Catania and Catania | June 8, 2021 | Car Accidents
In 2019 Florida reported 402,347 motor vehicle accidents, resulting in 3,193 traffic fatalities. A significant number of these tragic incidents occurred in the Tampa area. This raises a pressing question: “What are the odds of getting in a car accident and dying?”
The chances of having a car accident and dying depend on different factors: driver behavior, road conditions, and the degree of vehicle safety. These odds hint at the dangers of driving daily, especially in cities like Tampa, FL, where heavy traffic and a high volume of tourists add to the complexity of road safety. If well understood, such risks can boost safer driving and explain the importance of legal intervention in the aftermath of serious accidents.
Odds of Dying in a Car Accident
Your odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident depend on many variables, including how often you are on the road, traffic conditions, the type of vehicle you drive, and the type of accident (i.e., head-on crash, rollover accident, etc.).
The NSC (National Safety Council) calculated the odds of dying from various causes of death. In 2019, the average person had a 1 in 107 chance of dying in a car accident. That is lower than the odds of dying from cancer, heart disease, suicide, or a fall.
However, the odds of dying in a car accident are higher than the odds of dying in a motorcycle crash (1 in 899) or dying in a pedestrian accident (1 in 543).
It can be terrifying to think that each time you get into an automobile you have a chance of never making it back home again. Thankfully, you can take certain steps to reduce your odds of being in a fatal car crash.
Main Causes of Car Crashes
The involvement and chances in the case of death by a car accident have a strong influence regarding the causes behind an accident. Herein are listed the significant accidents that usually take place, having strong liaison:
Distracted Driving
It is the most common cause of car accidents. Federal traffic safety data shows that various distractions during driving, such as sending SMSs or emails, eating, or adjusting some in-vehicle systems, account for almost 9% of all fatal crashes among young drivers. Drivers distracted by technology, conversations, or other activities can’t respond well to critical changes in the road situation, which is very dangerous.
- Visual distractions: A driver takes one’s gaze away from the road. The gaze may go towards a phone, GPS navigator, etc.
- Manual distractions: Taking hands off the wheel may include reaching for objects or eating.
- Cognitive distractions: Diversion of mental attention; these include daydreaming and deep conversations.
Drunk or Impaired Driving
Another major contributing factor that places drivers at great risk of accidents is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. About 28% of national traffic deaths involve impaired driving, studies have shown. In Florida, tougher enforcement of DUIs and public awareness campaigns regarding such issues work to reduce these incidents, but impaired driving still poses a major threat on its highways.
Speeding
Speed limits reduce reaction times and increase collision impact, making fatalities and severe injuries much more likely to result from a collision. More often, urban areas such as Tampa experience high incidences of speeding due to congested traffic flow patterns and the frustrations it may cause, thus the reckless behaviors of drivers.
Teen Drivers and Inexperience
Less experience, overconfidence, and risk-taking place teen drivers in a very high-risk category. Limited driving time can lead to poor judgments and slower response times. Adding to the previous factors of passengers, specifically peers, and night conditions, such drivers are presented with increased hazards, including poor visibility and strong peer influences for unsafe behaviors.
Weather Conditions
Rain and storms in Tampa flood the roads, making driving slippery and visibility low. This type of weather is very usual in Florida, and drivers not native to Florida may not be well prepared for hazardous driving conditions, including hydroplaning and heavy downpours. Such weather conditions lead to a dangerous potential driving environment that increases the incidence of accidents.
Reducing Your Risk of Being in a Car Accident
You can do many things to reduce the odds that you will be involved in a car accident, such as:
- Always wear your seat belt
- Purchase a vehicle with advanced airbags and crash avoidance technology
- Do not operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Follow the posted speed limits and reduce speed when necessary
- Always pay attention to the road – avoid all distractions while driving
- Check your blind spots and always signal turns and merges
- Do not drive when you are tired or drowsy
- Allow for extra travel time because of traffic jams and other issues
- Do not follow too closely or tailgate
- Obey all traffic laws
You may not be able to avoid a car accident, even if you take every precaution. Therefore, it is good to know what you should do after a car accident.
How Important Is Vehicle Maintenance?
Good vehicle maintenance is important in avoiding accidents and reducing the chances of involvement in a car crash and subsequent death. Poorly maintained vehicles promote mechanical failures, which account for the causes of many preventable crashes.
