Hallandale Beach Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics

Car accidents are an everyday occurrence in and around the Hallandale Beach community. Statistics show just how much of a risk you may face each day of becoming an accident victim.

What Increases Your Risk of Being a Car Accident Victim in Hallandale?

Hallandale Beach is a popular beach destination for tourists and residents of the South Florida area. Whether you are traveling by car, bus, or rideshare service, you are likely to encounter negligent drivers, which can increase your risk of an accident.

As a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle, you expect others to drive safely, but the reality is that every time you are on the roadways in Hallandale Beach or the surrounding areas you can be in danger of an accident due to the negligence of another party.

The most common dangers to the public on roadways are:

• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Fatigued drivers
• Speeding
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Dangerous weather conditions

How Many People Suffer Injuries in a Car Accident Each Year?

In just one year across Florida, over 340,000 motor vehicle accidents take place. Over 200,000 people will sustain injuries in these accidents. That means over 60 percent of people in motor vehicle accidents will suffer injuries. While not all of these injuries may be severe, a large portion of accident victims will require medical attention for their injuries and are at risk of suffering complications or chronic conditions after an accident.

Nearly 10 percent of all of Florida’s motor vehicle accidents occur within the county lines of Broward. Hallandale Beach is a city within Broward that happens to be the second-highest populated county in the state. Each year, close to 19,000 people suffer a car accident injury in Broward.

If you are in a Hallandale Beach accident and suffer injuries, you must get medical treatment as soon as possible. If your injuries are severe, you must request immediate EMS assistance for transportation to an emergency room. If you suffer minor to moderate injuries, you can travel by ambulance from the scene or ask a friend or family member to take you to the nearest ER.

Emergency rooms in and around Hallandale Beach include:

• Aventura Hospital
• Memorial Regional Hospital South
• Mount Sinai Medical Center
• Joe DiMaggio’s Children Hospital

If you are a victim of a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence of another driver or party, you may be eligible for compensation. The law allows victims of negligence such as in a car accident to seek recovery of their losses and damages against the parties at fault for their injuries.

Damages in a car accident case can include:

• Income losses
• Medical costs
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

What is the Risk of a Fatality in a Car Accident?

The death of a loved one in a car accident is a shocking tragedy for families. Over 3,000 individuals will lose their lives each year in a Florida car accident. Of those deaths, nearly 300 will take place within Broward County. Traffic-related fatalities are heartbreaking for families because they are completely avoidable. Negligence on the road is responsible for the deaths of so many individuals each year. Many of these deaths occur to victims of another party’s negligence on the road.

When a party loses their life in a traffic accident because of the negligence of another individual or entity, that death is commonly referred to as a wrongful death under the law. After a wrongful death, certain surviving family members of the deceased individual may be eligible to seek compensation against the party at fault for the loss of their loved one and the damages that arise because of their death.

In a wrongful death action due to a car accident in Hallandale Beach, the surviving family can seek compensation for:

• Loss of companionship
• Loss of the victim’s income
• Expenses for medical treatment after the accident
• Pain and suffering damages of the loved ones
• Expenses for funeral and burial services

What is the Most Frequent Cause of Motor Vehicle Accidents?

Ninety-four percent of motor vehicle accidents share a common cause. Studies indicate that the most common cause of automobile accidents is driver error, which in turn means that nearly all motor vehicle accidents are avoidable. This is a sad realization, especially for the many people that suffer severe injuries each year or lose their lives due to a car accident. The small percentage of remaining causes of motor vehicle accidents are due to weather hazards and a failure or a vehicle’s design or equipment leading to an accident.

The negligence of motorists is not a surprise. With growing populations, longer drive times, and countless distractions available at any given time, there is no shortage of negligence on the roadways that can increase the risk of an accident.

On a morning commute to work on any given day, you are likely to encounter at least one motor vehicle accident. Depending on the weather conditions and congestion, you may run across multiple accidents.

Studies estimate that each person on average will experience three to four motor vehicle accidents throughout their lifetime. The vast majority of these accidents will involve minor injuries and damage, but for some victims, these are events that change the course of their life in an instant.

What Percentage of Accidents in Florida Involve Alcohol or Drug Use?

Hallandale Beach lies along the eastern seaboard of Florida with beautiful beaches and attractions that appeal to tourists, visitors, and locals. Located in South Florida, Hallandale Beach is a well-known hotspot with activities and fun for families and young partygoers.

Unfortunately, with sunny beaches, gambling, and a party atmosphere comes alcohol and/or drug use. Drivers that get behind the wheel while under the influence are a danger to society. No one is safe from impaired drivers when they are on the road.

