Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Police chases are causing some serious injuries and death in car accidents in Oakland Park and elsewhere in Florida. Recently, a 21-year-old woman was hit at an intersection by a Broward Sheriff's Deputy.

Reports of the accident indicate that the police cruiser went from 24 to 87 miles per hours in just 24 seconds. As the young driver attempted to make a left turn at Dixie Highway, her vehicle was T-boned by the deputy's car. The impact was so severe that her car was cut in half. The accident threw her car nearly 100 yards. The driver's sister was in the car when the accident happened. She was thrown nearly 40 feet from the accident site. Records reports that the officer was speeding to a traffic stop regarding a burned-out tail light, according to the Sun Sentinel.

"I couldn't see very well because I was bleeding from my eye,'' the driver was quoted as saying.

Our Oakland Park car accident attorneys understand that the deputy involved in the accident was fired and is awaiting charges of reckless driving and vehicular homicide. These consequences aren't typically the case though when officers are involved. They're often released. Unfortunately, this isn't the only fatal accident in Florida involving a police chase or speeding officer. If you're ever involved in a car accident with a police car, a fire truck or another type of official vehicle, you're going to need vigilant representation. These kinds of accidents put police in charge of investigating their own. On average, police chases kill at least three innocent bystanders every week in the U.S. This number jumps from 3 to 5 when added with the number of fatalities due to police response calls.

There have been more than 20 people killed in the state of Florida since 2004 because of police chases.

“Most people agree that these pursuits should be controlled. Yet, researchers note a widespread lack of accurate data on the subject. The lack of a mandatory reporting system hampers attempts by NHTSA to track pursuit fatalities and results in the collection of as little as one-half of the actual data." said John Hill with the FBI Law Enforcement.

Of Florida's worst high-speed police accidents:

-A significant number of the officers involved in these accidents weren't responding to crime scenes. Instead, they were speeding to respond to routine calls, were late to work or were speeding for no reason at all.

-Officers who are busted speeding are rarely punished by the criminal justice system. Officers found at fault for deadly accidents caused by speeding typically only face penalties of up to 2 months in jail, if anything. Most receive no criminal charges at all.

-In most police agencies, speeding isn't addressed until it results in a serious accident. Even then, some officers are minimally disciplined, but continue to stay employed with the department and continue to work out on the road.

-Of the fatalities resulting from police-chase accidents, only seven were police officers. These officers were exceeding the speed limit by up to 60 miles per hour at the time of the accident.

Just look at the accident that killed a 65-year-old pedestrian back in September of 2010. The woman was out on her routine morning walk when she was hit by a Brevard Sheriff's Deputy at 65 miles per hour (25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit). The officer received no criminal charges. He didn't even get a speeding ticket. The case was dismissed.

In these cases, you need strong legal representation! Officers can't always been trusted when investigating accidents that involve other officers.

Continue reading " Police Chases Causing Accidents in Oakland Park and Elsewhere -- Officer Charges Oftentimes Dismissed " »

More and more teenage drivers are being killed in car accidents in Pahokee and elsewhere, according to a recent study from the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA). The GHSA study looked at teenage car and trucking accident statistics from the first half of both 2010 and 2011 and examined the trends involving these young driver fatalities. After combing through the stats, researchers concluded that there was an 11 percent increase in the number of driver deaths among 16- and 17-year-olds, despite a 1 percent decrease in overall fatalities reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Some of the most significant increases were in the state of Florida. During the first half of 2011, Florida saw 15 driver deaths in this young age group. Our state was the third-highest for these fatalities, behind Texas and North Carolina. In 2010 during the same time period, Florida authorities reported nine deaths in this young age group, illustrating a six-person increase. A lot of these teen driver fatalities were the result of car accidents involving large trucks on our state's highways and interstates. Teens typically don't fully understand the workings of traffic, vehicles and dangers on our roadways. For this reason, these young drivers are at extreme risks for accidents when driving around semi-trucks and tractor trailers.

Our Pahokee trucking accident attorneys understand that the GHSA report indicated that in the 16-year-old age group, the nation saw 80 driver deaths in the first half of 2010 and 93 in the first half of 2011. Among the 17-year-old age group, the nation saw 110 in 2010 and 118 in 2011. Through both of these age groups of drivers, that's an 11 percent increase from 2010 to 2011, suggesting that more needs to be done to help save our inexperienced and vulnerable young drivers. These drivers need to be provided with more thorough education regarding travel around large trucks. To help to prevent a good number of these accidents, parents are asked to review safe driving tips and practices with teens. It's important to focus on how to navigate our roads safely when large trucks are nearby.

Teen Driver Fatalities from 2010 to 2011:

-23 states reports increases.

-19 states reported decreases.

-8 states and the District of Columbia reported no change.

Williams says there are a few reasons as to why these numbers increased in a good deal of the country. He says that Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs aren't enforced as much as they once were. He says officials need to review these laws, which have been on the books for quite some time, and focus on the ones that truly help our teen drivers. It's those laws that need to be enforced better in driver education courses, by parents and by law enforcement officers. He says that the increase can also be attributed to the recovery of the economy. As the economy continues to grow, more teens are hitting our roadways more often. More time on the road equates to more risks for an accidents. With spring break quickly approaching, we can expect an increase in the number of teens on our roadways. Let's prepare them now to drive safely on the roadways with big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and semis.

“While it is not a surprise that these numbers are stabilizing or slightly increasing, states should not accept these deaths as something that cannot be prevented. More work can and should be done to save teen lives,” says Williams.

Teens and Trucks, Safe Driving Tips from Geico:

-Be extra attentive when driving near large trucks.

-Never drive aggressively.

-Never drink and drive.

-Be cautious of a truck's blind spots.

-Never tailgate a truck.

-Never cut off a large truck.

-Minimize the distractions behind the wheel, but especially when traveling near large trucks.

-When passing a truck, make sure you can see the entire truck in your rear-view mirror before entering the lane it's in.

-Never try to squeeze into a lane when a truck is making a turn.

-Make sure you can always see the truck driver.

-Always buckle up.

-Remember that trucks can take up to the length of a football field to stop.

Most car-truck accidents happen because of the driver of the car. It's most often because the car driver isn't paying attention at the wheel.

Troy E. Costales, Chairman of GHSA, notes that the number of deaths for motorists of all ages combined saw a decrease during the time of this study. It was just teens who saw an increasing, pointing out the need to stricter road laws and education efforts pertaining to newly-licensed drivers.

Continue reading " Car and Truck Accidents in Pahokee and Elsewhere Killing More Teens in Florida " »

Car accidents in West Palm Beach and elsewhere are more likely with all the new in-car technologies available to drivers, reports The Palm Beach Post. Gloria Bergquist, the vice president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, says that car makers already follow a set of guidelines helping them to determine which devices are useful in a car and which are not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that these guidelines aren't good enough and drivers need to have less in-car electronics available to them while they're operating a motor vehicle.

For this reason, the NHTSA is recommending a new set of guidelines for automakers. These rules would address the dangers associated with electronic tablets, pads, smartphones, navigational systems and much more. AAA says that in-car technologies shouldn't make driving more convenient, but it should make it safer.

Our West Palm Beach car accident attorneys have talked about the dangers of distracted driving. While new in-car technology is meant to make driving easier and safer, the truth of the matter is that many of the new gadgets are taking driver's attention off of the road. The NHTSA says it's time to reexamine the necessities of in-car technologies and narrow it down to only the most beneficial ones, such as the advanced-warning systems. Those who oppose the new regulations say that drivers are going to be making phone calls, sending texts and operating GPS devices behind the wheel no matter what, so it's best to offer hands-free ways to complete these tasks. That way, attention can stay on the road.

"Available research evidence is extremely limited and highly inconclusive on the real risks that in-car communications technologies pose to drivers, even when systems are limited to voice-activation only," said AAA CEO and President Robert L. Darbelnet.

The NHTSA isn't trying to get rid of these devices altogether. They are simply recommending that they be disabled while the car is in drive.

