Articles Posted in Car Accident

After more than 5 years of effort, Florida has finally enacted a texting-and-driving ban. According to FOX Business, Florida Governor Rick Scott recently signed “Florida ban on texting while driving law.”

Unfortunately, this law doesn’t completely ban all drivers from using a text messaging device behind the wheel. But atleast it’s a start. What the law puts an end to is the act of manual texting while driving. It’s considered a secondary offense, meaning that an office could not pull over a driver solely for texting. They’ve first got to witness the driver breaking another road law, like speeding or running a red light, before they can be pulled over and cited for texting behind the wheel.

Our Cooper City accident lawyers understand that drivers are still unfortunately allowed to text while “a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being operated.” This means that we’re likely to see drivers still texting at red lights. So don’t expect the driver in front of you to be ready to go when the light turns green if they’re in the middle of a text.

Drivers are still allowed to take their eyes off the road for navigational purposes, such as GPS devices. Unfortunately, these devices come with the same distracted-driving consequences as text messaging devices. Drivers are also allowed to use hands-free devices still, also taking their cognitive abilities off of driving.

If these loopholes aren’t working in your favor and you’re still busted for texting behind the wheel, you’re looking at a non-moving violation and a fine of $30 (plus the costs of the courts). If it’s your second violation, drivers can expect a $60 fine (in addition to court costs), a moving violation on your record and three points slapped on your driving record.

It’s that second violation that’s going to draw some attention from your insurance provider, too. Moving violations fall under the category of speeding and red-light running and typically also come with higher premiums. Those hikes in costs will probably last you about 3 years, too.

If you’re busted texting behind the wheel while an accident happens, you’re looking at 6 points on your driver’s license. Under the new law, a driver’s phone records can be used as evidence in the event of an accident that results in injury or death.

Scott pointed out that this law was signed at the beginning of the “100 Deadliest Days” of driving for teenagers. This is the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day and serves as the most dangerous time on our roadways for newly-licensed drivers. They’re also most likely to text behind the wheel. This law is working to help keep them alive.

This law will not take effect until October 1st.
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Light drizzle, heavy downpours, and thunderstorms can cloud your vision and create dangerous road conditions that cause motor vehicle accidents. This rainy season in South Florida, it is important to use caution to prevent accidents and injury.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are approximately 7,000 Americans who die in accidents caused by inclement weather every year. The administration qualifies a “weather-related crash” as any accident that occurs in a dangerous weather condition such as rain, sleet, fog, or snow. Any of these conditions can also cause slick pavement that can make it difficult to stop or cause a vehicle to careen off the road.

Summer weather patterns can create a number of hazards for drivers, their passengers, and other motorists. Whether you are making a daily commute or taking an extended road trip with your family, it is important to consider the risks posed by inclement weather. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are experienced in the investigation of accidents caused by negligence, as well as those involving adverse weather conditions.

While tornados, hurricanes, snow storms and power outages can cause death, many believe that awareness should be raised surrounding weather-related car accidents. When getting behind the wheel this summer, remember that the risk of dangerous weather is high. To prevent an accident, you can take preventative action. Make sure your headlights are on. You could also pull over or opt to ride out a storm all together or stay at home. Pay particular attention to blinding afternoon rain storms. Watch for flooding and beware lightning strikes!

While drivers can take preventative action, government agencies and private enterprises are also exploring new technology to help disseminate weather information more quickly, to help warn drivers and keep them off the roads. Researchers believe informing drivers of potentially dangerous weather conditions, including fog, snow, rain, fires, and whiteouts, will reduce the number of such accidents that occur through the long summer travel months. The technology gives cars ahead on the road the ability to communicate with other drivers, including those who are 20 miles behind on the highway.

Additional risks are posed when drivers are speeding or fail to take notice of the dangerous conditions. When driving in adverse weather conditions, it is especially important not to use a cell phone or engage in other distracting activities like eating or changing the radio station. Any distractions can reduce your reaction time and leave you unable to defend yourself against oncoming traffic, braking vehicles or road debris. Parents should advise new teen drivers of the potential risks of dangerous weather when they hit the road this summer.

