Earlier this week in North Fort Myers, a man lost his life when he ran into the back of a school bus that was stopped in traffic. Eight students from Island Coast High School aboard the bus were also injured. According to a report by one local news source, the bus was stopped in traffic near the intersection of US 41 and Old 41 when an SUV driven by a 68-year-old man crashed into the back of the bus.
Evidently, there were over 30 students aboard the bus. Fortunately, only a handful were transported and admitted to Lee Memorial Hospital with only minor injuries. The driver of the SUV that ran into the bus was rushed to Lee Memorial, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Police are currently investigating the accident but thus far believe that speed was a factor in the fatal accident. One police spokesperson noted that the accident occurred during a time when people are trying to get to work and may be in a rush. This is all the more reason to pay close attention to the road ahead.
Speed Kills
For the past several decades, speeding has consistently been one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents. In the accident above, it seems that the cause was not just speed but also inattention on the part of the driver of the SUV.
When drivers take their attention away from the road ahead of them, the risk of causing an accident greatly increases. We see distracted driving accidents all the time. Most often, these accidents are caused by one of the following behaviors:
- Talking on the phone;
- Texting;
- Changing the radio station or entering a destination into a GPS system;
- Engaging in a conversation with a passenger or dealing with a child in the back seat;
- Eating or drinking; or
- Grooming, such as shaving, painting nails, or doing one’s hair.
Most of us have busy schedules and need to learn to multi-task just to get through the day. However, multi-tasking while driving is unsafe and constitutes distracted driving. When someone causes an accident due to distracted driving, he or she can be held responsible for the damage and injuries caused.
Have You Been Injured By a Speeding or Distracted Driver?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured by another driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages. A good first step to determine whether you may have a case is to meet with a dedicated personal injury attorney to assess the strength of your case. The skilled lawyers at the Dean Law Firm are happy to meet with clients to help them assess whether they may have a case. Meeting with an attorney is free, and there is no commitment to continue after the first meeting. To learn more, click here, or call 352-387-8700 to schedule your consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Tampa Bay Attorney Dies in Boating Accident, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published August 20, 2014.
Police Identify Hit-and-Run Driver Responsible for the Deaths of Three Single Mothers, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published July 31, 2014.