The city of Orlando is among the nation’s most popular tourist destinations. Known for its sunny Florida weather, restaurants, and museums as well as its world-famous theme parks. Orlando belongs on a number of prized top ten lists, but unfortunately, Orlando also makes it into the top ten of a recent list of cities with the most aggressive drivers on the road.
It’s a serious issue, as aggressive driving leads to car accidents, injuries and fatalities. The state of Florida overall is not known for having the best drivers either. According to a study that looked at four different factors to rank the worst drivers in the country, Florida was number eight for the year 2018. For 2017, Florida was number one in the country for having the worst drivers.
The analysts in the aggressive driving study looked at the frequency of hard breaking, swift acceleration and speeding. There are a number of other actions that might constitute aggressive driving, for example:
- Tailgating
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Running red lights
- Cutting off other drivers
The study, which included people who opted-in to have their driving habits tracked, found the 7th-most aggressive drivers in the country were actually in Orlando. In other words, Orlando was 7th on the list in the country for having the most aggressive drivers. It ranked higher than New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and even Miami. Los Angeles topped the list for the year 2018, with the state of California having three other cities in the top ten.
According to AAA, a not-for-profit organization of motor clubs serving more than 59 million members in the United States and Canada, aggressive driving includes such behaviors as tailgating, speeding in significant traffic, cutting into the lane of another driver and immediately slowing, going through red lights, blocking cars that are attempting to make a pass and weaving among traffic lanes. Drivers who make use of the brakes or headlights to “punish” other people on the road might also be engaging in aggressive driving.
Aggressive actions behind the wheel like accelerating or decelerating quickly, speeding or swerving are among the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Because of their aggressive and unpredictable nature, they are likely to lead to car accidents.
Aggressive driving in Florida might also refer to the traffic offense of careless driving. This is defined in the Florida Statutes and includes actions similar to those noted above. In a car accident case, it is generally not necessary to establish that the at-fault party violated any statute, but an attorney may be able to use such a determination to support the client’s claims. Attorney Ken Pugliese of Freeman Injury Law has experience pursuing recovery on behalf of injured plaintiffs; if you were injured in a car accident, he may be able to help you deal with aggressive drivers in Orlando and secure the recovery you deserve.
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the speeds involved in a crash are directly related to the severity of the crash. Increasing speed by 50 percent causes an energy release of more than double. The increased force of a crash where speeding or other aggressive behaviors are factors is what makes these crashes more severe or deadly.
In a car accident case in Orlando where aggressive driving is a factor, the injured parties may be entitled to recover for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills or other damages. Ken Pugliese is an injury attorney in Orlando who works closely with clients to:
- Gather evidence to build a solid case
- Conduct witness interviews or depositions
- Secure expert testimony or reports
- Develop trial strategy
- Negotiate out-of-court settlement
If you have been injured in a car accident, an experienced injury attorney in Orlando at Freeman Injury Law will listen to the circumstances of your case and help you determine the best way to proceed. The consultation is free and we don’t charge a fee unless you win the case. Attorney Ken Pugliese prides himself on client communication; he will keep you abreast of the entire progress of your case and he’s always available 24/7 if you have questions. Call us today at 1-800-561-7777 to set up a free consultation.