By Klinta Kalnina
Florida has plenty of bustling roads and highways and more often than not, commuter vehicles meet with commercial ones on them, and sometimes crashes occur. If you or a loved one has ever been involved in a car accident, you should definitely try to recover some damages and consult with a car accident lawyer in Miami.
A lawyer can help you understand the circumstances of your case and seek compensation. Here are some of the cities in Florida with the highest rates of car crashes:
Miami & Hialeah, Miami-Dade County
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the biggest cities often have the most car crashes. In the Miami metropolitan area, there are over six million residents and almost the same number of annual tourists and visitors.
With such high numbers, especially when you account for many individuals who are unaware of the roads, engage in negligent practices, or simply rent a vehicle that they are unaccustomed to, accidents are bound to occur.
On average, there are about 60,000 crashes each year in the Miami-Dade County area alone. Fortunately, not all those involved in such crashes are also injured, but still, roughly half of them are, which is pretty significant. Based on the available statistics, about 27,000 individuals are injured and about 300 fatalities occur each year due to car accidents.
It’s worth mentioning that some of the most dangerous highways in the states also pass through this region, such as US 1 or Interstate 95. Most statistics that focus solely on the city of Miami showcase that on average, there are at least 10,000 crashes that occur each year.
Another notable city where many car accidents occur is Hialeah. This city also has similar car crash statistics to Miami though less severe. In 2020 alone, there were over 9,000 crashes, which resulted in 20 fatalities, and 76 individuals severely injured. Hialeah is home to one of the deadliest intersections in the state, located at North Okeechobee Road and Hialeah Gardens Boulevard.
Fort Lauderdale & Hollywood, Broward County
Broward County is the second most populated county in Florida, with 1.9 million residents and almost 10 million annual tourists and visitors. Although in comparison to Miami-Dade County, the total number of residents and tourists equal similar results, the county generally has about half the number of annual car crashes.
For example, in 2020, there were 34,050 vehicle accidents, but generally, about 40,000 accidents occur each year. This means that tourists and visitors aren’t necessarily the biggest decisive factor in the number of car crashes. Many accidents that resulted in both severe injuries and fatalities were attributed to the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Two major cities where plenty of car crashes occur in this county are Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
In Fort Lauderdale, almost 8,000 car accidents occurred in 2020 out of which 131 were severely injured. Fatalities numbered at 30. Fort Lauderdale, just like Hialeah, is also home to one of the deadliest intersections in the state, situated between A1A and Las Olas. In 2022, the numbers were higher, as 35,500 car accidents occurred in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, and there were also 237 fatalities.
When it comes to Hollywood, the number of car crashes occasionally seems to be about half of those occurring in Fort Lauderdale. About 4,674 crashes occurred in 2020, for example, out of which 18 people lost their lives and 64 were severely injured. This is the equivalent of about 12.8 accidents per day.
Jacksonville City, Duval County
About a million people are living in Duval County. This area in Florida receives fewer visitors than Miami-Dade or Broward County, but still significant as a couple of tens of thousands visit Jacksonville alone each day.
Many car crashes occur in this county, as in 2023, about 23,000 occurred resulting in over 100 fatalities. The most populous city in Duval County and indeed Florida, is Jacksonville. Like the other major cities, car accidents are common. In 2020, the number of accidents in Jacksonville was even higher than the total number of accidents in the county in 2023. There were 26,765 crashes, however, fewer fatalities.
Similarly to Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, many car crashes occurred due to impairment and the consumption of drugs, alcohol, or both.
Orlando, Orange County
Although Orange County is the fifth-most populated county in the state of Florida, with over 1.4 million residents, it shines as one of the most visited destinations in the world. Annually, about 59 million visitors and tourists come to O.C. but the numbers were even higher in the past before the pandemic crisis, reaching even 75 million annual visitors.
Most visitors and tourists head to Orlando mainly because of its various theme parks. With such a massive influx of annual visitors, car accidents are unfortunately common. Each year, over 25,000 car crashes occur.
In 2020, for example, if 23,268 car crashes occurred throughout Orange County, then about 11,697 of them happened in Orlando. Most of the accidents occurred due to impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving.
The often congested traffic makes many people make mistakes and increases the risk of accidents. However, driving behind the wheel under the influence of drugs and alcohol is never excusable.
What to do if you are involved in a car accident in Florida
Understanding why car crashes occur in certain cities more than others can be controversial. However, if the reasons are made clear, several strategies can be implemented to improve traffic safety.
If you are ever involved in a car crash in Florida, prioritize your health and seek medical aid. Report the incident to authorities, and your insurance company, gather evidence, and seek compensation by initiating a personal injury claim. Consult with a lawyer, especially if your injuries or damages are severe.
A lawyer can help you strengthen your case, negotiate on your behalf, and give you a fighting shot at receiving a higher settlement amount for your injuries and other losses.
