Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Four caskets were lowered into the ground next to each other during a recent service in Fort Lauderdale. They belonged to a family who was killed last week after their vehicle plunged into a Deerfield Beach lake. According to The Miami Herald, more than 1,000 friends and family members attended the four-hour funeral service.

“They are not dead. They are living in the eternal life,” said a pastor at Christian Life Restoration Center, Yolette Fabre. “Let us stand strong, firm together.”

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that the family was heading home from a shopping trip when the accident happened. The tragedy occurred when the family’s SUV was involved in a three-car accident. Unfortunately, their vehicle flew off of Interstate 95 and went directly into a lake. The others who were involved in the accident were not injured.

Three of the passengers were pulled from the lake immediately after the accident. One was not removed until the next day. One was pronounced dead at the hospital; the rest died at the scene.

One speaker at the funeral said that this was not only a time to remember the family, but also a time to teach a lesson to the younger attendants. The principal of the local high-school where two of the victims attended class spoke at the service and asked attendees to live out their dreams now and to do so carefully.

The truth of the matter is that this kind of submersion accident can happen to anyone. Accidents happen and the best thing that we can do, besides practice safe and alert driving habits, is to be prepared.

According to the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS), there are more than 245 vehicle submersion accidents that happen each year in which at least 1 fatality is reported. Of these accidents, close to half of them were involved in a serious frontal crash. About 10 percent were involved in a major side crash and about 2 percent were involved in a major rear-end accident. Close to a quarter of them were involved in a vehicle rollover accident with no collision.

If your car drives into water, follow these submersion safety tips:

-As difficult as it might be, stay calm. You’ve got to conserve your energy and to help others get out safely.

-As soon as you hit the water, try to roll your windows down. If they’re not rolling down, break it open.

-Purchase a device to keep in your car that is specifically used for breaking windows and cutting seat belts. You can get these at any auto part store.

-If your car starts to sink, wait for the pressure to equalize. When this happens, then try to open your car door.

-Stay buckled in until you’re ready to escape. This is going to help to keep you stable if you have to break open a window.

-Once you’re out, check the currents. Avoid swimming against the current.
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If you’re going to be driving through West Palm Beach, you might want to be a little more obedient at intersections. The city has decided to expand its red-light camera program.

Cameras are going up at 25 more intersections, according to The Palm Beach Post. When they are up and running, the city will have a total of 32 intersections equipped with these cameras.

The decision to increase the number of cameras was pushed through even though a city police report pointed out that five of the current seven red-light cameras saw the number of crashes double since they were installed. Our West Palm Beach car accident attorneys understand that there has been some controversy about these cameras across the nation. There have been many accusations of cities installing the cameras to generate revenue while actually increasing the risks for rear-end accidents.

The new cameras locations will include:

-Eastbound traffic at Forest Hill Boulevard and Dixie Highway.

-Eastbound traffic at North Congress Avenue and Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.

-Both west- and eastbound traffic at Military trail and 45th Street.

Police Chief Vince Demasi says that it hasn’t been determined yet if red-light cameras have been able to reduce the number of accidents in the city. He says that law enforcement officers will be examining the system as they install the new cameras in the coming months. He does add that he believes that they would have been more useful in different locations, but still feels that they will have a positive impact on roadway safety.

Law officers are thankful for these cameras because they don’t have to be there in person to patrol these intersections. It’s saving a lot of money — and the citations are making lots of money in return.

If you’re busted running a red light at these intersections, you’re going to be slapped with a $158 citation. First the citations will be used to cover the cost of city personnel who look over the pictures taken by these cameras as well as the cost of mailing the citations, which is expected to run about $20,000 a month. For each citation, the city can expect to receive $75. Additional revenue that’s generated will be sent to the city as pure profit. The vendor of these cameras is going to get a fat check of more than $245,000 each month for just the new cameras.

The previous vendor actually lost us money, and even with the switch in vendors — the city says it’s not doing this to generate a profit — instead insisting it’s for the safety of travelers. City leaders add that the new locations of the cameras include much more populated areas, whereas the old locations were not as beneficial.

Unfortunately, intersection car accidents can be more common with cameras because drivers are more likely to slam on their brakes to avoid getting a ticket. Be safe out there, travel cautiously and be aware of your surroundings!
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The speed limit on I-75 in 70 miles per hour. If you’re obeying the speed limit, you’re traveling at 103 feet a second. If you’re text messaging behind the wheel, you’re missing a lot of the action. The average text message takes about 4 seconds to send/receive. During this time, you can travel more than the length of a football field without ever setting your yes on the road.

According to the Sun Sentinel, text messaging behind the wheel causes more than 100,000 crashes in the state of Florida. Distracted driving took the lives of more than 3,330 people in the U.S. in 2011. Still, Florida drivers are allowed to put their lives at risk by text messaging or otherwise using their smartphone behind the wheel. Well, that’s about to change if Sen. Maria Sachs gets her way!

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that Sen. Sachs recently announced her sponsorship of a new bill to ban cell phone use and text messaging for drivers. The bill will be up for discussion in the upcoming Legislature.

“We’re going to put a stop to it,” said state Sen. Maria Sachs. “There’s going to be no more distracted driving in the state of Florida.” She says it’s time to put a stop to this dangerous driving behavior and adds that it’s a move that’s going to help to save lives. Just like alcohol and driving, texting while driving does not mix.

She’s not the only one supporting the bill either. Also behind it is Broward Sheriff Scott Israel.

The bill would make it illegal to use a hand-held device while driving. Your first ticket is going to cost you $100. Any after that are going to be a lot more expensive. With any of these violations, you’re not going to get any points on your driver’s license though.

Sachs is expecting this bill to go over well with both Republicans and Democrats at this spring’s legislative session.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that texting drivers are nearly 25 times more likely to get into a car accident. Still, Florida continues to be one of only six states that doesn’t have this law on the books.

To get an idea of just how serious a problem text messaging is becoming, consider this: In the month of June 2011, there were more than 195 billion text messages sent or received in the United States. That’s up about 50 percent from the same month of 2009.

Although this law may not be in effect just yet, drivers are asked to be cautious out there. You should never take your eyes off of the road regardless of the reason, but especially for a text message. No message is worth losing a life.
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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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