What Is Defensive Driving?

January 5, 2015 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
What Is Defensive Driving? Defensive driving is driving in a manner that utilizes safe driving tactics to empower drivers to detect hazards in a predictable fashion. This does not mean just obeying traffic laws, but remaining cognizant of where and what circumstances are likely to cause accidents and preparing to react to those circumstances before a dangerous situation arises.  However, obeying the traffic law is a method to increase safety due to the fact that the law is a predictable standard to base other driver behavior. You need to know where you are, what the law is, and what types of dangers these areas present. Defense driving involves being aware of foreseeable dangers on the road and taking appropriate precautions.  Drunk driving accidents can be one of the more worrisome issues for defense drivers.  It is hard to predict when or where you will find a drunk driver.  Drunk drivers may be lurking near you on the road at any time.  It is important to educate yourself about when drunk drivers are most likely to be on the road so you are able to remove yourself from a dangerous area of travel. BEING A SAFE DRIVER MIGHT NOT BE SAFE ENOUGH According to a report by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Independence Day, historically has been the most dangerous day of the year to drive. In 2007, 926 people died in car accidents on the 4th of July.  It is by no coincidence that this is also one of the days of the year with the highest alcohol consumption.  Other holidays are also periods to be on the alert for drunk drivers.  When people do not have work the next day, they are more likely to have a few cocktails.  Moreover, weekends are the days of the week where you are most likely to see drunk drivers on the road.  Each of the days stated above are times when your defensive driving skills should be heightened due to increased dangers. Dealing with a distracted motorists is a another obstacle for the defensive driver.  Chatting on a cell phone while driving makes you four times as likely to crash, and texting while driving increases your chances of a crash by up to 8 to 23 times. Of course, there are a myriad of other behaviors that cause one to become distracted.  It is important to not only be aware of when you are distracted but keep your eye on the road for other drivers who may also not being paying attention to their surroundings.  If you notice that a nearby driver is on the phone, eating, or partaking in any other distracting behavior, try to distance yourself from this vehicle.  If you have passengers, enlist their assistance so you can concentrate carefully on driving. SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING In 2011, a Florida woman was struck and killed by a distracted driver.  The plaintiffs alleged that the mishap was caused by the defendant motorist's extreme speed while texting his girlfriend, instead of paying attention to the road. Torres v. Cruz-Govin, 08-56892CA27, 2011 WL 10548970 (Fla.Cir.Ct.).  The plaintiff's texting and distracted driving expert testified that the young defendant was most likely affected by phenomenon known as Inattentional blindness as a result of his texting activity. This expert testified that motorists who are texting are eight times more likely to be involved in a car accident than non-texting drivers.  The jury awarded the plaintiffs $8,820,000 in damages.  This award shows that Florida juries have no sympathy for drivers who injuries others while texting.  It is hard to tell if the driver of the decedent's vehicle could have saved her life by using defensive driving techniques.  However, It is safe to say that defensive driving will only increase your chances of remaining safe. CONTACT A FLORIDA DISTRACTED DRIVING ATTORNEY With all the distracted drivers on the road, it is truly vital to learn defensive driving techniques. As mentioned above, Florida juries have zero tolerance for people who injure others while driving carelessly.  The attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA also have zero tolerance for anyone who injures someone due to negligent driving.  The Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA has a proven track record of fighting zealously for their clients who are injured by a distracted driver.  No one outworks the folks at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA.  If you feel that you have been injured by a negligent driver or any other injury case, please call us at, (727)451-6900. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/car-accident-lawyer/distracted-driving/

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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