Articles Posted in Car Accident

Before you pack up the car and the family for your Labor Day holiday weekend venture, make sure you review roadway safety tips — and that includes keeping an eye on your speed as your pushing to reach your destination.

This year, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be out on our roadways during the long weekend and looking to crackdown on speeders, according to WCTV. As always, officers throughout the state will be on the hunt for drunk drivers, as we see a significant increase in intoxicated motorists during long weekends and holiday periods.

Speeding, aggressive drivers and tempers will also increase the risks. Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Ryan Martina says he understands that emotions can flare behind the wheel, but officers are ready to address the problem to reduce the risks for everyone on the road.

“It’s all about safety. It’s not about revenue or anything like that,” said Martina.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that officers will be targeting Interstate 10 as part of their enforcement efforts. It’s all a part of a new multi-state initiative meant to keep motorists safe during the hectic travel weekend. Across the state of Florida, the number of fatal car accidents during summer holiday weekends is down from 2012, but the overall number of crashes is up. This increased patrolling effort kicks off on the 29th and continues through the Labor Day weekend.
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According to officials with the National Safety Council (NSC), traffic accident fatalities reported across the nation saw a 5 percent decrease during the first 6 months of 2013, in comparison to the reported accidents during the same time in 2012.

In 2013, there were more than 16,600 people killed in traffic accidents from January through June. During this same time in 2012, there were more than 17,400 people killed.

Our Coral Springs car accident attorneys understand that the state of Florida also reported a decline and, however modest, a decline is good news. We saw a 7 percent decline in the number of reported traffic accident fatalities in the first half of 2013. Officials have yet to determine if the decrease was the cause of safer driving, safer vehicles or other unknown factors.

Not only are we losing lives here, but we’re also racking up costs. According to the NSC, motor vehicle accidents come with significant costs in lost wages and productivity, employer costs, medical expenses, administrative costs, and property damage. From January through July of 2013, the total estimated costs associated with these accidents were more than $125 billion.

In the breakdown of these accidents, we see that the state of Florida saw more than 1,000 motor vehicle accident fatalities during the first six months of 2013. During the same time in 2012, we saw close to 1,100 fatalities.

While this is good news, the fight is far from over. We need to take a step back and reexamine our driving habits to see where we could use a little improvement.

According to Drivers.com, the top causes for accidents are:

-Drunk Driving

-Speeding

-Distracted Driving

As you can see, these three top factors are all related to a driver’s behavior behind the wheel. With that being said, it’s clear that we need to focus our attention inward to help to combat this problem. It’s important that you never get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Always have a designated driver to get you home in one piece.

It’s also important that we obey the posted speed limits. These limits are not here to slow us down, but to help to ensure our safety. The faster you are traveling — the higher your risks for an accident.

And lastly, distracted driving. With new technology, accessing the internet is easier than ever. But behind the wheel is no time for these activities. This includes phone calls and text messages. Driving safely required 100 percent of our attention — at all times.
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Looking to reduce the risks of distracted driving? A hands-free device isn’t your best bet. According to The Street, these devices are just as distracting to drivers as handheld devices.

However, people don’t recognize distraction with a hands-free device because their hands are still on the wheel and their eyes are still on the road. Unfortunately, your brain and your attention are directed elsewhere.

Our Lauderhill car accident lawyers understand that hands-free is not risk-free. According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, you can still experience impairments with some of these new voice-based in-car electronics. Researchers with AAA studied a number of drivers and examined their driving proficiency while engaging in a number of various activities. The findings concluded that, even with hands-free devices, driver’s’ attention was diverted from the road.

To help to combat this problem, officials with the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) released “2013 Distracted Driving: Survey of the States.” This was a study conducted to see just how states are working to combat distracted driving and what they can do to help to eliminate these risks on their roadways.

As it stands now, about half of all adults in the country currently have a smartphone. In addition, the wireless industry returned a report of a subscription penetration rate of more than 100 percent.

Given the prevalence of the risks, state lawmakers are looking to crackdown on drivers who are engaging in cell phone use behind the wheel. According to the GHSA study, since 2010, there have been more and more states to enact and enforce laws, leverage new media to educate the motoring public, focus on key constituency groups and collect data related to the problem.

