Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Most teens look forward to being old enough to drive, taking the drivers’ test and enjoying the freedom that driving represents. Equally as exciting is the thought of getting their first car to drive. Parents often are faced with the dilemma of what kind of car their teen should drive to keep them safe from injury when involved in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in South Florida.

Our West Palm Beach injury lawyers understand the devastation a parent can go through when a child is severely injured or killed in a car accident. Finding the right car becomes a priority once your teen has a license. The line becomes divided when your teen wants a sports car to tool around in with their friends while you want a safe, reliable and affordable car for them to drive.

An article in the Dover Post suggests finding a happy medium when it comes to the right car for your teen to drive. The first step is sitting down with them to discuss what you each want in the car. The discussion should entail what cars you each like and what specific things you like about them. Finding a good compromise will make car shopping a much more enjoyable experience.

Parents and teens should both agree that safety is a top priority in car choice, considering drivers ages 16-19 are four times more likely to crash than an older driver with more experience. Doing research on crash ratings and other safety features is a good place to start for each model (new or used) that you may be interested in. Manufacturers didn’t start putting airbags in cars until the late 1980’s. Air bags can decrease the risk of injury in a crash, especially side impact airbags — so finding a newer model is a safer option. Another quality to consider is finding a car with stability control. The sensors can detect when a car is headed off the intended path. Any wayward detection causes the engine’s power to slow or a braking system to activate.

A final thought when buying a used car is to make sure the tires are relatively new. Treads on tires help the car grip the road and maintain control in different kinds of weather conditions. Teens lack driving experience and tend to panic in adverse conditions, so anything that helps maintain control can be an asset when facing a stressful driving situation.

Large pickups, SUV’s and sports cars should not be a primary choice for young and inexperienced drivers. Large vehicles have a higher center of gravity, causing them to roll over in crashes. Sports cars tend to make young drivers want to drive too fast and don’t typically fare well in accident ratings.

Visit Consumer Reports for a full list of recommended vehicles proven to be more appropriate for teen drivers.
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Spring Break week in Florida is known for parties and good times for teens and college students all over the country. Florida motorists may have noticed the roadways have become more crowded this week as Spring Break season is in full swing. The next few weeks will bring a higher risk for drunk driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and elsewhere, as well as other alcohol-related accidents throughout the state.

Our personal injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach know that March and April typically rank near the top in fatalities reported during the calendar year in Florida. In a previous drunk driving blog posted on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog we reported that 21% of Florida drunk driving crashes in 2009 involved a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher. The month of March reported the second highest number of alcohol-related crashes.

Drunk driving and alcohol-related accidents is one topic we are focusing on in our Spring Break 2011 series. Other related topics touched on in the series are teen driving accidents, distracted driving and injuries related to premise liability.

Many young adults have a habit of binge drinking during Spring Break. Alcohol-related incidents are already being reported for Spring Break 2011. The Palm Beach Post reported recently about the death of a Georgia Southern student vacationing in Florida for Spring Break with 15 other students. His friends had reported they were partying the night before when they found him the next morning. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. A separate incident reported by My Fox Tampa Bay involved a teen from Tampa who was home for Spring Break from the University of Florida when she was found dead following a night of drinking.

As the incidents are mounting, the Florida Highway Patrol wants to remind young students to drink responsibly. First Coast News reports that Florida Law Enforcement officials will be on high alert as they take to the streets and beaches the next few weeks. Underage drinking will not be tolerated and violators under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher will have their license suspended for 6 months automatically.

Drivers refusing to take a test for blood alcohol will have their license revoked for 12 months on a first time offense, and 18 months for a second offense.

Teenagers are prohibited from consuming alcohol. Students who are of age to drink need to remember to be responsible since drinking on public beaches and driving under the influence is against the law. The consequences for breaking the law may be life-changing.
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Children are more than five-times safer riding in rear-facing car safety seats than in any other seat until they reach the age of 2, according to new research conducted by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

<a href=https://www.lawofficesofdeanhfreeman.com/lawyer-attorney-1372158.html"Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that consumers often rely on manufacturers to produce products to keep our families safe. Consumers also often rely on the suggestions and recommendations from these manufacturers and safety councils to provide specific instructions on how to use their products effectively.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has decided to change car seat policies after research revealed that 75 percent of children under the age of 2 riding in forward-facing car seats are likely to be killed or fatally injured in a car accident. Children are now recommended to occupy a rear-facing car seat until the age of 2, or until they outgrow their seat. Children are then recommended to ride in a booster seat until the age of 9.

