In other words, there were about 49 accidents every day, or two every hour.
Most car accidents involve multiple vehicles and a driver who is at fault for the wreck. An at-fault driver can and should be held liable for any property damage, personal injury or wrongful death he or she has caused.
At the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., our lawyers can conduct an extensive, complete investigation of the crash that occurred in your case. This starts by contacting us for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Auto Accidents
When we take on your case, we will examine whether your crash resulted from one or more of the many common causes of car accidents in Tampa and Florida, including:
- Alcohol – Drunk driving, impaired driving, driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI) – regardless of what it is called, car accidents caused by drivers who have consumed too much alcohol continue to be among the most common in Florida and across the U.S. The FDOT said there were more than 17,000 “alcohol related / suspected crashes” in the state in 2011. They caused 920 deaths and 11,816 personal injuries.
- Drugs – Driving while impaired by illegal or over-the-counter medications can be just as deadly as drunk driving. In Florida, 190 people died and 1,556 suffered injuries in “drug related / suspected crashes” in 2011.
- Speeding – Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions contributes to about one third of accidents nationwide every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that it issued 301,960 speeding citations in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
- Aggression – Aggressive driving typically refers to speeding, failing to yield, following too closely (tailgating), passing improperly and running red lights or stop signs. Of course, these are all actions that can lead to crashes.
- Distraction – Due to the heavy use of personal electronics these days – particularly cell phones – distracted driving has become a leading highway hazard. In fact, it is blamed for 3,000-plus deaths and 350,000-plus injuries every year in the U.S. Florida banned texting while driving as of October 2013. However, unlike many other states, Florida has not restricted the use of a cell phone behind the wheel to talk.
- Fatigue – A drowsy driver is less attentive to the road ahead (if not actually asleep at the wheel) and is likely to react slower or have more trouble making a decision than a rested driver. Drowsy driving can affect anyone. However, it is cited more often in accidents involving truck drivers, workers with long or overnight shifts, students who work and people with sleep disorders or who take medications that cause drowsiness.
- Defects – Automotive defects can include design flaws that make vehicles such as some SUVs and passenger vans prone to rollover accidents. The defect could also be a matter of defective brakes or steering mechanisms or tires that are susceptible to blowouts or roll offs.
Common Types of Car Collisions
As we have seen at the Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., the type of collision often indicates fault. For instance, most rear-end collisions are found to be caused by the trailing driver. The types of collisions we can investigate include:
- Rear-End Accidents – These crashes commonly occur because the driver in back is distracted, speeding or tailgating. Rear-end collisions are a common cause of whiplash, which can be a potentially serious neck and back injury.
- Head-on Collisions – These accidents typically involve one car crossing the centerline of a highway into the path of an oncoming vehicle. They can be caused by distracted driving, drunk or drugged driving, fatigued/ drowsy driving, falling asleep behind the wheel or a vehicle defect such as loss of steering or a tire blowout.
- Intersection Accidents – Most of these accidents occur as one car attempts to turn left. The cause is typically a driver who has run a stop sign or traffic light or has misjudged the speed of an oncoming vehicle.
- Side-Impact Collisions – These are also called “T-bone accidents.” Because there is little space along the sides of a car or passenger truck to absorb the impact of a crash and protect the vehicle’s occupants, these crashes can be deadly.
- Sideswipe Collisions – These crashes often happen because a driver attempts to change lanes or drifts across lanes. Over-steering or under-steering in a curve or making an improper turn can also cause a sideswipe accident.
Contact a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in any type of car accident in Tampa or elsewhere in Florida that was not your fault, then you have a right to seek compensation for your vehicle damage, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and more. The Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., can help you through the process. You won’t owe us any costs or fees unless you recover for your losses.
Schedule a free review of your case by calling us today or submitting our online form.
For More Information
- 2011 Florida Traffic Crash Facts, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- 2012 Facts and Figures, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles