Articles Posted in Auto Accident

As 2012 draws to a close, many people begin to consider ways to ring in the New Year and resolutions they want to make about the year to come.

As you think about the promises you want to make for yourself in the coming year, our Oakland Park injury attorneys urge you to consider making a safe driving resolution. By resolving to be a safer driver, you could potentially avoid an accident that could take your life or the lives of others on the road.

Fortunately, becoming a safer driver doesn’t have to be hard and should be a resolution that you can actually stick to. In order to get you started on the path to fulfilling your resolution, we’re offering a four part series on New Years safe driving. We’ve already discussed speeding and will discuss pedestrian and bicycle accidents in the future, but today we are focusing on distracted driving.

Distracted Driving is a Major Risk for Florida Drivers
Distracted driving has become a major public health problem. According to Distraction.gov:

• 3,092 people in the United States were killed in 2010 because of distracted driving crashes
• A full 18 percent of all of the injury-causing crashes in 2010 were reported to involve distracted driving
• Young people are at the greatest risk of distracted driving accidents. 11 percent of all drivers age 20 or under who were in fatal accidents were distracted at the time of the wreck.
• A full 40 percent of all teenagers who responded to a Pew survey reported that they had been in the car with someone who was using a cell phone in a dangerous manner while driving
• Drivers who are distracted by hand-held devices when they are driving have a four times greater risk of becoming involved in an injury crash than if they had not been using the hand held device
• The risk of a crash when texting and driving is 23 times greater than the risk of a crash when not driving
• When you are driving and using a cellular phone, the amount of brain energy that is devoted to driving declines by 37 percent. Using a headset instead of just holding your phone is not necessarily any safer or any less of a distraction.

These statistics highlight just how risky it is to make the choice to drive when you are distracted. Florida crash data from 2010 also highlights the risk. In 2010, seven fatal crashes were reported as involving distracted driving. Another 1,474 crashes that caused injury were described as distracted driving related.

Distraction.gov also points out that when you text and drive, your eyes are off of the road for around 4.6 seconds. During this time, if you were going 55 miles per hour, you’d drive far enough to span a full football field all without looking at the road.

Avoiding a Distracted Driving Crash
To make sure you do not fall victim to one of the thousands of distracted driving crashes that occur each year, you should make the commitment today that you will not drive when distracted. This means resolving not to talk on your cell phone, text, enter info into your GPS, reach for items on the floor of your car, or otherwise focus on things other than driving when you are behind the wheel. If you have teenagers who drive, you should also talk to them about how dangerous distracted driving is so that they will not make a risky choice.

Avoiding distracted driving is one key step to becoming a safer driver. Avoiding speeding and avoiding pedestrian or bike crashes are also top ways to avoid becoming a car accident victim in 2013. Check back for the rest of our four part New Years safe driving series to learn more about how to make safe driving a priority.
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As we head into the last few weeks of 2012, we’re also heading into some serious risks for car accidents. The last eight weeks of each year are some of the most dangerous, especially in the state of Florida. We’re asking all motorists to be safe out there and we’re starting with seat belts!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more Americans than ever are wearing their seat belt. Unfortunately, there are still a lot who aren’t. The most recent statistics show that about 85 percent of Americans are buckling up. Because it’s not 100 percent, we’re still seeing tens of thousands of people die each and every year in car accidents.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that the rate of seat belt usage has climbed consistently since 1994. Still, there aren’t enough people buckling in. It’s like cell phone usage or alcohol. We know both are extremely dangerous for drivers and significantly increase your risks for a fatal accident, yet millions continue to ignore the risks.

“When it comes to driving safely, one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your family is to use a seat belt,” said the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Ray LaHood.

Seat belt usage is consistently higher in areas where laws are tougher and enforcement is stronger. Here in the state of Florida, our law requires that front seat passengers wear seat belts. This means all front-seat passengers of vehicles that were made after 1968. In addition, all passengers under the age of 18 are required to be buckled in or seated in the proper child car seat. If you’re busted riding along our roadways without the proper safety restraint, you could find yourself with a $30 fine for a first-time violation. If you’re busted with a child who isn’t properly restrained, then you’re looking at a $60 violation!

Why should you buckle up?

-To help to protect yourself and others.

-To avoid getting a costly citation.

Florida has had a safety belt law since 1986, but officers were only able to write tickets to unbuckled motorists when they were stopped for other violations. This law used to be secondary enforcement. Now that the law is primary enforcement (passed on the 30th of June in 2009), officers are able to stop motorists just because they are not wearing safety belts.

