Can I Sue After a Car Accident Caused by Sun Glare in Florida?
Jenna Kakley
Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury
Being injured in an auto accident caused by sun glare can leave victims facing serious losses — from mounting medical bills to costly vehicle repairs and lost time at work. All Injuries Law Firm’s North Port and Port Charlotte attorneys emphasize that even though the sun’s brightness contributed to the crash, the driver who hit you cannot use glare as a shield from liability. Florida law does not accept “sun blindness” as a legal defense; drivers are expected to take precautions for hazardous bright conditions and can be held accountable if they don’t.
In other words, if another driver was negligent — for example, by speeding into the sun or following too closely to stop in time — you have the right to pursue damages for your injuries.
Price Blvd and Other North Port Hotspots for Glare-Related Accidents
One common scenario we see is crashes in school zones where glare prevents drivers from seeing pedestrians or children crossing the road. For instance, Price Boulevard in North Port has three schools located along a short stretch — Toledo Blade Elementary, Heron Creek Middle School, and North Port High School. During the school year, hundreds of students are dropped off each morning around sunrise. Drivers traveling eastbound during sunrise must contend with direct glare, school buses stopping frequently, and students using designated crosswalks. A driver failing to see a student crossing or misjudging the presence of a stopped bus due to the sun’s position can cause life-altering injuries in an instant. Another dangerous intersection is Price Boulevard and Sumter Boulevard, where multiple turn lanes and crosswalks converge. At certain times of day, the sun’s angle can make it nearly impossible to spot pedestrians or accurately judge gaps in traffic. Our firm has seen cases where drivers attempted left turns against the glare, failing to yield to oncoming traffic or unseen pedestrians in the crosswalk. These mistakes, though common, still meet the legal definition of negligence.Merging Onto I-75? Glare Turns Ramps Into Danger Zones
In the North Port and Charlotte County area, I-75 is a vital commuter artery — but it becomes extremely dangerous during early morning and late evening hours due to intense sun glare. Drivers attempting to merge southbound in the morning or northbound at sunset often face blinding sunlight directly in their eyes as they accelerate onto the interstate.This can create several serious risks:
• Failure to yield or merge safely due to obstructed view of fast-moving interstate traffic • Overcorrection or hesitation while trying to change lanes under poor visibility • Rear-end collisions on entrance ramps or acceleration lanes when drivers can’t judge distances • Side-swipes caused by lane changes into a vehicle hidden in the glare
For example, a driver entering southbound I-75 from Toledo Blade Blvd or Sumter Blvd during sunrise may be temporarily blinded as the sun crests over the horizon. If they misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic or fail to reach merging speed in time, a high-speed crash can occur. Likewise, at sunset, merging northbound from Kings Highway or U.S. 17, drivers may be unable to see vehicles already in the right lane — leading to sudden impacts and serious injuries. Unfortunately, the excuse of “the sun was in my eyes” often comes up in these wrecks. But just like in intersection or school zone collisions, glare does not excuse negligent merging behavior. Florida law expects drivers to proceed only when safe, and to adapt to current road and weather conditions — including visibility issues caused by the sun. If you were injured by a merging driver on I-75 who failed to check traffic, misjudged speed, or changed lanes blindly into your vehicle, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Our attorneys will gather evidence such as:• Dash cam or FDOT traffic camera footage • Witness reports from nearby drivers • Accident scene photos showing sun angle • Vehicle positioning and skid marks indicating unsafe entry
At All Injuries Law Firm, we’ve helped many injured drivers and passengers after highway merging accidents — including those where glare played a role. We know how to prove that it wasn’t “just bad timing” — it was preventable negligence.