Articles Posted in Car Accident

Just when you thought you made it safely through the rush of the holidays — you’re faced with the risks that come along with Snowbirds, tourists and Florida’s high season.

Our Wilton Manor accident lawyers see Florida snowbirds just as the Danish see Sort Sol. Sort Sol, or Black Sun, is referring to the twice-a-year occurrence when starlings flock by the millions and block the sunlight in the Danish sky. It’s kind of like how the northerners flock to our roads, seemingly blocking them from all safe use.

There’s less room on our roadways, there are fewer parking spots at the shopping mall and there are more sidewalks users, like bicyclists and pedestrians. With the increase in this population, we see a serious increase in the risks for accidents.

It makes our drive home from work a lot more frustrating. After a long day on the clock, the last thing any of us want to worry about is traffic delays or even the risks for an accident. With all of these thoughts running through our mind, it can be easily to get distracted. Keep in mind the following tips to help protect yourself against the traffic:

-Avoid the anger. Keep it cool behind the wheel. We all know that the snowbird traffic can be frustrating. But remember that they may not be familiar with the area. Remember they’re probably on “vacation” too, and not rushing home from work. Have some patience. It’s worth your safety.

-Keep an eye on your speed. When you abide by the speed limit, you’ll allow yourself more time to prepare for those who may not be paying attention.

-Stay off their rear and avoid tailgating. You always want to imagine that there’s an invisible car between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you’re unable to find this invisible vehicle, then you’re driving too closely!

-Save the alcohol for home. You never want to drink and drive. Your car is one of the most dangerous places to be when you’re inebriated.

-This may be a no-brainer — but wear a seat belt! Some accidents are unavoidable! Make sure you’re properly buckled in every time you get in the car. Your seat belt is your best defense against injury and even death in the event of a car accident.

-Check the weather, road conditions and traffic reports before heading out. Knowing this kind of information will help you to best navigate your way to where you’ve got to go.

-Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat. Hands on the wheel and eyes on the road! Allow passengers to deal with GPS devices, phone calls and other tasks that require attention. If you’re driving alone, pull over and stop safely before proceeding.
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A former minister and her two children were involved in a fatal car accident on Alligator Alley. Unfortunately, the mother and her 3-year-old daughter were killed in the crash. According to Florida Baptist Witness, the former minister of Eustis’ Bay Street Baptist Church was driving near mile marker 88 when it the tragedy occurred.

The third passenger in the vehicle, her 4-year-old, was taken to a Tampa hospital and was last listed in critical condition. Accident reports indicate that the family was heading west on the Alley. Both of the children were riding in their car seats when the accident happened. Just before 9:00 a.m., the mother slammed into another vehicle and was thrown off of the road. The car then went through a set of barricade cables and flipped over before coming to rest in a canal alongside the roadway.

Our Broward auto accident lawyers understand the risks of driving across the state of Florida via Alligator Alley. Not only do we have to worry about staying awake, keeping concentration and staying away from dangerous drivers, but we also have to worry about our vehicle breaking down. Fact is, this is one of the most desolate stretches of road in America and help can be slow in arriving at the scene.

Unfortunately, it took rescuers about 30 minutes to get to the former minister and her family. They had to smash in the windows of her car to get to the kids. None were breathing on their own and were transported to Physicians Regional Hospital. This is where the mother was pronounced dead. Just days later, one daughter was pronounced dead at NCH in North Collier.

“It’s a heartbreaking situation,” said Don Miller with Lake County Baptist Association in Eustis.

Unexpected Causes of an Accident:

-Equipment failure. Brakes, tires and even steering and suspension can act unpredictably. Many times, these conditions were known and the responsibility lies in the hands of automakers and other auto technicians, but they neglected to take action to correct the situation. These accidents are usually unavoidable by the driver and are caused by the neglect of a third party. An attorney can help you to pinpoint this fault.

-Roadway design. Law enforcement officers, local government and civil engineers all contribute to the design and the safety of the roadways. Usually, hazard visibility, roadway surfaces, traffic control devices, behavioral control devices, traffic flow and weather are all considered when a roadway’s design is up for discussion.

