Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

A South Florida mother, Kristin Murphy, knows just how catastrophic distracted driving car accidents can be. She lost her daughter in one in 2010. She used to use her phone in the driver’s seat, but not anymore.

According to the Marco Eagle, the mother is one of three parents who are pushing for Florida legislators to pass some kind of law to keep drivers in the state of Florida off of their cell phones. They pushed most recently at the Florida Distracted Driving Summit in Tampa.

Our Pompano Beach car accident lawyers understand that the state of Florida is one of the few states left in the country that continues to allow drivers to engage in these dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. Despite the thousands who are killed every year in these kinds of accidents, legislators continue to look the other way and deny all anti-distracted driving proposals.

Murphy’s daughter was 19 and was pregnant when she was involved in an accident with a hit-and-run driver. Officials were able to arrest the driver, another 19-year-old, and determined that he was on his phone when the accident happened.

“How would you feel if the sheriff or the highway patrol knocked on your door to tell you your child was in an accident, and it was preventable?” said Murphy.

Since the accident, the mother has been advocating for the passage of these kinds of laws. At one point during her advocacy, she even filmed a PSA with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Currently, there are 39 states that ban drivers from test messaging at the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA). Still, Florida has held strong in not joining the safety movement.

Legislators say that they want to conduct a study first, before they decide to pass such a law. Murphy says the thousands of people who die every year in these accidents should be enough proof. Any additional studies are just wasting time.

Nationwide, distracted driving was a factor in about 20 percent of roadway fatalities in 2010.

To help to spread the word, Murphy currently speaks with safe driving groups and driver’s education classes. While she focuses her time on our younger drivers, she says that it’s something that everyone needs to be aware of. Distractions of all kinds increase our risks for accidents. Cell phones are a distraction that don’t need to be. Keep your cell phones in your glove box or in the back seat — out of sight, out of mind. If there’s a phone call or text that you need to take, have a passenger take care of it or pull over, stop and do so safely.

In 2010, there were more than 3,090 people killed in car accidents that involved a distracted driver, according to Distraction.gov. Another 415,000 people were injured as well. And the worst part about it all is that these accidents are completely preventable, yet Florida officials refuse to take the next step.
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We’ve been talking about distracted driving a lot lately, but it’s important to remember that distracted driving doesn’t refer just to cell phone-using drivers. There’s a slew of distracted that can cause serious car accidents in Sebastian and elsewhere.

A Florida accident illustrated once again just how dangerous distractions can be for drivers. According to the Orlando Sentinel, an Orange County firefighter was on the side of the road assisting a motorcyclist when another driver lost control of her vehicle and slammed right into the firefighter — nearly killing him. He suffered from a broken back, neck, ribs and a number of other serious injuries. Accident reports indicate that the woman was talking on her cell phone when the accident happened.

Cell phones aren’t the only problem we have to worry about though. Drivers are oftentimes busted text messaging, messing with their GPS, eating, applying makeup and even shaving behind the wheel. Drivers think it’s safe and effective to multitask. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

“Distracted driving kills, maims, seriously injures,” said Rey Rivero, Orange County Undersheriff.

The truth of the matter is that distracted drivers cause thousands of car accidents each and every year. It’s so bad that officials estimate that for every 2 seconds a driver spends engaging in distractions, they double their risks for a crash.

You might remember the accident that happened in Orlando with a crossing guard. The guard was helping children to get across the road when a passing driver, who was talking on his cell phone behind the wheel, almost hit the crossing kids. The crossing guard jumped out in front of the car to protect the children.

Distractions, especially text messaging, are a “triple threat.” They take the driver’s eyes off of the road, their hands off of the wheel and their mind off of driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), text messaging drivers are nearly 25 times more likely to get into a car accident than non-texting drivers.

In 2009, officials said that distracted driving was involved in the deaths of close to 5,500 people and another 450,000 injuries. Officials believe that there are actually many more of these kinds of accidents that happen that we never know about. You see, drivers are never quick to admit when they caused an accident because they were distracted. And there’s also no test to discover driver distractions, like there are to point out drunk drivers.