Was Florida one of these states?

According to the GHSA, the state of Florida did in fact include distracted driving concerns in its strategic highway safety plan (in 2012). On the other hand, the Sunshine State failed to collect any kind of distracted driving data.

As you may be aware, a new law was signed in our state to ban drivers from text messaging while a vehicle is in motion. Florida was one of the country’s last holdouts, as 45 other states have some kind of texting ban in place.

This new ban, signed by Gov. Rick Scott, goes into effect October 1st and makes texting while driving a “secondary” offense, meaning a driver would have to be pulled over for some other violation, like speeding, to get a texting ticket. Unfortunately, Drivers can still make phone calls, but they are prohibited from typing on a device while the car is moving.

Is it strict enough to make a difference? Officials with the GHSA say that Florida needs to do more, and that’s why we’re turning to you. We all know the risks of distracted driving. Do the right thing and pay attention to the road. It’s a move that could not only save you from a ticket, but it could save your life.
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Safe driving advocates are doing all they can to help educate drivers about the risks of distracted driving. Now, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is turning to companies to help fight this problem. According to The New York Times, LaHood says that voice-recognition services and devices are not the answer, saying “voice-recognition systems for cars — like those that let people compose texts using voice commands while driving — do not meet his standard for safety.”

Our Boynton Beach car accident attorneys understand that newer vehicles are advancing each and every year, coming with more and more hands-free, voice-recognition devices. But how effective is this new technology? According to a number of recent studies, these devices are no safer that using a hand-held cell phone or text messaging device while trying to navigate our roadways. And that’s where LaHood, the NHTSA and other safe driving advocates are calling out manufacturers.

“A challenge for us is that you may have guidelines about a vehicle, but (drivers) can buy a portable navigation unit, stick it on the dash and that device wouldn’t be covered,” said Wade Newton, spokesman with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

That’s why officials are now turning to smartphone companies and other technology companies to recruit help.

Officials see our technology use behind the wheel as being similar to alcohol use and driving. It’s a problem that drivers are aware of, but they’re not doing enough to change their dangerous behavior. Distracted driving has been recently referred to as “an epidemic” on roadways across the nation.

In addition to recruiting help and reaching out to electronic companies, LaHood says local and state enforcement officers can make bigger changes, too. He says we should learn from our past successes, like seat belt use. Stricter laws and tougher punishments serve as a successful deterrent against specific behaviors. This is probably the reason distracted driving is so common in the state of Florida. As you may know, the current law in the Sunshine State allow all drivers to talk on their phones and text message behind the wheel as much as they want. There’s nothing on the books saying that you can’t, and drivers are taking that and running with it.

Although that’s all going to change soon, is it changing enough? According to the Sun-Sentinel, Gov. Rick Scott recently signed a law to ban manual texting and emailing while driving. The penalties are light, amounting to $30 plus court costs for a first offense and $60 for a second offense. Unfortunately, this will only be a “secondary” offense, which means that an officer has to pull you over for some other violation, like speeding, before you can get a ticket for texting.

Are those consequences really enough to get drivers to put down the phones? If not, maybe we should remind them of the risks for death involved with distracted driving.
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We’re halfway through the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), July 15th marked the middle of this dangerous time. Looking back on historical trends, these are the 100 days that we see the most teen motorists fatalities. About 600 people were probably killed in young-driver accidents since Memorial Day.

Our Belle Glade car accident lawyers understand that car accidents are still the number one cause of death for teens across the county. In helping to reduce these risks, there are many things we can do. It’s all about making sure that these newly-licensed drivers are provided with a solid foundation to help to develop safe driving habits for a lifetime.

First, we must understand the risks to help to solve the problem.

Teen Driver Risks:

-Over half of all teenagers that were killed in a motor-vehicle accident were not wearing a seat belt at the time of impact.

-About 40 percent of collisions occur at night. Most of them happen before midnight.

-The more passengers a teen driver has in their vehicle, the higher the risks are for an accident.

-Teens are among the age group that is most likely to engage in electronic distractions behind the wheel. Unfortunately, about 70 percent of all teens text while driving.

Each year, there are roughly 900,000 accidents in which a teen driver is involved. If you break that down, that’s close to 3,000 accidents a day. These drivers are actually more likely to be involved in a fatal accident that any other group of drivers on the road.

