Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Our West Palm Beach car accident lawyers want to reiterate the importance of traffic safety in conjunction with the United Nations launch of “Decade of Action for Road Safety” and National Youth Safety Awareness this month. No amount of funding or programming can replace the importance of being a safe driver. We can only hope that awareness will make it become a habit every time we get behind the wheel.

A recent survey indicates that American motorists want state and federal governments to be more hands-on in improving highway safety and reducing the risks of car accidents in Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale and throughout the country. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports most drivers agree (70 percent) that stricter driving safety laws should be established and enforced.

“Despite shrinking federal and state transportation budgets and a public debate over the most
appropriate role of government, it’s clear that a majority of Americans want government officials
to do more – not less – about highway safety,” said AAA President and CEO Bob Darbelnet. “From passing and enforcing laws about teen drivers and distracted driving to programs that improve the safety of our roadways and add safety equipment to vehicles, there are many steps the government can take to reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths in the U.S.”

Other notable responses from the survey include:

-Designing and building safer cars is the responsibility of both automobile manufacturers (60 percent agree) and the federal government (41 percent agree).

-Almost 60 percent of respondents indicated the state governments need to make a better effort to make their roadways safer.

-More laws need to be established in the United States to prevent drivers from portraying dangerous driving behaviors according to 62 percent of the respondents surveyed.

The United Nations is kicking off the worldwide campaign in Washington, D.C on May 11th. “Decade of Action for Road Safety” will take a global approach to improving roadway designs, building safer cars, establishing more safety laws, campaigning for safer driving behaviors and improving the rescue mission following a crash over the next ten years. There are 1.3 million fatalities each year on world roadways, and another 3.5 million people injured.

Wear. Believe. Act. will be the motto recognized internationally with a yellow tag symbol. Over 50 countries along with 30 U.S. cities will be displaying the yellow tag on billboards, marquis signs, state buildings, and monumental locations throughout the country in recognition of global attempt to reduce traffic fatalities worldwide.

Florida drivers may not be able to build safer cars or design safer roadways but you can be in control of your own driving behaviors. Safer driving skills will keep Florida fatalities down on the highways and streets that we travel on.
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The New York Times reports that there was a 2 percent drop in motorcycle deaths during the first nine months of last year.

Our Palm Beach injury lawyers and Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorneys realize that injuries and death from motorcycle crashes are a year round danger in South Florida.

Though there were 80 fewer riders killed from January through September of 2010 than in the same time frame the previous year, this may not be a lasting trend. The statistics may be misleading. From January to March, fatalities were down 25 percent. Deaths for the next three months they decreased by 1 percent but in the following three months there was a 3 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities.

Motorcycle deaths reached an all time high in 2008 at 5,312; they have more than doubled since the late 1990s. There is an ongoing debate why motorcycle fatalities plummeted 16 percent in 2009. One version states fatalities decreased because fewer people could afford to buy a motorcycle during the recession. So with less recreational riders on the road fatalities dropped. This side feels now that the economy is recovering there will be an increase in recreational riders thus increasing the number of deaths. The other view, from motorcycle enthusiasts, says the increase in gas prices has more people riding motorcycles than driving vehicles. People are using motorcycles as a traditional mode of transportation.

For the first nine months of 2010 the number of riders wearing impact-absorbing, federally-approved helmets dropped 13 percent. And those wearing “novelty” helmets, which offer very little protection but are lighter in weight and more comfortable to wear, increased by 9 percent. Wearing an approved helmet decreases the rider’s chance of dying in a crash by about 40 percent.

The law in Florida requires all riders younger than 21 years wear helmet. Riding without a helmet is allowed for those 21 years and older if they can prove that they are covered by a medical insurance policy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in Florida there were 556 motorcycles fatalities in 2008. They say that 171 lives were saved by using a helmet and if everyone had to wear a helmet an approximate 100 more lives would have been saved.
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving is urging parents to talk to their teens about drinking and driving before Prom night arrives.

The U.S. Senate recently declared April 21st as Power Talk 21 day, a day dedicated nationally to parents discussing with teens about the dangers of alcohol, making smart choices and leading healthy lifestyles. MADD, in conjunction with the national event, has created the ‘Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence’ program to help parents who have a difficult time talking to their kids about the dangers of alcohol and the high risk of causing a drunk driving accident in Miami when driving under the influence.

