Are Florida drivers among the worst in the nation?

If you're one to complain about how bad Florida drivers are, you're not alone. A 2019 study by smartasset ranked Florida No. 4 in the nation for bad drivers. The study found that less than three-quarters of drivers in the Sunshine State have car insurance. In addition, Florida's traffic citation rate is the 11th highest in the nation.

That's not all. Another study reveals staggering results that only adds to the stereotype of Florida drivers, and it's no laughing matter.

Drivers fail to recognize basic road signs

A New York car dealership conducted a survey in 2019, asking licensed drivers in each state to take a road sign test. Florida ranked the 8th worst state in the nation, with more than 10 percent of participants failing the test.

These are the signs that most participants got wrong:

• U-turn only signs - 7.65% failed
• You may find these signs at intersections on major roads that are separated by a barrier. The only allow drivers to turn around and prohibit them from making left turns.
• Soft shoulder - 7.52% failed
• Some shoulders on major roads are composed of soil, gravel, and sand. Soft shoulder signs alert drivers to use caution when pulling over or nearing the roadside.
• Yield - 5.94% failed
• These signs regulate traffic at roundabouts and roadway forks. They alert drivers to slow down and yield the right-of-way to others in the road before proceeding.
• Road shoulder much higher than road surface - 5.36% failed
• These signs are used to alert drivers when that the shoulder is higher than the road surface. Drives must use caution when driving near the shoulder or when pulling over.
• Bicycles only - 3.83% failed
• Drivers are prohibited from accessing roads or areas with bicycles only signs posted.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Drivers who fail to recognize or adhere to basic road signs frequently endanger the public - either due to inattentiveness or misunderstanding of a sign's meaning. Examples include failure to recognize:

• Posted speed limits
• Road construction warning signs
• One-way signs
• Stop signs

Hurt in a crash? Get an experienced legal team on your side.

Drivers who don't understand the meaning of basic road signs should probably go back to driving school. If a driver's lack of understanding of signs or inattentiveness caused your crash, you have the right to take legal action.

The Florida car accident attorneys at Pajcic & Pajcic have seen it all. Head-on collisions, T-bone crashes, rear-end collisions, and collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists - all caused by drivers who failed to adhere to traffic signs.

We also urge you to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage to protect yourself from hit-and-run drivers and the substantial number of Florida drivers who are uninsured or underinsured. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, hit-and-runs account for nearly 25 percent of all statewide crashes. UIM coverage will pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Personal injury protection (which is required to purchase) only covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses.

We have successfully advocated for crash victims in thousands of serious and fatal crashes. One of our cases involved a fatal crash caused by a truck driver who ignored warning signs that read "Right Lanes Prepare to Stop." The truck driver struck and killed a motorist at 65 mph. The family of the victim was awarded $5.25 million, including punitive damages for ignoring traffic signs.

We have also represented clients in these notable cases:

• $11 million recovered to motorist who was disabled after being struck in a rear-end collision, despite the at-fault driver only having $25,000 in insurance.
• $4.3 million verdict to a crash victim who sustained severe injuries in a crash with a distracted driver.
• $8 million recovered to a passenger who was paralyzed in a crash, despite having inadequate insurance.

If you were hurt in a crash, or lost a loved one, contact us to explore your legal options. You can also call our Jacksonville office at  (904) 358-8881.