Articles Posted in Drunk Driving Accidents

You might want to stay off of our roadways Sunday night if you can — In that regard, watching the big game with a few friends is an excellent idea. You’ve probably got some plans for the big game and whether you’re rooting for the Ravens or for the 49ers, you’re urged to do so safely. Super Bowl celebrations, like home parties and gatherings at the sports bar, usually include a lot of alcohol.

Our Palm Beach accident lawyers are asking drivers to stay sober this Sunday. You might not walk out the door saying, “I’m going to go out drinking and then drive home.” But we understand that sometimes drivers might find themselves without a sober way to get home. There are plenty of alternative ways to find your way back home that don’t involve getting behind the wheel. Review the following safety tips before throwing on your favorite jersey and heading out for the big game.

Tips to Avoid Drunk Driving:

-Before heading out for the Super Bowl, make sure you’ve got a designated driver on your team. You should make sure that your designated driver understands that their responsibility is to consumer nothing and to get everyone home safely. The designated driver isn’t the one who has had the least to drink.

-If you’re out, you’ve been drinking and you don’t have a designated driver, don’t worry. Keep phone numbers to taxi companies with you. A safe and sober ride is only a phone call away.

-If you’re stuck without a ride, call a friend or a family member and ask them to pick you up and take you home.

-You can take advantage of the local transportation system if you’re too intoxicated to drive. Just make sure you know the bus schedule before you head out.

-If you absolutely cannot find a ride home, just stay over at a friend or a family member’s house. If you’re not anywhere near them, consider snagging a hotel room for the night. The cost of an overnight stay in a hotel is a lot cheaper than an overnight stay in the hospital or in jail.

-Those concerned about an erratic driver or the behavior of another motorist can call the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) at *347. Make sure you call with the location of the vehicle in question, the make, model and color of it as well as a description of the driver if possible. Don’t attempt to stop the driver yourself. You don’t want to put yourself at any risk.

The truth of the matter is that thousands are killed in drunk driving car accidents every year. There’s no need for it; these accidents are completely preventable. Stay out from behind the wheel if you’re drinking during the big game and help to keep our roadways safe for all.
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If you remember about a month back, our Oakland Park car accident attorneys discuss the 2012 Drive Sober Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign headed by the Florida Highway Patrol.

On our blog we talked about the risks associated with the holiday season and with the New Year.

Well, the results are in.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), the enforcement period ran from December 12th of 2012 through January 2nd of 2013. During this time, officers put a hold on administrative duties and sent all troopers to our roadways to hunt down dangerous drivers.

Close to 40,000 traffic citations were issued. Another 550 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There were close to 14,000 drivers cited for speeding and close to 3,000 motorists cited for neglecting to wear a seat belt.

The enforcement didn’t stop accidents from happening, as there were still close to 11,000 traffic accidents reported during this time. Officers did get to help out troubled motorists during this busy holiday travel period though, offering assistant to close to 11,000 motorists.

“Every year the members of the Patrol do their part to identify unsafe drivers and remove them from the roadways, as well as take the appropriate steps to deter unsafe driving behaviors,” said Col. David Brierton with the Florida Highway Patrol.

During the recent announcement, Florida law enforcement officers took the time to remind drivers about the state’s “Move Over Law.” What this law requires drivers to do is to move over a traffic lane when approaching an emergency vehicle, a police vehicle or a tow truck with its emergency lights flashing. By moving over a lane, we can help to provide these workers with the space they need to complete their jobs and can help to prevent fatal accidents. If you’re unable to move over a lane, you’re required to travel at least 20 miles per hour under the speed limit. If you’re traveling on a roadway that has a 20 mile an hour speed limit, they you’re required to slow it down to 5 miles per hour.

It’s a new year and a new chance to renew our dedication to safe driving. With thousands dying on Florida roadways each year, it’s time to focus on what we can do to help to prevent these accidents. Remember that there should never be a legitimate reason to hop behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs. There’s also no reason to exceed posted speed limits. Need more time? Leave earlier! It’s also important to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. Remember that distracted driving is a top cause for fatal traffic accidents here in the state of Florida There are a number of preventative measures and the movement starts with you and your driving habits!