It's no secret that car makers want to create and sell vehicles that are already equipped with devices that cater to today's busy consumer, according to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. He says he just wants automakers to consider roadway safety when creating and enabling these in-car devices.

Bergquist says that's what automakers are already doing. She says that everything that drivers are doing in the vehicle with these devices is something they'd already be doing without the new technology. The in-car devices just make it safer for drivers to do these things.

Barbara Harsha, with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) says that these new recommendations from the NHTSA are an excellent step in the fight against distracted driving. She says there's no in-car device that is safer than having both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road and mind focused on driving.

Continue reading " West Palm Beach Car Accidents Blamed on In-Car Technology " »

Our vehicles come equipped with so many high-tech features nowadays, it's a wonder we even need houses. You can check your e-mail, make phone calls, send text messages, request map directions, surf the internet and so much more - all from the comfort of your driver's seat. And that's exactly the problem that safe driving advocates have with all of it. They say having all these technologies readily available behind the wheel exposes drivers to an increased risk of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere.

According to PhysOrg.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed some changes. The Administration recently made a recommendation to automakers to stop making these devices available while a vehicle is moving. Officials with the NHTSA think that GPS devices, e-mail, text messages and phone calls should only be made while the car is in park.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that automakers are making vehicles to cater to the consumers, who are often busy, on-the-go motorists. Nowadays, there seems to be a need to be connected via internet, phone and texts 24/7. What we need to focus on when we're behind the wheel is driving. Operating a vehicle is no time to engage in other activities. Although many of the new-car technologies are designed to help make our drive time easier, some people worry these devices are still just taking too much of our precious attention off the roadway.

"The guidelines we're proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

Gloria Bergquist with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers says these technologies are helping to make activities safer for drivers - and that these are actions drivers were already doing before the technology became available.

Under the proposed guidelines, only passenger cars and SUVs would be affected. The proposal does not limit technologies whose sole function is driver safety, like in-car warning systems. Drivers would still be able to use everything else, but only when the car's transmission is safely in park.

Some argue that stopping these technologies when the car is moving is unfair. Many times, there are still passengers present in the car who can help with phone calls, texting, GPS navigating, etc. and the devices shouldn't be disabled for them, too.

The ultimate responsibility here though lies with drivers. They must be willing to keep their eyes on the road, their hands on the steering wheel and their minds on driving. Until we can all exercise safe, alert and cautious driving habits, there will be a high number of accidents caused by distractions - technology or not.

Continue reading " Fort Lauderdale Car Accidents Would be Curbed by NHTSA Proposals " »

A recent car accident in Pompano Beach killed a woman from Miami and critically injured two others.

According to CBS Miami, the accident happened just before 1:00 a.m. on W Atlantic Boulevard. One driver has been charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and DUI causing property damage. The man is currently in custody at the BSO Main Jail in Ft. Lauderdale

Broward Sheriff's Office investigators say that a 37-year-old man was driving east on W Atlantic Boulevard in an SUV when he slammed into the side of a passenger car. The victim's vehicle was driven by a 22-year-old from Miami. Reports indicate that the young driver was getting off of the northbound ramp from Interstate 95 heading onto Atlantic Boulevard when she was t-boned. There were two other passengers in the passenger car. They were transported to North Broward Medical Center and were listed in critical condition. The young driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Driving along the Interstate can be scary. Getting on and off of it can be just as frightening. Add intoxicated drivers into those scenarios and it just got a whole lot worse. Our Pompano Beach car accident attorneys travel the same local roadways as you and your family and we too witness the dangerous drivers. It's important to keep safety as a top priority behind the wheel and to exercise your best defensive driving habits to help avoid potentially fatal accidents.

Intoxicated drivers can be some of the most threatening, taking the lives of thousands of innocent people every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about a quarter of all drivers who were involved in fatal passenger car accidents were legally drunk at the time of the accident, meaning they had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

In 2009, there were more than 1,500 passenger vehicles involved in fatal car accidents in the state of Florida. Of the cars involved in these accidents, nearly 890 were passenger cars, 270 were pickup trucks, nearly 290 were SUVs and more than 90 were vans.

