Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Officers are looking into a Miami pedestrian accident that killed a man who was patiently waiting for the city bus to arrive at his stop. The accident happened on Northwest Avenue on 107th Avenue shortly before 10:00 p.m., according to Local 10. The 67-year-old male pedestrian was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus to arrive at his stop when he was hit by a vehicle that was being driven the wrong way by a 42-year-old female. The man’s wife was sitting on that bench waiting for the bus with her husband. She was able to avoid being hit.

“Once the male was struck on the bench, both him and the bench were dragged until its final resting place,” said Detective Roy Rutland.

Our car accident attorneys in Coconut Creek, Coral Springs and Weston understand that public transportation is relied upon by many in our area. Motorists are asked to practice extreme caution when traveling near bus stops and popular bus routes. Bus stops can be flooded with pedestrians boarding, exiting or waiting for a bus. While bus riders should be on the lookout for passing motorists, drivers should also be cautious of other travelers. Car-pedestrian accidents oftentimes end up fatal and can be prevented with a little consideration for one another.

Here are some safety tips for those who ride buses in our area:

-Never run to the bus. This is when a lot of accidents happen. Running puts you at a greater risk for trips, slips and falls. These injuries are some of the most common injuries sustained by bus riders.

-Have your child’s stroller folded before you get on the bus. Keep it folded for the entire trip. Open it back up once you’ve got off the bus and have moved off of the roadway and away from traffic.

-Remain aware of your surroundings when you’re waiting for your bus to arrive.

-If you’re listening to your headphones while you’re waiting, keep the volume down so that you can hear what’s going on around you.

-Never walk too close to the roadway or the curb.

-Be aware of traffic movement in both directions while waiting at your stop.

-Never cross the street in front of a bus. Wait for the bus to drive away before crossing the street so that you have a clear view of the traffic in both directions.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that were we approximately 12,000 people injured in bus accidents in 2007. Nearly 40 people died from accidents during that same year. That means that 1,000 people were injured each month, more than 230 were injured each week and nearly 35 were injured each day on public buses in the United States. Many of these statistics don’t even take the injuries sustained while waiting at bus stops into account.

Residents are urged to ride with caution and be careful while waiting for buses to arrive. Our roadways are a very busy place and awareness can be your best defense against a serious accident.
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Distracted driving car accidents in Vero Beach, Lake Worth and elsewhere took the lives of more than 5,400 people in 2009. Officials believe this number to be even higher because not all accident causes were properly reported to officers.

To help raise awareness about the dangers of these types of accidents, the National Safety Council (NSC) recently released a few short videos to address the risks and the consequences of such incidents. The “Understanding Distracted Driving” campaign features David Teater, the Director of Transportation Initiatives for the NSC, as he knows all too well the results of a distracted driving accident. Teater lost his 12-year-old son in an accident with a distracted driver back in 2004.

According to Ocala.com, more drivers are seeing prosecutors using text-messaging and cell phone records in court to help prove charges against drivers accused of causing a distracted driving car accident. Our car accident attorneys in Tamarac, Sunrise and Margate know that these types of accident cases are so common in the state of Florida because we are one of the last states to enact some sort of law to regulate distracting behavior by drivers. Without state laws, the safety of our roadways relies on the discipline of drivers. Hanging up you cell phone while driving can help to save lives.

The “Understanding Distracted Driving” videos consist of two short videos that discuss the answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding how distractions work against drivers, including how dangerous the behavior is and how employers can enforce a cell phone policy in the workplace to help keep everyone safe.

Teater continues to push for laws to regulate the distractions behind the wheel. He has previously spoken with several state legislatures and the U.S. Congress in an attempt to sway them into creating some sort of federal regulations on cell phone use by drivers.

With Florida being one of the last states to regulate this behavior, distracted driving car accidents are a big problem in the Sunshine State. In the event of a car accident, many local and state law enforcement officials look at phone records of the drivers involved in an attempt to see if cell phone distraction contributed to the collision. When a death is the result of an accident, charges against the blamed driver can be more severe. Motorists are urged to hang up the phone while driving to decrease the risks of experiencing a serious accident or to avoid a criminal conviction.

Sometimes a driver’s use of a cell phone can be considered reckless driving and can turn into a felony charge in court.

“We can and will continue to look at phone records to deter this behavior,” said Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Mark Welch.
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According to the Sun Sentinel, Representative Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, has been a long-time advocate for safe driving habits. The wave of advocacy came after his teenage daughter was killed in a 1996 car accident. His daughter was reportedly not wearing a seat belt during the time of the accident.

There are a few simply steps that all motorists can take to help keep vehicle occupants safe in the event of a car accident in West Palm Beachor elsewhere in South Florida. Using a seat belt and properly restraining children in a car seat may be two of the most beneficial ways of prevent injury during a traffic collision. A recently released report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) highlights just how effective these preventative measures can be.

