West Palm Beach is known for its shopping, entertainment, and nightlife, but even its palm tree-lined streets see their fair share of car accidents. When you’re in an accident, you may suffer serious injuries and quickly sink into financial despair from medical bills and being unable to work.
West Palm Beach car accidents are often caused by a few of the same factors. Take a look at the most common causes of crashes on these Gold Coast roads.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving remains as one of the top causes of car wrecks, particularly in West Palm Beach. Multi-tasking behind the wheel is never a good idea as an accident can happen in a split second. When drivers are busy texting, eating, applying makeup, selecting music, or programming the GPS, it often is the moment that they wind up in an accident.
Speeding
Going beyond the speed limit is dangerous for everyone, though a driver doesn’t necessarily have to exceed the speed posted on the road signs. If the weather is poor, going too fast for the conditions is also a contributing cause of crashes.
Driving Under the Influence
Even with strict penalties in place for those who get behind the wheel while intoxicated, West Palm Beach drivers still drive after a night out on the town. Impaired drivers are slower to react and have decreased coordination. Along with impaired judgment, they can often make catastrophic errors, leading to devastating wrecks.
Reckless Driving
Drivers who engage in aggressive behaviors such as tailgating and cutting off other drivers can easily cause accidents. Every driver needs to operate their vehicle safely and follow the rules of the road.
Failure to Obey Traffic Laws and Signals
Some drivers fail to yield at intersections for other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Others blow through stop signs and red lights. These behaviors put everyone in danger. While you can’t control the actions of others, if you’re paying attention, you’ll be able to spot a negligent driver and avoid trouble.
Wet Weather Conditions
In this area, heavy rains, thunderstorms, and other tropical weather conditions can make it an even greater challenge to drive safely. This weather has the potential to severely limit your visibility. It’s important to slow down and keep a safe distance from other vehicles when the weather switches from sunny to stormy.
Improper Road Maintenance and Signage
Roads that are not properly maintained may have large potholes or be riddled with debris. Even cautious drivers may not be able to avoid these elements and get into an accident. The local government may be responsible for failing to keep the roads safe.
In addition to keeping the roads free of these types of hazards, local entities must make sure that roadways are equipped with proper signage. Seemingly never-ending construction zones are often the cause, too, as they may fail to post warnings to drivers.
Driver Fatigue
Getting behind the wheel while drowsy can be as deadly as getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Drivers who are exhausted from a long day of work or from driving long distances lose the ability to react quickly to changes on the roadway. It’s easier for a tired driver to zone out and become inattentive or even fall asleep. Any driver who feels too drowsy should find a safe place to pull over and rest.
Inexperienced and Aging Drivers
Learning to drive is a huge rite of passage that West Palm Beach teens are excited to enjoy. However, as they learn the skills they need, they still lack the experience earned by spending hours on the road. They may be ill-equipped to handle certain driving situations and make misjudgments.
Along with these new drivers on the road, you have an aging population with slower reaction times and an influx of tourists from around the globe. Those who aren’t familiar with the area may struggle to get in the correct lane and cut off other drivers. They may also slow down or stop unexpectedly to gawk at certain landmarks, which can cause other drivers to collide.
How Can You Keep Safe on the Roads of West Palm Beach?
If you have engaged in some of these unsavory driving behaviors, make sure that you take the right steps to correct them and pay better attention behind the wheel. As for the other drivers on the road, there isn’t anything you can do to control them, though following traffic laws and keeping a safe distance will help you avoid encounters with many of the problematic drivers around you.
In the event of an accident, you should make sure you get prompt medical treatment for your injuries, gather evidence at the scene, and contact an attorney to discuss your legal options. For help finding a lawyer, contact 1-800-Injured. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service.
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