Dozens of road traffic accidents occur across Orlando every day. According to a 2017 auto crash statistics for Orlando Metropolitan Area, there were a total of 31,995 car crashes, with 14,590 of them resulting in an injury. There were also 218 deaths and fatalities resulting from these auto accidents.

Car accidents happen for a range of reasons. It could be that the driver is distracted while driving, or that they are driving aggressively. Driving under the influence of alcohol is also another common cause of car accidents in Orlando. Accidents may occur due to one or a combination of reasons, including unsafe road design, bad visibility or the lack of caution from other drivers. And while the causes of road crashes vary, the consequences are always similar, resulting in property and vehicular damage and injuries. According to one accident lawyer from Benenati Law Firm in Orlando, here are some of the most common causes of car accidents as per the cases they handle:

Distracted driving

The “myth of multitasking” is perhaps the most significant threat in road accident cases today. Distracted driving happens when the driver does something that takes (or splits) their focus from the road. Some common culprits include talking on the phone while driving, conversing with a passenger, fiddling with the audio player while driving, eating while driving or even texting when driving. In fact, statistics by the National Safety Council (NSC) reveals that 25% of all car accidents are related to mobile phone use, whether by texting or being on call. Medical studies show that the human brain is not psychologically capable of performing two critical tasks at one go – but it can engage in micro-tasking.

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving is also a top cause of accidents in Orlando. It involves anything from over speeding to swiftly changing lanes without considering other drivers or pedestrians and tailgating other drivers to overlooking road signs. And while reckless driving is illegal, some Orlando residents still drive without considering other road users than themselves. Aggressive driving is often performed by individuals who are hungry, tired or intoxicated.

Drunk driving

Drunk driving is a no brainer - when one drinks and drives; they are at a high risk of causing an accident than a sober person. Alcohol impairs judgment. It also reduces the coordination and focus ability, exposing one to the risk of a crash. Orlando has a 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) limit, after which one is guilty of DUI. Drunk driving crashes can be easily prevented – a driver can avoid driving when they had one too many drinks.

Driving while fatigued

Surprisingly, driving while tired can have the same effect on drivers as driving under the influence of alcohol. Not only is a driver who is fatigued more likely to fall asleep behind the wheels, but fatigue also slows response times when it comes to reacting to dangerous situations on the road. Both intoxicated and fatigued drivers have higher chances of missing a road signal when matched to an alert driver.