Over 4,500 crashes in Florida each year involve alcohol use by one or more parties, and over 700 involve drivers under the influence of drugs. Nearly 800 of the people involved in these accidents will suffer a fatality and over 3,000 will suffer injuries. Almost 1 in 4 fatal accidents in Florida involve a party that is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

Hallandale Beach locations and attractions where alcohol use is prevalent include:

• Hallandale Beach
• Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
• Gulfstream Village
• The Big Easy Casino
• Mardi Gras Casino

What is the Risk of an Accident to Pedestrians and Bicyclists in Hallandale Beach?

Hallandale Beach is a beach town with boardwalks and long stretches of sandy beaches. Many residents and tourists prefer to walk or bike to their destinations, especially on a day with beautiful warm weather. Folks take short walks to the store or a local restaurant, a bike ride to the beach, or exercise throughout the day.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are unfortunately at great risk of an accident near the roadways when a driver is negligent. Broward County alone reports over 1,500 traffic crashes each year that involve pedestrians or bicyclists. Over 70 victims of these accidents will not survive.

The roads can be dangerous for anyone, but pedestrians and bicyclists are often at the mercy of driver behavior and at the highest risk of dying if hit by a vehicle. The roadways pose unique dangers to pedestrians and bicyclists in Hallandale Beach.

Common dangers to pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadways include:

• Poor lighting
• Nighttime hours
• Wet road conditions
• Poor visibility due to weather
• Lack of crosswalks or sidewalks
• Lack of bike paths or too narrow of a path
• Negligent drivers

How Many Hit & Run Motor Vehicle Accidents Happen Each Year?

A widespread problem along Florida roadways is hit-and-run accidents. Whether the driver does not have insurance, is under the influence, or is fleeing the police for other reasons, hits and runs affect many victims of car accidents. Of the 34,000 car accident reports in Broward County for a given year, over 30 percent, or more than 10,500 of those accidents are a hit and run.

Hit and run collisions are a serious threat to the public in Hallandale Beach and surrounding areas. First and foremost, a hit-and-run crash in Florida is a crime. Any individual that crashes into a vehicle and then flees the scene can be criminally liable in addition to liability for any damages they cause. If a driver causes an accident with injuries and then flees the scene, they are subject to felony charges.

Hit and runs are problematic for accident victims for multiple reasons. When an at-fault driver flees the scene of a crash, they could leave victims with injuries without calling for medical assistance that could save their life or prevent complications from serious injuries.

Furthermore, when a driver flees the scene, they burden the victim with facing the expenses and losses of the accident on their own. In some cases, if a car accident victim has the appropriate coverage for uninsured motorists, they can seek compensation for at least a portion of their losses with their own insurance company. However, if their coverage is insufficient or they do not have UM insurance, they may be unable to recover a large portion of their losses after a car accident.

What Should You Do If You Are in a Car Accident in Hallandale Beach?

A car crash is not something you plan for, but when you are a victim of one it can help to know what steps to take to protect yourself and any potential claim for damages you may have against the parties responsible. Use the following guide to help you at the scene of a car accident where you are a victim.

#1. Always Call the Police and EMS

In the moments after a crash, do not hesitate and make sure to call 911. Calling the police to the scene and the paramedics is your best option to protect yourself legally and to make certain you get the help you need. A police officer will create a report of the accident with all important information about the parties involved and evidence of the scene such as the location of the accident, positioning of the vehicles, area of impact, as well as any injuries or statements made by the parties on the scene.

#2. Go to the Hospital

Any time you are in an accident you are at risk of injury. Even a fender bender can cause serious back injuries or neck injuries that can cause chronic issues and pain following an accident. If you suffer serious injuries, you should allow EMS to transport you to the nearest available hospital for treatment.

If you are unsure of your injuries or believe your injuries are minor, you should still go to the nearest hospital for a medical evaluation. Doctors know what to look for in victims after a car accident and can make sure you are free from any serious conditions or dangers you may not realize.

#3. Gather Any Evidence You Can at the Scene

In the initial moments after an impact, you should act as quickly as you can if you are physically able to do so, to identify what other vehicles are a part of the accident. Unfortunately, being in Florida, there is a high risk that another party may attempt to flee the scene of the crash. Taking down the license plates of the vehicle or taking a few quick photographs of the vehicles and the overall scene can provide evidence for your case as well as for the police and insurance company should the driver try to flee the scene.

#4. Contact a Hallandale Beach Car Accident Lawyer

Once you leave the scene and have received medical treatment, contact a Hallandale Beach car accident attorney for a free evaluation to discuss your case. The sooner you get legal representation, the quicker you can hope to resolve your case and protect your rights against insurers and other interested parties.