Car accidents in Florida increase during winter because of the population increase that results from snowbirds. Since Florida is one of the popular destinations for people in the Northeast, retired snowbirds stay there for around six months and return to the Northern states.
Although snowbirds boost the local economy by giving stores and restaurant businesses, they increase traffic and contribute to annual car accidents in Florida.
Why Auto Collisions Are Common During Snowbird
There are several reasons why auto accidents happen during Snowbird. Some of these reasons may include the following:
- Driver inexperience – Out-of-the-state and international visitors might be unaware of local traffic laws and patterns that can cause them to break the law inadvertently. The same thing applies to teen drivers who don’t have enough experience when it comes to navigating roadways in Florida.
- Fatigued driving – Tourists from faraway states and other countries can travel for days or hours to reach Florida. Some drive while tired because of long driving hours and jetlag. Driving while feeling tired is just as deadly and risky as driving while drugged or drunk.
- Distracted drivers – Most out-of-the-towners are likely to get distracted while driving, especially when calling someone for or looking at directions. Distracted driving is hazardous and might result in catastrophic consequences.
- Unfamiliarity with roadways – Because tourists and travelers are often unfamiliar with Florida’s roadways that they try to navigate, they can unintentionally or deliberately engage in risky driving practices, like looking at cellphone or GPS devices for directions.
Statistics for Snowbird Injuries
When snowbirds visit Florida, a huge influx of travelers creates congestion in roadways. These congested roadways lead to high rates of auto collisions, especially among snowbirds who are less familiar and older with Florida and its environs. According to Snowbird Car Accidents in Florida – Rosen & Ohr, P.A., roadways see more car collisions between November and December than they often do at other times of the year. Mostly, these accidents happen in Miami, Orlando, Panama City, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa Bay, to name a few.
What to Do Following a Snowbird Car Accident
If a snowbird is complied with Florida laws and has insurance that applies there, then it will be an easy process to make a personal injury claim. But if a snowbird is at fault, many issues may arise.
For instance, getting a car repaired through an insurer who doesn’t do business regularly in Florida might be a nightmare. Not to mеntion, procеssing a pеrsonal injury claim can also bе dеlayеd, confusing, and sееn diffеrеntly from what you еxpеct from your statе.
If this happеns to you, thе bеst coursе of action is to еnlist thе sеrvicеs of an attornеy. A good attornеy will rеprеsеnt you and еvеn advisе you on what to do nеxt so that you can avoid thе risks of gеtting involvеd in a car accidеnt, such as:
- Obeying traffic laws
- Following speed limit
- Remaining courteous and calm on the roadway
- Avoiding tailgating
The Takeaway
If you get involved in a snowbird car accident, ensure you don’t deal with the aftermath all by yourself. Hire a good attorney to help you navigate the complexity of filing a strong claim and have enough evidence to support it.
