Bad Habits that Lead to Car Accidents

Person is driving and looking at phone

Car accidents in Florida are a frequent occurrence, and they often lead to injuries, property damage, and even death. However, by avoiding the following bad habits, your chances of being involved in a car accident in Florida will lower significantly.  

Speeding

Speeding is one of the top causes of accidents in Florida. When speeding, it becomes more difficult to react to unexpected events, thereby greatly increasing the risk that you’ll be involved in an accident. And when accidents occur at high speeds, the results are likely to be severe.  

Not Checking Your Blind Spots

When you fail to check your blind spots, you might as well be driving with one eye open. Checking your mirrors before changing lanes simply isn’t a sufficient method of accident prevention. You must also briefly look over your shoulder to ensure that there isn’t a car, truck, motorcycle, or other vehicle in your blind spot before changing lanes.

Drunk Driving

While it is well known that drinking and driving is a bad idea, people continue to make this mistake—often with deadly results. Given the availability of taxis and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, there is simply no excuse to ever drive drunk. So, if you plan on having a few drinks, always use a designated driver, call a taxi, or use a ride-sharing service.

Driving While Distracted

Texting, checking emails, using social media, or doing anything other than keeping your eyes on the road while driving is a bad idea. When you aren’t watching the road, you are putting yourself and others at risk. Therefore, any time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, remind yourself to focus on the task at hand.

Impatience

While patience is a positive life skill to develop, it is especially important when driving. Impatience can cause drivers to make poor decisions, and this can lead to accidents. Impatient behaviors such as cutting off other vehicles, racing while in a merging lane, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating other vehicles, and speeding up when approaching yellow lights are all surefire ways to cause car accidents. One way to avoid being tempted into these types of behaviors is to always give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination.

Pensacola Car Accident Attorneys

If you’ve suffered injuries in an automobile accident in Pensacola, Florida, you need experienced legal representation. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., has over seventy years of combined experience representing car accident victims in Northwest Florida and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Northwest Florida, Staples Ellis is here to help you overcome the harm you have endured. Please contact our office as soon as possible to set up a consultation with one of our talented attorneys.

Posted in: Auto Accidents