Articles Posted in Car Accident

Many will travel this upcoming holiday weekend and West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyers wish you and your family safe travels wherever you may be going.

Steering clear of car accidents in Palm Beach County will help you enjoy the Independence Day holiday weekend. We have seen how accidents on our roads and highways can be devastating, so keep your family safe this holiday weekend.

AAA estimates that nearly 39 million drivers will travel more than 50 miles from their homes during the weekend, which is down slightly from 2010, when about 40 million drivers took to the roads. The group estimates that about 84 percent of those people will be driving to a vacation spot. About a $1 increase in gas prices from last year this time is to blame for the estimated decrease in drivers. AAA believes about 3 million people will be flying this holiday weekend, a rise from a year ago.

But despite the estimated drop in travelers driving, 39 million people is a huge number. That means the risk for accidents is still very high. With clogged South Florida roads, drivers must avoid the pitfalls that can lead to fender-benders and more serious wrecks that cause injuries and even death.

But if you do end up in an accident, insist police file a report on the incident. Try to document the accident or the injury itself. Your memory of what happened will be stronger closer in time to the incident. Take photos and get contact information for witnesses and speak with no one about the accident without first talking with West Palm Beach Car Accident Lawyers.

Common Fourth of July vehicle accident causes:

Drunk driving accidents: With so many additional people driving, the possibility of drunk driving accidents will be at a high level. The Florida Highway Patrol made 100 DUI arrests during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 2010. And that doesn’t include local law enforcement. Despite increased criminal penalties, people still choose to drink and drive, so keep your family safe.

Distracted driving accidents: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes more than 450,000 injuries each year on distracted driving. Talking on a cell phone, messing with the radio dial, applying makeup and talking with others in the vehicle all can be dangerous.

South Florida teen car accidents: School is out, the weather is warm and teens want to get in the car, pick up their friends and head to the beach or the mall. While this is a rite of passage we all have made, it still terrifies us to let our kids go out on the road. Nationwide in 2009, more than 33,000 teens died in car accidents. Make sure your teen is well prepared to take on the challenges of South Florida driving.
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We posted recently on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog that teen drivers have the spotlight during Teen Safe Driving Week as part of National Safety Month because they have the greatest risk of any age group to be involved in a car accident in Miami, Margate or West Palm Beach.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers recommend that parents with teens preparing to drive check out the new state specific AAA Guide to Teen Driver Safety. This online tool offers plenty of helpful information to both Florida teens and their parents in the learning-to-drive process from what to do before they start driving to the time they start driving on their own.

A quick overview of the site:

-Your teen should understand the risks involved with driving before they get behind the wheel. Teens represent 7 percent of the licensed population but are involved in 20 percent of all fatal crashes. The risks of a teen crash increases with other teens riding in the car, especially at night. Teens should also learn about the licensing process. For instance, what is needed, what is required and at what age they can acquire a learner’s license, intermediate license, and full license. Insurance is another important part of teens beginning to drive because there is such a high risk for an accident. Getting the right coverage at a price that is affordable is a challenge, but there are cost-saving strategies that can be utilized. Remember, all Florida drivers are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 personal injury protection and $10,000 property damage coverage for auto insurance.

-An important part of the learning process is driving with supervision. Supervise your teen while they practice in low-risk conditions, and as they gain confidence, present more difficult situations for them to handle. Parents also need to determine whether a teen needs their own vehicle at this stage. Vehicle type, safety features, affordability, reliability and familiarity are all things to be considered when shopping for a vehicle for your teen driver. Learning to drive takes a commitment from both the parent and teen driver, so be prepared and be patient throughout the process.

-Driving alone is the final step of the learning process. Make sure your teen is aware of the dangers of speeding, driving under the influence, driving with peers in the car, distracted driving and driving in poor weather conditions before they branch out on their own. Parents should reiterate to their teens that driving is a privilege, and with the freedom comes responsibility. Before your teen begins driving solo, you should establish a Start Smart Parent Teen Driving Agreement.

To access Florida licensing and state laws, click here to view.

For a free driving lesson, visit the Keys 2 Drive website.
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Driver inattention is a common cause of Fort Lauderdale distracted driving accidents, and yet Florida lawmakers still haven’t passed a law banning texting while driving in our state, according to a recent article on Ocala.com.