Many of these accidents occurred on our state's busy roadways, like our South Florida interstates and highways. According to The National Safety Commission, Florida's Interstate 95 is the most dangerous road in the county. Statistics reveal that accidents along this roadway are likely to involve tourists and people who aren't familiar in the area. Remember that tourists make Florida their vacation destination year round, meaning risks for these accidents are always high.

Interstate 95 is the longest north-south Interstate Highway in the country. It passes through 15 states. It connects Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Some area of the road carries at least 250,000 vehicles each day. Not knowing where and when to merge on these roadways can be dangerous for all motorists. Not knowing your exit and what to do upon exiting is another problem on these roadways. Remember there are speeding limits on the interstate, as well as on the roadways leading to and exiting I-95. Be cautious and be one step ahead of your car. Know where you're going before heading out to avoid any confusion at the wheel.

Continue reading " Intoxicated Driver Kills 1, Injures 2 in Pompano Beach Car Accident near I-95 Off Ramp " »

You wouldn't drive down the road looking at your floor mats. So why do drivers make their way down the road looking at their cell phones? Often, they're texting at the wheel. It's illegal for drivers to text in 35 states. Florida, however, is not one of those. Because of this, distraction-related car accidents in Lake Worth continue to plague our roadways.

The law could soon be changing. The sponsor of an anti-texting House bill, Republican Rep. Ray Pilon of Sarasota, says the bill is currently being mulled over by those in the transportation and highway safety subcommittee. The chair, Rep. Brad Drake, says the law is unnecessary. A number of similar bills have been shot down in the state of Florida, as some lawmakers see it as government intrusion, according to The News-Press.

Our Lake Worth car accident attorneys have seen it, too. Drivers throughout the state are taking their hands off of the wheel, their eyes off of the road and endangering innocent people. The state of Florida currently has a reckless driving law in effect, which lawmakers believe adequately covers the issue of texting and driving. As Jim Harper, the director of information policy studies for the Libertarian Cato Institute says, it would be like lawmakers going after every single activity that could potentially threaten road safety. While that would be nice, it's just not ideal. He compares the anti-texting laws to cup holders. He says after cup holders were introduced into vehicles, there was a surge of motor vehicle accidents. Still, lawmakers didn't run out and prohibit cup holders.

It's Senate Bill 416 and House Bill 299 that are looking to stop drivers from texting behind the wheel. While the Senate bill has already made its way swiftly through three committees with just two nay votes, the House Bill has been stalled.

Under both bills, texting while driving would be considered a secondary offense. This means that an officer can only cite you for it after you've been pulled over for another offense, such as running a red light or speeding.

If you're busted, you'd have to pay a $30 fine for your first offense. A second offense would run you $60. If you caused an accident while you were texting, you'd get six points on your license.

“It’s difficult to legislate every kind of human behavior and then try and enforce it,” Drake said. “People just need to be responsible for themselves.”

According to federal officials, drivers are nearly 25 times more likely to get into an accident while texting. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) even has an internal rule prohibiting troopers from texting on the job.

The Highway Loss Data Institute says that anti-texting laws don't help. The Institute ran studies in 2010 and concluded that the number of accidents didn't decrease after states passed such laws.

Continue reading " Florida Bills Aim to Decrease Risk of Distraction-Related Car Accidents in Lake Worth " »

Over the last 11 years, there have been roughly 600 car accidents in St. Lucie County at the intersection of Prima Visa Boulevard and U.S. 1. This intersection has seen more accidents than any other intersection in the county, according to TC Palm. A number of small business owners in the area were doubtful at first of the statistic, saying they've seen little to no evidence of a large number of accidents there. A St. Lucie County Sheriff's sergeant was surprised for a whole different reason, thinking that the number of accidents there would have been higher. According to Ed Blaine, a geographic information systems coordinator for St. Lucie County, the accident information is collected from law enforcement officials from the Florida Highway Patrol, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and from police departments in in both Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.

