Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Teenage drivers have a lot to worry about on our roadways. They’re not only trying to master the rules of the road, but they’re also worrying about staying in compliance with the state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), young drivers must hold a learner’s permit for a year before they can drive with an intermediate license. During this time, they’ve got to complete 50 hours of supervised drive time, 10 of which must be at night. Once they complete this phase and they’ve turned 16-years-old, they’re allowed to drive without a licensed driver over the age of 21-years-old, but they’re prohibited from driving between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Once they turn 17-years-old, they’re only prohibited from driving between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. The state of Florida imposes no passenger restrictions on these young drivers although a number of studies have proven that the number of passengers present in the vehicle with the young drivers directly correlates with their increased risks for an accident.

Officials in the state of New Jersey have an even tougher way to help these young drivers. Under a new law, “Kyleigh’s Law,” these drivers are required to place a red sticker on their license plate. Parents and teen drivers aren’t happy about it though, saying that the only thing that’s doing is making them a moving target for predators, according to CBS New York.

Our Stuart car accident attorneys understand that we all need to keep a close eye on our newly-licensed drivers. But pointing them out with a big red sticker might not be the best idea. It’s important for parents to stay involved with their teen’s driving career. Make sure that you know when they’re driving, where they’re going and when they’ll be back. It’s important that everyone is aware of the state’s GDL laws and that everyone is following them, too. Although Florida doesn’t regulate the number of young passengers that your teen can drive with, we still urge you to place your own household maximum. With every young passenger present in your teen’s vehicle, the risks for an accident climb significantly.

Kyleigh’s Law was named after Kyleigh D’Alessio, a 16-year-old driver who was killed in an accident with another teen driver. At the time of the accident, the other teen’s vehicle had far too many young passengers inside to follow the state’s passenger restrictions.

“There were too many teens in the car. He was new GDL driver. He was speeding. That’s a lot of distractions right there,” said the young victim’s mother.

The risks are so high with additional passengers, that some studies even say that there a 50 percent chance of the young driver getting into a crash when there’s just one young passenger in the vehicle.

In New Jersey, you won’t get a moving violation for not having the decal on your license plate, but you do run the risk of getting a $100 fine.
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This year is proving to be much more dangerous than last year, in Palm Beach County and Broward County at least. We’ve seen years of declines in the number of fatal car accidents, until 2012.

As of the end of July, we had already seen nearly 90 traffic fatalities in Palm Beach County. During the same time in 2011, we had seen less than 80, according to News Channel 5.

Palm Beach County didn’t do any better. During that time, there were nearly 110 fatalities, compared to the 77 in 2011.

If these numbers keep going the way that they are, both counties will surpass the number of traffic fatalities that they had in 2011; 100 in Palm Beach and 133 in Broward. It’s not too late though. There are small changes that we can all make behind the wheel to help to keep this number from climbing.

Our Palm Beach car accident attorneys understand that there are a number of reasons why these numbers may be increasing. Some say that it’s from the improving economy, encouraging more driving, while others are saying it’s all the fault of distracted drivers. Regardless of the cause of the increase, drivers are asked to be cautious, alert and defensive behind the wheel.

“I know for a fact distractions play a large role in traffic crashes,” said Lt. Tim Frith with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). “We need to attack driver distraction like we did with DUI and seat belts.”

One of the biggest problems that we have in the state of Florida is that there are no laws prohibiting drivers from talking on a phone or using a text messaging device at the wheel. Most other states have these laws and have strict fines and penalties to back them up. In Florida, you can’t give a driver a ticket for distracted driving, according to state Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton.

Slosberg has proposed a number of distracted driving laws ever since his 14-year-old was killed in one of these accidents back in 1996.

From 2006 to 2010, the number of traffic accidents dropped about 30 percent in Broward County and more than 40 percent in Palm Beach County. Now, with the economy recovering, the number of fatalities has once again begun to increase.

Others are saying that we’re not seeing enough enforcement efforts from police officers and state troopers.

What it all comes down to, according to Frith, is that drivers need to be better educated about road laws, safe driving habits and wearing a seat belt. It’s the responsibility of drivers to exercise these safe habits behind the wheel to help to make the roads safer for all travelers, including pedestrians, and bicyclists. He says that this effort needs to be focused on the younger drivers though, as they’re less likely to comply than other group of drivers.
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Most kids know how traffic lights work. But even with the simplicity of these devices, not all drivers obey them. Running a red light greatly increases your risks for an accident.

The thing is that accidents resulting from red-light runners are completely preventable. That’s why officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) are pushing National Stop on Red Week. During the safety campaign, FHP officials will be joining forces with law enforcement officials throughout the state in looking for drivers who aren’t stopping at red lights. These drivers place bicyclists, pedestrians and other motorists in serious danger for an accident in West Palm Beachand elsewhere.

“As motorists in Florida, it is our duty to drive responsibly, drive safely and stop on red,” said Col. David Brierton, Director of the FHP. “Troopers will take the appropriate action on those drivers who place themselves and others in danger by running red lights.”

To help to keep you safe at intersections and at traffic lights, officials with the FHP are here to offer you some safety tips.

Red Light Safety:

-Remember that there are dangers coming from all directions at an intersection. When your light turns green, be sure to look in all directions for red-light runners before you head out. Do this regardless of how you’re traveling; bicycle, on foot or in a vehicle.

-Don’t try to race your way through a yellow light. You’ll want to apply your brakes slowly to safely decelerate. Make sure you stop before you reach the intersection.

-If you decide to blow through a red light, you’re not only putting yourself at risk, but other innocent drivers, too. You’re also running the risk of getting a citation and a moving violation on your driving record. You could even wind up with damage to your vehicle, higher insurance rates, costly medical expenses and irreversible consequences if you seriously injure or kill someone.

-Determine today that you’ll always be ready to stop on red. This goes for all travelers; bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

-Keep an eye on your speed when driving near intersections. Always be ready to stop, and leave enough space to do so, when approaching an intersection.

-Remember that these kinds of accidents are completely preventable.

Drivers are also warned to be cautious when stopping at red lights. It’s important for drivers to avoid slamming on their brakes at an intersection. Some of the most common kinds of accidents at intersections and at red lights are rear-end accidents. This happens when a driver stops too quickly and another driver is following too closely. It’s important to be cautious in these areas, allow other vehicles and travelers with plenty of room and to be on the lookout for those who might not be obeying traffic devices and other laws. Safe and defensive driving habits are your best bet against a potentially fatal accident in these areas.
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Government officials around the country are working to make sure that drivers are staying off their cell phones while they’re behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the state of Florida is one of the few states left that places no estrictions on any drivers. According to USA TODAY, lawmakers are looking into harsher penalties and stiffer fines for distracted drivers busted by officers.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, texting bans throughout the country aren’t doing enough to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents. Now, officials are questioning the repercussions, asking if harsher punishments are the answer. If you look at some of the nation’s seat belt laws and their penalties, it’s clear that tougher punishments help to get the cooperation of drivers.

As we said before, the state of Florida has zero laws on the books prohibiting drivers from engaging in distractions behind the wheel. Drivers are allowed to make phone calls and text message as much as they want — all while they’re driving. Our Fellsmere injury lawyers understand the repercussions of the absence of these laws. Every year, we see hundreds of fatalities from distracted driving accidents. Oftentimes, these accidents are the result of a cell phone-using driver.

“It’s more productive to treat distracted driving as a driver education problem,” says Gary Biller with the National Motorists Association

Biller adds that steeper fines aren’t going to help. He says that drivers need to better understand the dangers that are associated with distracted driving.

Drivers in the state of New Jersey could soon face fines of up to $200 if they’re bused using a cell phone or text messaging at the wheel. Officers can also suspend their driver’s license if they’ve been caught doing this enough times. This proposal will be heard by the Senate Budget Committee.

In 2010, there were more than 3,000 people who were killed in distracted driving car accidents. An additional 420,000 people were injured in these accidents. Transportation officials believe that these numbers are actually much higher because drivers are not likely to admit when they caused an accident because of a cell phone or other distraction. The problem has gotten so bad that nearly 20 percent of all accidents are believed to have involved a distracted driver. Studies actually show that driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by more than 35 percent.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Florida has no laws on the books to help to reduce the risks of distracted driving car accidents. For that reason, we’re asking motorists in good faith to put the phone down and drive. The safety of our roadways depends on you. There should never be a reason to answer a phone call or text message behind the wheel. As a matter of fact, drivers who use hand-held cell phones and text messaging devices at the wheel are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
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About 1,000 people are killed in work zone accidents each and every year.

In 2007, there were nearly 11,250 car accidents in Florida work zones. These accidents resulted in nearly 8,300 injuries and more than 100 fatalities, according to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Many of these accidents, injuries and fatalities can be avoided by taking caution when traveling through road construction zones. Drivers need to be on their best behavior and keep all of their attention on the road to reduce their risks of an accident.

“When traveling through work zones, drivers should pay special attention to their surroundings, reduce their speed and free themselves from distractions such as eating and talking on a cell phone,” says Stephanie Kopelousos, Secretary of FDOT.

Our Davie car accident attorneys understand that there is a lot of road work going on in the area. Traffic is being rerouted, speed limits are reduced and some of our streets are getting awfully congested. Consider reviewing the following safety tips to make your trip as smooth as possible.

Highway Work Zone Safety Tips from FDOT:

-Always stay alert. You should expect the unexpected in these zones. Anything can happen when entering a work zone.

