Happy New Year from all of us at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured.
We hope 2022 brings a move toward normalcy and puts the worst of the pandemic behind us. The truth of the matter is that healthy adults are still most likely to be killed in a traffic collision, according to the National Safety Council, which puts your annual odds of being in a serious crash at 1 in 107.
As the New Year begins, our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral urge each of you to resolve to become a better driver this year. Some of us have further to go in this regard than others, but each effort will pay dividends, both in reducing your risks of being seriously injured or killed, and in reducing the likelihood that you will be found responsible for a serious or fatal crash.
Top Causes of Traffic Collisions in Southwest Florida
The risk factors for being involved in a crash are well known and well understood. By focusing on a few simple behaviors, you can make safer driving a reality with minimal effort.
Distracted driving: We all know it. But few appreciate the very real and very substantial risk. Over the last 10 years, our phones have gone from making phone calls and sending texts (both inherently dangerous activities that involve all three forms of distraction: Cognitive, visual and manual), to mini supercomputers that can surf the web, browse social media, and interact with an endless number of apps. Today, it’s estimated that more than one-third of all crashes involve some form of distraction. Be honest with yourself: When was the last time you received an urgent text, phone call or e-mail? Most of what has us reaching for our phones while we are driving is either outright junk, or mundane communications that can wait until later.
Aggressive driving: A weird thing has happened during the coronavirus pandemic. The overall amount of travel has decreased substantially. Collisions, however, have stubbornly remained near pre-pandemic peaks. There is every evidence that a substantial number of drivers have become less tolerant, more irritable, and quicker to anger. We are not talking about road rage. We are talking about speeding, tailgating, running yellow traffic lights, not yielding the right of way, not using turn signals, and other dangerous driving behaviors. Take a breath, allow plenty of time to reach your destination, and don’t engage with other drivers.
Impaired driving: Drunk driving has been the focus of law enforcement for a generation. And progress has been made. However, lax marijuana laws, the opioid epidemic, and the increased use of prescription painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants, have increased risks of impaired driving. Driving under the influence of any mind-altering medication is a recipe for increased danger. If you are using prescribed medication, be sure to talk to your doctor about the risks and obey the prescription warnings and limitations.
By keeping these three primary points in mind, our Fort Myers car accident attorneys know you can substantially reduce your risks while making the roads of Southwest Florida that much safer for everyone.
If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.