We are in the height of tourist season now. South Florida roads are often congested and it can be slow going. A little patience can go a long way toward helping you arrive at your destination safely.
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The holidays present some of the most dangerous driving conditions of the entire year.

According to Allstate, there were close to 475 people arrested for drunk driving, and another 40,000 cited, during the holiday period in 2011. That time consisted of December 16th through January 3rd. This year, the efforts start on the 12th of December!

Officials are out in force looking for those who thinks it’s a good idea to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. It’s all a part of their holiday drunk driving campaign. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and other local enforcement agencies will be pushing the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” initiative.

Our Royal Palm Beach injury attorneys understand that there are close to 400,000 car accidents in the state of Florida each year. Many of these accident happen over the holiday period.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal drunk driving accidents accounted for more than 30 percent of the fatal accidents recorded in 2010. That means that there were more than 750 people killed in car accidents in which at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol. All of these accidents could have been avoided!

“Motorists who operate their vehicles in an unsafe fashion are a danger that puts innocent lives at risk,” says Florida Highway Patrol director Colonel John Czernis.

If you’re heading out over the holiday period, you’re asked to head out with a plan and to keep safety as a top priority. If you know you’re going to be consuming alcohol then you’re asked to go out with a designated driver. If you don’t have one of those, then you’re asked to take advantage of taxi cab services. You could even call a friend or a family member to have them come pick you up or you could use public transportation.

Another way you could help roadway safety is by reporting any drunk drivers you see on our roadways. You can report them by calling the FHP at *347 or by calling 9-1-1.

If you see a friend of a family member that’s been drinking and is about to get behind the wheel, take the keys from them! Help them to find a safe and sober way to get home. Never let your loved ones run into any danger. Your intervention could save lives.

“The holiday season can be an especially dangerous time on our nation’s roadways due to drunk drivers – that’s why law enforcement officers will be out in full force,” said U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary, Ray LaHood.

We would like to wish you a safe and Happy Holiday season and ask that you and your family stay safe and sober behind the wheel.
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Drivers better be on their best behavior from now through the Labor Day weekend. Officers with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be out in full force devoting special attention to busting drunk drivers over the next few weeks, according to the Sun Sentinel.

The crackdown will be running through the 3rd of September.

In 2011, state troopers issued nearly 14,000 citations to drivers across the state over a four-day enforcement period which included Labor Day. South Florida drivers accounted for about a quarter of these citations.

Our Palm City car accident attorneys understand that there were close to 150 people killed in drunk driving car accidents during the 2010 Labor Day weekend. These kinds of accidents accounted for close to 40 percent of all traffic fatalities during this time. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a nationwide campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” will be working to keep drunk drivers off of the country’s roads. It’s being held from the 17th of August through the 3rd of September.

“Law enforcement, coupled with a highly-publicized awareness campaign, is crucial to getting drunk drivers off our roadways over Labor Day weekend and throughout the year,” said Jan Withers, MADD National President.

In 2009, which represents the most recent drunk driving accident statistics for the state of Florida, there were nearly 1,000 people killed in drunk driving car accidents. There were more than 900 additional people killed in car accidents that involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, meaning they may not have produced a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08. Regardless, drunk driving car accidents account for about a third of all fatal car accidents every year in the U.S. What might be most alarming about these crashes and fatalities is that they are actually completely preventable.

Drivers are asked to be safe, and sober, out there during this time of the year. Labor Day produces some of the most frequent drunk driving car accidents during any other similar holiday period throughout the entire year. Do you part to help keep our roads safe for everyone and pledge to stay sober!

How to Avoid Drunk Driving:

-Get a designated driver before heading out. Your designated driver should agree to drink absolutely no alcohol!

-If you find yourself without a designated driver, don’t worry! There are other ways you can get home safely. Consider calling a taxi, taking a bus, calling a family member or a friend to come get you or stay at a safe place.

-Report any suspected drunk drivers on our roadways. Your call can help to save a life.

-If you see an intoxicated loved one going to drive, take their keys from them and help them to find a safe way home.
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Coming up for the Memorial Day holiday weekend is the much anticipated Fort Lauderdale’s 3rd Annual Great American Beach Party.

