Tampa Personal Injury Law Blog

Individuals in Florida who have legally consumed alcoholic beverages may understand the effects that the substance has on the human body. Alcohol can change individuals' perceptions and can influence how they make decisions. It should come as no surprise to Florida residents, then, that alcohol can have a major effect on how safely and effectively individuals can drive their cars when they are under the influence.

For example, alcohol can impact how a person makes decisions and judgments. A person who is under the influence may not be able to recall how to appropriately respond in a dangerous driving situation and may cause a collision due to their inability to effectively process information. Similarly, alcohol can diminish a driver's responsiveness. Since alcohol can make a person tired, it can directly impact a driver's safe operating practices if they cannot hold their attention on the road.

Trucks are critical for the American economy, yet they also represent one of the biggest safety threats on the road. When these large and heavy vehicles collide with other vehicles, they can cause significant and catastrophic consequences. Because of the damage these vehicles can cause, it is critical for truckers to be as safe as possible.

There are many reasons why truck accidents happen in Florida. Speed, distracted driving, inexperienced truckers and other factors can increase the chance of a collision involving a truck. You may know all of these things are risky, but you may not realize how much certain types of health conditions can impact a driver's ability to safely drive a semitrailer. One of these issues is sleep apnea, and it may be more prominent than you realize.

As a Florida driver, you are probably aware of the extent of the distracted driving problem in the state. You have probably shared the road with drivers who are texting, emailing, looking at Facebook, eating, adjusting the radio or doing various other things while behind the wheel. To fight this problem, Florida legislators recently passed a law that makes using the phone while driving a primary offense.

As a primary offense, law enforcement can now pull drivers over if they see them texting or using their phones while driving. Despite this change, which many hoped would lead to safer roads, few police officers have actually written citations. It's difficult to determine whether this law has helped with the problem of distracted driving.

Last year, Great Britain added a new instruction to its driving rulebook when it mandated that individuals use the Dutch Reach when exiting their parallel-parked cars. The Dutch Reach requires drivers to use their inside hand to open their doors. When a driver reaches across their body to open the car door, their body turns toward the road and the driver is forced to look over their shoulder. In this action, they are more likely to see an oncoming bicyclist and prevent a dangerous dooring accident.

Dooring happens when a driver opens their door into the path of a bicyclist, and this simple act of negligence can have devastating and deadly results. Across the United States and right here in Florida, men, women, and children can be hurt by dooring when they crash into car doors that have been opened into their paths. The Dutch Reach initiative may be a useful tool in combating these preventable and harmful forms of accidents.