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4 Common Causes of Car Accidents in Sarasota

February 8, 2022 Legal Team
man in distress after getting into a car accident

You likely frequently see car accidents – or the aftermath of crashes – on the highways and streets of Sarasota. The unfortunate reality is they happen all the time. These can occur for many reasons – from driver error to dangerous intersections.

Learn some of the most common causes of car accidents in Sarasota.

 Negligence in Intersections

Car accidents can happen frequently in intersections if a driver isn’t paying attention, or makes an error. Crashes often occur when a car tries to make a left turn and fails to see a vehicle entering the intersection. Accidents can also happen if a driver runs a red light, or ignores traffic signals. These crashes can result in serious injuries, as they typically involve a vehicle getting hit head-on, or on the side. If you are hit in an intersection, it’s important to consult a car accident attorney quickly. A lawyer can ensure you collect the correct evidence from the accident scene and know your legal rights before speaking to the other driver’s insurance company. Filing a lawsuit against the liable driver can help you recover compensation for medical bills, damages to your vehicle, time off work, and more.

Some intersections to be especially alert in include:

  • Fruitville Road and Beneva Road
  • Bee Ridge Road and South Tamiami Trail

 Distracted Driving

Despite all of the warnings about the dangers of distracted driving, numerous drivers still participate in risky behaviors. This can include texting and driving, fiddling with the radio, trying to adjust your car temperature, drinking coffee, eating, or numerous other actions that cause you to take your eyes off the road.

While drivers can justify looking at a text or picking up their coffee by saying they are only taking their eyes off the road for a second, unfortunately, that’s all it can take to cause serious car accidents. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 299 people died in 2020 due to distracted drivers.

If you’re hit by a distracted driver, you can work with a car accident attorney to file a claim against the driver.

Drunk Drivers

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) stated that in 2020, there were 746 fatalities from crashes due to alcohol or drugs. While this was a decrease of 33-percent from the previous years, there are still too many drunk drivers on Florida roads that are causing serious accidents – and even death. The influence of alcohol can reduce a driver’s reaction time, cause them to lose focus on the road, and prevent them from correctly operating the vehicle and navigating the roads.

If you are hit by a drunk driver, you can work with a car accident attorney to file a claim against the negligent driver. This lawsuit can seek damages for any injuries you suffered and damage to your vehicle.

 Speeding

It can be of no surprise to you that there are a lot of drivers who travel at speeds above the speed limit on the Sarasota roadways. Traveling at too high of a speed can limit the amount of time a driver has to react to a situation and can require more space to slow down to avoid a crash. Speeding drivers can cause rear-end collisions and can be more likely to be involved in a rollover accident as speeding can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

If you’re in an accident and the other driver was speeding, you can have a case against the driver. While working with your attorney, you will need to obtain copies of the police report and get witness testimony to prove the driver’s speed led to the accident.

We Can Help After Car Accidents

If you were involved in a car accident, you need help from top-rated, hard-working representation. At Shapiro | Delgado | Hofmann, our Sarasota car accident attorneys put their injury law experience to work for you. And we handle cases on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do.

To set up a free personal consultation, call (941) 954-4000 or use our convenient online contact form.

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