With the holidays approaching, drivers are asked to be safe out there, to keep their attention on the road and to keep distractions out of the driver’s seat. Make sure your friends and family members understand these risks, too! With the snowbirds trickling in, our roadways are going to be more congested and more dangerous. Safety requires your full attention — put it on the road.
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FOX’s Glee is not only an American musical comedy-drama, but it’s now got some serious educational value to it!

Officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently teamed up with the makers of Glee to help to keep our young drivers safe on America’s roadways.

They’re focusing on distracted driving — officials with the DOT have been focusing on this epidemic for 3 year now. It’s a driving behavior that is not only jeopardizing the safety of our young drivers, but the safety of everyone else on our roadways.

Our Miramar car accident lawyers understand that Florida is one of the only states left that has not enacted any kind of distracted driving laws. That means that any and all drivers are free to take their attention off of the road and place it on their cell phone or text messaging device. We understand that targeting teen drivers is one of the most effective ways to fight this battle as they’re the drivers who are most likely to engage in this behavior.

Recently, there was an episode of Glee in which the dangers of distracted driving were highlighted. One of the show’s main characters was involved in a car accident that was caused by texting and driving. The footage from that episode is going to be used in a new public service announcement (PSA), “On My Way.”

This PSA is going to be used to show drivers just how long they’re taking their eyes off of the road and attention off of driving while messing with a cell phone. Studies have illustrated that a driver takes their attention off of the wheel for an average of 5 seconds for every text message they read/write. When you’re not looking at the road, you can travel about the length of a football field without ever looking up. That’s a recipe for disaster!

“We had been looking for an opportunity to tell the story of how a few seconds of carelessness could have a devastating impact on people’s lives,” said Glee’s co-creator Ryan Murphy.

The PSAs are all a part of a national campaign to get young drivers to put down the cell phone when they’re in the driver’s seat. It’s the “Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks.” campaign and it’s headed by officials with the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also in on the action are with state consumer protection agencies, the Ad Council, state Attorneys General and FOX.

The truth of the matter is that texting while driving can have some serious consequences. Many times, our youngest drivers overlook the dangers of these actions because many of them think they’re invincible out there. Talk with your young driver today and discuss the very real dangers of distracted driving. Your talk can have a serious impact on their safety, and the safety of others, out there.
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Officers with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), local law enforcement agencies and those with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are on the hunt for intoxicated drivers.

It’s all a part of “Drive Sober Get Pulled Over” drunk driving campaign. Officers will be out in force on our roadways in search of dangerous and drunk drivers during the remainder of the year as November and December are two of the most dangerous months out of the entire year for these kinds of accidents.

Our Port St. Lucie injury attorneys understand that there’s a lot going on during this time of the year. It’s football season, we’ve got the end to Daylight Savings Time, there are a handful of holidays we get to enjoy and we have to worry about teenage drivers. Unfortunately, each of these issues come with some serious risks for car accidents, making the last 8 weeks of the year as some of the deadliest on our roadways — especially when talking about drunk driving car accidents.

Drunk Driving:

Each year, there are approximately 10,000 people who die in car accidents that involve a drunk driver. These accidents make up a third of all roadway deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about 700 people in the state of Florida were killed in these crashes in 2010. The Sunshine State was ranked in 3rd place for these accidents. Drivers are asked to be safe and responsible throughout the rest of 2012. There’s never a reason to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

“FHP troopers will aggressively look for impaired drivers during the crackdown,” said Colonel David Brierton, FHP Director.

Football Season:

It’s college football time. And that means tailgate parties and cookouts. Unfortunately, that also means booze. Football season is one of the most dangerous times for drunk driving car accidents. It’s important that each resident recruits a designated driver for their team. A designated driver isn’t someone who has had the least to drink, but it’s someone who has had nothing to drink!

Daylight Savings Time:

With the time change, we’re going to get an earlier night. With nighttime comes increased risks for drunk driving car accidents. That’s right. Drunk drivers are more commonly found along our roadways during the evening than during the day. Be safe out there, stay sober behind the wheel and report any drivers who you may suspect are intoxicated.

Teenage Drivers:

You might think these drivers aren’t a threat because they can’t legally consume alcohol, but you’d be wrong. About a third of all teen drivers who are killed in car accidents return a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test. Make sure you talk with your teen today about the risks involved with intoxicated driving. It’s a talk that could save their life.
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That time of year is upon us once again — all of the snowbirds are flocking down to the Sunshine State.

