South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog

Our Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers frequently report about the risks of car accidents in intersections if motorists don't proceed through them with caution. Many motorists speed through intersections, especially if the traffic signal is yellow, causing a high risk for a West Palm Beach car accident or pedestrian accident.

In 2009, almost 21% of total fatalities occurring on U.S. roadways were at intersections, according to a recent report by U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Intersections are considered one of the most complex traffic situations due to the fact that you have different crossings and entrances from both drivers and pedestrians. Paying attention and knowing who has the right of way plays a key role in avoiding intersection-related accidents.

There were over 4,500 fatal crashes in 2009 at U.S. intersections with traffic control devices according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Florida reported 289 fatalities at intersections with a traffic signal, and another 198 fatalities at intersections with stop signs in 2009.

NHTSA reported 51 intersection or intersection-related fatalities in Broward County for 2009. This number is reduced substantially from the previous 4 years where the average death at intersection crashes was 85.5 per year from 2005 to 2008.

Palm Beach County reported 61 crash fatalities at intersections in 2009. Though the average from 2005-2009 was slightly lower than Broward County, the highest number of fatalities at intersections in Palm Beach County was in 2007 when there were 93 deaths reported.

Red-light runners are often the biggest culprit in causing intersection crashes. One solution many large cities are testing, as we recently posted on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog is the impact of red-light cameras when placed at intersections.

Studies are showing red-light cameras are reducing the number of fatalities occurring in intersection-related accidents.

Organizations like FHWA, NHTSA, AAA, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials are making a valiant effort to recognize intersections as a safety issue. Together they are combining resources to make a difference and help reduce the problem. Over the last 25 years, death tolls at intersections haven't really changed much despite more refined measures of traffic control devices. A need for improvement still remains throughout the entire country to reduce the number of deaths occurring in intersection or intersection-related crashes

Continue reading " Intersections common site of Palm Beach car accidents " »

As students in cold-weather climates begin to make their plans for Spring Break, Florida motorists are reminded, it's that time of year again. Florida remains a hot spot for spring break itineraries which can only mean there will start to be an influx of young tourists on roadways the next few months.

As we continue on with our series of topics related to driver safety from President's day through Spring Break, we focus on drunk driving. Other related topics are speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, teen and elderly driving.

Drunk driving is a dangerous behavior year around, but especially this time of year when you have so many students descending upon South Florida. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers hold their breath this time of year as they see the frequency of South Florida drunk driving accidents rise.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drunk driving claimed the lives of more than 10,000 motorists. Nationally, 32% of traffic fatalities for the year were alcohol related.

Florida was over the national average, reporting 904 fatalities, or 35%, where at least one driver tested with a .01 BAC level. Alarmingly, 21% of fatalities occurred in Florida when the driver tested at a level of .15 or higher which is almost double the legal limit.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System used by the NHTSA reported March as the second most dangerous month when it comes to crashes involving alcohol.

Spring Breakers are reminded of the following safety tips that can keep Florida roadways safer:

-Know your limit. Too much alcohol consumption can only lead to bad things so know when you have enough.

-Designate a driver if you plan to bar hop with a car. Law enforcement is on high alert during the months of February-April and getting caught driving under the influence has serious consequences. Not to mention the dangers.

-Refrain from engaging in dangerous situations in a car, bar, or bedroom where alcohol is involved.

-Recognize the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are detected.

-Never accept a drink from someone you don't know.

Continue reading " Spring Break dangerous time for drunk driving car accidents in Fort Lauderdale " »

The odds are probably pretty good that you will come across some aggressive drivers this time of year on Florida roadways. The highly populated streets and highways bring out the worst behaviors in drivers, which frequently leads to a car accident in Fort Lauderdale.

Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys want to remind Florida motorists about the dangers faced on busy roadways this time of year. This week we publish a series of blogs about speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, teens and elderly drivers.

Speeding was the first topic of our series posted on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog.

Aggressive drivers are considered dangerous because they often behave in an assertive or bold manner without regard for other motorists on the roadway. Port St. Lucie officers may have a solution for keeping some of these aggressive drivers in check, according to a recent article in TC Palm. Two new 'ghost cars' with covert markings and concealed lights have been implemented in Port St. Lucie after the police department received $148,000 to update technology and equipment.

