Many individuals throughout Florida are forced to drive on a daily basis, often multiple times a day. Whether it is driving to work, to school, running household errands or taking the children to their activities, motorists must be aware of numerous dangers on the road.
Even though every motor vehicle collision is unique, they often share various common factors, including:
- Distracted driving: It is far too common for certain activities to pull a driver’s attention from the road. From something as innocuous as taking a sip of coffee to the universally-condemned action of participating in a text conversation, drivers should avoid any type of distraction while behind the wheel. Distractions, unfortunately, pull focus from the road, hands from the steering wheel and eyes from the immediate surroundings.
- Impaired driving: Historically, the term impaired driving has centered on drugs or alcohol. In recent years, however, people have expanded the notion to include prescription medication and over-the-counter treatments. Often, these meds carry significant side effects that can depress the driver’s perceptions and impair cognition.
- Drowsy driving: How often do drivers look around to see other motorists yawning while behind the wheel? Unfortunately, drowsy driving often leads to serious repercussions. For example, drowsy drivers can drift into oncoming lanes or fail to recognize stopped traffic.
Depending on countless factors, a motor vehicle collision can lead to devastating injuries. From the types of vehicles involved to the speeds at which they were traveling, a crash can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputation or paralysis.