St. Lucie car accident attorneys know that April, May, and June are the three deadliest months for teen drivers when it comes to alcohol-related crashes. In fact, a third of drunk driving fatalities involving teens nationwide each year occur during these three months.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the following statistics related to teens and alcohol:

-Nationally, almost 3 million people are dependent or abuse alcohol between the ages of 12-20.

-It is estimated that 3 out of 4 high school students have admitted to alcohol consumption.

-6 out of 10 juniors and seniors admit to consuming their first alcoholic drink by the age of 16.

-60 percent of teen deaths in car crashes are alcohol-related.

-Teenage boys with a blood alcohol level of .05 are 18 times more likely to get in a single vehicle crash than a boy who hasn’t had any alcohol; girls are 54 times more likely under the same circumstances.

-An average of 8 teens die every day in drunk driving accidents.

-Admittedly, 6 out of 10 high school juniors and seniors have ridden in a car with an intoxicated teen driver behind the wheel.

Florida school systems try to do their part as they bring awareness to students about the dangers of drinking and driving on prom night. CBS Miami recently reported that Miami Beach Convention Center played host to the 12th annual Cheat the Reaper Teen Anti-DUI program. An estimated 1,000 high school students from Miami Beach and Miami Northwestern watched a simulated DUI crash presentation put together by school administrators, students, teachers and partners within the community. The mock DUI crash allowed students to witness first-hand the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence. It also reminds them of their signed oath made not to drink on prom night at the time they purchase their prom ticket.

The simulated prom night tragedy includes a staged accident, police response followed by an investigation, a sobriety test and an arrest of the teen driver. Fire and emergency rescuers were there to remove victims from the car and take them to the local hospital once they are stabilized. If this doesn’t send enough of a message, the point is driven home when funeral home directors transport victims in a hearse to a mock funeral.

South Florida police offers the following advice to parents for prom night:

-Set a curfew for your teen and know their exact plans for prom night.

-Arrange for a limo service but know the companies alcohol policy prior to the night of service.

-Assure your teen to call you if they find themselves in an unsafe predicament.

-For peace of mind, wait up for your teen until they return safely home.
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Score one for the insurance companies for those of you who are keeping track of the recent proposals making their way through the Florida legislature.

Innocent victims involved in car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and elsewhere in the state have been made out to be the bad guys, according to an article in Bloomberg Businessweek. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed the two bills to create new restrictions for policyholders.

Car accident lawyers in St. Lucie know what a hardship accident victims go through in order to recuperate any medical costs and property damage incurred when they aren’t at fault. Reforming the law to benefit insurers will just make it even more difficult for those who are desperate to get damages covered because they can’t otherwise afford it.

The Sun Sentinel reports that the bills propose the following:

SB 1930 proposes to extend the allotted time insurers have to pay claims to 90 days And insurers would be allowed to offer a discount to policyholders if they use the insurance companies’ preferred doctors instead of their own.

SB 1964 proposes to cap attorney fees that represent injured motorists filing a claim. Motorists are the ones who ultimately pay the price. The reformed bills certainly won’t lower insurance premiums so it will be a classic case of the good guy finishes last.

Do yourself a favor. Get involved by contacting your state representative so you have a voice in this. Urging state officials to fight for you rather than the big businesses is the first step in covering your personal well-being because you never know when you will be a victim of a South Florida car accident.
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True or False: Red light cameras help to reduce the risk of intersection accidents in Fort Lauderdale? As we reported recently on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, accident at intersections outfitted with red light cameras continue to stir debate over their use in South Florida.

West Palm Beach car accident attorneys suspect that cameras are working at intersections, but not in the manner in which everyone thought. It is probable that motorists who tend to run a red light are getting nabbed so T-bone collisions are being reduced. But rear-end collisions have become more prevalent as a result of drivers slamming on their brakes to avoid getting a ticket in the mail.

If instant gratification is what city officials and communities are looking for then the answer to the question is false. However, the cameras have only been in use for a short time and have already proven to help at three of the six intersections. A 50 percent success rate is worth acknowledgment.

The Sun Sentinel reports that accidents, when compared to the same time frame last year, have increased in the last four months at two intersections, decreased at three intersections, and remained unchanged at one intersection where the cameras have been placed.

Nationally, it has been estimated that over 800 lives could be saved each year if all big cities were to install the cameras at their most dangerous intersections, as we reported previously on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog.

Florida drivers who ran red lights caused 56 fatal accidents and another 5,190 injury accidents in 2009.