The $56,000 allocated toward the new vehicles used to nab aggressive drivers is well spent considering these offenders are the most complained about to city police. Offenders are cited on their ticket as 'aggressive," often prompting judges to assign higher fines or require defendants to enroll in an aggressive driving course.

From 2003 through 2007, a study reported by AAA Foundation indicated that speeding, failure to yield right of way, and reckless/careless/erratic driving were the 3 leading aggressive-driving behaviors that led to motor vehicle crashes. Other notable aggressive behaviors leading to crashes in the study were failure to obey traffic signs, making illegal turns, and passing inappropriately.

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported a total of 1,964 fatalities in crashes for 2009 in Florida. Similar to the above study, careless driving, failure to yield right of way, and speeding were all leading contributors in Florida crashes for that year. Almost 20% of crashes were due to careless driving.

There is no doubt that aggressive driving behavior can lead to fatal crashes. If you feel you have aggressive tendencies, Florida Safety Council offers an aggressive driving program geared towards teaching motorist to be less aggressive when behind the wheel. The eight-hour course is divided into multiple sessions and focuses on accepting responsibility for your own actions, as well as learning and maintaining safe driving behaviors.

Continue reading " Aggressive driving frequent cause of Fort Lauderdale car crashes during tourism season " »

President's Day has arrived and that can only mean one thing for Florida drivers. We are officially in high-traffic season so motorists should be extra cautious on the roadways to avoid a West Palm Beach car accident.

This time of year brings heavy traffic, which can lead to more speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, and aggressive driving. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys are publishing a series of blogs about the risks involved with these kinds of driving behaviors, as well as the dangers faced by teens and the elderly drivers on our roads this time of year.

A crash is only considered speed-related if the driver is charged with speeding or the officer finds that racing, driving over the speed limit, or driving too fast under the conditions were causes for the crash. Vehicles traveling at high speeds kill, as most recently evidenced in a Tampa Bay crash when a bicyclist was killed by a speeding black Ford as reported by WTSP. Witnesses have indicated that the driver of the Ford may have been racing another vehicle at the time of the tragedy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported a decline in the number of fatal speed-related crashes in the last decade. Still, statistics consistently show that about 30-32% of fatal crashes involve speeding over the 10-year span.

In 2009, 10,591 lives were lost in speed-related crashes in the United States.

In 2008, Florida had a total of 2,978 traffic fatalities according to NHTSA of which 553 were considered speed-related traffic fatalities.

In 2009, Florida recorded a total of 479 fatal crashes killing 1,068 people in speed-related crashes according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System used by NHTSA.

The months of February, March, and April were clearly the most tragic (with the exception of August) according to the FARS report for 2009. During these three months, there were a total of 150 speed-related crashes which translates to 31% of these types of crashes occurring in February, March, and April. These three months also reported the most fatalities in speed-related crashes, totaling 337 (31.5%).

It's evident that this time of year becomes more dangerous for Florida motorists due to the number of vehicles on the roadways. Speeding can increase your chances of a Fort Lauderdale car accident o slow down and be safe.

Continue reading " President's Day signals height of tourism season, increased risk of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm " »

Children are faced with the difficult decision of what to do when their elderly parents need assistance to live on their own or need the full-time care of a professional nursing environment.

We trust in the 24-hour care of a facility to keep our elderly loved one from having a nursing home fall in South Florida. Yet fall accidents are all too common in nursing home facilities as our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers often report.

In a previous blog posted on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog we reported on neglect in the nursing home and how it may lead to a facility's sanction or closure. The decline in nursing home facilities available is a rising concern because we need options when it comes to having a safe place for our elderly loved ones.

Many older adults face fall hazards. But it is not inevitable that they fall and injure themselves -- especially when the professional staff of a nursing facilities has been charged with their care in order to prevent just such a tragedy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that once reaching age 65 or older, 1 in 3 adults fall each year. Falls for this age group are the leading cause of death, as well as, non-fatal injuries.