It’s no secret that Florida is one of the most popular destinations for winter residents and vacationers alike. Many of them make our home their temporary home. Unfortunately, they’re increasing the risks of car accidents for everyone.

The snowbird population is on the rise as well. Tons of Baby Boomers are stepping into the age of retirement now. With that, Florida is going to see a population surge, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. As a matter of fact, about one out of every five people in the state of Florida is expected to be a senior citizen by 2025. From now until then, we’re expected to gain nearly 7 million residents.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that there are snowbirds of all kinds — and there’s a lot of them. Snowbirds can range from the hip 30-something New York City investor, to the baby boomer from Chicago simply looking forward to active twilight years, to even the family of four from Syracuse that’s looking for a refuge from the snow. Regardless of who these people are, the cold hard fact is that they’re here — and they’re increasing risks for car accidents.

If you’ve been out on the road lately, you’ve seen it. We’re talking about that increase in traffic. In addition to the traffic, we have to deal with distracted drivers, teen drivers and aggressive drivers.

Distracted Drivers:

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there are 39 states that ban drivers from texting and 10 that stop drivers from using a cell phone. Florida doesn’t fall under any of those categories. It’s estimated that at least 20 percent of all car accidents involve a distracted driver. Keep your attention on the road and your hands in the wheel. Drive in good faith and avoid distractions of all kinds.

Teen Drivers:

Each year, there are about 2,000 young drivers who are killed in car accidents every year. Another 200,000 are injured in these incidents. Parents are asked to talk with their teen about safe driving habits, especially as we head into the holiday travel season. Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for this young age group. Teach them safe driving habits early to help to provide them with a lifetime of traveling safety.

Aggressive Drivers:

With the increase in traffic, everyone’s getting a little irritated behind the wheel. It’s important that we’re all in this together. You’re reminded to abide by all road laws and stay calm. Remember that aggression can lead to speeding, failure to use turn signals, tailgating and even neglect in obeying traffic control devices. All of these dangerous driving behaviors increase your risks for an accident.
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On the 4th of November, we’re going to close out Daylight Savings Time. Okay. Maybe it’s not going to be that exciting as most of us will be sleeping when it happens, but quietly during the night your risks for a car accident will increase.

Our Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers are asking all drivers to be more attentive for pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers along our roadways when driving during the evening and early-morning hours.

In November of every year, we notice a significant increase in the number of traffic accidents. Experts conclude that this is largely the result of Daylight Savings Time ending. As the sun sets early, more drivers will be out in the dark. It’s not that drivers don’t know what they’re doing, it’s that they forget to focus when the sun sets. The truth of the matter is that drivers are less likely to see roadway hazards at night. When drivers don’t see hazards, many of them tend to forget they’re there.

Officials with The Weather Channel are here to offer you some helpful driving tips for when you venture out during the evening or during the early morning hours.

The first thing you’re going to want to do, before the time change happens, is to get your car ready. By this we mean that you’re going to want to make sure your headlights, taillights and blinkers are working properly and are clean. You should also clean your windows (inside and out) along with your mirrors. This is going to help to ensure that you see everything around you.

We oftentimes talk about the risks associated with drinking and driving. We’ll they’re still prevalent now, meaning that you need to remain sober behind the wheel during all hours of the day. As a matter of fact, alcohol-related car accidents are more likely to happen at night.

Did you know that smoking cigarettes and other nicotine products while driving can be dangerous, too? That’s right. Smoke’s nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.

If you have any doubt in your mind about your headlights — turn them on! You should even drive with your headlights on during the day. Headlights help you to see your surroundings and they help others to see you!

If an oncoming car does hot lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right side of the road and using it as a steering guide.

Interesting Daylight Savings Time Facts:

-Residents in both Hawaii and Arizona don’t observe Daylight Savings Time.

-The U.S. Territories of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico don’t observe Daylight Savings Time.

-There’s no federal rule that mandates that a state has to observe Daylight Savings Time.
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A driver who ran a red light caused a three-car accident in St. Lucie County. Officers report that she has been cited for the accident. One of the other drivers involved in the accident has been charged with neglecting to use a child restraint for a 10-year-old and for driving without a driver’s license, according to the TC Palm.