This year’s big event will be held on the 26th of May from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. It’s going to be a long day of friends, family, music, food, contests, food and booze. What we’re trying to avoid during this time is the booze and the driving. This year’s event will be taking place on Fort Lauderdale Beach at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. It’s a free event and everyone’s invited. We’re asking everyone to be cautious during this time and to designate a driver if drinking in on the agenda. During the Memorial Day holiday weekend, risks for car accidents skyrocket. It’s one of the most dangerous times on our roadways and we typically see a significant increase in the number of alcohol-related accidents in Fort Lauderdale and the nearby areas during this time.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys have recently been discussing the risks of car accidents on our roadways during this 3-day weekend. We told you that the National Safety Council (NSC) predicted that more than 400 people were going to die in car accidents across the nation during this time. It was also predicted that another 50,000 people were going to be injured in auto accidents during this time. It’s important for party goers, especially the drinkers, to be cautious through the Memorial Day weekend. Traffic flow on our roadways will increase significantly during this time and we need to adjust our driving habits to compensate for it.

The Fort Lauderdale Beach American Beach Party Lineup:

-Music from The Jake and Elwood Blues Review, Landsharks and headliners from Orlando, Noreena Downey, Across the Universe and Swahili.

-Sand castle building contests, balloons tosses, Twister contests, limbo, hula-hoop contests, face painting, beach water slides, etc. for the kids.

-Vintage cars and an auto show.

-An art show, featuring many popular local chalk artists.

-An exclusive preview of “American Grafitti,” presented by the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

It’s going to be a wild event and experts predict thousands in attendance. Many will be eating and drinking all day. We’re just asking those drinkers to make sure that they have a safe and sober ride home. Make sure you designate a sober driver, take a taxi or use other public transportation. If you can’t find a sober ride home, then you’re urged to stay at a buddy’s house or to get a hotel room for the night. This time of the year, the Memorial Day weekend especially, brings out a bunch of intoxicated drivers. Don’t become a statistic and plan out your party events before heading out to this year’s event!
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Spring Break serves up some of the highest risks for teen drunk driving car accidents in Hallandale Beach and elsewhere throughout the state. Fortunately, Florida law enforcement officers are ready to combat the problem and are fighting to stop teenagers before they consume alcohol and get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, officials with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco made nearly 50 underage arrests in Fort Lauderdale, more than 10 in Fort Myers, more than 30 in Miami, more than 90 in Daytona Beach and nearly 1,700 in Panama City during last year’s initiative in March. Well, they’re at it again, all in an effort to help keep our roadways safer and possibly to save some lives.

Our Hallandale Beach drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that officials throughout the state are stepping up their enforcement efforts through this year’s Spring Break. Officials will also be targeting Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Pensacola. Don’t worry parents. We’ll see officers focusing their efforts in our area, too.

Experts predict that Broward County businesses can expect somewhere around 12,000 college-age tourists this Spring Break, which consists of an eight-week season that kicked off on the 24th of February, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Most parents think that their underage students won’t be able to get their hands on alcohol. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40 percent of surveyed teens said that they had consumed some amount of alcohol within the last 30 days. Nearly a quarter of them admitted to binge drinking during the same time. Another 10 percent admitted to drinking and then driving and another 30 percent admitted to riding with a driver who had consumed alcohol. All of the individuals surveyed were in fact under the age of 21.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were nearly 100 drivers between the ages of 15- and 20-years-old who died in car accidents in which they had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher, meaning that they were under the influence of alcohol when the accident happened. Thirty percent of these young drivers were legally drunk when the accident happened.

We recently discussed the dangers of distracted driving through Spring Break. Drinking and driving is just as important. Parents need to sit down with the young drivers in their lives before school is let out for the break. Make sure that you have rules set in your household, rules that push safe and responsible driving habits.
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A proposed bill being mulled by federal lawmakers, which seeks to reduce the number of drunk driving car accidents in Sunrise and throughout the country, would increase penalties for first-time DUI offenders.

States would receive cash incentives to apply harsher drunk driving laws.

It’s part of a transportation law that would allow the federal government to grant an estimated $500 million annually for improved highway safety measures.