In the last 10 years, fall accidents for men and women over 65 have risen dramatically. In 2009, over half a million older adults were hospitalized for non-fatal injuries leading to billions of dollars spent on medical costs for these fall accidents.

Most would think that if your elderly loved one is in a nursing home facility their risks for falling would diminish greatly. The CDC reports that approximately 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from falls. A facility occupying 100 beds typically reports 200 falls a year, and not all falls are reported. Falls in nursing homes occur at twice the rate of an elderly person living in a community. Nursing home residents average about 2.6 falls per person a year.

Based on these statistics we might ask why falls are more common in nursing homes. Other health issues may contribute to nursing home falls. Residents in nursing homes are generally weaker, have other chronic conditions, and have difficulty walking. Muscle weakness accounts for 24% of nursing home falls. Hazards like wet floors, poor lighting, or improper bed height cause 16%-27% of nursing home falls. Medications can also factor in the number of falls that take place each year in nursing homes.

Most children have a responsibility to take care of our elderly parents as they get older. Yet most people don't have the luxury of quitting a job so that we can provide full-time care. Though the task may be difficult, finding the right facility is a key in preserving your loved ones health and security for many years to come.

Continue reading " Fort Lauderdale nursing homes falls often a preventable tragedy " »

Dog bites and attacks are often a concern when it comes to the liability of Fort Lauderdale dog owners. Florida law places accountability and the responsibility for damages on dog owners if their pet bites another person in a public or private place. This is true even with no prior aggressive behavior being reported.

If for some reason the victim instigates getting bitten by the dog, the percentage of damages diminishes based on what percentage the victim played in getting bitten.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys fight aggressively for dog bite victims. We understand the severity and consequences of many dog bite injuries, especially in pit bull attacks.

Pit bulls are frequently rescued by dog owners but are one of the most dangerous pets to own. According to dogsbite.org during January-June 2009, there were 318 reported pit bull attacks leading to just over 1 bite victim (1.2) per incident. The majority of the victims (64%) reported severe injuries, while the remaining victims experienced a minor dog bite injury.

The age group suffering from pit bull bites the most was 21-54 (42%); children ages 5-11 suffered second most as 24% of bite victims. During one 6-month period in 2009, almost 7 out of 10 pit bull dog bites occurred off the owner's property. Florida reported the second highest number of pit bull victims among states at 34 during the first 6 months of 2009.

Recently in the news was the release of Mercedes, a pit bull freed after two years of confinement after killing a family's pet cat in Fort Lauderdale according to the Sun Sentinel.

Broward County animal control had placed Mercedes on death row following a zero tolerance dangerous dog law in 2008. The law stated a dog should be euthanized after one serious attack on a domestic animal. The County found the law controversial and was recently reversed because it conflicts with state law. Broward's new law will require that 2 attacks take place on a domestic pet before declaring the dog dangerous. Euthanizing the dog would not take place until a third attack occurs or a failure to abide by the restrictions placed on a dangerous dog.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following dog bite prevention tips to potential victims:

-Avoid making eye contact with a dog directly.

-Only pet a dog after allowing it to sniff you first. Don't approach the dog quickly and stand still while it sniffs the back of your hand.

-Stand like a statue if an unfamiliar dog approaches you.

-Contact the local shelter or animal control office if a stray dog is spotted, especially if the dog is behaving erratically.

Continue reading " Dog bites a common danger in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach " »

A fatal Florida car accident killed a 79-year-old Central Florida woman last Sunday and sent three other people – a two-year-old among them – to the hospital, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. The mid-morning crash occurred when a 1995 Mercury Topaz drove through a stop-sign intersection and struck the right-front side of a 2006 Volvo XC90. The crash happened in heavy fog.

Our Palm Beach personal injury lawyers know that side-impact crashes were responsible for nearly 1-in-3 car accident fatalities in the U.S. in 2009. In Florida alone, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports, drivers were involved in 679 fatal side-impact Florida car accidents that injured 62,140. Side-impact crashes were responsible for 22 percent of fatal Florida crashes and almost a quarter of injury accidents in 2009.