"If, for instance, there are a number of accidents at a certain intersection it signals a time for the transportation engineers to go out there and take a look and see if there's something that needs to be done with the intersection," Blaine said.

Our St. Lucie car accident lawyers understand that transportation officials have the responsibility to make sure roadways are as safe as they can be with the budget available. Unfortunately, far too many accidents are experienced at problematic intersections before a change is ever made. From January of 2000 all the way to December of 2010, there were nearly 580 traffic accidents that happened within 200 feet of the St. Lucie County the intersection of U.S. 1 and 528 and at Prima Visa Boulevard and U.S. 1 at 528 and Midway Road intersection.

Some of the businesses in the area include a Walgreens, McDonald's and Publix. There are also a number of plazas at the Prima Vista and U.S. 1 intersection. Residential neighborhoods are located just to the northwest and the southwest of this area. It's no wonder it's so busy.

St. Lucie County Sheriff's Sgt. Kurt Mittwede says that while this intersection may have some of the most accidents recorded in the area, few result in life-threatening injuries. He says many of the collisions are small rear-end accidents. He adds that fatal accidents are far from the norm.

Mittwede says that the lanes were extended at that intersection a few years ago, which has helped tremendously. There's still backed up traffic waiting to make the turn, but he says that's because drivers simply aren't paying attention. He also says that the rear-end accidents often produce a domino effect that at times can include up to five cars.

Mittwede also says he thought the number would have been higher than reported.

Continue reading " Car Accidents in St. Lucie County Draws Attention to Dangerous Intersection " »

A recent motorcycle accident in West Palm Beach at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Dixie Highway sent a biker to the hospital. According to News Channel 5, there is no word on the condition of the motorists involved in the accident. It all happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. It has not been determined yet if the biker was wearing a helmet. Officials believe it's a possibility that wet pavement may have played a role in the accident.

Our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident attorneys understand that Florida provides the perfect year-round weather for motorcycle riders. We have motorcyclists from across the country on our roadways, and for this reason, our state has some of the highest number of motorcycle accidents in the country. With these bikers traveling our roadways during every month of the year, it's important for motorists to be cautious.

Another motorcycle accident in the area took the life of a rider after the bike collided with a rescue truck on Northwest 12th Avenue and 46th Street. This accident also happened around 6 a.m.

"When the motorcycle hit the fire truck, it caught on fire and exploded," said a witness.

Miami Fire Rescue was called out to the scene.

According to 7News, the motorcyclist was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Motorcycles can easily be overlooked by drivers of passenger vehicles. There are a few simple safety tips drivers can exercise to help to reduce the potentially fatal results of a run-in with a motorcycle.

Motorists Driving Tips to Help Protect Motorcyclists, from FOX29:

-Remember there are a lot more trucks and cars on our roadways than motorcycles. For this reason, a lot of drivers don't see motorcycles, because they're not looking for them. It's important to offer a motorcyclist the same respect you would for the driver of another car or truck.

-Because motorcycles are so small, they're oftentimes overlooked. Be sure that you actually look for motorcycles when making maneuvers in traffic.

-Motorcycles can appear to be farther away than they actually are. Always assume a biker is closer than he or she appears.

-Motorcycles also appear to be traveling faster than they are because of their small size.

-Motorcycles' brake lights don't always activate because bikers often slow down by down shifting. For this reason, never follow a motorcycle too closely.

-Motorcycles zigzag in their lane to avoid bumps and road debris in their lane of traffic. Never share a lane with a motorcycle.

-Turn signals on motorcycles aren't self-canceling like the ones on our passenger vehicles. Make sure a motorcyclists' signal is intended.

-Motorcycles have a tough time stopping on slippery roadways. Don't travel too closely to these bikes.

Continue reading " West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accidents Prove Fatal " »

A recent car accident in Miami-Date backed up morning traffic, forcing motorists to find alternate routes.

According to the Miami-Dade Herald, there were also accidents on:

-Southwest 87th Avenue

-State Road 826

-Flagler Street

-U.S. 1 at Hallandale Beach Boulevard

-93rd Avenue and 152nd Street

-Northwest Street and State Road 826 (a six-car pile-up)

There was also a disabled vehicle on U.S. 1 at State Road 112 that blocked traffic for miles.