Tire Health
Worn tires reduce traction, particularly on wet or uneven surfaces. Regular checks for tread depth and proper inflation can prevent blowouts and skidding.
Braking System
Faulty brakes have always been one of the major causes of hazard accidents on the road, especially in heavy-traffic cities such as Tampa. Drivers should very frequently check their brake pads and fluid levels.
Lights and Signals
A properly working headlights and turn signals ensures visibility and communication with other oncoming vehicles.
Engine and Fluids
Overheated engines and fluid leakage can result in breakdowns that can be dangerous. Timely oil changes and coolant checks could reduce such cases.
Investing in preventive maintenance reduces the risks of accidents, and responsible ownership could imply computationally strengthening the case when there are legal disputes over liability.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Tampa
If you are involved in a car accident, stop your vehicle at the first safe location and call 911. Do not apologize or admit fault. Only discuss the accident with the police officers.
Try to document the accident scene with pictures and videos. However, do not place yourself or others in danger to take pictures of a car crash.
See your doctor As soon as possible if you do not go directly to the emergency room. Never say you are not injured because you could have sustained injuries that are not evident yet. Documenting your injuries through medical records is essential for proving the car crash caused your injuries. Make sure to tell the doctor you were in a car accident and give him all of your symptoms, regardless of your opinion of the severity of symptoms.
Talk with an accident lawyer to determine if you have an accident claim. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, your family might be entitled to compensation for your loss under Florida’s wrongful death statute. An attorney can help you determine which causes of action might arise from a car accident case.
How Can You Prove Wrongful Death?
To determine the wrongfulness of death due to a car accident, it has to be primarily established that the death is related to another person’s negligence. Normally, this results from analysis through the following multi-step process:
Establishing Duty of Care
The driver’s legal obligation is to drive carefully, such as abiding by the speed limit and not driving when distracted.
Proving Breach of Duty
In establishing negligence, one has to show that the offending driver was irresponsible in some way, such as texting while driving or driving under the influence of something.
Demonstrating Causation
It must be established that the negligent act was the direct cause of the fatal accident. In most instances, this will involve expert testimony from experts specializing in accident reconstruction and eyewitness testimony.
Calculating Damages
The demand is for compensatory damages-economic damages, such as medical bills and funeral expenses-and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Florida
Wrongful death lawsuits for car accidents are filed pursuant to Florida’s Wrongful Death Act. The estate for the deceased files the wrongful death action on behalf of the estate’s heirs. The money recovered is paid through the estate to the named heirs.
If the person did not have a will naming their heirs, the money is paid according to intestate laws. The estate might seek damages if the person survived for a short period. Damages would include medical bills, loss of income, the deceased’s personal pain and suffering, and reimbursement for funeral costs.
The estate may also seek compensation for other damages. For example, the estate may see compensation for the financial support and household services the person would have provided had they lived. The estate may also seek compensation for the family’s pain and suffering and loss of protection, love, guidance, affection, and companionship.
A wrongful death lawyer can discuss your case in detail during a consultation. The lawyer can provide additional information about wrongful death claims and how your claim would be valued.
Are There Any Chances of Dying in a Car Crash Getting Lower?
Yes, improvements in vehicle safety, traffic laws, and public education have drastically cut the fatality rate in car crashes over the years. Nevertheless, risks largely depend on many factors, such as location and driver behavior.
According to the National Safety Council, over the past several decades, deaths from motor-vehicle crashes have drastically reduced due to:
- Technological advancements: The improvements introduce features such as AEB and Lane keeping that minimize human error.
- Safety campaigns: Those with seatbelts and drunk driving awareness show some results.
- Improved infrastructure: Investment in better lighting and road signage to improve safety in Tampa.
Even with these improvements, the NSC still warns that preventable deaths due to behavioral factors continue to occur. In fact, your odds of dying from an accidental opioid overdose are now greater than dying in a motor vehicle crash, according to NSC Injury Facts. This change mirrors the success of safety measures in reducing traffic fatalities.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Tampa, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, and need legal help, contact our Tampa car accident lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers
Bank of America Plaza
101 E Kennedy Blvd #2400
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 222-8656
We also provide legal assistance throughout the Tampa Bay Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton.