Parents are urged to keep children properly buckled during every car ride. These young children can’t do it themselves and their safety relies on you. Be a safe and responsible motorist and make sure everyone knows the importance of and knows how to properly use a seat belt. These safety devices can increase your risks of surviving an accident by about 50 percent!

Believe it or not, but the seat belt is your car’s best safety feature. Remember that it only works if you use it. Buckle up and stay safe!
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If you’ve got a newly-licensed driver in your family, you might want to talk to them about the dangers of drowsy driving.

A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 have the highest risks for these kinds of accidents. You might think these youngsters have all of the energy in the world, and that’s mostly true, until they get behind the wheel.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that these young drivers are more likely than drivers in any other age group to drive while feeling drowsy. Where only one out of every 10 adult drivers admit to driving while drowsy at least one time in the last month, one out of every seven young drivers admit to it. When involved in accidents, these young drivers were more than 75 percent more likely to be drowsy at the time of impact than drivers who were between the ages of 40 and 59. Drowsy driving continues to be a leading contributor in traffic accidents across the nation.

“In preparation for the holiday driving season and with many young drivers heading home for Thanksgiving break, AAA is drawing attention to this often overlooked crash risk that is a serious threat to everyone’s safety on the road,” said Robert Darbelnet with AAA.

Does your teen know how to point out drowsy driving symptoms?

-Drifting off or daydreaming.

-Swerving along the road and in and out of your lanes.

-Yawning excessively.

-Having a tough time remembering the last few miles driven.

-Missing your exits and ignoring street signs and traffic devices.

-Having a tough time focusing your eyes.

-Having a hard time keeping your eyes open.

To help you and your teen to avoid drowsy diving, it’s important that you take the appropriate actions. Share the following with your teen to help to keep them safe out there.

Drowsy Driving Safety Tips:

-Be sure that you’re getting plenty of sleep each night (between 7 and 9 hours).

-Try not to drive during times that you would normally be sleeping.

-When planning out your road trip, make sure you plan in rest stops. You should stop every 100 miles or at least once every 2 hours.

-Try not to eat big meals before or during your road trip.

-Travel with a licensed friend or family member so you can exchange driving roles to make sure everyone is wide awake and well-rested.

-Avoid taking medicines or medications that can cause drowsiness or can impair your driving abilities.

Talk with your young driver today about these risks. They’re going to be spending a lot more time behind the wheel as we roll into the Holiday season. Let’s make sure that this time is safe. It’s a discussion that could wind up saving their life.

Remember: National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® runs November 12-18.
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A 32-year-old driver from Plantation was killed over the weekend in a Fort Lauderdale car accident. It was a rollover car accident in which he was ejected from the vehicle.

According to the Sun Sentinel, it all happened on South Federal Highway just north of 595 right before midnight. He reportedly lost control of his vehicle and swerved off of the left side of the road. His car flipped onto its side, onto a median and it started to roll uncontrollably. The Broward Sheriff’s Office reports that the driver was not wearing his seat belt when the accident happened. The car stopped right on top of him. He was announced dead at the scene of the accident. The three passengers in the vehicle were transported to Broward Health Medical Center, and are doing okay.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that we’re all at some serious risks for rollover accidents. Despite the recent modifications and advancement in Electronic Stability Control (ESC), vehicles can flip over quite easily when not handled properly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are close to 30,000 rollover accidents that are reported each year. These accidents take the lives of more than 10,000, too! SUVs minivans and trucks are the most likely to be involved in these kinds of accidents, and these passengers are at the highest risks for injury and death in the event of one.

In 2003, more than 35 percent of deadly SUV collisions were the result of a rollover accident. During that same year, less than 16 percent of deadly passenger vehicle accidents were the result of a rollover accident.

SUVs are oftentimes narrow and tall. They have a higher center of gravity and they can carry more cargo. All of these factors make them more likely to rollover in the event of an accident.

Even with all of these statistics, about 40 percent of all Americans think that they’re safer in an SUV than in a passenger car. Another 50 percent of Americans don’t even take the weight of the load into consideration for the cause of these accidents. About 40 percent of Americans feel more powerful when they are driving or riding in an SUV.

Rollover Safety Tips:

-Watch your speed. Rollover accidents are more likely when traveling at a high rate of speed.

-Avoid drinking and driving. About half of all rollover accidents involve a drunk driver.