Helping Teen Drivers:

-Make sure you are spending plenty of time in their vehicles. We’re talking about supervised driving time and it could wind up saving their life. Supervised driving time allows parents the opportunity to correct any dangerous behaviors that their teen driver may be engaging in.

-Always set a good example. When your teen driver is in the vehicle with you while you’re driving, make sure you’re following all of the road laws and you’re displaying safe, cautious and alert driving habits. You are one of the most influential people in a young driver’s life.

-Consider creating a parent-teen driving contract. This way you can lay down all of the rules and expectations for your teen. Make sure you include the consequences for breaking these rules as well. Have all parties involved sign the agreement.

-Make sure that your teen understands the importance of vehicle maintenance. This is not only to help the longevity of their vehicle — it can help them to avoid a roadside mishap as well.

-Talk with the parents of your teen’s friends. Make sure everyone is on the same page. Make sure you know where other parents stand on teen driver safety and be sure to share your feelings with them, too.
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For quite some time now, the Fourth of July holiday has been ranked as the deadliest holiday on U.S. roadways. On average, close to 140 people are killed on this day alone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The United Press International (UPI) reports that car accidents also continue to be the number one killer of residents under the age of 34. Teenagers are about four times more likely to die in these incidents.

Our Wellington car accident lawyers understand that teenage drivers account for close to 10 percent of the driving fatalities we see on the Fourth of July. They’re highly susceptible to these kinds of accidents because of distracted driving and other poor decisions behind the wheel. As a matter of fact, officials with the Allstate Foundation report that about 75 percent of teens claim that they read and respond to texts while driving. That’s a number that’s up close to 50 percent since 2009.

“Putting down the phone, never texting while driving and always wearing a safety belt can help make sure that everyone returns home safely after their Independence Day celebrations,” said Sanjay Gupta from Allstate.

This is where the parents come in. It’s important that you’re always practicing your safest habits behind the wheel to help to steer younger, learning drivers in the right direction.

Drunk drivers are another serious problem we’re facing out there on our roadways. Unfortunately, booze, barbeques and fireworks all go hand in hand. But what many Americans are forgetting in this equation is a designated driver. We want to remind you that officers will be out in full force looking for intoxicated drivers.

Remember that drinking and driving could not only throw you into a fatal accident, but it could also land you in jail.

As a matter of fact, alcohol-impaired drivers are the cause of about a third of all traffic fatalities. Someone is killed on our roadways in these kinds of accidents, on average, about every 45 minutes.

There’s never a reason to get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking. And that’s why we’re asking drivers to take the pledge to drive drug and alcohol-free.

Remember, there are ways to get home safely if you’ve been drinking. You should make sure you’ve got yourself a designated driver before you head out. But if those plans fall through, you can always call a cab, a friend or a family member to come pick you up. There’s even public transportation to fall back on. When those options aren’t available, you’re better off just staying put and sleeping over. A hotel room is a heck of a lot cheaper than a drunk driving conviction.
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News headlines have been dominated by the National Security Administration leak scandal perpetrated by a former CIA informant. The IRS’s action against conservative watchdog groups also has some up and arms at government interference. As does the report of government monitoring of citizen website traffic.

But one secret the government has never tried to keep: What you do behind the wheel is not just your business.

There are more than 3,000 people killed every year by distracted driving. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are experienced in complex cases involving cell phone use. Despite state legislative efforts to curb distracted driving, cell phone use continues to pose a significant risk to drivers, passengers and other motorists. Research has proven that disregarding warnings and the laws, drivers cannot seem to put down their phones when behind the wheel. A recent article published in Wired suggests that the federal government may have an alternative to “no texting” and “no cell phone” bans.

Given the high risk of distracted driving, the federal government claims to have the solution to curb the use of mobile devices when behind the wheel. According to a researcher for the National Highway Safety Administration, new government regulations coupled with automobile manufacturing standards and the electronic industry could reduce fatalities.

The government is seeking a long-term technological solution to the problem of distracted driving. A new innovation would make a device recognizable to a vehicle, which could then deactivate it while the vehicle is in motion. Researchers believe this is the ultimate solution to the distracted driving problem. Obviously, this means that you would no longer be able to send a text, use Facebook, or use GPS from your mobile device. NHTSA and the Department of Transportation have published a 281-page report on how to accomplish this objective.