Our car accident attorneys in Delray Beach, Lantana and Fort Pierce understand that while seat belt usage is at an all-time high in the state of Florida, nearly 20 percent of motorists are still cruising along our roadways without wearing a seat belt. The IIHS reports there were nearly 33,000 people killed as a result of traffic accidents in 2009 in the U.S. The Institute also reports that nearly 13,000 adult motorists and another 3,500 child motorists under the age of 6 could have survived car accidents in 2009 if they were properly belted in.

Right now, there are more than 30 states that follow primary seat belt laws. This means that a vehicle can be pulled over by a police officer if all the occupant is doing wrong is not wearing a seat belt. States that enact primary seat belt laws typically have a higher average seat belt usage rate.

Law enforcement officers across the nation credit the 2011 “Click It or Ticket” campaign for the record-high average of seat belt usage. Without laws and high-visibility enforcement efforts, motorists would be less likely to buckle up.

According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles:

-All passengers that are riding in the front seat of a vehicle must wear a seat belt.

-All vehicle occupants under the age of 18 are required to wear a seat belt.

-All seat belt laws apply to vans, pickups and car that are driven on Florida roadways.

-Children under the age of 4 are required to be buckled in a federally approved child seat.

-Children that are 4- and 5-years-old are required to be buckled in a federally approved child restraint seat or seat belt.

Not wearing a seat belt and failing to properly restrain a child in your vehicle not only increases your risks of injury during a traffic accident, but it can result in a ticket. In Florida, you’ll get a $30 ticket for your first violation for not wearing your seat belt. If you’re busted with a child that is not properly restrained in your vehicle you could wind up with a $60 violation. You could even face child endangering charges.

As cars become more and more advanced with safety technology, it still remains true that seat belts are among the most effective ways to stay safe in the event of an accident. Let’s all do our part to bring down the number of fatal traffic accidents in the state and buckle up when we venture out in our vehicles.
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The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is just as simple as it sounds. Florida Highway Patrol is cracking down on impaired drivers in hopes of minimizing drunk driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and statewide between August 19 – September 5.

Our Fort Pierce accident lawyers wish everyone a safe upcoming Labor Day weekend but whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. Impaired drivers caused more than 30 percent of traffic fatalities nationwide in 2009. A total of 35 percent of fatalities in Florida in 2009 were caused by drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .01 or higher.

Colonel David Brierton, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Director, emphasizes that the cost is just too high for motorist to take a chance. Impaired drivers trying to beat the odds could get socked with possible jail time, higher insurance rates, lost time from work and suspension of their driver’s license if they are caught in the act. There is no greater cost than taking a life.

Anyone who wears a FHP uniform will be patrolling roadways and interstates on Labor Day weekend. Traffic will be more congested with holiday travel so beefing up enforcement and making police officers more visible should help deter drivers from getting behind the wheel drunk.

Wink News Now reports that more than 10,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the country are embracing the nationwide campaign by adding sobriety checkpoints and a multitude of patrol officers, especially during evening hours when the odds of an impaired driver being on the roadway are even greater.

The goal is to reduce drunk driving accidents on roadways, create awareness by educating the public on how dangerous it is to drive impaired and dissuade someone who is drunk from wanting to get behind the wheel. Motorists can help the cause by planning ahead, designating a driver or drinking non-alcoholic beverages at a gathering or barbeque.

As part of back to school preparation this year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving offers these tips to parents with teen drivers:

-Initiate a conversation about the dangers of alcohol and how it can impair judgment and decision making.

-Make it clear to your teen driver that you will not tolerate drinking and driving and what to expect when rules are broken.

-Create a respectful relationship with your teen by give and take. Listen with an open mind and give your opinion fervently.

-Engage in family time and show your teen you care by spending quality time together. Set a goal to have dinner and work on projects 3 times a week.

-Be consistent with rewards and punishments. If a rule is broken always enforce the punishment.

Drunk driving is risky and dangerous and should never be considered when so many options are available.

If you detect an impaired driver on the roadway, dial *FHP for help.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently conducted a study on the effects of fatigued driving and found that roughly five percent of surveyed drivers admitted that they’ve fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once over the last month.

Many experts believe that this number may even be higher because a 2005 study, conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, revealed that a third of all drivers say that they’ve dozed off behind the wheel in the last year. More than 10 percent of them say that they do it regularly, at least once a month, according to Automotive Industry Today.

Unfortunately the number of car accidents in Stuart, Palm City, Fort Pierce and elsewhere can never truly be measured because there’s no guarantee that a driver will admit to officers that they were in fact fatigued at the time of the accident.

Our car accident attorneys in Vero Beach, Davie and Margate understand the frequency of distracted driving accidents. Unfortunately, many drivers are not able to recognize signs concluding that a driver is in fact drowsy at the wheel. These drivers pose serious threats to innocent drivers on our roadways.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are at least 100,000 car accidents that are believed to be caused by a fatigued driver every year. These accidents are believed to kill about 1,550 people and injure another 71,000. The NHTSA estimated that these accidents result in roughly $12.5 billion in monetary losses each year. Some studies suggest that drowsy driving may be a factor in as many as one in four accidents.