-Other drivers. Unfortunately, other drivers can be some of the most threatening hazards. It’s important that all factors are considered when determining fault in an accident. It’s important that you consult with an attorney immediately after a serious or deadly car accent. An attorney will help to provide invaluable assistance when it comes to figuring out the cause of your crash and identifying the parties responsible.
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The number one cause of workplace fatalities is traffic accidents. And one of the leading causes of these kinds of accidents is distracted driving, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). As a matter of fact, researchers report that it’s the cause of one out of every four car accidents. It’s become a national epidemic!

Our Pahokee injury lawyers understand that there are specific steps that employers can take to help to make sure that their driving employees aren’t facing such high risks. One of the first, and most important, things that an employer can do is enact a Cell Phone Policy Kit.

Employers have realized the dangers and the risks of cell phone usage behind the wheel. Now they’re being urged to take the appropriate actions to help to make our roadways safer by implementing comprehensive cell phone policies within the workplace.

Don’t think it’s a serious problem? You’d be surprised with some of the stats. Distracted driving affects us all.

If something is urgent and needs attention via phone call or text message, it’s imperative that drivers pull over, come to a complete stop and then handle the matter. The average text message takes about 4.5 second to read/reply. During this time, when traveling 55 miles per hour, a driver can travel the entire length of a football field without ever looking at the road. When you do that while driving a semi or other kind of large, commercial vehicle, you’ve got a sure recipe for disaster!

According to the NSC, there were close to 35,000 people killed in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2010. These accidents are the number one cause of work-related fatalities and account for about a quarter of all fatal occupational injuries. These kinds of accidents aren’t cheap either. Per crash, property damage accidents cost an employer an average of $24,500. Injury accidents cost close to $200,000.

And the risks for distracted driving car accidents have skyrocketed. Put it this way — there are more cell phone subscriptions in the U.S. than there are people living here.

Distracted Driving Quick Stats:

-Nearly 25 percent of car accidents that happened in the U.S. in 2010 involved a driver who was using a cell phone at the time of the accident.

-More than 1 million traffic accidents involved a driver on a cell phone.

-Nearly 200,000 traffic accidents were the result of driving while text messaging.

With the intense publicity surrounding cell phone distracted driving in recent years, it would be virtually impossible for employers and workers to argue that everyone’s not aware of the dangers. Beyond safety issues, employers are now being held tegally responsible.
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Federal transportation officials have been doing all they can to get states to enact tougher driving laws. The efforts aren’t paying off in Florida. According to Edmunds.com, federal transportation laws and even generous grant programs have failed to jump start Florida lawmakers into enacting road laws to help to make everyone safer.

According to the 10th annual report card by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Florida is ranked as one of the worst states in terms of roadway safety laws. Our Vero Beach accident lawyers understand that Florida has repeatedly been criticized for being one of the only states in the country that has yet to enact any kind of distracted driving law. And that was pointed out in the recent report — along with other delinquencies.

Changes for Safer Roads, according to SafeRoads:

-All motorcycle riders should be required to wear a safety helmet. Currently, only our youngest riders are required to wear this kind of protection.

-Lawmakers should require all children under the age of 7 to remain seated in a booster seat while riding in a motor vehicle.

-The state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program should up its minimum age requirement for a Learner’s Permit to 16-years-old.

-Our GDL program should further limit young driver’s time behind the wheel during the evening hours. Currently, 16-year-old cannot drive past 11:00 p.m. while 17-year-olds cannot drive past 1:00 p.m.

-Transportation officials should limit the number of young passengers a teenage driver can have in the vehicle at one time. We are currently one of the few states that have no restrictions.

-While it’s important to enact cell phone bans on our young drivers, it’s just as important to get all drivers on the same page. Cell phones and text messaging behind the wheel significantly increases your risks for an accident. All drivers need to keep their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road and their attention on driving.

-Lawmakers should crack down on drunk drivers. There should be a law enacted that requires ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders.

“The traffic safety progress we’ve made since 2005 is at risk of being undone,” said Jacqueline Gillan, president of Advocates.

The truth of the matter is that the number of car accidents has increased more than 7 percent during the first 9 months of 2012 in comparison to 2011. And one quick fix to this rising problem is the enactment of stricter driving laws.