“The ‘best’ car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use every time your child is in the car,” says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Proper selection and use of child car seats play a vital role in keeping your child safe in a Palm Beach car accident.

According to 5 years of U.S. crash data, a child is five-times more likely to be injured in a car accident if they’re riding in a forward-facing car seat than if they’re properly seated in a rear-facing car seat. Children are more likely to be injured in these forward-facing car seats because of the faulty design. In a front-facing car seat, the force caused by an accident can jerk the child’s head and neck causing severe spinal cord injuries, if not death. The new design and requirements allow for the force of the collision to be distributed throughout the entire body.

“Selecting the right seat for your child can be a challenge for many parents. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new revised guidelines will help consumers pick the appropriate seat for their child,” says David Strickland, Administrator of the NHTSA.

You can download a car safety brochure here for tips on how to keep your child safe the car.
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Young drivers are easily distracted when they get behind the wheel. But Spring Break brings out the worst in driving behaviors. Being alert could help motorists avoid a Fort Lauderdale car accident involving a drunk or distracted driver. As part of a series, Spring Break 2011, we are focusing on several topics which include distracted and drunk driving, teen driving accidents and premise liability accidents.

Our West Palm Beach accident attorneys are familiar with the high volume of traffic during the next few weeks as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are considered Spring Break hot spots. The inexperience of young drivers during Spring Break week, not to mention their ability to get easily distracted, is a concern for motorists who are going about their daily routine. Young drivers showing some responsible driving behavior on Florida’s roadways would go a long way toward making all of us safer.

In a recent post on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog we reported that distracted driving is a killer during high traffic season, more specifically Spring Break weeks. In 2009, March and April were two of the three most dangerous months for fatal crashes in Florida. There were 224 fatal crashes in March of 2009. Florida also reported a total of 1,500 injuries in crashes where the driver was distracted while driving.

Spring Break week is known as a week of wild binge-behaviors. Yahoo News recently reported that it hasn’t always been this way:

-It is believed that Spring Break originated in ancient Greece and Rome when young people celebrated the “rite of spring” and would play outside in the warm water, relax, and enjoy their free time.

-Colgate University, located in New York, was the first to observe “spring break week” when the swim coach took his athletes down to Fort Lauderdale in 1936 for a week of practice in the warm weather.

-In 1938, other colleges began to participate in Spring Break week when 300 swimmers competed in the first College Coaches’ Swim Forum in Fort Lauderdale.

-Finally in 1959, national media coverage got involved when Time reported about the 20,000 college students who controlled the city with drinking and partying. Total population in Fort Lauderdale was 63,000 at that time — and most of those were senior citizens.

-It was estimated that in 1985, over 350,000 people visited Fort Lauderdale in the spring.

-In 1986, MTV produced their first spring break special.

-Today, certain Spring Break hot spots can entertain over 400,000 people in the short six-week span from March to mid-April that is considered Spring Break for high schools and colleges throughout the country.

Whether taking a road trip with a group of friends or renting a car for the week, young drivers are reminded to drive responsibly. It is easy to get distracted while driving with friends in the car, parties on your mind, or setting your GPS to the correct address. Young drivers can minimize the risk of a serious car accident by focusing on the road and not the distractions in the car.
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We recently completed a series of blogs about driver safety during high traffic season on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog. We reported that 18 year-olds had the highest crash rate involvement in Florida in 2009.

We also reported that 17 year olds had the highest rate of fatal crashes in Florida for 2009. In a new series, Spring Break 2011, teen safety will be a focal point as so many students are traveling to Florida this time of year. Other topics included in the series are distracted driving, drunk driving and premise liability injuries that can occur while on Spring Break.

Our West Palm Beach injury attorneys often report about the risks teens face when it comes to car accidents in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Statistically, this age group (ages 15 to 20) is most at risk for fatal motor vehicle crashes in the state and throughout the country.

Spring break brings increased risk of teen car accidents throughout South Florida.