Unfortunately, many drivers think that there are quick fixes to wake up a fatigued driver. Many think that a shot of caffeine, some loud music or opening the windows will do the trick. The only problem with these theories is that they’re temporary fixes. Pushing through a feeling of drowsiness behind the wheel might be one of the worst and most dangerous things a driver can do behind the wheel.

To stay awake at the wheel, you should make sure you’re well rested before you head out on the road. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that drivers who get six to seven hours of sleep each night are just about twice as likely to get into an accident as a driver who regularly gets eight hours of sleep or more each night.

You should also allow yourself some breaks. You’re urged to stop, take a break from driving and rest every three hours of consecutive driving time. If you feel sleepy at the wheel before three hours is up, you’re urged to switch with a passenger or to simply pull over and get some rest.

Drowsy driving accidents are preventable if the proper safety measures are taken before and during a trip in the car. Don’t let being tired land you or another motorist in the hospital.
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Despite the forever aging adult population in Florida, teen drivers still remain the age group most at risk of a car accident in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and elsewhere.

Teen drivers are a hot topic on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog because we want parents of teens to have a clear understanding of the dangers teens face. Knowledgeable parents can help young drivers gain the knowledge and experience needed to be safe drivers.

Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers know that students returning to school increase traffic congestion during morning commutes; teen drivers and other motorists should be alert and use extra caution now that school is back in session.

There were more than 235,000 traffic crashes involving 338,633 drivers in Florida in 2009, according to a statistics report by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Crashes involving a teen driver in 2009 totaled 29,485. Eighty teens were killed, along with 73 teen passengers. More than 10,000 teen drivers were injured in a crash and almost as many teen passengers needed medical attention following a car accident in 2009. The rate of drivers between the ages of 15-19 involved in fatal crashes per 10,000 licensed drivers was 3.13.

In an effort to support back to school safety, the National Safety Council offers the following advice to parents of teen drivers. The more a young driver can learn by example and gain experience in supervised driving situations, the more confident they will be when they hit the streets solo.

Strict Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws and programs are proven to reduce teen driver crashes and fatalities by as much as 40 percent. Parents can use the following tips to form their own GDL program, especially if your teen needs extra guidance in certain areas.

-23 percent of all crashes nationwide involve cell phone use and teens are the worst perpetrators when it comes to using cell phones behind the wheel. Establish strict rules prohibiting your teen from texting or talking while they drive.

-Almost a third of drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes have alcohol detected in their system. Mirror Florida’s zero tolerance for underage drinkers by issuing your own no tolerance rule.

-Passengers can increase the odds of a teen crash by 50 percent so restrict your young driver to no passengers until they have a year of driving experience under their belt.

-Driving at night can be dangerous, especially right before midnight so set an agreeable curfew capping the time when your teen is permitted to drive unsupervised. The NSC recommends no later than 10 p.m.

-Extend the learner’s permit stage to at least 6 months to give the teen more experience with adult supervision. Be patient and always set a good example every time you and your teen are in the car together.
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Motorists get concerned with good cause when they share the roadway with another driver who speeds, drives distracted, or drives aggressively. These behaviors are considered reckless and are among the leading causes of car accidents in Port St. Lucie, Palm Beach and elsewhere in the state.

The Miami Herald recently reported about a fatal accident involving a teen driver who was driving recklessly; dangerous driving behavior allegedly determined the fate of three young passengers riding in the vehicle with him.

Luckily, no innocent bystanders were injured or killed as a result of the reckless act. One passenger was trapped inside the vehicle while two others were ejected in the crash. All three passengers died at the scene after a 19-year-old driving a Honda Civic lost control and sped into a concrete pole. The driver left the scene and later turned himself in but was charged with fleeing and three counts of vehicular homicide. It is believed the crash occurred while street racing with another vehicle.

Our St. Lucie car accident attorneys want to urge victims of a reckless driving accident to contact an experienced attorney. Learning your options from a dedicated law firm can help victims make informed decisions about getting compensation that is rightfully deserved.

In 2009, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported a total of 235,778 traffic crashes which equated to approximately 646 crashes per day on average throughout the state.

There were 2,563 deaths from car crashes in 2009 and more than 197,000 injuries sustained in Florida car accidents. Almost 20 percent of fatal crashes and just fewer than 40 percent of injuries were caused by reckless driving. More than 200 fatalities were caused by a speed-related accident.

The following are examples of reckless driving behavior:
-Changing lanes swiftly with little or no warning.
-Pulling out in front of a vehicle that has the right of way.
-Pretending to be on a speedway race track on city roads or major highways.
-Turning corners at full speed.
-Showing no regard for bicyclists, pedestrians or other motorists using the same roadway by acting like you own the roadway.
-Rolling through stop signs without stopping or blatantly running a red light.

Motorists should report reckless driving behavior in order to protect themselves and other drivers from being involved in a car accident. Even though using a cell phone while you drive is still permitted in our state, it is never recommended. Report a reckless driver by pulling into a safe spot to dial 9-1-1. Give police officials as much information as possible, like model and make of car, license plate number, the direction the vehicle is heading, and the location in which you are calling from. Reporting a reckless act could save a life.
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