Our Sunrise car accident attorneys now understand that about 5 percent of that money, or about $25 million – would go to states that impose ignition interlock technology for first-time drunk drivers.

There is a great deal of debate surrounding the issue, with proponents saying drunk drivers pose serious road hazards that need to be addressed. Critics, meanwhile, argue that the $25 million won’t even get the initiatives off the ground, and will cost states more money than they’ll be receiving in grants.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the average offender drives under the influence about 80 times before they are arrested. Further, more than a third of Americans will be involved in a DUI crash at some point in their lives and every 50 minutes, someone dies in the U.S. due to an alcohol-related car accident. And every minute of every day, someone is injured in a crash where alcohol was a factor.

According to the Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a draft of the bill is being debated by the federal House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The interlock devices are a technology that requires a driver to blow into a tube that calculates their blood alcohol level. It’s similar to the Breathalyzer machine employed by countless law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The difference is, it fits into individual vehicles, and if the blood alcohol content is higher than 0.08 – the legal limit – the vehicle won’t even start.

Florida is one of 15 states that already have this technology, and its use is outlined under Section 316.193. Under this law, first-time offenders can be required to use the interlock technology if a judge orders it, or if the offender blows a 0.15 or higher or is involved in a crash. After the second offense, the device can be required for up to a year. Subsequent offenses can have drivers using the technology for up to 5 years.
Because Florida already uses this technology, it would be eligible for the federal cash.

But the American Beverage Institute is arguing against the measure, saying it amounts to “bribing” states that are in desperate need of money. The ABI does, however, support the use of interlock devices for repeat offenders or those who blow a high blood alcohol level.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to follow if you happen to encounter a drunk driver in Sunrise or elsewhere in Florida:

-Stay as far away from the vehicle as you can.
-Don’t try to pass or signal the drunk driver to pull over. That could cause you to crash.
-Take note of the vehicle’s make, model and color, as well as the license plate number. But don’t risk your own safety to do so.
-Pull over and call 911. Give the dispatcher the location of the car, as well as the name of any cross streets and some indication of which way the car is traveling.
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Last month, former NBA point guard Kenny Anderson got into a car accident in Broward County and walked away with a legal mess. Anderson has been charged for leaving the scene of an accident after he drove his Escalade into several trees. Officers in Broward County say that the former NBA super star will not be charged with drunk driving even though officers report that he had clearly been drinking when they found him at his home shortly after the accident. According to United Press International, Anderson admitted to drinking at a bar before the accident happened.

Anderson says that the accident happened because a tire blew out on his vehicle, which caused him to lose control of it. According to investigators, all four tires had been blown out and the rims on the vehicle were bent as well. Anderson is now a high school basketball coach in the state.

This is the second entry of a 6-part blog regarding simple New Year’s resolutions that can easily be adopted by all to make Florida roadways a safer place.

Our Broward County drunk-driving accident attorneys understand that there were nearly 11,000 people in the United States who lost their lives because of alcohol-related traffic accidents in 2009. These types of accidents account for about a third of all fatal crashes. As we kickoff the New Year, we’re asking all residents to make a New Year’s resolution that can save lives: to never drink and drive. Drunk-driving car accidents are completely preventable, so we’re asking you to make a resolution to help make our roadways safer for everyone.

To help you keep your New Year’s resolution, the Broward Sheriff’s Office is pushing its DUI Unit, including its DUI/Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT), DUI Task Force and BAT Video. All three of these components work together to help enforce drunk-driving laws. The unit also allows officers to process DUI offenders on scene and help raise awareness about drinking or boating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The Task Force conducts a number of sobriety checkpoints, which are used to detect, to investigate and to apprehend those who are believed to be drinking and driving. The Task Force isn’t just on the roadways either. They’ve teamed up with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to help share informational presentations with the community.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is proud to use BAT video as well to help crackdown on these dangerous drivers. This technology helps to prosecute alleged offenders by providing courts with videotaped evidence of the drunk-driving incident.

Lastly, the sheriff’s office offers assistance to help our state’s young drivers to learn about the dangers of drunk driving. The city conducts a number of Field Officer Training and public displays, Teenage Drinking and Driving Awareness programs, displays of the “BAT-mobile” and DUI Saturation Patrols.