With that in mind, a recent report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicated that thanks to contemporary vehicle design and air-bag and safety restraint technology, drivers in a vehicle where driver-side impact protection is rated “good” are 70 percent less likely to die in a side-impact crash than a driver in a vehicle rated “poor”.

The IIHS rating system is calibrated by measuring a number of crash factors – impact and injury data collected from test dummies, vehicle intrusion (crumpling or caving) at impact and after, and head protection. To establish the rating, a vehicle is struck on the left side by an object roughly the size, weight and shape of a SUV traveling at 31 m.p.h.

According to Automobile, while having side airbags is important, it is really the structural integrity of the vehicle that absorbs the energy generated by a driver-side impact car accident. The reason side-impact crashes are so deadly is because the side of most vehicles are panels of little substance, so when intrusion happens there is little to pad impact to the pelvis, torso and head of the driver.

Both the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conduct rigorous crash testing each year upon a host of passenger vehicles, from small SUVs to minivans to large cars. Both publish ratings for consumer reference that include side- and head-on impact, rollover and rear-impact crash data along with evaluations of crash aversion, safety restraint and air bag technology common in newer vehicles.

Continue reading " Side-impact crashes linked to 1 in 5 fatal Fort Lauderdale car accidents " »

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys are closely monitoring House Bill 177, filed last week by co-sponsors Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton). The bill targets drivers who hang out in the passing lane and prevent come-from-behind encroaching traffic from moving ahead by refusing to move to the right, the Destin Log reports.

And yes we hear your cheers!

Dubbed the “lane courtesy” bill by state lawmakers, the goal of the bill is three-fold: to prevent incidents of road rage (we’ve all been there), to diminish the number of potentially traffic crippling congestion flashpoints, and to reduce risk of motorist involvement in a serious or fatal car accident in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in Florida.

HB 177 provides for two exceptions. Drivers may remain in the passing lane if they are not crimping the traffic flow; and when conditions prevent them from changing lanes. Currently 37 states have enacted laws that tap into some variation of the don’t-blow-the-flow proposal.

The bill also ups penalties for aggressive (careless) drivers who commit a hat-trick of citable offenses, such as speeding, tailgating and dodging in-and-out of traffic. Funds generated by these fines will be channeled into driver education and emergency medical services funds.

Just days after the bill was filed, two teens were killed and three more injured in a deadly fatal Debary car accident that has been linked to aggressive driving, WESH-2 Orlando reports.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety defines aggressive driving as, “…deliberate, likely to increase the risk of a collision and is motivated by impatience, annoyance, hostility, and/or an attempt to save time.” Examples include: speeding, tailgating, and running traffic signals or stop signs.

In 2009, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported there were 386 fatal Florida car accidents linked to careless driving that left more than 49,500 injured. Failure to yield right-of-way caused another 205 fatal Florida crashes that injured 21,891. Combined, drivers cited for improper lane changes, turns and passing, excessive speed, tailgating and other careless acts were tied to an additional 401 fatal wrecks that injured 24,134. In short: aggressive driving behaviors were linked to nearly 1,000 fatal Florida car accidents that injured more than 73,000 motorists in 2009.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an aggressive driver is one who regularly tailgates, dodges in-and-out of traffic, speeds, and runs red lights. Additional signs include being frequently distracted and often frustrated behind the wheel. To avoid a bout of road rage, drivers should be sure to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destinations, drive the posted speed and try to relax.

If you encounter an aggressive driver, NHTSA recommends simply getting out of their way. Save the eye contact and angry gestures (and the urge to retaliate) for later. Don’t enflame their aggression, avoid it.

Continue reading " Aggressive driving linked to nearly 1,000 fatal Florida car accidents " »

The unresponsive body of a four-year-old boy was pulled from a murky residential pool late last Friday, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. The child was reported missing after he slipped out of his father's sight.