Florida is one of 17 remaining states that still do not address the issue of texting while driving. Palm Beach car accident lawyers know that banning this behavior could save thousands of lives each year, but motorists continue to be victims of bad decisions made by other drivers.

The National Safety Council has deemed such behavior important enough to dedicate an entire week of National Safety Month to ‘On the Road, Off the Phone’ to raise awareness of the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.

Almost 30 percent of all traffic crashes — over 1.5 million a year — are caused by motorists who are either texting or talking on their cell phone while driving. Everyone thought hands-free devices were the answer to reducing the risk of accidents, but it turns out that isn’t the case.

Stay Alive Just Drive reports that brain activity associated with driving can be reduced by almost 40 percent when drivers are talking on a cell phone. The odds for an accident are high if only 60 percent of your brain is focused on the skills needed to drive, such as reaction, vision, alertness and motor skills. It is reported that distractions in a car typically last three seconds. A car traveling at 45 mph can go the distance of half a football field in three seconds.

The NSC offers the following daily tips for ‘One the Road, Off the Phone’ week:

-June 27: Pull over to the side of the road or pull into a parking lot if you need to answer or make a call while driving.

-June 28: Tell your friends and family about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.

-June 29: Change your voicemail to relay that you are currently driving but will return the missed call when you arrive safely at your destination.

-June 30: Refrain from using any wireless communication device while behind the wheel. Hands-free devices are proving to be no safer than holding a phone while talking.

The liability of distracted driving accidents falls at the hands of the driver who made a poor choice. Injured drivers should plan to take legal action by contacting an experienced car accident attorney to help get you the compensation you deserve.
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Teens met at the nation’s capital recently to discuss safe driving habits during the summer and the dangers of driving among large trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Those teens now understand that when they hit the road this summer, so do a number of large trucks, increasing the risks of a deadly car accident in Palm Beach and elsewhere.

During the meeting in Washington D.C., teens pledged to make this summer a little safer for all motorists. Large trucks pose a number of threats to teen drivers as they have extremely large blind spots and provide more fatal risks when involved in an accident with a motor vehicle. The teen drivers pledged to put down their cell phone while driving and to practice extra caution around these big rigs.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that our teen drivers face a higher risk for a motor-vehicle accident than those in any other age group. Lack of driving experience is one of the main contributors, followed by distracted driving and drunk driving. Parents are urged to join the awareness campaign and to discuss the dangers of irresponsible driving habits with their young driver.

“Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, president of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented.”

Officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Organizations for Youth Safety and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance attended this gathering and spoke to students in the area about the importance of driving safely around large trucks. They warned these drivers that a fully loaded tractor trailer needs about twice the distance to stop that a passenger vehicle needs. They also talked to students about large blind spots and urged drivers to keep out of these “No Zones.”

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the deadliest days of the year for teens are from May to August. During these four summer months, it is estimated that nearly twice as many teens die on our roadways every day as compared with the rest of the year. This equals an average of roughly 16 deaths per day. The rest of the year averages about nine deaths each day.

Motorists ages 16 to 24 have the highest traffic accident death rate in the United States. From 2005 to 2009, about 4,000 individuals of this age group were killed in motor-vehicle accidents involving large trucks.

“Do not expect that having a driver’s license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk,” said Steve Keppler, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else’s.”

In 2009, Florida had nearly 400 deaths as a result of motor-vehicle accidents involving a teen driver. With awareness, education and experience, we can help keep our teens safe on our roadways this summer and throughout the year.
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School drop-off areas are becoming increasingly dangerous because of distracted parents on cell phones, reports the Sun-Sentinel . Florida lawmakers have been dragging their feet to enact legislation on distracted driving.

Our Palm Beach injury lawyers and Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys find it appalling that Florida lawmakers don’t put a ban on cell phone use in school zones and elsewhere.

For the past three years, a state senator from Miami has introduced legislation banning drivers from using cell phones in school zones. The bills have never passed. This year, it died in the transportation committee. With a growing number of accidents caused by distracted drivers, school districts have taken matters into their own hands. Broward County has placed warning signs in the district to not talk on cell phones and just recently added no texting while driving in school zones. Palm Beach County has no policy on cell phone use in car loops, but signs are posted at some schools warning drivers not to use cell phones in the drop-off/pick-up area.

