South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog

With school set to begin and new information that suggests teen drivers routinely ignore the dangers of distracted driving, our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers urge parents to speak with their kids about the dangers posed by poor driving decisions.

A recent study conducted by Seventeen Magazine found that nearly 90 percent of teenagers are aware of the dangers of distracted driving -- including the use of a cell phone and text messaging while behind the wheel -- yet nearly 90 percent engage in such dangerous driving behaviors anyway.

In response, Seventeen Magazine and the U.S. Department of Transportation are teaming up with a campaign to encourage teens to create a catchy public-service video that will be used to promote safe driving on National Two-Second Turnoff Day, scheduled for September 17.

Government safety officials will also feature the video during the national distracted driving summit, which is scheduled for that week in Washington D.C. As we reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, the summit will likely increase the pressure on states like Florida that have done nothing to prohibit teens from text messaging or using cell phones while driving.

“One in four teen drivers say they’ve texted behind the wheel, and that’s a trend we’ve got to confront head on,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This contest is an innovative and fun way to get teens involved in spreading the word about the importance of keeping their eyes on the road – and off their phones.”

The campaign is aimed at getting teens to take two seconds to turn off their phone before getting behind the wheel -- about the same amount of time safety advocates say it takes to get into an accident by taking your eyes off the road.

“Eighty-Six percent of teens know that distracted driving is dangerous—and they do it anyway,” says Ann Shoket, editor in chief of Seventeen Magazine, citing a Seventeen/AAA 2010 survey. “This contest helps teens hammer the real danger of driving while distracted to prevent accidents and save lives.”

Teens can download an application here.

Continue reading "Teen participation in distracted driving initiative could reduce risk of Fort Lauderdale car accidents" »

The Florida Department of Highway Safety has just released a comprehensive look at 2009 traffic safety and this is the first in a series of posts by the South Florida injury lawyers at Freeman & Mallard.

We believe taking a comprehensive look at the data will allow motorists to avoid car accidents in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm and the surrounding areas. Knowledge is power and knowing where, when and why accidents are happening can be a powerful tool to help keep you and your family safe on the road.

The good news for motorists is that fatal crashes in Florida dropped to the lowest rate on record last year. The number of fatal accidents decreased 14 percent to 2,563 from the 2,983 fatal crashes reported in 2008.

As the Sun-Sentinel reported, fatal Palm Beach car accidents were down 30 percent, from 198 in 2008 to 151 last year. Fatal Broward County car accidents dropped 20 percent, from 228 to 189.

"While multiple factors influence the numbers, the declining trends are a testament to the emphasis that law enforcement agencies, safety advocates and businesses have placed on saving lives on our roadways," said DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones.

Most advocates cite less traffic and travel amid the downturn in the economy as the primary reason for the reduction.

Other highlights include:

-Alcohol related traffic fatalities declined 14 percent, from 1,169 deaths to 1,004. Note that those statistics still indicate that drunk driving is responsible for more than one-third of all fatal Florida traffic accidents.

-Fatal Florida motorcycle accidents declined by 24 percent, from 532 to 402.

-Fatal Florida bicycle accidents dropped 15 percent, from 118 to 100.

-Pedestrian fatalities in Florida decreased slightly, from 502 to 482.

-Fatal Florida accidents involving teenagers dropped by more than 20 percent, from 193 to 153.

In coming posts, we will take a more in-depth look at these statistics and see what can be learned by motorists that will help keep them safer on the road. Please check back often for updates.

Continue reading "South Florida injury attorneys to examine new data regarding Florida traffic fatalities in 2009" »

A Palm Beach motorcycle accident has claimed the life of a teenager, CBS 4 reported.

The 17-year-old was eastbound on Wiles Road when his motorcycle collided with a Ford Escape that was attempting to turn into a parking lot. The accident sent the victim flying about 70 feet before he landed on the windshield of another vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the other vehicle was taken to Coral Springs Medical Center for treatment.

Our Palm Beach accident lawyers encourage parents to speak with their teenagers about safe driving habits as school lets out for summer. Car accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, a total of 2,739 teenagers were killed in car accidents nationwide. In Florida, 195 young drivers lost their lives.

Florida motorists are at particularly high risk for being involved in a serious or fatal motorcycle accident. A total of 523 riders died in Florida motorcycle accidents in 2008, second only to California's 537 fatalities.

The NHTSA offers resources for parents wishing to discuss safe driving habits with their teenagers. At a minimum, parents should establish clear rules with teen drivers, including:

-Absolutely no alcohol

-Seat belt use

-No cell phones or text messaging while driving

-Curfew

-Limits on number of passengers in a teen's vehicle

Teens remain at increased risk for distracted driving accidents. The federal government's website, Distraction.gov, reports that young drivers under the age of 20 have the highest rate of distracted driving accidents in the country.

Continue reading "Palm Beach motorcycle accident claims life of teen; young drivers at increased risk of summer accidents" »