The question really becomes are they cost effective? The Fort Lauderdale Police Department can’t keep up with all the offenders committing red light violations. Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent prosecuting violators. Two public safety aides are doing the work of 5 people in reviewing approximately 1,000 violations per week but are falling behind by about 600 cases per week. A larger staff with less time associated with proving guilt would make the system work much more productively.

One location that has produced the most accidents in the past is West Commercial Boulevard and Powerline Road. In the four months after the camera was installed, the reported accidents went from 17 down to 11 when compared to the same four months of last year. If safety matters in this debate, then officials should consider the success rate.

Boynton Beach and Hollywood have both jumped on the red light camera bandwagon, installing the cameras at four and six of the most dangerous intersections in each city respectively.

Each city is willing to use a wait and see approach to determine the success of the program. We think the wait-and-see approach will ultimately show a reduction in serious and fatal car accidents. Whether that ever translates into a financial windfall for the municipalities is another matter altogether.
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The Miami Herald recently reported on the tragic death of three children on the Florida Turnpike.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers know there is nothing more heartbreaking than the loss of child in a senseless South Florida car accident.

A blown tire caused the SUV the children were riding in to hit a retaining wall, collide into another vehicle and flip over. Three children were thrown from the SUV and died at the scene of the horrible crash. Two children and the driver survived the accident and were taken to the hospital for treatment. One child is home recovering, the other child and driver remain in the hospital.

The ages of the children killed in the crash were 1, 11 and 12; the two surviving children were 8 and 14.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in 2009 that 1,314 children ages 14 and younger were killed and an additional 179,000 sustained injuries in car crashes. The leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old is motor vehicle accidents. During 2009, Florida had 70 children age 14 or younger die in traffic-related accidents.

In 2009, there were 5,366 children age 14 and younger involved in fatal passenger vehicle accidents in the U.S. Of those who sustained fatal injuries, 46% were unrestrained. Statistics show that using child safety seats reduce the risk of fatalities to infants by 71% and 54% for toddlers.

The NHTSA guidelines for buckling up kids in the car include:

Up to 1 year
-Use a rear-facing car seat, its protective harness moves with the child, reducing the stress to the child’s fragile body.

1 – 3 years
-Use a forward-facing car seat, its harness prevents forward movement in a crash.

4 – 7 years
-Use a booster seat, which helps the child fit into an adult seat belt.

8 – 12 years
-Use a properly fitting seat belt.
The NHTSA estimates that over the last 3 decades 9,310 children have been saved by the use of child safety seats or adult seat belts while riding in passenger vehicles.
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A West Palm Beach car accident results in one dead, two injured and one in handcuffs. The Monday morning accident happened at the intersection of Elmhurst Road and Military Trail, according to NBC 5.

The arrested driver is accused of driving without a license and is facing charges in the deadly crash. Additional charges are pending, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers urge you to contact an attorney immediately if you’ve been involved in an auto accident. It is important for you to remember to have an appropriate police report filed for any and all accidents, to talk to no one about your accident as statements may be held against you in the court of law and we urge you to seek proper medical attention after an accident.

The West Palm Beach accident is thought to have been a result of the driver’s failure to obey traffic signals. The man, who was taken to jail, is accused of running the red light at that intersection.

As 32 cities on the west coast of Florida, including Palm Springs and West Palm Beach, have already adopted red light cameras, residents sit and wait as Florida lawmakers rethink their decision to make these cameras legal, according to Our Observer.

“Fundamentally, I just find red light cameras, I don’t want to say unconstitutional, but un-American,” said Ritch Workman, State Representative (R) District 30.

As participating local government shelled out more that $8 million to the Department of Revenue after having these cameras active for a mere 7 months, some officials see these devices as far too dangerous regardless of monetary profit. Drivers are more apt to slam on their brakes, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision, at these intersections to avoid a mail ticket.

“Statistics have shown that these cameras have reduced traffic crashes. So, what we like to do is use these 30 days as a time to educate the public,” said Stephanie Slater, spokesperson for the Boynton Beach Police Department.

Some believe the only true reason for the government to give these traffic infraction detectors the green light is to generate more money for local governments as the fine for running through one of these red lights is $158. Official sit on opposing sides of the debate, as do residents.

“Statistics have shown that these cameras have reduced traffic crashes. So, what we like to do is use these 30 days as a time to educate the public,” said Stephanie Slater, spokesperson for the Boynton Beach Police Department.

Red light accidents caused nearly 800 deaths and roughly 165,000 injuries in 2008, according to Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Nearly half of the people killed in these red-light running accidents are not the violators, but other drivers and pedestrians, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
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