It is a growing concern that has gotten the attention of the Palm Beach County Safe Routes to Schools Coalition. This is a group that focuses on student safety when it comes to them walking and biking to school. In Boca Raton, Addison Mizner Elementary School has had signs up for many years. The school’s principal reports that most parents obey the signs. Hagen Road Elementary just west of Boynton Beach puts reminders in the school’s news letter not to use cell phones.

According to Distraction.gov, 32 states ban texting while driving (12 states enacted their laws last year) and eight states prohibit the use of handheld cell phones by all drivers.

Florida lawmakers don’t seem to care that nearly 5,500 people were killed and almost 450,000 were injured due to distracted driving in 2009. Or maybe they don’t know that using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk. Or that drivers on a cell phone are four times more likely to crash. The best they have come up with is a bill sitting on the governor’s desk requiring driver’s education teachers to warn students on the dangers of texting and driving.

Avoid the following activities to prevent a distracted driving crash:

-Talking or texting on a cell phone.

-Eating, drinking or grooming.

-Talking to other passengers.

-Reading maps or using a PDA.

-Watching a video or changing the radio station.
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A recent fatal teen car accident in Collier County is a tragic reminder of what a dangerous time it is for our young drivers on Florida roadways.

As teens get ready for graduation, our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys want to remind young drivers to use caution on roadways as you celebrate the ending of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

Wink News Now reported that a teen from Immokalee attempted to pass another vehicle on Westclox Street when he nipped the left rear-bumper of the other vehicle. The impact caused the teen’s car to spin out of control before crashing into a mobile home. The other vehicle also overturned and ejected the two passengers from the car.

The Miami Herald reports that the two teens killed in the collision were less than a week from graduating from high school. The teen driver of the first vehicle and a teen passenger in the second vehicle were both killed. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to the hospital with severe injuries.

We posted last month on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog that May was National Youth Traffic Safety Month – a reminder that teens should strive to be safe drivers every time they get behind the wheel. The months of May, June, July and August are proven the deadliest for teens ages 15 to 19. Proms, graduation, and summer activities bring more teens out onto the roads, leading to a higher rate of teen deaths and severe injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes.

Emotions can run high for young drivers dealing with personal issues, which can lead to acts of road rage. Naples Daily News reports the two teens killed in the crash had been dating and recently broke up at a party.

Young drivers are reminded of the following summer safety tips presented by the National Safety Council as part of National Safety Month in June:

-When attending graduation or summer parties, a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol should be in place. Never get behind the wheel under the influence or get in the car with a driver who has been drinking.

-Eliminate cell-phone distractions by turning your phone off when you get behind the wheel.

-Drivers under the age of 18 should not ride with other teens in their vehicle.

-Wear your sea tbelt to avoid a ticket or fatal injury in a motor vehicle accident.

-Refrain from driving after 10 p.m. by either staying over or having a parent pick you up.
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Everyone looks forward to Memorial Day because it is the first of the three-day holiday weekends for the summer. Many Floridians like to kick off the event with a barbecue or friendly gathering. West Palm Beach car accident attorneys agree that long weekends are enjoyable as long as everyone drives responsibly in the midst of congested traffic and parties serving alcohol.

The National Safety Council is urging motorists nationwide to buckle up for safety this Memorial Day weekend in order to avoid a tragic car accident in Fort Lauderdale, Miami or elsewhere in the state.

Due to the high volume of traffic on roadways, Memorial Day is one of the most dangerous holiday weekends of the year. In 2009, there were 462 fatalities nationwide during Memorial Day Holiday Period which begins Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 11:59 p.m. This Memorial Day weekend, the NSC is estimating 39,400 medically treated injuries and 406 traffic fatalities from car accidents during the Memorial Day Holiday Period. Previous years have shown an average of 12.2% more traffic fatalities during Memorial Day weekend in comparison to a similar non-holiday weekend.

In 2009, Florida ranked near the top among states for car crashes throughout the year, reporting 20 fatal crashes on Memorial Day alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56 people lost their lives in Florida on Memorial Day 2009. Memorial Day accounted for almost 12 percent of the total fatalities for the month of May in Florida.

The NHTSA will run its annual Click It or Ticket campaign from May 23 to June 5, 2011. During this time, state law enforcement officers in Florida and nationwide will have a zero tolerance for seat belt laws which means anyone without a belt strapped over them will be pulled over and ticketed on the spot.