Most deaths are caused by single or two-car accidents. While these smaller accidents are not necessarily “news-worthy” they do make up the majority of accidents and should raise concern for motorists. Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions over a median, and other single or two-car accidents are just as dangerous as multi-car pile ups or truck accidents. This rainy season, Florida motorists should take precaution to avoid accidents. Remember the dangers of inclement weather and if possible, stay home during a storm.
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You may be ready for an upgrade. Perhaps you were involved in an accident, or your family is growing and needs a new vehicle. While there are a number of factors to consider when shopping for a new car, safety for your loved ones is going to be a priority.

There are a number of ways to research vehicle safety, including government reports, insurance industry records, crash-test scores, and research conducted on behalf of manufacturers. While you can assess consumer reports, none of the information is likely to paint the full picture.

Florida auto accidents claim thousands of lives every year. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are experienced in the investigation of accidents and helping victims recover compensation for their injuries and loss. In addition, we are also committed to helping prevent future accidents, injury and wrongful death.

Unfortunately, statistics rarely consider the full range of accidents that you may encounter on the road. You could hit a narrow object, such as a pole, tree, or street light. A collision may involve impact to the front or the side of your vehicle. You could be involved in an accident with an SUV or semi-truck that is larger, heavier, and capable of causing greater damage. A new study conducted by the University of Buffalo suggests that the vehicle you choose to buy could have a significant role in how well you and your passengers fare in the event of an accident.

While it is commonly known that larger vehicles will cause greater damage to a smaller vehicle, the study indicates just how significant the size of a vehicle can be in preventing passenger injury or fatality. According to the report, the odds of death were 7.6 times higher for car drivers than for drivers of SUV’s in a car versus SUV collision. However, there are some safety features that can improve safety for car drivers. When a crash involved a car with a better front crash-test rating than the SUV, the driver was only 4.5 times more likely to die than an SUV driver. Despite safety features, car drivers are at a clear disadvantage when involved in an accident with an SUV.

The new study analyzed head-on crash information in the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) maintained by the federal government. The researchers were looking specifically at whether the type of vehicle impacted the survival rates of a passenger. According to the researchers, the type of vehicle (SUV vs. car) was more important that just looking at the crash-test ratings produced by government agencies, private consumer studies, or insurance agencies.

Safety features may include anti-lock brakes, airbags, or front-crash design. Many vehicles will also take into consideration passenger diversity, including how safety features will impact children or older drivers. Newer and high-tech capabilities, including cars that can communicate on the road and help to prevent accidents are additional features that will become more available to consumers.

When choosing a vehicle for your family, remember that vehicle scores and crash test ratings can be indicative of safety, but they are not the only measure. Remember that a head-on collision can be deadly, especially if you are involved in an accident with a vehicle of greater size, including a truck or SUV.
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Memorial Day is here and most of you are packing up and heading out. While good times and great memories lie ahead, so do the increased risks for car accidents. As a matter of fact, the Memorial Day holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. With more people on our roadways, you can expect some congested traffic and some unfortunate delays. This is a time when we all need to keep our cool behind the wheel and drive with safety as a top concern.

Our Fellsmere car accident lawyers understand that traffic and congestion can get frustrating. It’s a sad fact of life. Unfortunately, some drivers let their tempers flare a little too much and put everyone else out there at risk. That’s why we’re asking drivers to show up prepared and to be ready for the inevitable to help to reduce the risks for an accident.

The most important thing you can do is to be a defensive driver. Defensive driving is all about situational awareness. Pay attention to everything on the road. If you see another driver make a mistake, be ready to get out of the way and prevent an accident. It’s also about understanding that drivers do make mistakes and not everyone is out to get you. Don’t take these mistakes personally and avoid the urge to retaliate.

You may not think you’re an aggressive driver, but you’d be surprised. Far too many drive aggressively and have no idea that they’re doing it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving happens when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” We provide guides, planners and information to law enforcement professionals and prosecutors to assist in the reduction of aggressive driving.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety predicts that close to 35 million people are going to venture at least 50 miles from their home over the holiday weekend. That’s a lot of cars on our road.