-Wear your seat belt. More than 70 percent of rollover accident fatalities were not buckled in at the time of the accident.

-Never overload your SUV.

-Be cautious when traveling along rural roadways. These accidents are more common here.

-Check out a vehicle’s safety rating before making a purchase.

-Make sure your vehicle’s tires are in good-working order.

-If your vehicle veers off the road, don’t brake suddenly – reduce speed gradually and ease back onto the road.
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As we recently reported on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, Boynton Beach is raking in the dough from their intersection cameras. There are more than 10 red-light cameras in the area. They may cost the city more than $52,000 each month, but they brought in more than $2 million from July of 2011 through August of 2012.

According to the Sun Sentinel, city officials are looking to expand the program to generate even more revenue. About $2 million was collected for the city in just a 14-month time period. Thousands of motorists were busted for trying to slip through the traffic lights. Elected officials are going to vote on the addition of five new red-light cameras at four new intersections in the area. These new cameras could bust close to 2,000 more drivers every month.

Our Boynton Beach car accident lawyers understand that the 11 cameras in the city were expected to catch close to 12,000 drivers trying to run red lights by the end of September. Each of these drivers would get a citation and a fine of close to $160. The state takes some of the money, but the city is expected to get more than $2 million before expenses.

Of course, these systems aren’t free. To operate them all, there is close to $650,000 in lease payments. It also cost law enforcement officer wages because they need to be hired to look over the footage before issuing tickets. Since only two officers can use the system at a time and there’s a lot of footage to cover, this takes quite some time and in turn is pretty costly!

First off, commissioners are trying to hire two community service officers at close to $60,000 a piece to look over the footage. With the additional cameras and the extra officers, city officials think that the program will help to make a profit.

Vice Mayor Mack McCray says that he knows that the cameras are effective. Even he was busted and slapped with a citation for passing through a red light.

Despite all of the talk about the money and the profit, city leaders still say it’s not about the money — it’s more about the safety of our drivers.

In recent studies regarding these cameras, the number of t-bone accidents usually decreased whereas the number of rear-end accidents actually increase. This is usually because drivers try too hard to avoid a ticket and slam on their brakes.

At four of the intersections where there are already cameras, the number of accidents dropped by close to 60 percent. Commissioner Steven Holzman says you can’t believe all of the numbers though. He says that the city hasn’t compared accident stats to other intersections too, to see if the drop was part of a citywide trend. Police Chief Matt Immler said that’s probably the case because the number of accidents across the city have dropped.
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You can take the cell phone away from the driver, but it’s probably not going to help make them much safer. According to a recent study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention, cell phone-using drivers are going to behave badly behind the wheel no matter what.

In the recent studies, researchers looked at more than 100 drivers and their habits without a phone. These drivers were divided into two groups; those who use cell phones often behind the wheel and those who rarely do. According to ScienceNow, drivers who oftentimes talk on their phone behind the wheel are nearly as prone to a car accident without the device. Officials think that this is why state laws banning this behavior have had little effect on accident rates.

Our West Palm Beach accident lawyers understand that distracted driving car accidents take the lives of thousands each and every year. As a matter of fact, there were more than 3,000 people who were killed in these kinds of accidents in just 2010.

Drivers have the ability to completely avoid these accidents and save lives. Drivers continue to take their hands off of the steering wheel and their eyes off of the road and jeopardize the safety of not only themselves but innocent motorists as well. No phone call or text message should be worth it!

In the study, both groups of drivers were given a Volvo SUV that was equipped with devices to record their in-car habits. There were on-board sensors, cameras facing in and out of the car, skin and heat monitors and even eye trackers.

The drivers who were considered frequent cell phone-using drivers were observed engaging in more dangerous habits behind the wheel. They were more likely to speed, to change lanes more often, to step on the gas more and to brake abruptly, compared to the drivers who didn’t usually use a cell phone behind the wheel.

“The fundamental problem may be the behavior of the individuals willing to pick up the technology,” said Bryan Reimer, a leader of this study.

It’s clear that cell phones hinder a driver’s safe driving habits behind the wheel, but the fundamental problem is that drivers might just be dangerous to begin with.

Unfortunately, we’ve got bad drivers with and without cell phones here in the state of Florida. There are still no laws on the books in the Sunshine State banning drivers from using these devices behind the wheel. We’re asking you to do what’s right and to leave the phone and to focus on your safe driving habits instead. These habits can help to keep you safe and out of a potentially fatal car accident.

