Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

A recent car accident in Port St. Lucie, involving a minivan and a tractor-trailer, killed a motorists and left about 25 gallons of fuel splattered all over the road. The accident happened on Interstate 95 at mile marker 124 just south of the Midway Road exit, according to NBC 5.

Four people were involved in this accident. One was killed and another was taken to the hospital. St. Lucie Fire Department’s special operations team reported to the scene of the accident to help clean up the mess. The northbound lanes were blocked off for approximately 2 hours.

Our St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand how dangerous traffic accidents can be when a large truck is involved. The dangers heighten when the large truck is carrying gasoline or any other form of dangerous chemical. Motorists should exercise extreme caution when traveling along Interstates at high speeds with other large trucks to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Trucks inflict a substantial amount of injuries to motorists and can result in significant property damage during accidents on our roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were about 380,000 large trucks involved in traffic accidents in 2008 in the United States. More than 4,000 of these accidents were fatal, killing nearly 4,500 people. Another 90,000 people were injured in traffic accidents that involved a truck. Large trucks only made up 4 percent of the total number of registered vehicles in 2007. Although they only accounted for about 7 percent of the total number of vehicle miles traveled, they accounted for nearly 10 percent of all of the vehicles that were involved in fatal accidents. They also accounted for roughly 5 percent of all accidents that resulted with injuries and property-damage. It is estimated that about one out of every 9 fatal accidents involves a large truck.

Passenger-vehicle occupants are at the most risk for injury or death during an accident with a large truck. According to the most recent statistics of the fatalities that occurred from accidents that involved a large truck, nearly 75 percent of fatalities were sustained by the occupants of the smaller vehicle, about 10 percent were by nonoccupants and the remaining 15 percent were by the occupants of the large truck. Of the people that were injured in these types of accidents, about 70 percent were sustained by occupants of the other vehicle, less than 5 percent were nonoccupants and more than 25 percent were sustained by the occupants of the large truck.

During 2008, there were nearly 300 large trucks involved in fatal traffic accidents in the state of Florida.

Here are some safe driving tips to help keep you safe when you’re sharing an Interstate with a large truck:

-Never follow too closely. Wind gust from trucks have the ability to shift your car on the roadway and cause you to temporarily lose control of your vehicle.

-Do not cut in front of a large truck. Trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles.

-Stay out of a truck’s blind spots. Remember that is you can’t see the driver then they can’t see you.

-Don’t drive next to a truck for a prolonged period of time. When passing a truck, do so safely without lingering next to one.

-Before getting in front of a truck, make sure you can see the driver in your rear-view mirror.

-Always use your turn signals so that a driver is aware of your next move.

-Stay alert and keep both hands on the wheel.

-When a truck is passing your vehicle, take your foot off the accelerator and let it pass.
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Fort Lauderdale was recently ranked the most dangerous city to drive through in the entire United States. CNBC concluded that fatal car accidents in Fort Lauderdale had the highest occurrence per 100,000 population than anywhere else in the country.

There are a few ways that someone could gauge how dangerous driving would be in a specific city. The CNBC list was calculated by examining the cities with the highest number of traffic fatalities as a barometer of the danger level. The study only considered cities that had a total population of 150,000 residents or more. The most recent traffic accident data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System was used to find these totals.

Our Broward car accident attorneys understand the risks. A number of these fatal accidents could have been prevented with safe driving habits.

The most dangerous cities are as follows (from last to greatest):

-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

-Birmingham, Alabama.

-Tulsa, Oklahoma.

-St. Petersburg, Florida.

-Jacksonville, Florida.

-Lubbock, Texas.

-Memphis, Tennessee.

-Jackson, Mississippi.

-Chattanooga, Tennessee.

-Salt Lake City, Utah.

-San Bernardino, California.

-Little Rock, Arkaksas.

-Augusta-Richmond Co., Georgia.

-Orlando, Florida.

-Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that a third of that list is cities in Florida. Many safe driving advocates blame tourists that are driving in unfamiliar areas, spring breakers and senior citizens.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were roughly 10,111,000 registered vehicles in the United States that were involved in police-reported accidents in 2008. More than 25,000 people lost their lives in these accidents. Another 2.35 million people were injured.

The CNBC reports concluded that Fort Lauderdale has a total population of more than 183,000. During the study period, there were more than 40 people killed on our city’s roadways. Of that total, more than 24 of the fatalities were pedestrians. This gives our area a total fatality rate of 22.39 per 100,000 population.

To help keep you safe on our dangerous roadways, Ford Driving Skills For Life offers these safety tips:

-Look ahead. Always look ahead in traffic for approaching hazards. The more time to have to react, the safe you’ll be.

-Have a plan. Know where you’re going before your leave. Having a plan will help to reduce confusion and unannounced maneuvers, which can help to keep everyone safe.

-Slow down. Speeding decreases the amount of time you have to react to a road hazard. Abide by posted speed limits at all times.

-Put away distractions. Motorists need to keep their eyes and mind on the road and both hands on the wheel. Distractions increase your risks for a serious accident. Distractions can include other passengers, your cell phone and your radio.
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We frequently post on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog how building safer cars can reduce the risk of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere.

Unfortunately, safer built cars usually come with the latest in-vehicle technology which can cause all kinds of distractions for drivers throughout our state.

Palm Beach car accident attorneys have a growing concern that vehicles in the future will come ala carte, meaning consumers will be able to build their cars with all kinds of enticing and distracting features. This would be acceptable if vehicles could come with an fail-proof automatic auto pilot feature, which, with the push of the button, would allow drivers to just sit and play while the vehicle makes its way.

However, without this feature distracted driving accidents will likely reach levels higher than any we have seen to date, especially in a state that doesn’t prohibit distracted driving. Not to mention, technology to build safer vehicles always puts the consumer at risk of vehicle defects which can result in serious injury or even death.

Forbes recently reported that consumers can soon expect to be connected in their next vehicle. One problematic issue that arises from this is that several service and software providers may need to interact because the owner is not always the only driver of the vehicle. For example, some drivers who borrow but don’t own a vehicle may have a smartphone app with a navigational device when the car comes equipped with a map service provided by the automaker.

Phone service providers are beginning to compete with the automaker industry, which provides the same exact services with similar monthly fees. In fact, the article suggest that future resolution will require automakers, telecom providers and insurance companies all work together to provide a service in order to avoid stepping on toes.

The article suggests that in the future, drivers will build their own portfolio which can be accessed by a desktop, phone app, or mobile web portal which would then be enabled by the vehicle’s system. By creating a profile, the driver could identify their insurance carrier, phone provider and personal information which would allow them to download their phone to the vehicle’s system.

You may be thinking: “How will this affect driver safety on Florida roadways?” The system would allow drivers to have smartphone access while the vehicle isn’t moving. Once in motion, the driver would need to interact by using vehicle devices such has display screens or voice activation controls.

For example, if you want to listen to music downloaded on your smartphone, you would stream it through the vehicle system. If the app contains video images, they would only be displayed while the vehicle is idle and would automatically shut down the screen once in motion. This technology, along with improvements to driver assistance programs and vehicle sensor technology will enable drivers to be safer on roadways.

The insurance industry could propel new and improved vehicle systems by offering discounts to consumers who use them. Undoubtedly, consumers will take advantage of vehicle systems which allow them to stay connected while they drive if the monthly fee can be counteracted by a discounted insurance premium, especially in a state that has not targeted a distracted driving ban by government officials.

One thing is certain, technology needs time to be perfected so drivers should consider the risks before they leap to the next in-vehicle technology. Driver distractions have proven dangerous consequences but when coupled with defective technological devices, motorists can put themselves at an even greater risk of a Florida car accident.
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Buying your first car can be overwhelming, especially if it’s a parent trying to purchase a safe and reliable car for the first time for their teen driver. Keeping this age group safe on roadways is not easy so our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers recommend getting some guidance to help determine the safest car for your teen to drive.

