Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, there were more than 33,000 traffic accident deaths involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists that occurred in 2009 alone, according to Automotive Industry Today.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than $40 billion is spent each year in medical expenses and work-loss costs connected to car accidents in Miami and elsewhere throughout the United States.
Despite these high death rates, a number of states are passing laws to increase the speed limits on highways. The higher the speed the greater your risk if for being involved in a car accident. A few states are even increasing the limit to 85 mph.
Our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand that it may be up to the driver as an individual to make safe and smart decisions behind the wheel. With the cooperation of motorists statewide, we can all do our part to make Florida roadways a little safer.
Until then, safe driving advocates, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), offer suggestions to state government officials to encourage them to implement effective safety protocols. With these recommendations in place, roadways are more likely to be safer for all motorists.
“Deaths from motor vehicle crashes are preventable,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Seat belts, graduated driver’s license programs, child safety seats, and helmet use save lives and reduce health care costs.”
The NHTSA suggests state government officials consider enacting the following:
–Employ Primary Seat belt Laws. As of now, only 31 states have primary seat belt laws. According to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, seat belt use continues to be higher in states that have implemented these types of laws. Wearing a seat belt is the easiest way to better protect yourself in the event of an accident.
–Require Age and Size Appropriate Booster or Car Seats for All Children. Every single state has implemented some sort of child restraint or safety belt laws for children, but each state differs on the age, safety requirements and penalties for failing to comply. States are urged to make their current laws more strict and more specific and to increase the punishment for not complying.
–Implement Graduated Driver Licensing Laws. These laws allow drivers to obtain full-driving privileges after completing learner and intermediate driving phases. The CDC reports that graduated driver licensing programs reduced teen deaths by up to 40 percent.
Florida traffic accident in 2009 alone racked up a bill of nearly $3.5 billion. More than $3 billion went to work loss costs and another $40 million went to medical costs.
“These preventable costs are a reflection of the terrible suffering of American families whose loved ones are killed or injured on the roads,” said Norman Mineta, chairman of Make Roads Safe North America and the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history.
If you have been injured in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Margate or the surrounding areas, contact the car accident attorneys at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free appointment to discuss your case. Call 1-800-561-7777 today.
More Blog Entries:
Cameras Located at Fort Lauderdale’s Most Dangerous Intersections Can Reduce the Risk of Car Accidents, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, July 21, 2011
Social Media Devices in Vehicles Lead to a High Risk of Distracted Driving Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, July 19, 2011