And, of course, drive defensively because you never know what the driver in the next car is doing.
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Green = Go.
Yellow = Slow Down.
Red = Stop.

It’s a simple concept, but many drivers just don’t seem to be getting the hang of it. For this reason, officials with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) are working to raise awareness about the risks of intersection accidents and the importance of stopping on red.

Every year, the month of August recognizes National Stop on Red Week. During this time, officers across the country work to target drivers who fly through intersections on red. Not only are they putting other motorists at risk, they’re putting pedestrians and bicyclists at risk, too. There’s nothing you’re going to gain from running a red light, except many a minute or two on your trip. It’s definitely nothing to risk your life over.

Our Tamarac car accident lawyers understand that red-light running accidents are completely preventable. The problem is that many drivers are in too much of a hurry and toss safety out of the window. As a driver in the state of Florida, you have a responsibility to drive responsibly, to practice your safest driving habits and to stop at all red lights.

“Troopers will take the appropriate enforcement action on those driver who place themselves and others in danger by running red lights,” said Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Director Col. David Brierton.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) launched a red-light running program back in 1995 to help to educate drivers about the dangers of this irresponsible driving habit. The program was also launched to work to increase enforcement at a grassroots, community level.

Drivers have an obligation to follow safe road laws. Many of these laws involve abiding by traffic control devices. With traffic lights, drivers are assumed to know when to make the appropriate maneuvers. Do you know?

To help you to navigate your way safely through our state’s intersections, officials with the FHP offer your the following safety tips.

Red-Light Safety Tips:

-Remember that intersections come with some serious dangers. If your lane’s light is green, you should still look in all directions for other red-light runners. You should do this when you’re a motorist, a pedestrian and even a bicyclist.

-Never speed through a yellow light. When your light turns yellow, apply the brakes and safely come to a stop before you reach the intersection.

-Remember that when you run a red light, you’re running the risks of more than a traffic citation. You run the risk of an accident, injuries, death, hospital bills, hiked insurance rates and even some serious irreversible consequences.

-Make sure that you obey the posted speed limit. This limit was created so that you can safely navigate our streets, and safely stop at a red light when needed.

-Never tailgate other vehicles. Sometimes, drivers may slam on their brakes when the light turns yellow. Rear-end accidents are also common at intersections. Allow yourself with plenty of time to react to other driver’s maneuvers.
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It’s congested out there. That’s no secret. What may be more of a secret is how to handle the traffic. Many drivers are having a tough time and are getting quite impatient behind the wheel.

Take the recent fatal accident in Fort Lauderdale for example. We’re talking about the one that ended up closing the southbound lanes on Interstate 95 for four hours. It happened when a driver tried to pass another car on the right-hand shoulder of the Interstate, according to the Sun Sentinel.

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that a passenger in the passing vehicle was thrown from the car as it flipped over. That passenger, 52-year-old Pompano Beach resident, died at the scene.

Officials say a 45-year-old driver from Sunrise decided that he needed to get passed the vehicle in front of him. He steered his car onto the shoulder of Interstate 95 near Sunrise Boulevard. The driver he had to pass was a 30-year-old Oakland Park resident.

When the impatient driver tried to get back into the right lane, his vehicle clipped the vehicle it was passing, causing it to shoot left. After shooting left, his car slammed into another car, driven by a 58-year-old from Lantana.

The passing driver lost control of his vehicle, and it flipped over. The passenger in his vehicle, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car. The driver was wearing his seat belt and was later taken by emergency response crews to the Broward Medical Center and was treated for serious injuries.

Because of the severity of the accident, northbound lanes of traffic were also backed up. According to officials with the FHP, the accident is still under investigation.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reports that signs of road rage are:

-Aggressive driving habits.

-Sudden and unnecessary acceleration.

-Braking erratically.

-Tailgating.

-Unnecessary use of the horn.

-Flashing lights.

-Rude gestures or yelling obscenities.

-Intentionally causing an accident.

-Threatening another driver with a weapon.

-Throwing things at other cars.

In the state of Florida, road rage is most commonly defined as violent or visibly angry driver behavior. This kind of behavior can result in accidents or other incidents. It is also called an extreme case of aggressive driving.