Teens are often involved in distracted, speed-related or aggressive driving accidents in Margate and Port St. Lucie because they lack the knowledge and experience needed to avoid a collision with another vehicle. Purchasing a sports car that can go really fast or a brand new fully loaded vehicle with tons of in-vehicle distractions is probably not the best option for your young driver.

A teen driver should never have a better car than what his or her parents are driving. If your teen wants to take on the responsibility of driving, then they should also take on the responsibility of owning a car by chipping into a “my first car” fund set aside to pay for gas, insurance, maintenance or car payments. Money earned from summer jobs, gifts or allowance is a good way for a teen to contribute to the privilege of having their own car to drive at such a young age.

The average household with a teen driver spends roughly $3,100 a year for the teen to drive. Add your teen to your car policy to save a little money or consider the cost of insurance before signing on the dotted line for that new vehicle. Keep in mind that insurance agencies often offer discounts for multiple policies, good grades and defensive driving courses as a way to save money.

One misconception that parents are faced with is that teens need to have a car sitting in the driveway waiting for them the day they come home with a full license in their hand. Daily Finance reports that parents crumble to peer pressure as easily as teens but should by no means give in to buying a car just because other parents are doing so for their teens.

The prices of used cars and insurance premiums have risen recently so determining whether a new or used car fits into the family budget is a key component in deciding what kind of car to purchase. Risking buying a lemon as opposed to hefty car and insurance payments can be tough to weigh.

“If you buy a certified pre-owned car you get the advantages of a new-car like warranty, and perhaps, better financing rates,” says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book.

Driving distance and duration of ownership are also important questions you should consider before purchasing. If your teen will mostly drive locally and only use the car for a year or two then a cheaper used model may be a more viable option. If you intend to keep the car for a longer period of time or the vehicle may be used for your teen to commute back and forth to college then purchasing a new car should be considered.

Organizations like Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, J. D. Power and Associates and Safercar.gov are all valuable resources in determining safety ratings and what safety technology is important to keeping your teen safe in the car. Electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and airbags come equipped in most vehicles but no car should be purchased without these safety features.

“Choose a car with a responsive chassis — one with good handling, quick steering and great brakes — that takes advantage of a teen driver’s naturally quick reaction skills,” advises Bob Gritzinger, executive editor of AutoWeek.com.

New safety features to consider are ones geared toward teen drivers. For example, Hyundai Blue Link alerts the owner of the vehicle when the car is driven outside a determined parameter or after certain parts of the day when the vehicle should be idle.

Setting the tone is the final step before you hand over the keys to your teen driver. Parents may find it helpful to write up a parent-teen agreement for what is expected of your teen and rules that are meant to be followed. Setting up a standard for what happens if your child receives a ticket, gets in an accident or breaks curfew is important before the teen sits behind the wheel for the first time.

Additional information for purchasing a safe car can be found in the Purchasing with Safety in Mind guide.
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Researchers of the Strategic Highway Research Program are looking for participants for the Naturalistic Driving Study. After all, examining driving behavior during the natural events of critical situations should be able to lead us to conclusions that would improve safety and reduce the number of car accidents in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in the country.

Palm Beach car accident attorneys know that understanding certain behaviors can lead to few car accidents but is monitoring equipment which detects how drivers interact in traffic going to give us the answers we are looking for?

Forbes reports that the in depth study will look at what goes on behind the wheel when a vehicle is about to crash or is involved in a crash. Looking at data on how 3,100 drivers react in adverse driving situations can help to develop strategies that will save lives in the future.

How the study will work:
-The study will examine 3,100 drivers over a 2-year period.
-Equipment, in the form of video cameras, will be installed inside the vehicle which will record vehicle speed and driver behavior from different angles which include forward views, rear views, views of the driver’s face and hands.
-Other equipment, in the form of GPS, sensors and wireless radar, will record roadway data and environmental factors. For instance, weather conditions, traffic, lane width, lighting and curve radius can all be detected with these devices.
-Every four to six months, encrypted data will be retrieved from a storage box.