Four of the motorists who were involved in the accident were treated for injuries. It all happened at the intersection of Edwards Road and 25th Street near Fort Pierce.

Reports indicate a 17-year-old driver was heading north along 25th Street and ran through the light at Edwards. When she did that, she slammed into the vehicle of a 49-year-old driver. The vehicle of that second driver was thrown into another vehicle, driven by a 39-year-old man, and then flipped over. The driver who was hit by the red-light runner was cited twice. The teen driver is currently in West Palm Beach at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Our Fort Pierce car accident attorneys understand how critical traffic control devices are. When these devices are not obeyed by drivers, accidents result. They’re not there to slow you down or to hold you up. They’re there to help traffic to flow smoothly and to help to keep motorists safe.

Red-light cameras have been in the hot seat for quite some time now. Some argue that these cameras help to prevent car accidents at intersections. Others say that they’re actually increasing the number of accidents — rear-end accidents. Some even claim that we have them only to generate cash flow for local government.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), we need red-light cameras to help to stop the close to 700 intersection-related fatalities that the country sees each and every year. In 2010, there were another 120,000 people injured it intersections. Motorists aren’t the only ones affected either, as bicyclists, pedestrians are at high risk for injury, and even death, when passing through intersections.

According to recent studies, close to 40 percent of people say that they’ve ran a red light at least once in the last 30 days.

Officials say it’s not about the money, it’s about getting drivers to stop and to be safe! Officials say that the main objective of these devices is to serve as a deterrent — to get drivers to stop on red before citations even have to be issued! Officials also argue that these cameras can’t continue to make the money that they’re making now. As more and more drivers catch on, the number of citations will decline and therefor the money generated will eventually dwindle.

Regardless of why there are cameras and regardless of where they are, drivers are asked to be cautious at all intersections. These are some of the most dangerous spots on our roadways. Approach them with caution and keep an eye on the traffic around you. Drive defensively and alertly to avoid a potentially fatal intersection crash.
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Recently, residents in the area released balloons on the Loxahatchee Road in Parkland near the Everglades. This is the site where a car accident took the life of five teenagers about 20 years ago. According to The Miami Herald, the accident happened back in September of 1992 as three cars the teens were in were heading down Lox Road and were going to a bonfire to celebrate a birthday. The teens hooted and hollered for each other to catch up. It was a race to the celebration.

It was all fun and games until one of the teens swerved her vehicle through an S-curve on the roadway and went barreling into the Hillsboro Canal. Several cars were involved in the accident. The teens in the other vehicles rushed to her aid, but were unable to make the rescue. Three passengers made it out alive. Five were killed, all 15- and 16-years-old.

Our Parkland car accident lawyers understand that these teens will never be forgotten. These kinds of accidents leave horrifying memories in mind’s of friends and family members across the country each and every day. Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.

At the recent tribute in Parkland, more than 50 people showed up. One of the teen’s classmates decided to organize the memorial and wanted to celebrate their lives. The informal service included the reading of poetry, giving four crosses and one Star of David a fresh coat of paint as well as a releasing of balloons.

This is an unfortunate reminder for parents, guardians, teachers and other leaders to focus in on our newly-licensed driver’s safety.

Teens and Speeding:

Teens are more likely to speed behind the wheel than any other age group of drivers. Many of them feel that they’re invincible behind the wheel and have little to no regard for highway safety. With every mile per hour you travel over the speed limit, you increase your risk for death in the event of an accident. Slow it down.

Teens and Distracted Driving:

Teens are also more likely than any other age group to engage in distractions behind the wheel, especially when a cell phone is involved. Each year, distracted driving takes the lives of thousands of people — thousands of lives that could be saved with responsible and alert driving habits.

Teens and Impaired Driving:

Every 22 minutes, someone is killed in a traffic accident. On any given weekend, there are 10 people killed in alcohol-related car accidents. Most horrible of all, a disproportionately high number of these fatalities and accidents come from the 15 to 24 age group.

Talk with your teen today. Make sure that they understand the risks that are associated with dangerous and irresponsible driving habits. Your talk could save their life. After all, you are one of the most influential people in their driving career. Make it count!
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