-Pay close attention to your surroundings. Be on the lookout for lane and speed changes, road signs and flaggers who are directing traffic.

-Keep your vehicle’s headlights on. Keeping your lights on will help other motorists and roadside workers to see you more easily.

-Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. Rear-end accidents are some of the most common work accidents in work zones. Allow yourself with ample space to react to dangers.

-Keep it slow. You don’t want to speed in these areas especially since speeds are usually decreased in these areas. Follow all posted speed limit signs.

-Keep up with the traffic around you. Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and those traveling around you.

-Avoid changing lanes in a work zone. Get into your proper lane before you get into the work zone.

-Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat. Don’t mess with the radio and keep the cell phone out of your hand.

-It’s important to not only keep an eye on the cars around you, but also on the workers and their equipment.

-Calm down. Expect delays in these areas. Keep your cool and allow yourself with extra time to get through these areas.

-Be patient. Remember that work zone crews are there to make the roadways easier for your travel.

-Drive to survive, and arrive alive. Only your safe driving habits can help to keep you safe in these areas.
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Driving in Fort Lauderdale may be one of the scariest things most of us do. And you might be a little more frightened if you saw some of the latest car accident statistics. According to a recent study from the government the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area was ranked one of the most dangerous places in the entire country to drive. It’s not getting any better either. According to CNN, the risks for car accidents are only getting worse as the first quarter of 2012 saw accident rates nearly 15 percent higher than in 2011.

Officials may have been working diligently on safe driving campaigns and increased enforcement efforts, but they don’t seem to be working as well as some hoped. Many people believe that the cause of this significant increase is merely a side effect of the increase in vehicle miles traveled. Experts say that the increase in travel is a direct result of the warm weather we’ve seen throughout the country in recent months. Motorists are more likely to travel when it’s warm out as opposed to when there’s cold and snowy conditions.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that the state of Florida isn’t even in its busy travel season, meaning that these risks are only going to get worse. As we head through the rest of 2012, we can expect to start seeing more traffic on our roadways as tourists and seasonal residents pour in. Defensive driving habits can help to keep you safe and out of danger.

During January through April of 2012, nearly 8,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents across the nation. The nearly 15 percent compares to about 6,720 fatalities during the same time in 2011.

Last year, transportation officials were proud to report a downward trend in the number of fatal accidents. It’s actually been a downward trend lasting a few years, but not anymore. The first-quarter fatalities had dropped each year from 2006, until 2012.

It’s only expected to get worse. Typically, the first quarter of each year is the safest of all. Accident rates traditionally increase as the year progresses, serving as an intense warning for drivers nationwide.

“These data show there is more work to be done to improve driver safety such as limiting distractions, reducing impaired driving and promoting a culture of safety among motorists,” said Jacob Nelson with the Automobile Association of America.

As a matter of fact, this new statistic serves as the largest increase since these stats were first recorded more than 30 years ago.
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Older drivers are likely to be at higher risks for car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere. We’re not saying they’re bad drivers, we’re just saying that age can take hold of us and can have a negative effect on our abilities behind the wheel.

Luckily, there are ways that we can help to make sure that we drive safely as we age. We need to keep an extra close eye on our mental, physical and visual abilities. When these senses start to deteriorate, it’s important for us to know when it’s time to hang up our car keys and find another way to get around — a safer way. Being able to recognize these changes will not only help to keep us safer, but help to keep other motorists safe as well.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) is here to help through its Florida GrandDriver website, helping elderly residents to ‘Get Around Safe and Sound.’

Goals of the Florida GrandDriver program:

-Help to promote continued driving safety, regardless of age.

-Help to enhance residents’ ability to get around the area safely and efficiently.

Elderly drivers follow pretty much the same rules and regulations, when it comes to having a driver’s license, as younger drivers do. The only differences is that drivers who are older than 79-years-old, are required to complete a vision test. Drivers who are under the age of 79 will only be issued an eight-year license, while drivers 80 and older only get a six-year license.

Elderly drivers are urged to visit a Florida Senior Safety Resource Center (FSSRC) to get useful assessments on their cognitive, physical and visual skills, on-road driving evaluations, mobility counseling, community education as well as professional training regarding senior driving issues.

Just how at-risk are our elderly motorists?

-They account for nearly 10 percent of all people who are injured in car accidents.

-They make up nearly 15 percent of all traffic fatalities.

-They account for another 15 percent of all vehicle occupants fatalities.

-Nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian fatalities are of elderly residents.

These numbers are only expected to increase in coming years, too. Within the next 20 years, the number of elderly drivers, or those who are 70-years-old and older, is expected to at least triple in the U.S. With more elderly drivers on our roadways it’s more important than ever to not only take a look at our own aging driving skills, but to look at the driving skills of our elderly loved ones. It’s important to know when driving is no longer the safest form of transportation and to speak up and take action when we or an elderly loved one reaches this point.
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