Drivers need to be more in tune with their actions behind the wheel. It seems that we’re all losing the severity of the risks associated with driving. Every time you hop behind that wheel, it’s important to remember that it could be your last and you need to do everything in your power to make sure that it’s not. Safe roadways start with you. Be on your best behavior out there to help ensure the safety of all travelers.
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As our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys recently reported, officials throughout the state are pushing the “Move Over Law” to help to keep roadside workers and officers safe.

Their efforts may not be as effective as planned as another Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer was recently injured in a roadside accident by a passing motorist. According to CBS Miami, a 33-year-old trooper was pulled over to the side of the road to check out a three-car accident when the accident went down at roughly 5:00 p.m. along Interstate 95.

“I heard the rumble strips, turned around and looked. I heard the bang and saw the car about ten feet in the air,” said a man involved in the initial accident.

No one else was injured in the second accident. According to witness reports, the officer’s vehicle was crumpled in the wreck. The officer was inside of her cruiser when the accident happened. Witnesses say that they were surprised that she made it out alive, saying she opened her car door after the collision and began to mumble — still shaken up from the wreck. Her vehicle was “destroyed.”

The young officer was taken to the hospital and was listed in serious condition.

In the second accident, a witness’ vehicle was struck as well and was sent across 5 lanes of traffic. It came to rest after colliding with a tree on the other side of the highway.

Investigators are still working to determine whether he was impaired at the time of the crash. Criminal charges are pending depending on the outcome of that investigation.

While we expect drivers to be courteous of any stopped vehicle on the side of the road, they’re required to follow the state’s “Move Over Law.” This means that they are required to move over a lane when they see an official vehicle stopped on the side of the road. If there is no way to move over, they’re required to slow down and travel at least 20 miles an hour under the posted speed limit.

Drivers and others who find themselves stranded on the side of the road are asked to be extremely cautious.

Side of the Road Safety Tips:

-Stay in your car. If it’s after dark, put the interior light on so that you’re more visible. If the engine is operable, keep it running so that you don’t run the battery down.

-Roll down the driver’s side window, hang a white fabric or cloth out of the window and roll it back up. This will help to alert that you are in trouble.

-Put on your emergency/hazard lights.

-Call for help.

-If someone approaches your vehicle, simply crack your window and ask them to call for help.

-If you get a flat tire, do not attempt to change. Ride on the rim to a safe location. A damaged rim is nothing compared to your safety.
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Since 1999, there have been roughly 170 law enforcement officers killed in the United States while working roadside. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), officials statewide will be working throughout January to raise awareness about Florida’s Move Over Law.

During this time, officers will be targeting disobeying motorists as well. This is all in an effort to put an end to these careless accidents and to help to keep tow truck drivers, emergency workers and law enforcement officers safe while working along Florida roadways.

“Florida’s Move Over law was enacted to protect those trying to protect Florida’s motorists, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Director Col. David Brierton said.

Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers understand that there were four troopers who struck last year while working in the emergency lanes along highways. One occurred in Palm Beach County and one other in Broward County. The other two happened in Hillsborough and Orange County. It’s important that drivers pay attention behind the wheel and be courteous to others on our roadways not only to help to protect our state’s officers, but to help to protect other motorists as well!

What is the Move Over Law?

-This law applies when a tow truck, emergency vehicle or a patrol car is on the side of the road — especially with its lights flashing. When this is observed, drivers are required to move over a lane to allow them with more room.

-If drivers cannot safely move over, they’re required to slow to and travel at least 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.

-Drivers are required to approach these vehicles with extreme caution.

-Drivers who disobey this law and not only running a risk of getting a traffic citation, but they’re also compromising their safety and the safety of others around them.

-With a traffic citation for not obeying this law, drivers can be fined and can also get points on their driver’s license.

If you don’t move over the penalty is about $120 (depending on the Florida county) and 3 points on your driver’s license.

How can I help to prevent an accident when approaching an emergency vehicle, an accident scene, a construction zone or traffic congestion?

The most important thing to do is to stay alert! If you keep your eyes on your surroundings and your hands on the wheel, you’re better able to point out problems and react more quickly to any potential dangers.

Officials with the police and fire department as well as tow truck drivers face enough danger already and this law was created because these brave emergency workers actually got hit by cars passing by. Unfortunately, they’re still getting hit today. When you’re driving and you see flashing lights on the side of the road, be a considerate driver and help to save lives and move over. You’d want someone to do it for you — make the first move today.
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Yesterday, our Oakland Park injury attorneys urged all drivers to make a resolution to become better drivers in 2013.

