If drivers don’t pay attention serious accidents can result if traffic backs up but drivers don’t stop in time says Boca car accident lawyer Joe Osborne.

Traffic jams can slow us down, upset our schedules and force us to be late for appointments. As annoying and time wasting as they are, traffic jams can also be the scenes of serious accidents, not only because they’re caused by accidents, but because the backups themselves may lead to accidents. Boca car accident lawyer Joe Osborne says drivers not paying attention often lead to secondary accidents in traffic jams.According to Nationwide Insurance,

• There are four million miles of public roadways in the US, enough to circle the Earth about 160 times.
• US drivers collectively drive about three trillion miles each year.
• Traffic jams lead to the waste of about 1.9 billion gallons of gas each year, cost each US driver about $713 annually and the average urban commuter spends 34 hours a year stuck in traffic congestion.

The top causes of traffic jams are,

• Bottlenecks – 40%,
• Traffic accidents – 25%,
• Bad weather - 15%,
• Work zones – 10%,
• Poor traffic signaling/timing - 5%, and
• Special events – 5%.

From 1980 to 1999, the number of highway miles increased by 1.5% while the number of miles traveled by drivers increased by 76% according to The Hartford insurance company. Because of this imbalance there are more traffic jams and more car accidents. This isn’t just a problem for major cities. The Federal Highway Administration reports that traffic delays are becoming more common in small cities and some rural areas as well.

The Brookings Institute doesn’t see traffic congestion as a problem, but the solution to our basic mobility problem: too many people want to move at the same times each day. The efficient operation of our economy and school systems require that people work, go to school and run errands at about the same time so they can interact with each other. That can’t be changed without crippling our economy and society. The same problem exists all over the world.

Because of Florida’s rapid growth over the years, highways and roads have been built and expanded. But they don’t keep up with the demand and better, less congested roads and highways encourage more growth and development, resulting in more drivers getting behind the wheel and clogging Florida’s streets and freeways.

These traffic jams are more than a waste of time, they are potential threats to your health. A 24-year-old St. Augustine woman was killed last month in St. Johns when her car was crushed between two tractor-trailer trucks, reports the St. Augustine Record. She was driving south on I-95 when traffic started slowing ahead of her but the commercial truck behind her failed to slow down, rear ending her car. The truck then pushed her car into the back of another truck in front of her.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury caused in congested traffic, contact Boca car accident lawyer Joe Osborne at (561) 293-2600 or fill out this online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and obtain compensation for your injuries.