In the event of an accident police officers can get a warrant to obtain your driving record and determine whether you were texting and driving or using your cell phone while driving. For general traffic violations, officers are not likely to investigate or charge you; however, if you cause injury or in the event of fatality, those driving records can be used to prove criminal or civil negligence. If this new technology were to succeed, no driver would have the opportunity to text and drive.

The objective of the federal government is to limit the time a driver is able to take his or her eyes or hands off the task of driving. According to the NHTSA, if mobile devices are disabled, drivers would be unable to enter a text for messaging or use internet browsing while the car is in motion.

One version of the solution would require a driver to connect a smartphone or mobile device to the vehicle’s system. The second idea would have a proximity sensor in the vehicle that recognizes when the driver is using the device, requiring them to pass the phone to a passenger.

While safety advocates admit that the technological solution could reduce the overall number of distracted driving accidents, it is going to be a challenge to get compliance from automakers, electronic manufacturers and aftermarket manufacturers, as well as the public.
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As we have discussed in previous blog posts, distracted driving is an increasing danger to drivers and other motorists sharing the road. The few seconds it can take to check your cellphone for a text, glance at the headlines, or read an email, is enough time to cause a serious or fatal accident. This summer, drivers should be especially careful of the dangers of distracted driving and red-light intersection collisions.

Rear-end collisions often occur when a distracted driver fails to react to stopped traffic ahead. Similarly, a driver who fails to spot a yellow or red light can fly through the intersection and cause a serious or fatal accident. A new study commissioned by the National Coalition for Safer Roads has found that 12 percent of red light violations are caused by distracted driving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has indicated that drivers who run red lights are the leading cause of accidents in urban settings. Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys are experienced in investigating red light accidents and helping families who have suffered personal and financial losses arising from an intersection accident.

Researchers tracked accidents in 118 intersections throughout 19 communities over a three-month duration. Analyzing the camera images at the intersections, the research team found that a significant percentage of accidents were caused by distracted driving. This means that more than a million red light intersection accidents are caused by distracted driving every year.

Understanding the risks of distracted driving may not be enough. Despite warnings, many Americans continue to use handheld devices behind the wheel. Even in states where drivers are required to use hand-free devices, the distraction may be just as dangerous. For many drivers, laws and safety warnings are not enough to curb or stop the use of cell phones when behind the wheel.

According to the National Safety Council, 21 percent of all crashes are caused by cell phones. While cell phones are notoriously distracting, an even bigger distraction for drivers is the use of a smartphone. Over 50% of Americans now use a smartphone, up from 35 percent in 2011. The use of smartphones poses a larger risk of hazard because users have greater access to distracting features including the Internet, GPS, Facebook, and other applications.

Smartphone ownership is highest among younger adults, including those in their 20s and 30s. The use of smartphones has also expanded to the 40s and 50s crowd; however research suggests that the 65 and older demographic are not likely to pick up a smartphone if they have not already. Whether you are a veteran smartphone user or you have a smartphone for the first time this summer, be aware of the very dangerous risk of texting, emailing, Facebooking, or surfing the net while behind the wheel. Even using GPS can be a long-enough distraction to cause an accident.

Summer can be a dangerous time of the year, especially for new drivers, teen drivers, and drivers who are new to using a smartphone. All drivers should refrain from using handheld devices while behind the wheel. Put your device in your purse, in the glove compartment, or hand it over to a passenger. All drivers should refrain from texting and driving and other distractions to prevent red light intersection collisions, rear end collisions and preventable road tragedies.
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The busy summer travel season is already underway and officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are here to help make sure that your summer road trip is as safe as possible.

It’s important that you take the simple (and necessary) precautions to make sure that your vehicle is in good condition and that it’s ready to handle anything on our roadways. Officials are also looking to make sure that you’re calm and responsible behind the wheel.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that the summertime allows many friends and family members to get out and take a much-needed summer vacation. A majority of residents will be driving to their destinations. But with the increase in traffic and the wear and tear on our vehicles, we’ve got to make sure that we’re doing everything we can do stay safe.