Deputies responding to the missing child report used a helicopter and K-9 units to search for the child. He was discovered at the bottom of the pool and pulled from the water by a deputy who began CPR. The child was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Our Palm Beach accident attorneys and premises liability lawyers know for Florida residents submersion accidents are a concern, particularly given our geography and climate and the number of pools, spas and access to water sources spanning the state.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission between 2005 and 2007 there were, on average, 385 spa- or pool-related fatalities involving children aged 14 and younger. Between 2007 and 2009, approximately 4,200 submersion injuries required emergency care for this age group. Almost 8-out-of-10 submersion-related fatalities involved children younger than age 5.

More than half of the injuries and nearly three-quarters of all pool-related fatalities involving children 14 and younger happened in residential pools. For victims aged 5 and younger, percentages jump to 61 percent for injuries, and 84 percent for fatalities. Regarding victims aged 5 to 14, 48 percent of injuries and 43 percent of fatalities happened in a public venue.

KidsHealth reports that a young child can drown in less than two inches of water, making everything from the kitchen sink to a ditch filled with rainwater a potential safety hazard. (On that note, hot water can also be hazardous. It takes less than three seconds for hot tap water to cause a third-degree burn on a child’s skin.)

If you have a pool (hot tub, pond or spa included) at home, KidsHealth recommends having a fence that completely encircles the water source is “the best safety investment you can make”. In most cases, Florida law requires such a fence, as well as other safety features. Pool covers and pool alarms can act as a deterrent, but have proven ineffective in preventing drowning involving young children. With that said, perhaps the most important life-saving tip for a parent or caregiver working with children on or near property with water access is constant supervision. When water is involved, never assume someone else is looking after a child.

Other suggestions include:

~ Invest in swimming lessons. Whether you have a pool or not, teaching a child to swim can be a potentially life-saving skill.

~ Teach your kids proper pool behavior: no diving in the shallow end, don’t run on the pool deck. If you see a storm approaching or hear thunder, get out of the water.

~ Because seconds matter when it comes to submersion injuries, keep a cell phone with you at all times when supervising children playing in a pool.

~ Learn CPR.

~ If children are swimming or playing in a natural water system – the beach, the lake – make sure kids are wearing foot protection. Teach them to be alert to above and below water level hazards, such as boats or jagged rocks, tangled weeds and large waves or undertows.

~ Before letting your kids swim, be sure to check with the lifeguard station about water conditions and safety concerns.

Continue reading " Drowning death of South Florida four-year-old spotlights swimming pool hazards " »

A shoreline Palm Beach boating accident off Juno Beach last Saturday has left a 14-year-old girl in critical condition with a serious leg injury at St. Mary’s Medical Center, the Palm Beach Post reports.

The accident occurred as the girl was attempting to board a 22-ft. Cobia in about three feet of water. She was struck in the leg by the propeller when the operator revved the engine in an effort to avoid becoming beached after waves pushed the vessel toward the shore.

She was dragged to the beach by friends where lifeguards worked to stop the bleeding. The Cobia sped off. To date two on-board witnesses to the accident have been questioned by authorities and an investigation is ongoing.

Our Palm Beach accident attorneys know that Florida is second only to Texas for the number of boating-related fatalities. According the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida led the nation in 2009 both in the number of registered vessels (982,470) and number of boating accidents (620).

In 2009, there were 65 Florida boating-related fatalities and another 426 people were injured in boating accidents on Florida waters. Since reaching a 10-year peak in 2002 with 1,181 reportable boating accidents, Florida has seen a consistent and steady drop in both accidents and fatalities on our waterways.

Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward were among the top five counties for both number of registered vessels and number of boating accidents in 2009, broken down as follows:

~ Miami-Dade County had 63,161 registered vessels and reported 62 boating accidents that killed 4 and injured 52.

~ Palm Beach County had 42,517 registered vessels and reported 56 boating accidents that killed 3 and injured 21.

~ Broward County had 45,373 registered vessels and reported 30 boating accidents that injured 12. There were no reported boating-related fatalities in Broward County in 2009.

~ St. Lucie County had 13,621 registered vessels and reported 7 boating accidents that injured 4. There were no reported boating-related fatalities in St. Lucie County in 2009.

Boating accidents were most common in July (78), May (77) and April (73), and occurred most frequently during mid-afternoons. In 2009, 13 people were injured by a propeller strike.