While being a better driver involves making a host of smart decisions behind the wheel, we’ll be helping those committed to safer driving by tackling some of the top causes of crashes. To help you avoid behaviors that could lead to a crash, we have a four part series on how to be a better driver this New Years.

Our previous article introduced our New Years safe driving series and upcoming articles will focus on the dangers of distracted driving and on pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Today, however, we’re focusing on speeding, which by some accounts is involved in as many as one-third of all serious crashes.

Speeding Risks
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is one of the most common contributing factors to car accidents and auto accident fatalities in the United States. In Florida alone, 2010 data shows that 118 fatal crashes occurred due to drivers going too fast for the road conditions and 94 fatal crashes were attributed to drivers exceeding the posted speed limit. Hundreds more were injured by speeding as well, with 2,440 people hurt due to drivers going too fast for conditions and 517 hurt because of drivers going over posted limits.

These are just the crashes in which speed was reported as a factor.

As these Florida figures show, speeding accidents can happen even if you are going under the posted limits. NHTSA data also indicates that many accidents throughout the U.S. are caused by drivers who are technically obeying speeding rules but who are still going unreasonably fast given the current status of the roads. According to NHTSA, drivers going over the speed limit are the cause of only 55 percent of speeding crashes while the remaining 45 percent are caused by drivers who don’t slow down enough to account for poor visibility, bad weather, traffic volume or other potential risks.

Why Is Speeding so Dangerous?

Speeding is dangerous for many reasons. One issue is that you have less control of the car at high speeds, meaning you are more likely to spin out of control, veer into the wrong lane or off the road, or otherwise get off course in a dangerous way. When you are speeding, you also have more forward momentum that your brakes have to stop. This means it takes longer for you to slow or stop your vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Finally, when you are speeding, you hit another vehicle with more force than if you were going slower. This means that the injuries in speeding accidents may be more serious than in other types of crashes where the vehicles weren’t going as quickly and didn’t strike with as much force.

Avoiding Speeding Accidents
Because speeding is so dangerous, it is important to do everything possible to avoid becoming involved in a crash due to driving too fast. In order to stay safer, make a resolution today to avoid going too fast. To help you do this, you should always plan to leave on time or a little early to get to your destinations so you aren’t prompted to speed. Pay attention to your speedometer at all times and account for the current road conditions when deciding how fast to go. If you have teen drivers in your family, you should also discuss with them the risks of speeding so they don’t put themselves or others in danger.
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Our streets are going to be packed over the holiday season. There are roughly 5 million Floridians who will be traveling at least 50 miles from their home during this time. And this doesn’t even count the ones who will be staying local, but will still be out on the road. With all of the traffic, our accident risks are going to be much higher.

Also during this time of year, drivers are likely to get agitated behind the wheel. It actually happened a lot more often than you think. According to the Complaints Board, nearly all (roughly 90 percent) of drivers in a recent study say that they have either seen road rage or have been a victim of road rage at least once over the last year. Throughout the study consisting of 7 years in the 90s, these incidents accounted for more than 200 murders and more than 10,000 injuries. Actual vehicles and firearms were the most commonly used weapons in these incidents. And the reasons for the heated debates were merely parking spaces, horn honking and slow drivers.

Our Oakland Park accident attorneys understand that this kind of behavior is the most severe form of aggressive driving. Other examples of this dangerous driving behavior include illegal passing, horn honking, tailgating, shouting and throwing out obscene gestures. All of these acts can quickly spiral into a rage behind the wheel. That’s why we’re asking all drivers to keep their cool behind the wheel during the busy holiday travel season.

“Road rage is driving under the influence of impaired emotions,” said Leon James, a professor of traffic psychology with the University of Hawaii. “It’s triggered by mental assumptions we’re making about other drivers—like assuming someone is doing something on purpose to bother you.”

Everyone can fall victim to rage behind the wheel. Old drivers, young drivers, male drivers and even female drivers can get heated in the driver’s seat. That’s why we’re here to suggest to you some safety tips to remember if you start to get angry out there:

-Treat yourself right. Get enough sleep and carry snacks with you to make sure you’re not hungry. Sleep deprivation and hunger can both turn a driver into a mad man in no time.