Classmates at Sarasota Military Academy can speak from the heart on this issue as they are mourning the death of their friends in a recent fatal crash. Tampa Bay Online reports about the recent tragedy of four teens who were killed early on a Sunday morning after crashing into a wall in a residential neighborhood. Though alcohol does not seem to be a factor in the crash, it was speed-related according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle crash occurred when the teen driver lost control of his Chevy Trailblazer on Wilkinson Road near Marriott Circle. The driver and one other teen, who held a soccer scholarship at a nearby university, were both home for Spring Break when the accident occurred. The two female teens attended the charter school for Army Junior ROTC.

Car accidents aren’t our only concern. College students tend to lose their heads during Spring Break week. Call it a short mental breakdown where common sense tends to go out the window. For instance, the Sun Sentinel reports about a college student who chugged a can of beer through a funnel while standing on the beach right next to an “Alcoholic Beverages Prohibited” sign. Lucky for him he didn’t get caught.

According to the article, Fort Lauderdale is once again a hot spot for Spring Break itineraries. The city is ranked 5th on the Top 10 list of Spring Break destinations. Once known as “Fort Liquordale”, local merchants and city officials are trying to find a happy medium to keep the attention and money of college students, while addressing concerns of local residents about the havoc that spring break creates. Many students are choosing Fort Lauderdale as a safe option as violence has picked up in other Spring Break locations like Mexico. Though law enforcement out in force this time of year, students reported they feel like they have free reign to do just about anything.

In this case, ‘anything’ can lead to breaking the law, causing serious harm to another person, or even fatal accidents caused by drinking, falls, or drowning if teens aren’t careful. Teens are reminded to be careful on roadways and beaches during Spring Break week. Accidents can easily happen with the high volume of people and traffic, especially when alcohol is involved. Don’t drink and drive.
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Florida is one of eight states being used in a pilot program to map the safest roadways according to a recent article in USA Today.

If all goes as planned, Florida motorists will be able to log onto a website to determine the safest roads to travel in order to avoid car accidents in West Palm Beach and elsewhere in the state.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys know that a program like this could make road trip planning a much safer and more enjoyable way to travel across Florida and the U.S.

Internet savvy road trip planners can add one more thing to their checklist: figuring out which route will be the safest to travel based on roads that have the highest reported traffic deaths and injuries. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is in the development stages of designing such a program for in-vehicle navigation systems. The idea is to be able to shop for “Five-Star Safety” routes as you would when purchasing an automobile.

The idea came from a public interest survey taken in 2009. The foundation survey found that 2,141 drivers, or 73% of motorists surveyed, would use a feature that would determine the safest roadways if offered, especially when traveling on unfamiliar roadways.

SafeRoadMaps.org, founded in 2008 has received several hits from viewers trying to plot the safest roadways. The interactive site from University of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety allows drivers to mark fatal crashes on a map online for roadways all over the country.

Other states involved in the pilot program are New Jersey, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, and Utah — the foundation hopes to add more states throughout 2011. The hope is that the data on fatalities and safety features for this site will be used by local and state officials as well, when promoting the safety of their roadways.

Florida motorists currently have the luxury of finding the shortest route on map websites but if given the opportunity to find the safest route would that change their planning on a road trip? Most drivers would agree that it’s better to get to your planned destination safely than to plan to get their quicker and not make it at all.
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The odds of getting in a West Palm Beach car accident with a driver who has a suspended license are pretty good these days, or at least better than they used to be before they changed the law for habitual offenders.

In July 2008, Florida legislature changed the law so that repeat offenders driving without a valid license could no longer be charged and sent to prison. Habitual traffic offenders are defined as drivers with at least four major traffic sentences.

Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys are concerned about the trend, particularly given that most of those driving without a license also have no insurance. With unemployment rates still on the mend, drivers are faced with difficult financial decisions. Failing to pay the car insurance premium may seem like a good idea when faced with the challenge. Other examples that cause a driver’s license to be suspended are failing to pay child support, charged with driving under the influence, or failure to pay traffic fines.

According to a recent article in Florida Today, drivers operating a vehicle without a valid license is becoming a legitimate concern in Florida. The article points out that offenders aren’t afraid because they know they won’t face prison time. It was reported that in early 2010, a man driving with a suspended license was pulled over and arrested on the charge he was a repeat traffic offender. In mid-May, the charge was dropped due to the fact that there was no probable cause to pull him over and was considered inadmissible in court.