Car accidents happen all the time. Additionally, your could break down virtually at any time, regardless of how new it is and how well you maintain it. Our Miami-Dade car accident attorneys have all been there at one point in our lives, stuck on the side of the road because of an unexpected accident or problem with our car. Luckily, whether you've been involved in an accident or your vehicle breaks down, there are ways you can keep yourself and your passengers safe while waiting for assistance on the side of the road.

If your car is stopped at the side of a busy roadway:

-You should always carry a cell phone or another form of mobile communication so you can call for help in emergency situations.

-If you don't have a phone and a stranger offers help, ask them to call authorities.

-Make sure you pull completely off the road. If you're unable to do so, pull as far off to the right as you can.

-Once you've stopped, activate your emergency lights to help other vehicles to see you.

-Your best bet is to call 9-1-1, a family member, a friend or a motor club for help. Be patient for their arrival. Remember they may have to get through traffic that your disabled vehicle has caused to get to you.

-Be ready with emergency supplies. You should keep flashlights, extra batteries, common tools, non-perishable foods and water in your vehicle for these types of emergencies.

-Set out warning triangles, cones or flares if you have them.

-Although it's warm here in South Florida, keep jackets and blanket in your car just in case. The nights can get pretty chilly.

-Never accept a ride with someone who you don't know.

-Ask emergency responders for identification before accepting help.

-Try not to leave your car parked in the roadway. This is how secondary accidents and pileups happen.

Drivers are asked to be careful. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. It's important to leave an ample amount of space between you and other vehicles traveling on the road to help increase your ability to react.

Continue reading " Crashes and Disabled Vehicles Increasing Risks for Domino-Effect Like Car Accidents in Miami-Dade " »

They'll tell you they've been driving longer than you've been alive, and they don't need anyone's help getting around.

But senior drivers over the age of 65 are at an increased risk for car accidents in Lake Worth and throughout Florida.

Even if your parent or grandparent has always been a cautious driver, the effects of age can have an impact on his or her sight, hearing and other senses that are crucial to avoiding an accident.

Our Lake Worth car accident attorneys know that almost any driver could benefit from a refresher road safety course. That's the idea behind a new trend that is picking up speed across the country: driver's education courses geared toward senior citizens.

A recent news report detailed a course in Miami sponsored by the AARP at the Kendall Regional Medical Center. For less than $15, drivers take the course in hopes of lowering their insurance rates. Topics cover everything from exercises to relax neck muscles and strengthen ankles to recommendations for specialized rear view mirrors that allow drivers to see more of what's happening around them.

It's a fact that over the next several years, we're going to see an increase of older drivers on the road. Not only are people living longer, they are holding on to their licenses well into their 80s and some even in their 90s.

National transportation statistics conclude that for people between the ages of 65 to 69, nearly 95 percent still have a driver's license. For people over the age of 70, almost 80 percent still have a license to drive. Compare that to almost three decades ago, when only about 55 to 75 percent retained the right to drive.

At the same time, the number of drivers younger than 40 decreased by 10 percent.

Across Florida, nearly 20 percent of residents are over age 65. They represent nearly 18 percent of all drivers on the road. By 2030, baby boomers older than 65 are going to comprise nearly 30 percent of the state's population and a quarter of all drivers.

Some auto industry experts said manufacturers are exploring ways to make car models more senior-friendly. Others in the transportation industry say politicians need to make public transportation more available to the elderly.

While it's true that as a whole, senior drivers are safer than teen drivers (they tend not to drive at night or during rush hour or speed), they still pose certain risks the older they get.

But those who teach the elderly driver's education courses say many seniors want to hold on to their driver's licenses for as long as they can - it's a statement of independence.

Still, that independence shouldn't come at the risk to others on the road.

These refresher driver safety courses geared toward seniors are an excellent resource. Sometimes, though, it's time to turn in the keys.