So how to do stay cool behind the wheel?

-Be aware of your own state of mind. If you start to feel agitated behind the wheel, pull over and take a moment to collect yourself. There’s no need to rush.

-Allow yourself extra time to get to your destination. Rushing increases aggressive feelings behind the wheel.

-Plan out your route. Make sure that you know the best way to get where you’re going. Avoid overly-congested roadways and have a backup plan, or another way to get to your destination.

-Get plenty of sleep before heading out.

-Make sure you eat a complete, well-balanced meal before hitting the road. Carry snacks to avoid that behind-the-wheel hunger.

-Never get behind the wheel if you’re upset.
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AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign to help put a stop to text messaging drivers is gaining support. According to PCMag.com, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and more than 200 organizations have hopped on board to spread the word.

We will leave alone the fact that these brands were build on promoting the “car phone” and recognize that this program has the potential to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions caused by distracted driving. With this added sponsorship, the initiative now includes an outreach program aimed at teens, a massive retail presence and a texting-while-driving simulator tour. The campaign is looking to touch each and every driver out there — in an effort to reduce the risks.

Our Pompano Beach car accident lawyers understand that our teen drivers face the most serious risks. Did you know that car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens across the country? But it’s not just the teens who are at risk here when we’re talking about texting while driving. It’s the business commuters who are in trouble here, too. According to a recent study, close to half self-report texting while driving. Less than 45 percent of teens report this behavior. Both report that they understand the risks, but just aren’t willing to hang up the phone.

“Texting while driving is a deadly habit that makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement.

Stephenson adds that the risks behind texting and driving have been on the rise in recent years, but people are still ignoring the risks. Drivers feel comfortable talking behind the wheel — and we’re all suffering because of it.

As it stands now, there have been close to 2 million personal commitments made on the “It Can Wait” website. We’re suggesting you visit the website and truly make the commitment to never text and drive. It’s a move that could wind up saving your life.

While you’re at it, you’re also encouraged to help spread the word. Talk to your friends, family and community about the risks associated with texting and driving.

But really how bad is the problem?

According to distraction.gov, there were more than 3,330 people killed in car accidents that involved a distracted driver in 2011. This is compared to the less than 3,270 who were killed in these same incidents in 2010.

Let’s break it down: Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

Whether you’re a newly-licensed teenage driver, or a regular business commuter, we’re asking you to hang up the phone behind the wheel. You should never take your eyes off the wheel for a text message or a phone call.
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The summer months may be some of the most exciting for our teens, but they can also be some of the most dangerous. Because they’re out of school and on summer break, kids get to spend more time behind the wheel, and that puts them at a greater risk for getting into a deadly car accident.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, we find nine of the 10 deadliest days out of the year for teen drivers. During the months from May to June, we see an average of 13 teen fatalities a day out there on our roadways.

Our Oakland Park car accident attorneys understand that traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens across the nation. This is partially because of their inexperience behind the wheel, and also because of their oblivion to the risks our roadways present. Parents and guardians can step in and speak up today to help raise awareness and share the education that our newly-licensed drivers need to stay safe out there.

Before you get started, make sure your teen driver knows what it expected of them. This can be done by enacting a parent-teen driving contract within your household. In this contract, make sure that you lay down rules for driving curfews, communication guidelines and passenger restrictions.

Parents should also consider the following safety tips for teen drivers:

-Make sure that you’re always setting the example. When your teen is riding along with you, be sure that both hands are on the wheel, cell phones are put away, your attention is on the road and that you’re following all road laws. Parents are the most influential people in a teen driver’s career. Lead by example.

-Give your teen plenty of supervised driving time. Ride along with them often to make sure that they’re doing all they’re supposed to. Ride along with them in different weather and traffic conditions to help ensure that they’re prepared for whatever is thrown at them. You don’t want them to face any surprises out there behind the wheel.