Have a look at these safety tips to help ensure you’re making a safe trip:

Prepare Your Vehicle:

-Have your car tuned up periodically. Have your battery, your tires checked to make sure there will be no problems out there on your vacation journey.

-Check your windshield wipers. The last place you want to realize that they need to be changed is in the middle of a storm. Florida rainy season upon us and many are noticing their wipers did not make it through the winter.

-Check your lights. You want to make sure that the turn signals, the brake lights, the interior lights and the emergency flashers are all working properly. This is going to help ensure other motorists can see you and you can see what you’re doing.

-Check the air conditioning. You want to make sure it has the power to keep you cold. Lack of air conditioning on a hot summer day affects people who are in poor health or are sensitive to heat, such as children and seniors.

-Get an emergency roadside kit. Make sure you’ve got all the necessities for a breakdown before it happens. Keep extra drinking water, nonperishable food, jumper cables, flares, flags, flashlights, a first-aid kit and a cell phone with you at all times.

Lastly, you want to make sure that your driving skills are up to par. Make sure that you keep distractions from the driver’s seat and all of your attention on the road. Make sure you’re aware of the road laws in the areas that you’ll be traveling. Ensure that everyone in your vehicle is properly buckled in during each and every car ride. You also want to keep an eye out for other travelers. We’re talking about motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists. They’ll be out sharing the roads during the summer travel season too, and it’s important to remember that they have just as much of a right to our roadways as you do.

We wish you a happy summer season and ask that you consider all of the safety options before setting out on your summer vacation.
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As most residents already know, Florida is one of the last states to pass a texting ban, despite widespread evidence that driving while texting can be deadly. Distracted driving, including driving while texting, is becoming a leading cause of traffic fatalities. According to a recent study, more teens die every year from texting and driving than from drunk-driving related accidents.

While most state legislative branches have already taken the initiative to create bans on texting while driving, Florida has still not passed a law against texting while driving. State texting bans vary, but most carry significant penalties for offenders. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are experienced in the investigation of texting while driving accidents and are dedicated to helping accident victims recover compensation.

In addition to bans against texting while driving, a new survey suggests that many drivers also want texters to pay higher insurance rates. The survey was commissioned by CarInsurance.com and found that motorists agreed that car insurance policies should penalize drivers who texted while driving. Evidence has shown that increasing insurance premiums after moving violations, including speeding, can be a deterrent for drivers.

Motorists surveyed agreed that texters should have to pay higher insurance premiums because it affects their ability to drive safely. Those interviewed in the survey also agreed that drivers should be penalized for additional risky behaviors including speeding and use of cell phone. The survey also revealed that over 50% of those surveyed believe that a discount should be offered to drivers who were willing to install a “cell-phone disabling device” in their vehicles. The device would be offered by an insurance company to track how fast a car travels. It would also give an insurance company insight into the behavior of the driver. In addition to texting, drivers are also distracted by children, music, eating, and pets.

Texting while driving is a particular risk to young drivers and motorists. If you have a young teen driver, it is important to keep them aware of the dangers. A recent study revealed that over 3,000 teen deaths per year are caused by texting while driving, while only 2,700 deaths were caused by drunk driving. Researchers believe this may be caused by the accessibility of cell phones rather than alcohol, but they are also in regular use throughout the day, where drinking usually only occurs on nights and weekends. Teens can also be distracted easily and are disadvantaged as inexperienced drivers.

Reports have indicated that over 50 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. Some researchers argue that texting while driving bans have not been especially effective and that incidences of texting while driving are high, regardless of whether it is against the law. The high numbers of teen deaths caused by distracted driving should be warning enough to other teens; however, many still will not learn until it is too late.

Texting while driving and distracted driving are real threats to drivers, passengers, and all motorists sharing the road. When you get behind the wheel, remember that drivers using cell phones are 4 times as likely to become involved in an accident. One of the primary reasons that driver distraction causes accidents is that drivers lose the ability to react quickly. Taking your eyes off the road for the amount of time it takes to read a text means traveling the entire length of a football field if you are going 55 miles per hour. That is a long way to travel without being able to see the road.

We hope the driver signs Florida’s texting ban into law.
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