Fort Walton Beach Personal Injury Law Blog

Most people who have dogs love taking their pets with them wherever they can. Even if it is just for a short trip to run a drive-thru errand, many Florida residents will load up the dog in the car to go along for the ride. Of course, with the many outdoor activities around Fort Walton, dogs are often in vehicles for longer periods of time as drivers travel toward their destinations.

You may be someone who loves taking your pooch with you whenever you can. However, it is important to remember that dogs need proper restraints while riding in a vehicle for their own safety, your safety and the safety of those around you. You should also keep in mind that dogs in cars can add significant distractions to drivers, which could pose problems on the roadway.

Over 400,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred across the state of Florida in 2018 according to data released from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Almost 35% of the crashes occurred in the southern portion of the state in large cities such as Miami.

The number of accidents increased slightly from 402,385 in 2017 to 403,626 in 2018. The numbers translate to an average of 1,106 crashes happening per day in the state. Experts believe that distracted drivers may be the reason behind the increase. Substances are also a factor as over 5,000 of the accidents were caused by a driver who was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Many CMV drivers in Florida and across the U.S. have to struggle with fatigue when on the road, and perhaps they become negligent in not doing enough about it. With the following tips, though, truckers can be more proactive in dealing with fatigue as well as preventing it in the first place.

The only real solution to fatigue, of course, is sleep. Truckers should also avoid driving during those times of the day when the body is naturally tired: for example, between 2 pm and 4 pm and between midnight and 6 am. Diet influences the quality of sleep, so truckers should eat well and regularly. Try not to go to bed with an empty stomach or after a heavy meal. Also, avoid medications that induce drowsiness.

There are many reasons why car accidents happen, but human error is the leading cause. The choices that Florida drivers make behind the wheel matter, and when they are negligent or reckless, these choices can needlessly endanger others. One of the most common poor choices drivers make is to get behind the wheel while impaired, greatly increasing the chance of car accidents.

Impaired driving encompasses a wide range of behaviors. It includes anything that affects a driver's focus, causes the removal of hands from the wheel or affects cognition and decision-making ability. There is no excuse for this type of negligence, and a driver is responsible for the ways his or her choices affect others. If you are the victim of an accident caused by an impaired driver, you do not have to suffer through the aftermath in silence.