Boat Safe reports that a typical three-blade propeller can travel the length of an average-size person in less than one-tenth of a second, potentially exposing a victim to up to 160 points of impact in just one second. To prevent a prop strike, Boat Safe recommends:

~ Before starting your engine physically check to be sure the prop is clear of any obstructions, human or otherwise. Never enter swim-only zones and exercise extreme care in congested areas, or when towing skiers.

~ NEVER allow passengers to board or exit a boat from the water when engines are running. Even in idle a prop can cause deadly harm.

~ NEVER reverse to pick someone up out of the water.

~ If someone on your boat falls overboard, STOP. Before restarting your engine, appoint a person onboard to keep eye on person in water. Turn the engine off before bringing them on board.

~ Install safety devices, such as a prop guard, a wireless cut-off switch or sensors.

The Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC have been successfully and aggressively representing accident victims and their families in Miami, Margate, West Palm Beach, Hollywood and Ft. Pierce /Port St. Lucie for years. Email us or call us today to schedule a no-obligation appointment to discuss your case at 1-800-529-2368.

A recently released joint report from State Farm Insurance Companies and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) remind us all of the impact of teen driver crashes. These crashes affect the teen driver and their families but let's not forget about their victims.

Our Fort Pierce accident attorneys encourage teen drivers to get as much education as they can on the dangers of driving. Studies continue to show parental involvement can significantly reduce a teen's risk of being involved in a serious or fatal crash.

This is an issue we all need to care about, as illustrated by the statistics from 2008 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 2,739 teen drivers were killed in traffic crashes; another 1,654 passengers in the teen driver's vehicle were also killed. Additionally, 1,518 died that were occupants of other vehicles involved in teen driver crashes and finally 517 deaths were of non-occupants.

Added up, 3,689 lives were ended by teen drivers, affecting equally the same number of families with victims in these crashes. This doesn't include the teen driver's causing the crash.

In Florida, 195 teen drivers died in 2008, which caused the death of another 321 people that were either occupants of the teen vehicle, occupants of another vehicle or non-occupants.

Data for Miles to Go: Establishing Benchmarks for Teen Driver Safety was gathered from varied federal data sources and determined 11 indicators to assist safety practitioners and policy makers in assessing progress regarding teen driving safety.

Four key behaviors were the researchers focus. These behaviors included speeding, distractive driving, alcohol use and not wearing a seat belt. The report indicated that car crashes cause more teen deaths than suicide, homicide or cancer.

Inexperience is the leading cause of these crashes and could be greatly improved by stronger Graduated Driver Licensing laws. These laws allow young drivers to practice driving in low risk conditions with supervision, in stages, to gain experience. In 1996, Florida was the first state to have a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Statistics have shown that such programs can reduce teen crashes by up to 21%.

Though Congress established a National Teen Driver Safety Week in 2007 (annually held the 3rd week in October) teen driving education needs to take place year round with emphasis on the dangers of alcohol use, speeding, distracted driving and failure to wear a seat belt.

Recently the federal government's Healthy People 2020 plan was expanded to include a 10% decrease in teen fatalities and increase seat belt use by 10%. This joint report will help greatly in monitoring the plan's progress.

Continue reading " Teens not only victims of car accidents in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce " »

Our Port St. Lucie accident attorneys remind you to stay focused while driving to prevent a serious accident in Fort Pierce or the surrounding area.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood just attended an event celebrating the one-year anniversary of FocusDriven. This organization is the first of its kind dedicated to helping victims of distracted driving. Others in attendance included FocusDriven President Jennifer Smith, representatives from Safeway and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) and family members of distracted driving victims.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported almost 5,500 people died and just under 450,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.

“Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic and when it comes to road safety, we will not take a backseat to anyone,” said Secretary LaHood. “That’s why distracted driving will continue to be a major part of DOT’s robust safety agenda. Together with advocates like FocusDriven and NETS, and employers like Safeway, we can put an end to this deadly behavior and save lives.”