If you believe your older relatives may be putting themselves or others at risk behind the wheel, you may need to have a difficult but necessary conversation. Try easing into the conversation at first. If that is not effective, be more direct, with phrases like:

"Even if you weren't responsible for a crash, you could be seriously hurt or killed."

"I know how awful you would feel if someone was injured when you were driving."

"I can't let the grandchildren ride in the car with you."

"Let's have a conversation with the doctor about it."

Continue reading " Driver's Ed for Elderly Lowers Risk of Lake Worth Car Accidents " »

Florida pedestrians are some of the most endangered in the country.

As The New York Times put it in an article last year:
"Any pedestrian in Florida knows, walking in this car-obsessed state can be as tranquil as golfing in a lightning storm."

And yet, less-than-accurate information is being peddled to the media about who is most frequently at-fault in pedestrian deaths and injuries in Vero Beach and beyond.

Our Vero Beach car accident attorneys know that Florida communities earned the top 4 slots in the ranking of most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians last year. Orlando-Kissimmee ranked first, followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and then Jacksonville in third, followed by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach. Those are national rankings - meaning our pedestrians are at even higher risk than those in New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago.

In a comprehensive study conducted by Transportation for America, it was found the state often lacks adequate sidewalks, and further that drivers tend to be more careless and aggressive.

And yet, conclusions from a new study originating from the University of Maryland Children's Hospital have been published by various media outlets. The study essentially blames pedestrians' use of headphones as a catalyst for the crashes that lead to their injury and death.

The Times Union, in New York, for example, published the findings that in a five-year span, the number of headphone-wearing pedestrians who were killed tripled. Sure, that sounds like a startling figure at first.

The researchers were essentially saying that pedestrians who decided to enjoy music along their route were putting themselves at greater risk. No mention was made of those careless drivers who struck them, many of whom were likely also blaring their stereos or were otherwise distracted.

But let's look a little closer at the numbers being used here. Researchers pointed to 16 deaths that fit this scenario in 2004-2005. Then they looked at numbers from 2010-2011, and found 47 deaths that fit that same pattern.

Yes, that means the numbers tripled, but in fact, it's a very miniscule number of the total pedestrian deaths and injuries every year. Consider that between 2000 and 2009, more than 47,000 pedestrians were killed in the U.S.

As pointed out in a recent blog by Transportation for America's Stephen Lee Davis, that means the number of deaths the University of Maryland researchers are talking about accounts for 0.03 percent of all pedestrian deaths.

"Spending our time focused intently on this tiny aspect of pedestrian deaths is like coming across a person who’s been stabbed in the chest, and worrying about finding the Band-Aid you need to patch the scrape on his elbow," Davis wrote.

Our Vero Beach car accident attorneys agree: Blaming the victim gets us nowhere.

Continue reading " Don't Blame Florida Pedestrians for High Injury Risk " »

A proposed bill being mulled by federal lawmakers, which seeks to reduce the number of drunk driving car accidents in Sunrise and throughout the country, would increase penalties for first-time DUI offenders.

States would receive cash incentives to apply harsher drunk driving laws.

It's part of a transportation law that would allow the federal government to grant an estimated $500 million annually for improved highway safety measures.

Our Sunrise car accident attorneys now understand that about 5 percent of that money, or about $25 million - would go to states that impose ignition interlock technology for first-time drunk drivers.

There is a great deal of debate surrounding the issue, with proponents saying drunk drivers pose serious road hazards that need to be addressed. Critics, meanwhile, argue that the $25 million won't even get the initiatives off the ground, and will cost states more money than they'll be receiving in grants.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the average offender drives under the influence about 80 times before they are arrested. Further, more than a third of Americans will be involved in a DUI crash at some point in their lives and every 50 minutes, someone dies in the U.S. due to an alcohol-related car accident. And every minute of every day, someone is injured in a crash where alcohol was a factor.

According to the Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a draft of the bill is being debated by the federal House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The interlock devices are a technology that requires a driver to blow into a tube that calculates their blood alcohol level. It's similar to the Breathalyzer machine employed by countless law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The difference is, it fits into individual vehicles, and if the blood alcohol content is higher than 0.08 - the legal limit - the vehicle won't even start.