-Make sure their vehicle is well maintained. Keeping their vehicle in good-running condition is going to help to keep them safe out there. (Do the same for your own vehicle while you’re at it.)

-Have a talk with the parents of your teens’ friends. Make sure that all the adults are on the same page and are advocating for safe driving.

-Keep communication channels open. Make sure you know where they’re going, who they’re going with and when they can be expected home. Knowing their whereabouts serves as an excellent deterrent to poor decisions.
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Earlier this month, law enforcement officials throughout the state of Florida kicked off a safety campaign safety as they begin a summer of enforcement measures. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), this safety campaign is used for Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT). This campaign is designed to highlight how aggressive driving behaviors can put motorists on the highway at a serious risk when involved in an accident with a larger vehicle.

“In order to keep you and your family safe when driving, motorists should exercise extra caution when sharing the road with larger vehicles,” said Florida Highway Patrol Colonel David Brierton.

Our Deerfield Beach car accident lawyers understand that driving can be frustrating. We’ve all got somewhere to be and we don’t want to mess around en route. Sometimes, drivers make mistakes, accidents happen and traffic slows us down. But there’s no use in blowing a fuse because of it. Irrational responses behind the wheel will only increase your risks for an accident — and it’s not good for your health either.

To help to spread the word about the DHSMV’s campaign, billboards will be displayed around Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa. Officials with the Florida Trucking Association (ATA) teamed up with the DHSMV to help conduct various outreach programs throughout the state.

Through the busy Memorial Day travel weekend, officials will be out in search of car and truck drivers who drive aggressively. These habits can include tailgating, speeding and making unsafe lane changes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”

Opinion surveys show motorists rate aggressive driving as a top threat to highway safety, yet many do not identify their own behavior as aggressive. Crash data shows a ongoing increase in the number of deaths and injuries attributed to speed. And the more congested streets and highways are, the more you will encounter aggressive and unsafe drivers on and off the job, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

Unfortunately, Florida can hold aggressive drivers accountable by state statute, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). At least two of the following: speeding, unsafe or improper lane change, following too closely, failure to yield right of way, improper passing, failure to obey traffic control devices, are considered to be aggressive driving in the Sunshine State.

If you start to get heated behind the wheel, just take a second to breathe. There’s no reason in letting your temper get the best of you and endanger your life and the lives of others around you. We’re all trying to get to where we’ve got to be. Let’s work together to get there safely.
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The state of Florida could soon become the 40th state to ban texting while driving, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

“By passing a law banning texting while driving, Florida continues the momentum in statehouses across the country to address this dangerous form of driver distraction,” said Kevin Bakewell with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Our Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers understand that the bill has one more stop before becoming official. It must win the signature of Gov. Rick Scott. The legislation sponsored by Sen. Nancy Deter, R-Venice (SB 52) makes texting, instant messaging and emailing illegal behind the wheel. Unfortunately this is only considered a secondary offense, meaning that a driver must be stopped for a prior offense before getting a citation for driving while engaging in these distractions.

“The bill is long overdue,” House Minority Leader Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, told Tampabay.com. “We’ve lost too many young people, too many people in general.”

The only person to raise a vote against this bill in the House was Republican Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart.

Upon approving it, officials also decided to add provision allowing police to obtain a driver’s cell phone records when an accident results in personal injury or death.

Lawmakers have failed to pass similar measures each year since 2006.

As we continue to lose thousands on our roadways because of these dangerous driving habits, it’s time to step up and make the change. There were close to 3,500 people killed in distracted driving car accidents in the U.S. in 2011, according to distraction.gov.

But officials think that there were a lot more than that, since these accident causes are tough to determine. A driver isn’t likely to admit that it was distraction that lead to an accident.

This is unfortunately a problem that’s getting worse with each passing day. As technology becomes more readily available, it gets easier for drivers to engage in these distractions and taker their eyes off the road.