In the past, much of the focus has been on protecting an occupant involved in a crash. This study will look at behavior and try to determine how to avoid crashes in the future.

Capturing driver behavior in real time will provide “objective information on driver behavior before a collision occurs,” says Ken Campbell, chief program officer for the Strategic Highway Research Program. “You can’t just look at collisions or near collisions to know what risk factors are. It’s that comparison with what the driver is doing when there is not a safety-related event that tells you what the risk factors are.”

Who are they looking for? Participants will be selected from Buffalo, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Durham, Bloomington, and State College, PA. Since teens and elder drivers are the two age groups that cause the most accidents, researchers are looking for a pool of subjects under 25 and over 65. Participants must provide proof of insurance and a valid license. They also must operate an approved vehicle which will be inspected once selected.

“This study is long overdue and has the potential for providing the most comprehensive look at why highway crashes occur,” said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “It is unprecedented in its scope and approach.”

Participants will be paid $500 for each year of commitment during the 2-year period.
Tampa drivers who own their own vehicle can check the Eligible Vehicles List to see if they qualify. The site also has contact information and directions to the research center.
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A recent sentencing of a man in his late twenties is a good reminder to us all of how your life can change drastically when you make a bad choice to get behind the wheel intoxicated and cause a drunk driving accident in West Palm Beach or elsewhere in the state.

CBS 12 News reports that a drunk driver who drove the wrong way and killed three people back in 2008 was sentenced to 33 years in prison. The defendant had pleaded guilty on three counts of DUI manslaughter asking for 4 to 8 years, which is well below normal sentencing for this type of crime. The drunk driver was intoxicated more than twice the legal amount permitted when he headed south on the northbound lane of I 95 and hit an oncoming vehicle with four occupants. Only one passenger survived the accident.

Prior to sentencing, a private investigator hired by prosecution played a video for the judge which showed the defendant drinking beer in a bar three weeks prior, which was a violation of his bond agreement. The judge from West Palm Beach court handed down a fair sentence for a man who appeared not to have learned his lesson from the tragedy that took the lives of three people over three years ago.

Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys hope that motorists close out the summer driving season on a good note by making good choices that don’t lead to tragic events for other families. A family’s feelings of turmoil and devastation are the only things that can come from someone getting behind the wheel while under the influence and taking someone’s life.

Another tragedy in the news recently was the arrest of a West Palm Beach alleged drunk driver who took the life of a young child last October. The Palm Beach Post reports that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is charging the driver with DUI manslaughter and causing property damage, as well as, personal injury.

The October accident occurred when the mother driving her 10-year-old daughter was traveling on Northlake Boulevard. She struck a Ford F-250 truck driven by the alleged intoxicated driver, which was stopped in the middle of the road. The young girl was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center where she later died from severe neck injuries.

The Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program is a funded grant sponsored by Florida Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with one goal in mind; work together to improve roadway safety which can ultimately save lives. Law enforcement departments throughout the state are challenged to improve efforts made towards traffic safety programs which focus on educating motorist about seatbelt safety, drunk driving and speeding to name a few. A few of this year’s top spots awarded for their efforts include:

-Lee County Sheriff’s Office took first place in DUI Sustained Enforcement and third place for the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge and Click It or Ticket Challenge.
-Temple Terrace Police Department placed second in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge, second in the Click It or Ticket Challenge and took third place in the DUI Sustained Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are working together to improve highway safety for everyone who shares Florida roadways. No better effort can be made than from motorists who choose not to get behind the wheel after a few too many alcoholic drinks.
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According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, there were more than 33,000 traffic accident deaths involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists that occurred in 2009 alone, according to Automotive Industry Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than $40 billion is spent each year in medical expenses and work-loss costs connected to car accidents in Miami and elsewhere throughout the United States.

