Your crash risk depends on many factors. Some factors you can control include whether you speed or drive while using your cell phone. Distracted driving and speeding are leading causes of car accidents in St. Petersburg, FL. Other factors fall outside your control. For example, you cannot control whether other drivers run a stop sign.
The evidence is mixed about car color & crash risk in St. Petersburg. A driver could use this excuse to shift the fault for an accident from their negligence to your choice of car color. A St. Petersburg car accident lawyer from Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers fights to keep the focus on the other driver’s actions and away from irrelevant issues like car color. Contact us today at (727) 787-2500 to schedule a free consultation.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After An Accident In St. Petersburg, FL
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has represented injured people in St. Petersburg, Florida, since 1986. Our St. Petersburg car accident attorneys have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. The firm includes a board-certified trial lawyer and two former insurance defense lawyers who use their knowledge and experience to fight for accident victims like you.
We provide the following legal services when you suffer an injury caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful act:
- A free legal consultation to discuss your injuries and explain your options
- Collecting evidence, including medical records, and filing an insurance claim
- Working diligently to settle your case quickly and fairly
- Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party if a settlement cannot be reached
Proving liability for a car crash requires experience and legal knowledge, particularly when the other driver tries to shift blame to you or your vehicle. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your accident with a St. Petersburg car accident attorney.
Does Car Color Affect Crash Risk?
Scientific studies conflict about whether some car colors are more dangerous than others. Specifically, these studies look at each color and try to determine which colors are more likely to be involved in collisions.
One study conducted in New Zealand concluded that silver cars were safer than other colors after controlling for factors like lighting conditions and time of day. In other words, silver vehicles were always safer whether you drive at night, in rainstorms, or in sunlight.
Another study conducted in Australia reached the opposite conclusion. This study found that silver, red, blue, green, and gray were the most dangerous colors after controlling for environmental factors. Thus, this study found that cars with these colors are always more likely to get into accidents regardless of the weather or lighting conditions.
A study from the University of Dayton acknowledged the contradictory results produced in prior studies before analyzing its data. This study focused on vehicles struck in collisions. In other words, it only looked at cases where vehicle color could have played a role in getting hit. The study concluded that there is no statistical relationship between color and crash risk.
Situations In Which Car Color Might Play A Role
Although the University of Dayton study determined that no color is always more risky than other colors, there are situations where car color might affect crash risk. In other words, some colors might affect the vehicle’s visibility in certain conditions.
For example, dark colors, like black or blue, might be more difficult for drivers to see on unlit roads at night. However, these same colors might provide greater contrast during the day, offsetting the increased risk during nighttime driving.
Similarly, some highly reflective colors, like white or silver, might create glare that obscures them during sunny Florida days. However, their reflectivity might make them easier to spot at night or during cloudy conditions.
Liability For Crashes Resulting From Visibility Issues
Drivers are responsible for exercising reasonable care while driving. At night or in poor visibility, drivers should slow down and remain alert. When a driver blames the color of your car after hitting you, they are trying to downplay their role in causing your crash. They might have failed to spot your vehicle because of distractions or inadequate surveillance rather than its color.
Negligence occurs when a driver fails to drive with the care and caution of a reasonable person in the same situation. Careful drivers do not crash into cars simply because of their color. Thus, your lawyer’s job is to identify the real reason for the crash and present evidence to prove it.
Contact Our St. Petersburg, FL, Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
Florida law entitles you to seek car accident compensation for losses resulting from a serious, permanent injury. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we can help you recover financial compensation after your car crash.