Law or not, you know right from wrong. It’s important that you’re on your best behavior behind the wheel at all times. If you’ve got a phone call or a text message to deal with, make sure you pull your car over and come to a complete stop in a safe area before handling your business. If it’s urgent, you can even hand over the duties to a passenger to handle. Whatever you do — don’t take your attention off of driving — it could wind up being a fatal mistake.
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With graduation and summer break right around the corner, teens are more likely to be behind the wheel. When they’re spending more time driving, they face higher accident risks and we unfortunately see more teen traffic fatalities. We’re approaching “The 100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), this is the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, an average of 399 teens died in traffic crashes during each of the summer months (May-August), compared to a monthly average of 346 teen deaths during non-summer months.

Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers understand that it’s not too late to instill safe driving habits in our newly-licensed drivers to keep them safe during this dangerous time.

Parents have good reason to be concerned when their teen gets behind the wheel. Young, inexperienced drivers are the most crash-prone drivers on the road.

According to newly-released statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 2,000 young (15- to 20-year-old) drivers who were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2011. Unfortunately, that’s an increase from the prior year. In addition to these fatalities, there were another 185,000 teenage drivers injured in these crashes.

During this time, there were more than 115 teenage drivers killed in car accidents in the state of Florida. We ranked among the top states for recording the most of these fatalities.

We can and must do better.

What can parents do to keep their teens safe?

-Make sure their trip has a purpose. Don’t just let them go out to drive and wander the streets. That’s creating unnecessary risk.

-Limit the number of passengers that are allowed in the vehicle. Unfortunately, the state of Florida has no passenger laws on the books, but you can create your own household laws to make sure they’re safe and focused.

-Keep an eye on their nighttime driving. Only allow it when it’s legal and necessary. Their risks for an accident skyrocket when the sun sets.

-Make sure that you talk with them about the risks of drinking and driving. They may not be old enough to legally consume alcohol, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t get their hands on it.

-Enroll teens in driving school. Not only will it help to lower their insurance rates, but it will also help to lower their risks for an accident.

-Talk with the parents of your teen’s friends. Make sure that everyone is on the same page with safe driving and with driving regulations.

-Make sure you ride along with them often. Providing plenty of supervised driving time will help them to develop safe driving habits that will last a lifetime.
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The Florida Senate has unanimously passed a bill to outlaw text messaging while driving. The next stop for the legislation is final passage in the Florida House, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

Our Greenacres car accident lawyers understand this is a step in the right direction when talking about stopping distracted driving accidents. Unfortunately, Florida is one of the only states left that has yet to enact any sort of distracted driving law.

But it’s not just about winning the cooperation of drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is targeting auto manufacturers.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Ray LaHood, officials are seeking cooperation from automakers to follow new guidelines, which seek to rid vehicles of distracting devices. These are voluntary guidelines, but officials are hoping they take hold. What they’re looking to minimize is the access to electronic devices while the vehicle is in motion. This includes entertainment, communication and navigation devices.

“The new guidelines and our ongoing work with our state partners across the country will help us put an end to the dangerous practice of distracted driving,” said the NHTSA’s Administrator, David L. Strickland.

The problem here in Florida is that drivers argue that what they do in their vehicle is their business. Government agrees, saying that it doesn’t want to impose on the rights of residents. But how many lives do we have to lose before there’s a law enacted to stop such dangerous behavior?

Officials don’t necessarily want these devices to be removed from future models, but they would like them to be inactive while the vehicle is in motion. If your car is stopped and in park, go ahead and talk, text and email. You can’t cause an accident while parked.

These latest recommendations come after the completion of The Impact of Hand-Held and Hands-Free Cell Phone Use on Driving Performance and Safety Critical Event Risk study. This was a study that helped to prove just how at risk we are when we engage in distractions behind the wheel.

In this study, manual-visual interactions that were involved with using a cell phone made a driver close to 2 times more likely to get into an accident. Even when drivers were using hands-free devices, their risks for an accident were increased.

Ifou take your attention off of the road, then you increase your risks for an accident. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel and you’re less likely to get into an accident. It’s simple knowledge. We just need to get more drivers on board. There were close to 3,500 people killed in distracted driving car accidents in 2011. Together we can make a difference.
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