Am I At Fault If I Was Driving Barefoot?

If you enjoy beach life, you may spend a lot of time barefoot or wearing strappy shoes. Because of this, some wonder if they can be held liable for an accident simply because they were driving without shoes.

After being involved in an accident, it is common to have concerns about who will be held responsible. When you need legal advice, consult with an experienced Delray Beach personal injury attorney. Skilled lawyers can provide guidance and protect your rights, whether you were barefoot behind the wheel at the time of the collision or not.

Legality of Driving Barefoot and Safety Concerns

In the United States, there is no federal law that prohibits driving without shoes. Whether a person decides to wear shoes or not is generally considered a matter of personal preference, but the legality of driving barefoot can vary from state to state. For instance, in Florida, there is no set law that requires drivers to wear shoes while operating a vehicle.

While driving barefoot is not illegal, there are safety implications to keep in mind that may lead to people making their own personal rule to always wear shoes when driving. Because while some believe driving barefoot provides them better control and pedal feel, there are risks, including the following.

• Traction reduction. Bare feet may not provide the same traction as shoes. This can be even more of an issue if the feet are wet, creating a slippery condition.
• Temperature fluctuations. It is possible for the floor of a car to range between hot and cold temperatures, such as being unexpectedly hot on a sunny day or surprisingly cold on a winter morning. Because of this, a driver with bare feet may not have the foot protection required to ignore temperature shifts and keep their focus on the task of driving.
• Injury risks. If there is an accident, not wearing shoes could increase the risk of foot or ankle injuries as a result of vehicular impact or contact with sharp debris.

While driving barefoot itself is unlikely to be the primary cause of an accident, it can be a contributing factor, such as if a person was speeding and then found themselves unable to slow down due to a wet foot not having traction with a brake pedal.

Negligence, Traffic Violations, and Other Factors

Following an accident, insurance adjusters and Delray Beach personal injury attorneys will assess a range of factors, including whether you or another party involved in the collision breached their duty of care, if any traffic laws were violated, and any other circumstances or that may have contributed to the crash. Then, an at-fault driver may be determined, unless the accident was due to a circumstance other than driver error.

Were you operating a vehicle barefoot at the time of a collision? With over 30 years of experience, the attorneys at Earnhart Law will take time to review the details of your case and help you secure the recovery amount you need. Call 561-265-2220 or contact us online.