Nighttime Vehicle Accidents in Southwest Florida
If you have a license to drive in Florida, life, work and family often necessitates you drive at night. Nighttime driving is often perceived as more dangerous than daytime driving. In reality, the rate of nighttime vehicle accidents that result in fatalities at night versus during the day is almost the same. However, it is the added variables to nighttime driving that make being alert and responsible imperative if you are on the road after dark, such as impaired and fatigued driving.
If you are involved in a car accident at night, you should confirm that the driver of the other vehicle is licensed to drive at that time. In Florida, a teen with a learner’s license is never permitted to drive after 10 p.m. In addition, even when a teenager graduates from a learner’s permit to a driver’s license, that license is limited as well, often requiring the presence of a licensed driver over 21 if it is past 11 p.m.1 If the other driver is elderly, it is possible they are driving past nighttime restrictions placed on some licenses of those over a certain age.
Florida Nighttime Accidents: The Dangers
It is important to be cognizant of the factors that make nighttime driving particularly precarious:
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- Impaired driving- According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the percent of fatal nighttime vehicle accidents involving drivers with any alcohol in their blood is 60% at night as opposed to 18% during the day. When you limit this statistic to accidents involving drivers with a BAC over the legal limit of .08, it is 54% at night versus 14% during the day.2
- Fatigued driving- From 2005 to 2009 there were over 4,000 deaths and 30,000 injuries resulting from crashes caused by drowsy driving.3 At night, when many drivers have not had adequate sleep, these risks increase.
Who to Call if injured in nighttime traffic accidents in Southwest Florida
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, it is important to seek legal counsel to get the justice you deserve. SWFL attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz have over 50 years of legal experience in dealing with personal injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