-Leave earlier. Allow yourself with lots of time to get to where you have to go. This will help to avoid rushing.

-Take a second to calm down. Pull over, calm and collect your thoughts if you notice yourself beginning to get angry behind the wheel.

-Remember that driving is not a contest. There are no winners and there are no losers when driving. We just all have to get to where we need to be and we all need to get there safely. It’s a group effort.
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In the state of Florida, there were more than 235,350 car accidents reported to authorities in 2010. Of these accidents there were close to 30,000 car accidents involving teen drivers. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were close to 100 teenage drivers killed and another 65 teen passengers killed. There were also 11,000 teen drivers and another 8,000 teen passengers injured in these same accidents.

The risk of these accidents is high through the busy holiday season. There was absolutely no change in the number of teen drivers killed in car accidents from 2009 to 2010.

Our Coral Springs accident attorneys bring this issue up because it’s that time of the year again when we see some serious risks for accidents. The holiday travel season is one of the busiest of the entire year. There are more travelers out now than during any other holiday period. In addition, our young drivers are out of school enjoying their winter break. What this means is that they’re spending more time on our road and behind the wheel — giving them higher risks for an accident. For this reason, it’s critical for parents and guardians to talk with the teens in their lives and review safe driving habits. It’s a move to help to keep them safe, to reduce their risks of accidents and to help to keep other travelers safe as well.

Parents are urged to review the state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program during this time, too. Make sure they’re following all of the rules.

Florida’s GDL Laws, according to the National Safety Council (NSC):

At 15-Years-Old/Learner’s Permit:

-Only drive during the daylight hours for the first three months.

-Can only drive until 10:00 p.m. for the last 9 months of this license.

-Is not allowed to drive without a licensed passenger who is over the age of 21-years-old.

At 16-Years-Old/Provisional License:

-Driving is prohibited between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the driver is traveling to or from work.

At 17-Years-Old/Provisional License:

-Driving prohibited between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless they are traveling to or from work.

At 18-years-old a driver can obtain a full and unrestricted license, only after completing the stages listed above.

Parents are asked to make sure that they continue the conversation regarding safe driving habits long after their young driver has received his full, unrestricted license. Because car accidents continue to be the leading killer for Americans under the age of 35, we need to keep this subject fresh and make sure that safe driving habits are a top priority of everyone behind the wheel. Happy Holidays to you and the teen drivers in your family and remember to be safe out there.
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The state of Florida ranks among the top three places in the country to visit over the holiday travel season, according to the Los Angeles Times. Snowbirds are coming down and residents throughout the area will be traveling within the Sunshine State to celebrate the holidays with friends and family members.

As a matter of fact, there are more than 93 million Americans who are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their home. About 5 million of those travelers are Florida residents. According to the Sun Sentinel, about 90 percent of holiday travelers will be hitting our roadways. This is mainly because of the high prices for plane tickets during this time of the year. With more motor vehicle traffic out there, the risks for car accidents are going to be through the roof. Our Lantana car accident attorneys are asking everyone to keep safety a top priority. Accidents can be avoided with preparation and safe driving.

Officials consider the holiday travel period as the time from the 22nd of December through the 2nd of January. Every year, we see a lot more accidents during this time than during any other similar time frame.

Travel is up about 2 percent from last year, and the highest we’ve seen since 2006.

“The year-end holiday season remains the least volatile of all travel holidays as Americans will not let economic conditions or high gas prices dictate if they go home for the holidays or kick off the New Year with a vacation,” said Brent Hubele, AAA Travel Vice President.

To help to keep you safe while traveling through the holidays, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be out in force.

Holiday Travel Tips from FHP:

-Let someone know where and when you’re going. Tell a loved one your holiday travel plans in case something should happen.

-Never get in your vehicle without a cell phone. Bring along a charger for your car or an extra battery if you’re going on a long trip.

-Make sure that you fill up your gas tank before leaving.

-Know where you’re going before you leave. Behind the wheel is no time to mess with road maps or with GPS devices.

-Always travel with your car doors locked.

-Be aware of the road laws in the places you’ll be traveling to or through.

-Always wear a seat belt. It’s your best defense against injury in the event of an accident.

-Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat.

-Always have a designated driver if your plans consist of alcohol.
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