Florida is one of 15 states that already have this technology, and its use is outlined under Section 316.193. Under this law, first-time offenders can be required to use the interlock technology if a judge orders it, or if the offender blows a 0.15 or higher or is involved in a crash. After the second offense, the device can be required for up to a year. Subsequent offenses can have drivers using the technology for up to 5 years.
Because Florida already uses this technology, it would be eligible for the federal cash.

But the American Beverage Institute is arguing against the measure, saying it amounts to "bribing" states that are in desperate need of money. The ABI does, however, support the use of interlock devices for repeat offenders or those who blow a high blood alcohol level.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to follow if you happen to encounter a drunk driver in Sunrise or elsewhere in Florida:

-Stay as far away from the vehicle as you can.
-Don't try to pass or signal the drunk driver to pull over. That could cause you to crash.
-Take note of the vehicle's make, model and color, as well as the license plate number. But don't risk your own safety to do so.
-Pull over and call 911. Give the dispatcher the location of the car, as well as the name of any cross streets and some indication of which way the car is traveling.

Continue reading " Lawmakers Seek Tougher Penalties for Drunk Drivers in Sunrise, Nation " »

To some teens, car keys are seen as a ticket to freedom -- a chance for a fast-paced adventure, with their friends along for the ride.

But that kind of attitude, fueled by a lack of parental involvement, can lead to serious and potentially fatal car accidents in Delray Beach and beyond.

New studies have been released indicating parents must convey to their newly-licensed teens the risk they are taking every time they get behind that wheel. If they don't, as our Delray Beach car accident attorneys have seen firsthand, the consequences can be devastating.

Every parent dreads that late night phone call, telling them their child has been seriously injured or killed in a crash.

If your teen is riding with one or more friends, they are at increased risk, according to researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The first study involved a survey of nearly 200 teens aged 15 to 17 in two separate states that had graduated driver's license laws (or GDL's). These are laws that set guidelines for young drivers, such as how late they can be on the road and how many people they can have in the car with them. The idea is they will gradually build up technical skills and the ability to overcome distraction. What researchers discovered was that when parents had talked to their teens about how risky driving can be, teens were less likely to become careless with their driving habits. They were more likely to recognize the hazards and less likely to use the car as a means to seek a thrill.

Teens were also more apt to drive cautiously when their parents knew where they were and who they were with. It was also not as common for those same teens to have a host of other teens riding with them - something that has been proven to increase their chances of a deadly crash in Delray Beach and elsewhere.

The second study from the research center addressed this very issue. The social scientists looked at a sample of nearly 680 teen drivers who had been in a serious wreck. Investigators on the crash scenes found that both male and female teens were more likely to have been distracted when a friend was in the car with them.

It played out a little differently though, depending on the driver's gender. For males, it meant a greater likelihood that they would drive aggressively or pull an illegal stunt - in other words, general recklessness. For females, it meant they were turning to look at friends, texting, putting on make-up, changing the radio or eating.

Researchers say the outcome of these studies prove that GDL's are the way to go.
Florida has graduated driver's license laws that specify the following:

-A teen has to be at least 15 to apply for a learner's license. They also need to have a traffic law and substance abuse class under their belt, as well as pass written, visual and hearing tests and have one of their parents sign a consent form.

-For the first three months with a learner's license, a teen can only drive during the day until 10 p.m. If they're out later than that, they MUST have a front seat passenger over the age of 21 who has a valid license.

-Teenagers who are at least 16 are eligible for an intermediate license. For this, they have to have had their learner's license for a whole year without any convictions for traffic offenses. During this time, they are allowed on the road on their own between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Outside those hours, they have to be either coming to or from work or with a licensed driver over the age of 21.

-Seventeen-year-olds are allowed on the roads between the hours of 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. Any time outside of that, they have to be either coming to or from work or with a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the front passenger seat.

-At age 18, teens are allowed full driving privileges.

Continue reading " Parental Involvement Can Prevent Teen Car Accidents In Delray Beach, Beyond " »