If you travel major roads or highways daily, it can be hard to get to work or home without driving by a car accident—whether it is a fender bender or a major crash. Of course, the situation becomes much more personal if you or a loved one are involved in a car accident due to the negligence of others, with the possibility of broken bones, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or other serious issues. All too often, fatalities are an unfortunate result of traffic accidents too—along with instances of injury and death for motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Traffic fatalities have been at unfortunate highs for years now, and as infrastructure experts scramble to figure out why this is the case despite evolution in safety features for cars and so much more public knowledge, they usually come down to the same conclusions—and distracted drivers top the list. The temptation of looking at the smartphone while driving seems to have taken over the roads, along with a growing number of other distractions, from the GPS and the stereo to more typical no-no’s like grooming and applying lipstick or mascara while driving. Distracted driving, along with drowsy driving, drunk driving, speeding, and other reckless behaviors are responsible for thousands of crashes every day, along with causing fatalities to those traveling on two wheels and or on foot.

Not sharing the road patiently—or enthusiastically—is another major issue for motorists; for example, they may feel resentful about the bicyclist traveling in front of them in a traffic lane when they are in a hurry. Or they simply may not understand that it is completely legal for bicyclists to be on the road too, as technically they are just another vehicle. Sometimes an adversarial relationship may develop on the road very quickly between those biking and those driving, leading to dangerous consequences resulting from aggressive driving or complete road rage. Bicyclists or pedestrians barely stand a chance against a 4,000-pound car, and there have been common instances where motorists have yelled at them in frustration over being slowed down or have even thrown items at them from car windows.

No matter your mode of travel, it is critical to give the roads your full attention while on the move—along with practicing tolerance and patience for everyone else who has a legal right to be there.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, pedestrian accident or car wreck due to the negligence of another driver, contact the attorneys at Heintz Law. We’ve helped victims from Bradenton, Sarasota, and all over Florida get compensation for their damages and medical expenses after accidents. Call us for a free consultation now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!

All blogs are written on behalf of Heintz Law for informational purposes. These articles should not, however, be considered legal advice, or in any way responsible for creating an attorney/client relationship.