Floridians are asked to make the New Year’s resolution to stay sober behind the wheel. Drunk driving is dangerous, can be deadly and can turn into a legal headache. Don’t drink and drive and help to save lives in 2012! Happy New Year!
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With the holidays quickly approaching, the number of drunk driving car accidents in Greenacres is expected to increase. To help to reduce the number of fatal accidents, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is launching the fifth anniversary of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. With this year’s campaign, MADD released a report that ranks each state on its efforts to stop drunk drivers before causing a fatal accident.

Our Greenacres drunk driving accident attorneys understand that we see a significant spike in the number of alcohol-related traffic crashes every December. During this time, officers throughout the state head out in search of these irresponsible drivers in an effort to get them off the roads. MADD is trying to stop the intoxicated before they even get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

In MADD’s new report, each state was ranked out of five stars for its efforts in stopping drunk-driving accidents. The United States reached an overall three out of five stars. The state of Florida received four out of five stars. We were recognized for reporting a decrease in the number of drunk driving-related deaths since 2006. The report credits our state’s high-visibility law enforcement efforts for the reduction. We were also applauded for our use of ignition interlock devices for some of our convicted drunk drivers. The report suggests that we require all convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlock devices, not just repeat offenders. Lastly, the report pointed out that the breathalyzer refusal rate in Florida is about 40 percent, highlighting the need for no-refusal enforcement activities.

“While we have made great strides over the last 30 years, drunk driving is still the deadliest epidemic on America’s roads, killing approximately 11,000 people every year,” added U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

States were ranked on the following criteria:

-Ignition interlock devices and who is required to use them.

-The number of sobriety checkpoints conducted.

-The states’ penalties for driving drunk with a child in the vehicle.

-“No-refusal” activities for those who are suspected of drunk driving.

-The practice of Administrative License Revocation for drunk-driving offenders.

Every year, drunk-driving accidents cost the United States over $130 billion. Of these costs, about $60 billion went to various monetary costs while more than $70 billion went to quality-of-life losses. Employers cover most of the bill, forking out nearly $11 million for car accidents happening on work trips as well as accidents that happen outside of work involving those who are both employees and benefit-eligible dependents. The feds cover nearly $5 million while local and state government dish out another $3 million.

Drunk-driving accidents are 100 percent preventable. We ask all residents to have a safe and happy holiday season and to never get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol.
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I think we probably all fear a collision with a drunk driver at some point, especially around holiday weekends or peak travel times like Winter Break, Spring Break or Labor Day. Drunk driving accidents in Fort Pierce, Pompano Beach, Davie, Oakland Park and elsewhere are often deadly, leaving family members mourning and searching for answers as to why a senseless act had to take their loved one away. Broward County car accident attorneys can help repair some of the broken pieces of a family unit by seeking restitution for damages caused by the accident.

The recent release of the 2010 Florida Crash Statistics Report by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) puts the fear we all have of drunk drivers into a harsh reality. Drivers under the influence caused 794 alcohol-related fatalities and 106 drug-related fatalities in traffic crashes for 2010. Some would glorify the fact that alcohol-related deaths in car accidents were down almost 21 percent from 2009. But considering more than two people on average die every day from a drunk driver, it isn’t something Florida motorists can be proud of. In fact, more than 32 percent of the 2,444 fatalities in traffic accidents in 2010 were caused by a drunk driver, and another 4 percent were caused by a drugged driver. Last year there was an average of almost 50 alcohol-related crashes in Florida every day, and another 3 to 4 percent were drug-related crashes daily.

The college-age group appears to be the worst when it comes to alcohol-related car crashes. According to the 2010 report, 20 to 24 year olds who drove under the influence had the highest crash rate per 10,000 licensed drivers at 17.78. They were also involved in the highest rate of fatal crashes per 10,000 licensed drivers, at 79. The next highest rate for both crash involvement and fatal crashes was for the 25- to 29-year-old group, which reported rates of 13.80 and .71, respectively. Drivers over the age of 70 reported the lowest alcohol-related fatal crash rates per 10,000 licensed drivers at no more than .08 for any group over 70.