Despite these high death rates, a number of states are passing laws to increase the speed limits on highways. The higher the speed the greater your risk if for being involved in a car accident. A few states are even increasing the limit to 85 mph.
Our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand that it may be up to the driver as an individual to make safe and smart decisions behind the wheel. With the cooperation of motorists statewide, we can all do our part to make Florida roadways a little safer.

Until then, safe driving advocates, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), offer suggestions to state government officials to encourage them to implement effective safety protocols. With these recommendations in place, roadways are more likely to be safer for all motorists.

“Deaths from motor vehicle crashes are preventable,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Seat belts, graduated driver’s license programs, child safety seats, and helmet use save lives and reduce health care costs.”

The NHTSA suggests state government officials consider enacting the following:

–Employ Primary Seat belt Laws. As of now, only 31 states have primary seat belt laws. According to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, seat belt use continues to be higher in states that have implemented these types of laws. Wearing a seat belt is the easiest way to better protect yourself in the event of an accident.

–Require Age and Size Appropriate Booster or Car Seats for All Children. Every single state has implemented some sort of child restraint or safety belt laws for children, but each state differs on the age, safety requirements and penalties for failing to comply. States are urged to make their current laws more strict and more specific and to increase the punishment for not complying.

–Implement Graduated Driver Licensing Laws. These laws allow drivers to obtain full-driving privileges after completing learner and intermediate driving phases. The CDC reports that graduated driver licensing programs reduced teen deaths by up to 40 percent.

Florida traffic accident in 2009 alone racked up a bill of nearly $3.5 billion. More than $3 billion went to work loss costs and another $40 million went to medical costs.

“These preventable costs are a reflection of the terrible suffering of American families whose loved ones are killed or injured on the roads,” said Norman Mineta, chairman of Make Roads Safe North America and the longest serving Secretary of Transportation in U.S. history.
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Newly released research proves that increased enforcement efforts of distracted driving laws have the ability to reduce the risks of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale as it would strike awareness in the minds of motorists. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced dramatic reductions in distracted driving in Syracuse, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut, after two pilot projects were used to measure the effect of increased law enforcement coupled with public awareness and education campaigns.

“These findings show that strong laws, combined with highly-visible police enforcement, can significantly reduce dangerous texting and cell phone use behind the wheel,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Based on these results, it is crystal clear that those who try to minimize this dangerous behavior are making a serious error in judgment, especially when half a million people are injured and thousands more are killed in distracted driving accidents.”

Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand that Florida is one of the few states left that has yet to enact some sort of law regulating the use of cell phones and text messaging devices by drivers. It doesn’t appear that Florida will be making any changes to the current law any time soon either. In 2010 alone, Governor Charlie Crist rejected seventeen proposed texting/cell phone bills. Even though Miami-Dade passed an ordinance banning hand-held cell phone use while driving, the Florida legislature promptly passed a law banning individual municipalities from regulating cell-phone use.

This recent study showed that it’s not just the law that makes a difference in the behavior of drivers, but the enforcement of the actual law itself. The pilot programs in Hartford and Syracuse were supported by $200,000 in federal funds and $100,000 from the state. The focus of this study was to examine if increased police enforcement and paid advertising could in fact reduce distracted driving habits.

The study concluded the following:

-Syracuse, New York experienced a decline by one-third in both handheld cell phone use and texting behind the wheel because of more visible enforcement efforts.

-Hartford, Connecticut witnessed a drop of nearly 60 percent in handheld use. There was also a 75 percent reduction in texting drivers.

“The success of these pilot programs clearly show that combining strong laws with strong enforcement can bring about a sea change in public attitudes and behavior,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “We applaud the work of the men and women of the Syracuse and Hartford police forces, and call on state legislatures, law enforcement and safety advocates across the nation to follow their lead.”

In 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 deaths were caused by traffic accidents that reported the involvement of a distracted driver. Another 500,000 people were injured in these accidents. Distraction-related traffic accidents accounted for nearly 20 percent of all traffic deaths in the same year.
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