To avoid becoming the victim of a road rage incident, it’s important that you keep your cool and do not react. Avoid eye contact with an enraged driver. Don’t make obscene gestures, yell or honk back at them. Stay out of the left lane as that’s usually used for faster-traveling vehicles. Get out of their way. Report them to local authorities if you feel you or any other motorists are in danger. Avoid driving if you’re feeling stressed out or irritable.
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Intestate 95 was completely shut down after two semi-trucks were involved in two separate collisions just north of 45th Street. According to News Channel 5, both West Palm Beach Fire Rescue crews and officers with the Florida Highway Patrol were dispatched to the northbound lanes on I-95 just after 9:30 a.m.

The first of the accidents happened when five vehicles and a semi-truck collided. Officers believe that the heavy rain and the slick roadways were a contributing factor in this accident. In the second accident, a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle collided. The 18-year-old driver’s vehicle was completely smashed in the accident. Crews have not been able to determine if the car slammed up against a wall, if it flipped over or if it was run over by the truck. Everyone involved in these two accidents were taken to local hospitals and treated for their injuries. All lanes of the interstate were closed so that Trauma Hawk could land to pick up the young driver.

Our Riviera Beach accident lawyers understand that you’ve got to take an Interstate to get to most major cities in the state of Florida. We’ve got Interstate 4, Interstate 10, Interstate 75 and Interstate 95. These roadways help to connect Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and many other popular areas in the state. These areas can be awfully dangerous if drivers aren’t alert and cautious.

One little fender bender can quickly turn into a catastrophic and deadly accident if drivers aren’t paying attention and driving defensively. Luckily, we’re here to offer you with some safe driving tips to help to keep you and your passengers safe during your next venture on one of Florida’s interstates!

When getting on the interstate:

-Increase your speed on the on-ramp to match vehicles already on the interstate. Make sure you have your blinker on. Make sure that you don’t cut any vehicles off. Most likely, cars will move over a lane and let you slide in, but that isn’t always the case. Be on the lookout for drivers who aren’t paying attention.

When changing lanes:

-Make sure that you always check your blind spots first. Make sure you have enough room and signal your blinker. Once you’ve made your lane change, disengage your blinker and keep it moving.

Watching your speed:

-Never go faster than the posted speed limit. You’re within your rights to go below the speed limit, but you want to make sure that you’re not serving as a road hazard for other cars. If your traveling slower than the traffic around you, scoot into the right lane.

When passing another vehicle:

-Make sure you check your surroundings. When it’s all clear, signal your blinker. Pass the vehicle without using excessive speed. Once you can see the headlights of the car you passed, you should enter back into the original lane and disengage your blinker.
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A recent car accident in Port St. Lucie left one driver in critical condition. The accident happened at about 2:30 a.m. near La Buona Vita Drive when a 29-year-old driver slammed into the back of another vehicle that was traveling on the outside lane.

The other driver involved in the accident was 21-years-old and suffered minor injuries. The rear-ending driver was taken to Lawnwood Medical Center and was last listed in critical condition, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand how dangerous it is out there during this time of the year. Your risks for a car accident increase dramatically when the sun sets, too. Sometimes there’s just no getting around nighttime driving. For this reason, we’re asking all drives to be on the lookout when driving during the evening hours. Safe and alert driving habits during this time may be one of your best defenses against an accident with a not so careful driver.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the death rate from car accidents triples when the sun goes down. Nighttime driving is more dangerous and more difficult that many may think. One of the biggest problems with this is that because drivers fail to actually see dangers on the road (because it’s dark out) they think that these dangers don’t exist. Light or dark, the dangers, the risks and the hazards are still there. These risks increase for drivers of all ages, but younger drivers have a more difficult time navigating our roadways during this time and have higher risks for accidents. Luckily, officials with the NSC are here to offer drivers of all ages with some safety tips to help to improve safety when driving during the evening hours.

Nighttime Driving Safety Tips:

-Get yourself ready for nighttime driving. Make sure that your windows, your turn signals, your taillights and your headlights are clean.

-Make sure that you headlights are aimed properly. Headlights that aren’t aimed properly not only can blind other drivers but they can reduce your ability to see the road.

-Never drink and drive. Alcohol-related car accidents are more common during the evening hours that during the daytime. Alcohol severely impairs your ability to drive and can induce fatigue.

-You should avoid smoking when you drive. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes can hamper night vision.

-You should always drive with your headlights on. Not only do they help you to see your surroundings better, but they also help other drivers to see you.

-Slow down when driving at night.

-Never tailgate when it’s dark out. As a matter of fact, you should increase your following distance during this time.

-It’s a good idea to make frequent stops for light snacks and movement.

-If you feel sleepy at all, pull over, stop and get some rest. Never push through the symptoms of drowsiness.
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