Why Are There So Many Motor Vehicle Accidents in the Tampa Bay Area?

Tampa car, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents are all on the rise – here’s why that is, what you should know in order to protect yourself, and what you can do as an accident victim! 

If you live in Florida, especially in or near Tampa, it will come as no surprise to you that the area has some of the worst drivers and driving conditions in the country, and consequently, more crashes and fatalities. 

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles disclosed that there were a total of 388,032 car accidents in Florida in 2017. 

In 2016 and 2017, Florida ranked #1 as the state with the worst drivers in the U.S., according to an annual study performed by SmartAsset. In 2018, it was #8.

And the Tampa Bay area seems more prone to crashes than many other parts of Florida. In Pinellas County alone, the data shows an average of 77 crashes per day over the past 5 years (an average of 83 per day in 2017). The amount of accidents increased by 9 percent, pedestrian fatalities increased by 6 percent, and there were nearly twice as many car accidents than in the previous 5 year span.

The Sunshine State also has some of the highest fatality rates in the nation (1.47 fatalities per 100 million miles driven).

So what is it that makes our state such a dangerous place to drive (or even walk around?)

There are a variety of factors that contribute to these disturbing statistics. Understanding them can help you understand the risks and be safer on the roads! 

First, Tampa Bay is a crowded place, and more people are coming in every day (either to vacation or to live). According to the U.S. 2018 Census, the Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area boasted 3,142,663 residents, and is expected to have more than 3.3 million residents by 2023. This year, there was also a record-breaking number of tourists (126.1 million). More people mean more cars on the streets and a higher number of traffic accidents. More people also means more construction, which can obstruct roadways and negatively impact the ease of travel. The tourist numbers mean that millions of out-of-state drivers are navigating roads they are not familiar with, which is most definitely a reason why crashes are so frequent. 

Distracted driving is another factor. Florida drivers admit they use their phone an average of 1.4 times per ride (the state is the second worst in the U.S. for phone use while driving). This year, texting while driving became a primary offense, but in years past, police could not pull over drivers for using their phones unless they made another violation. I4, the highway that runs from Tampa to Daytona Beach, is the most dangerous interstate in the United States, and has been in the top 10 most dangerous interstates for the last six years, partly because distracted driving and the sheer number of travelers. 

Florida also has the highest number of uninsured drivers (over 25% don’t have insurance). Uninsured drivers are almost universally likely to be reckless with other rules of the road as well. And even the insured drivers may disobey more traffic laws here than anywhere else; a 2017 study revealed that Florida residents searched Google for terms like “speeding ticket” and “traffic ticket” at the ninth-highest rate, which indicates that more of these tickets are being received. (If you live here, you know how rare it is to encounter a driver who believes in turn signals.)

The amount of elderly drivers is another factor that does affect the number of collisions. Florida is one of the most popular retirement destinations because of the attractions and beautiful weather, so by the year 2030, over 27% of the population is projected to be over 65. Not all, but many older adults may experience slower reaction times and often have physical or mental conditions that affect their ability to drive safely. 

If you’re a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian in Florida, you’re not entirely in control of your safety, but there are a few things you can do to decrease the possibility of being seriously injured in a crash. 

• Wear your seatbelt – This simple rule can keep you and your passengers from exiting the vehicle in the event of a collision. 
• Follow traffic laws – If you don’t speed, you’ll have more time to react if something occurs on the road in front of you. Knowing who has the right of way in various situations will help you avoid colliding with other cars and with pedestrians, or being hit as a pedestrian. 
• Don’t text and drive – Starting in 2020, you will be ticketed for this violation, but it is never a good idea to drive distracted; you vastly increase the chance that you will hit someone or that someone will hit you while you’re not paying attention. The text can wait! 
• Don’t drink and drive – Never acceptable. Especially with ride sharing services like Uber, you can enjoy yourself without endangering others by getting behind the wheel. Driving while intoxicated is a crime and often leads to serious crashes. 
• Be aware of your surroundings – This is probably the most important rule on the list. If you, as a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, are paying close attention to what is happening on the road around you, you are much less likely to get hit or hit someone else. 
• Perform regular maintenance on your vehicle – Always make sure your brakes, lights, turn signals, and other important functions of your car are working correctly!
• Slow down in the rain – Florida really isn’t as sunny as tourists seem to think! The frequent inclement weather can make the roads slippery and visibility treacherous. Don’t try to go the same speed as you would under clear skies, or you will be more likely to get in an accident. 

Even if you are vigilant about your safety, other people may not be, and you may still be involved in a car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident that was completely outside of your control. 

When you are the victim of a Tampa motor vehicle accident, and you were injured, you are legally entitled to seek compensation. Injuries resulting from crashes can leave you devastated by hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages from not being able to work, physical damage to your car, and/or the pain and suffering you endure. 

You shouldn’t have to pay for an accident that wasn’t your fault, and that’s where personal injury lawyers come in. The right attorney will know exactly how to get your fair and full compensation from the insurance companies, who are notorious for being stingy with claims, and litigate for you in court if necessary. 

The Florida Law Group is nationally recognized as one of the top law firms in the state and in the nation. While you focus on healing, we can walk you through the confusing and frustrating claims process and help you understand your legal options. Our lead attorney, Chris Limberopoulos, is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, a distinction that only 1% of lawyers have earned. Our success in obtaining verdicts and settlements for our clients has been praised by the Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers®, Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠, Superb Rating by Avvo, The Best Lawyers in Tampa Bay, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. We’ve been featured on 20/20, 48 Hours, ABC, and the CBS Evening News. 

You can trust us to handle your case and help you win financial restitution! We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we only require payment if our services result in monetary gain for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation!