Automobile accidents remain one of the main causes of personal injury in Florida, such as in Miami. Such accidents can cause injuries that range from mild to severe and even deadly. A high number of crash-related deaths have been reported each year across the streets of Florida. Here’s a look at some crucial traffic crash data for Florida in addition to the major causes of crashes.

Florida Car Accident Statistics

According to the statistics shared by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), a total of 401,867 crashes happened across Florida in 2019 alone. Of these, 2,951 accidents proved deadly leading to 3,185 fatalities. Of those, 14,252 crashes involved serious injuries leading to disabilities.

Within Broward County, the entire number of crashes reported during 2019 was 41,114. These led to 214 deaths and 23,671 injuries.

Leading Causes of Automobile Accidents

Automobile accidents are caused by many different factors. However, some variables are more often responsible for causing crashes, as substantiated by the facts and statistics. Here’s a look at these variables.

Impairment Due to Alcohol or Drugs

In 2019, Florida saw a total of 4,984 crashes where alcohol-related handicap was a verified contributing factor. Similarly, the number of crashes where drug-related impairment was a significant cause stayed at 730 throughout the year. 381 deaths were verified in such drug-related crashes.

Together, alcohol and drugs accounted for nearly 1,100 traffic deaths during the year 2019 when the complete road deaths stood at 3,185. These translate to almost 35 percent of the total fatalities. This makes alcohol and drug-related disability the major cause of fatal accidents in Florida.

Florida has strict DUI and DWI laws. The fines are a lot stiffer if a drunk or impaired driver causes an accident resulting in injuries or death. In 2019, there was a year-over-year drop in the amount of alcohol-related automobile accidents although drug-related crashes incresed substantially.

Speeding

Another leading cause of automobile accidents in Florida is speeding. When a motorist is driving over the posted speed limit, this is considered speeding. Likewise, when a driver is moving at a rate that’s too fast for the road conditions and conditions, this is also considered speeding. As an example, if the traffic has slowed down but a driver coming from behind failed to brake in time, this can be considered speeding.

Speeding drivers cause all kinds of accidents, including rear-end crashes and T-bone collisions. Automobile accidents involving vehicles traveling at a high speed also generally lead to serious to fatal accidents.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a substantial contributing factor in Florida automobile accidents. In 2019, 266 fatalities were attributed to distracted drivers. Distracted driving also led to 2,929 incapacitating and 14,030 non-incapacitating injuries. Another 32,081 mishaps were deemed as being potentially caused by distracted drivers. Calling, texting, or using cellular phones is the most frequent kind of distraction for motorists.

Fatigue

Drowsiness and fatigue contribute to many commercial vehicle accidents. Truck drivers often work long hours and can be fatigued if they are not sufficiently rested. They could momentarily doze off causing accidents and injuries. Fatigue is a less common contributing factor with passenger vehicles but it still does play a part in many car crashes also.

Unsafe Road Conditions and Weather

Weather can affect visibility, reduce road traction and create dangerous conditions for driving. Strong gusts of wind, snow, sleet, fog, and heavy rains are factors that directly result in a greater number of traffic injuries. Most accidents caused in adverse weather conditions demand property damage as the majority of drivers are prudent enough to slow down in this type of weather.

Hiring a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer in Miami

In case you’ve suffered injuries or correctly damage in an auto crash in Florida, we can assist you. Our Miami car accident lawyers help injured victims with a focus on helping them regain a reasonable sum of compensation. Our attorneys can negotiate with an insurer or prepare your claim for a court, based on the conditions. Reach out to us now to discuss your vehicle crash claim with our attorneys.