Less than a week later, the same habitual offender hit a motorcycle while turning left on a green light at Wickham Road and U.S. 192. The motorcyclist sustained severe injuries leaving him in a coma for 2 months. His wife riding on the back of the bike was killed instantly.

This crash is one of many fatal crashes that found the at-fault driver in violation of driving with a suspended license last year in Florida. The victim in this case continues to rehabilitate after numerous surgeries while the driver continues forward uncharged. Prior to the May violation the driver had 5 suspensions on his record.

The likelihood of a hit-and-run accident occurs when the driver at fault panics. If you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident seek the advice of legal counsel so that you are informed of your rights.
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By this time, snow birds have migrated so Florida motorists are reminded that it is high time for heavy traffic and the most dangerous time of year on South Florida roads. Our person injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale are taking the time to remind drivers of the dangers faced this time of year in a series of blogs about dangerous driving behaviors.

Previously reported blogs have touched on speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and teens.

Our final topic about the older-driver population concludes the series.

High traffic congestion can leave senior drivers (over 65 years old) stressed and agitated. AAA Seniors notes the most common factors in older driver car accidents in West Palm Beach and elsewhere are:

-Failure to pay attention.

-Confusion in the midst of heavy traffic.

-Making left turns when not permitted.

-Driving too slow or too fast in comparison with the speed limit.

-Slowed response to new traffic signals and signs, or markings on the roadway.

-Failure to yield the right of way to other drivers.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 13% of the total U.S. population was over the age of 64. It was reported that 16% of all traffic fatalities and 19% of all pedestrian fatalities were people ages 65 and older.

It should also be noted that in 2-vehicle crashes between an older driver and a younger driver for that year, elderly drivers were 1.7 times more likely to be the victim rather than the at-fault motorist. Alcohol is very rarely detected in older-driver vehicle crashes but more often the driver is male.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported over 400 older adult (65 and over) fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. And the age of victims seems to be climbing for older adult drivers; it was reported that 12 drivers fatally injured in 2009 Florida crashes were ages 90 or over.

As we age, our bodies change. Elderly drivers, despite changes in health, cling to their keys to refrain from giving up their independence. Many don’t know or want to admit when it is time to stop driving. The following are some tips to follow as our health declines and driving becomes more difficult:

-Change in medications can affect driving ability – consult with a doctor to make sure side effects don’t affect driving.

-Annual hearing and vision tests should be performed. Glasses and hearing aids should be worn while driving if prescribed by a doctor.

-Tiredness affects driving ability so never drive if you feel groggy.

-Modify positions in your vehicle if mirrors or seats make it difficult to operate your vehicle.

-Only drive on familiar roads during daylight hours.
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Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys have been reporting about high traffic season in Florida and the dangers involving certain behaviors like drunk driving, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and speeding.

We continue our series with the next topic, teen drivers’ safety during high traffic season. With spring break, proms and graduations just around the corner, young drivers will be out on the roadways more frequently and during later hours.

Car accidents in Fort Lauderdale typically increase this time of year due to the high volume of motor vehicles on the roadways. Factors leading to these crashes frequently involve poor driving decisions. Teen drivers are typically most at risk because of their inexperience.

In 2009, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that 18 year-old drivers had the highest crash rate involvement in all crashes at 490.46 deaths.

The age reporting the highest rate of fatal crashes was 17 year-olds which reported a rate of 4.08 per 10,000 licensed drivers.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer for young driver’s ages 15-20 years old. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported almost 2,800 deaths and another 228,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes for this age group. There are more deaths in this age group from this cause than if you were to combine the total death tolls of cancer, homicide and suicide.

Florida, in 2008, reported 195 young driver fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. There were another 259 people (passengers or occupants of other vehicles) killed in crashes involving young drivers.

According to the 2009 Florida Traffic Crashes Statistics reported by FHSMV, there were 80 teen drivers and 73 teen passengers killed in a total of 29,485 crashes in the state for that year. The frequency of crashes is definitely proven higher this time of year with March recording the most crashes in 2009 at 21,599.

Saturday night at 9 p.m. through Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was the most critical time period for fatal crashes in Florida for 2009.

The excitement of prom and graduation can be hard to contain but teen drivers are reminded to drive responsibly. Most importantly, don’t drink and drive. Causing a car accident in West Palm Beach while drinking and driving under-age could change your life and the life of another forever.
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