Keep yourself safe this Memorial Day weekend by using the following safety tips from NSC:

-Don’t put the car in drive until you check that everyone has their seat belts fastened. Children should always be placed in an age-appropriate child restraint seat.

-Moderate alcohol consumption reduces your reaction time and affects your ability to drive, so designate a driver if you intend to drink alcohol at a picnic or barbecue.

-Tired drivers make for dangerous driving situations, so if you feel drowsy, call someone to pick you up.

-Traffic will be heavy throughout the weekend, so plan to leave early to avoid being late.

-Exercise caution and defensive driving skills during stormy weather. Postpone your plans to avoid driving in heavy rain.
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The cost of work loss and medical expenses is $41 billion for crash-related deaths nationally, according to a recently released study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cost amounts were calculated on 2005 data, which is the most recent and accurate available on crash-related death costs.

Our Palm Beach injury attorneys know that the United Nations has proclaimed 2011 to 2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Protecting lives on the world’s roadways is the goal in this 10-year quest.

The CDC released the study to go along with the Decade of Action for Road Safety campaign. The study found that half of the cost ($20.4 billion) was incurred in these 10 states: California ($4.16 billion), Texas ($3.50 billion), Florida ($3.16 billion), Georgia ($1.55 billion), Pennsylvania ($1.52 billion), North Carolina ($1.50 billion), New York ($1.33 billion), Illinois ($1.32 billion), Ohio ($1.23 billion) and Tennessee ($1.15 billion).

“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.”

Regarding children, the study revealed the cost related to crash deaths from birth to 19 years old was roughly $856 million. Nevada (17 percent, $66 million) had the lowest percentage of crash-related death cost and Vermont (34 percent, $25 million) had the highest.

“It’s tragic to hear that anyone dies on our nation’s roads. But it’s especially so when the person who loses his or her life is a child or teenager,” said Linda Degutis, Dr. P.H., M.S.N., director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Child passenger safety laws and comprehensive graduated driver licensing laws are proven to protect young lives. We encourage states to strengthen and enforce these laws to help keep more of our young people safe.”

The CDC’s Injury Center offers the following approaches to cutting medical cost and work loss by preventing crash-related deaths:

-Wearing seat belts in the front seat decreases the chance of a fatal injury by half, which makes not wearing a seat belt a primary reason to be stopped by law enforcement in most states.

-All children should be required to ride in age and size appropriate safety seats.

-Require a comprehensive graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for teen drivers. Studies show the staging process of GDL systems can reduce crashes for 16-year-old drivers by as much as 40 percent.

-All motorcycle riders should be required to wear an approved motorcycle helmet. Statistics indicate that wearing a helmet can reduce deaths in crashes by more than 33 percent and brain injuries by 69 percent.

“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. “Today, on the launch of the first-ever Decade of Action for Road Safety, occurring in 30 cities across our nation and 50 countries worldwide, it is time for all of us to take action to save lives at home and around the globe.”
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Young people across America can’t wait for the school year to end and are looking forward to summer time fun. Teens need to keep safety in mind as they prepare for vacations, proms, graduations and road trips.

Our Palm Beach injury lawyers and Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys applaud teens helping teens stay safe.

Sadly, we all know that traffic accidents are the main cause of death for teens in America. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows the summer months of May through August are the deadliest months of the year for teens aged 15 to 19. As a matter of fact, nearly twice as many teens died on the roads each day during these four months when compared to the rest of the year.

These are tragic statistics that should remind our young people that safe driving needs to be done year round especially in the summer.

That’s why National Youth Traffic Safety Month is so vital and is the reason each May the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) hold contests, events and promotions to heighten awareness about the dangers teens face on the road.

Nationwide, over 220 high school teams are taking part in the NOYS Act Out Loud contest, which asks teens to promote safe driving projects in their communities. This year the focus is on distracted driving, and teams have been: creating music videos and PSA’s, holding school assemblies and gathering X the TXT pledges preaching the dangers of cell phone use (talking or texting) while driving. A prize of $10,000 will go to the winning team’s local youth safety organization.

“There’s no doubt that young people have the power to educate both their peers and adults about safe driving and safer roads,” said NOYS Executive Director Sandy Spavone.

The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) and NOYS also recently announced the winning Drive 2 Life Public Service Announcement that will air nationally this month as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month.
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