Most Common Types Of Driver Negligence
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
In Florida, if you are injured in a car accident, and it’s not your fault but that of the other driver, then you are not financially responsible for your own medical costs. After all, fair is fair, and if someone else caused you to get hurt, then they should pay for your recovery, not you.However, this kind of financial responsibility is only carried out if there is legal weight behind it. This can take the form of both parties formally agreeing on who is responsible. Or, if the person responsible refuses to admit fault, then a court assigns fault, and now that person is legally required to compensate.
This is known as negligence. When it comes to driving, negligent acts can take a lot of different forms.
Driving Speed
The speed a vehicle travels has a direct impact on reaction time. The faster a car goes, the less time the driver has to react to sudden changes on the road. Breaking the speed limit and getting into an accident is a prime example of this. However, other circumstances, such as storms or other poor weather, can also affect speed limits.
So a driver who is in the middle of a rainstorm and is obeying the speed limit may still be negligent in this case because they should have been driving slower.
Control
Drivers are expected to maintain control of their vehicle at all times. If a driver gives up control of the car, even if only for a moment, that can often be enough to create an accident. Bending down and reaching into the glove compartment to get something is an example of temporarily giving up control of the vehicle.
If a diver was not in full control of a vehicle when an accident occurred, this is classic grounds for negligence.
Maintenance
A vehicle can only operate safely if it is properly maintained. If a car is not maintained, it can malfunction, and with an object weighing a few tons and moving at high speeds, this can pose a risk to everyone else on the roads. Drivers are expected to, at minimum, maintain the functionality of their cars. If, for example, the brakes on a car are failing, not only would that driver be responsible if an accident occurred due to being unable to use the brakes, this is illegal, and there would be charges from the police to face.
Attentiveness
Finally, and unfortunately, the most common cause of negligence in driving is ignoring the road. As with control of the vehicle, all it takes is just a moment of inattentiveness for an accident to occur. People today frequently consult their phones while driving. In the worst cases, attentiveness may be significantly compromised due to substance consumption, such as alcohol or drugs, impairing both awareness and reflexes.
If you are in a car accident and you’ve been injured due to the other driver’s negligence, talk to a car accident attorney about your situation and find out what your next move should be.