The newest “Faces of Distracted Driving” video was shown, illustrating the devastating effects of cell phone use while driving. Also unveiled by FocusDriven President, Jennifer Smith, was a new 30-second public service announcement "5500 campaign", which shows hundreds of pictures of victims killed by distracted driving.

The government estimates at least 5,500 people a year are killed in distracted driving accidents.

“In our new PSA, we want to remind people that each and every distracted driving fatality is someone’s loved one, and that person’s family is in tremendous pain,” said Smith. “Our new campaign will urge the public to put down the phone and focus on the drive. We cannot wait until others are killed or injured to take action. The statistics show that it’s no longer ‘if’ someone you know will be affected by distracted driving, it’s ‘when.’”

Shannon Campagna, Vice President of Federal Government Relations for Safeway grocery stores, announced the anti-distracted driving policy for all truck drivers of Safeway. Truckers are now forbidden from using hands free devices, texting or talking on a cell phone while driving.

“The safety of our employees, customers and residents in the communities where we operate is and always has been of the utmost importance to Safeway,” said Campagna. “This policy not only helps keep our employees and customers safe, but we believe it is a good business practice as it ensures that our products arrive safely and on-time. Implementation of policies limiting use of phones and mobile devices by more private companies will help minimize distractions for drivers and keep Americans on the road safe and healthy.”

Results were announced from Bill Windsor, Chairman of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), on their 2010 Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW) campaign. This promotion, encouraged employers to have anti-distracted driving employer policies in place. This campaign reached over 20 million U.S. employees from 5,000 organizations. To date, 88% of the organization have or will have a cell phone policy in place within the year.

“Employers can make a real difference in keeping their associates safe both on and off the job by educating them about the dangers of distracted driving and adopting policies to prevent it,” said Windsor.

Continue reading " Feds continue fight against distracted driving; common cause of car accidents in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce " »

Making the decision to put a loved one in a long term care facility isn't easy. The words 'Nursing Home' strike fear into many of our elderly and with good reason. Our Fort Lauderdale nursing home neglect lawyers understand this difficult decision.

Just the other day the St. Petersburg Times reported on a Largo nursing home being placed on a federal list of problem nursing homes. The facility was cited for failing to supervise residents while they were smoking and broken call bells were found in residents rooms. This is the 6th Florida facility placed on the federal list.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually almost 1,800 elderly adults who live in nursing homes die from fall related injuries. Roughly 75% of nursing home residents fall each year and usually they fall more than once. There are many reasons residents fall which include poor fitting shoes, muscle weakness and medications. Sadly, as many as one-fourth are from nursing home hazards like improper bed height, poor lighting and wet floors.

Medical News Today reports sepsis in the elderly causes a long term impact to their cognitive and physical functions. Sepsis is a life threatening condition that is caused by the bloodstream being overwhelmed by bacteria. Bed sores, an indication of poor nursing home care, can lead to sepsis.

Nationally nursing home beds have declined 5.3% from 1999 to 2008. At 85,250 Florida nursing home beds have decreased almost 3%; and about 75 nursing homes have closed, even though the older age groups have grown in population.

Patients stay in Broward County nursing homes 13% fewer days then they did in 2007 and 5.6% fewer days was the figure for Palm Beach County.

Floridians have options to nursing home care which could explain why facilities in Broward and Palm Beach counties only fill 75% and 82% of their beds, respectively.

The Miami Herald reported there are alternatives to placing your loved one in a nursing home which include in home care and assisted living.

The number one form of elder care in the U.S., according to Guide to Nursing Homes, is having your loved one move in with you. However, not everyone has the means, room and skills needed to do this.

An assisted living facility may be a good fit for your loved one if, for example, they don't want to drive anymore but want their independence. These facilities offer residents a private apartment with housekeeping, shared meals and laundry service are usually included in the monthly fee. And, if needed, aids can assist with tasks like dressing and bathing.

In Florida, Medicaid offers money-saving programs that help pay for care at home or in less costly settings, which help keep loved ones out of nursing homes.

Helpful sources to be used if you are helping an elderly loved one find a place to live are:
Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home

Federal List of Problem Nursing Homes

Continue reading " Nursing home neglect a tragic risk in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale " »