Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog

Accidents in Fort Lauderdale Likely during Great American Beach Party

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:11:42 -0500

Coming up for the Memorial Day holiday weekend is the much anticipated Fort Lauderdale's 3rd Annual Great American Beach Party.

This year's big event will be held on the 26th of May from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. It's going to be a long day of friends, family, music, food, contests, food and booze. What we're trying to avoid during this time is the booze and the driving. This year's event will be taking place on Fort Lauderdale Beach at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. It's a free event and everyone's invited. We're asking everyone to be cautious during this time and to designate a driver if drinking in on the agenda. During the Memorial Day holiday weekend, risks for car accidents skyrocket. It's one of the most dangerous times on our roadways and we typically see a significant increase in the number of alcohol-related accidents in Fort Lauderdale and the nearby areas during this time.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys have recently been discussing the risks of car accidents on our roadways during this 3-day weekend. We told you that the National Safety Council (NSC) predicted that more than 400 people were going to die in car accidents across the nation during this time. It was also predicted that another 50,000 people were going to be injured in auto accidents during this time. It's important for party goers, especially the drinkers, to be cautious through the Memorial Day weekend. Traffic flow on our roadways will increase significantly during this time and we need to adjust our driving habits to compensate for it.

The Fort Lauderdale Beach American Beach Party Lineup:

-Music from The Jake and Elwood Blues Review, Landsharks and headliners from Orlando, Noreena Downey, Across the Universe and Swahili.

-Sand castle building contests, balloons tosses, Twister contests, limbo, hula-hoop contests, face painting, beach water slides, etc. for the kids.

-Vintage cars and an auto show.

-An art show, featuring many popular local chalk artists.

-An exclusive preview of "American Grafitti," presented by the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

It's going to be a wild event and experts predict thousands in attendance. Many will be eating and drinking all day. We're just asking those drinkers to make sure that they have a safe and sober ride home. Make sure you designate a sober driver, take a taxi or use other public transportation. If you can't find a sober ride home, then you're urged to stay at a buddy's house or to get a hotel room for the night. This time of the year, the Memorial Day weekend especially, brings out a bunch of intoxicated drivers. Don't become a statistic and plan out your party events before heading out to this year's event!

Teen Driver Charged in Oakland Park Car Accident

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:39:57 -0500

After a recent pedestrian-vehicle accident in Oakland Park, a teen driver has been charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident and having no driver's license. His bond was set at nearly $18,000, according to CBS Miami. Here's the catch: It was a hit-and-run accident. The teenage driver said he thought he hit a dog and not a person.

Accident reports reveal that the young driver was driving a four-door sedan when he slammed into a 75-year-old pedestrian at the corner of 15th Terrace and NE 45th Street in Oakland Park. According to Broward County Sheriffs, there were no skid marks on the road indicating that the driver never hit the brakes. During the teen's hearing, the Judge told the young driver than even someone who slammed into a dog would have stopped and gotten out of the car. Detectives who were working on the accident caught the lead when they got a report from someone who reported an Altima with front-end damage just blocks from the accident scene.

Our Oakland Park accident attorneys have been talking about the risks that teenage drivers are facing on our roadways with the summer season. We're pleading with parents and guardians to step up and to have the conversation about safe driving habits with the teen driver in their lives. It's important to talk with these young drivers about the risks and the consequences that are associated with dangerous and irresponsible driving habits. Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens across the county. Keeping safe driving habits as a frequent topic of consideration in your household can help to decrease their risks for an accident.

To help to kick off the conversation, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) is here to offer a few simple driving tips for the teen driver in your life:

-Always wear a seat belt. Seat belts decrease your chance of death in the event of an accident.

-Avoid driving with children or teens in the front passenger seat. These individuals increase the risks for accidents among teen drivers.

-Make sure the vehicle's tires are in good condition and are always properly inflated.

-Keep the vehicle's windshield clean to increase visibility on our roadways.

-Keep an eye on your gas tank. Never ride with less than a quarter-tank full.

-Never drink and drive and never get into a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.

-Use your headlights during daytime driving, too.

-Figure out where you're going and the direction on how to get there before you head out onto our roadways.

-Curb all of the distractions. Keep your eyes and mind on the road.

-Always obey speed limits and posted street signs.

-Use turn signals whenever making a move in traffic.

-Keep an eye out for vulnerable travelers, like bicyclists and pedestrians.

-Put down the cell phone, the text message device and other electronics while driving.

-Adjust your driving to road and weather conditions.

Teens' Risks for Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere Up with Passengers

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:40:54 -0500

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys have been talking recently about the risks that teens are facing on our roadways. During this time of the year, the summer months, teens face the highest risks for car accidents. They'll be enjoying a break away from school and will be hitting our roads in full force. The month of May is actually one of the deadliest times on our roadways for these young motorists.

Car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere continue to be the number one killer for teens across the United States. According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, parents can help to reduce these risks for their teen by regulating the number of passengers that are allowed in their teen's vehicle. The recent study, "Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers," concluded that the presence of young passengers increases a teen driver's risk for an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teen drivers in the state of Florida have no passenger restrictions. The AAA study revealed that states with strict graduated driver's licensing (GDL) programs typically see fewer car accidents among these young drivers than states with more relaxed laws. That's where parents come in. We're asking for parents to step in and to create and enforce their own passenger restrictions to help to keep our roadways safe.

The study looked at drivers that were both 16- and 17-years-old. When there was one passenger present who was under the age of 21-years-old, the risks for accidents increased by nearly 45 percent. When there were two young passengers present, the risks for accidents doubled. When there were three or more of these young passengers, risks for an accident quadrupled.

On the other hand, teen drivers who had a passenger present who was over the age of 34-years-old, saw risks for a fatal accident decrease by more than 60 percent and their risks for police-reported accident decrease by nearly 50 percent. This illustrates why it's so important to ride along with your teen and to ride along with them often. Riding with them during their first few years behind the wheel helps them to create safe, responsible and lifelong driving habits. What these drivers do behind the wheel during their first few years with a license will largely determine their driving habits for the rest of their lives. Let's work together to make these lifelong habits safe and responsible ones!

"These findings should send a clear message to families that parents can make their teens safer," said President and CEO of AAA, Peter Kissinger.

Parents are urged to talk with their teen driver before the summer gets into full swing. Talk to your teen driver about the risks and the consequences that are associated with dangerous and irresponsible driving habits behind the wheel.

St. Lucie County School Bus Accident Causing Insurance Debacle

Sun, 06 May 2012 09:12:01 -0500

After the fatal bus accident in St. Lucie County back at the end of March, officials with the St. Lucie County School District are stepping in and trying to offer insurance advice to parents of the victims.

According to the TC Palm, a letter was sent home to parents offering them advice regarding the policies and the coverage that's available to help to cover the injuries and the medical expenses for the victims. County officials call this accident "probably the worst accident in the history of the School District." In the late-March accident, a fourth grader was killed and 15 additional students were injured when the bus slammed into a semi at the intersection of Midway and Okeechobee roads.

"We just want to let them know how they should approach their claims and offer them assistance," said Susan Carver, risk management coordinator with the district.

Our St. Lucie County personal injury attorneys urge parents to contact an experienced attorney if their child has been involved in a school bus-related accident. It's important to make sure you've got legal representation to help you secure the compensation that you and your child deserve. Parents should avoid talking to school officials and with insurance companies before talking to an attorney. Information you provide to these individuals may cause you to forfeit what you rightfully deserve following such an accident.

In the state, the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault law requires each driver to have at least $10,000 of PIP, which holds the driver's insurance company responsible for medical costs regardless of who is at fault in the accident. This type of coverage also covers children who are injured while riding on a school bus.

According to the Carver, parents are urged to submit their child's medical bills that exceed the PIP coverage to their health insurance provider. She adds that for kids without health insurance and those who have bills that fall over their insurance caps the district carries an accident policy that has a limit of $1 million per claim for medical expenses. Within this policy, there is a $25,000 deductible.

Parents are usually the ones who are responsible for paying co-insurance and deductibles. If they want though, they're able to file a claim with district's liability coverage asking for reimbursement.

If parents have to come out of pocket with any of the expenses, they're also welcome to file a claim with the district. The district has claims adjusters who administer that liability coverage. This isn't an automatic reimbursement. Again, you need to contact an experienced attorney to make sure you're not getting shortchanged because according to Carver, the district's liability insurance will more than likely run out!

Motorcycle Accidents in Jupiter Targeted by DHSMV

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:18:58 -0500

Drivers of all ages can be found riding their motorcycles across the state. According to recent statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), more and more drivers over the age of 45 are hoping on their bikes and are hitting the open road. Unfortunately this age group of motorcyclists accounted for nearly 45 percent of the motorcycle drivers who were killed in accidents in Jupiter and elsewhere in 2010.

Although the largest increase was witnessed within this age group, more and more riders of all ages are doing the same. For that reason, the DHSMV is using the month of May to push Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, according to Governor Rick Scott. This awareness month isn't only used to ask motorcyclists to be careful out there, but it's also asking drivers of passenger vehicles to be safe, cautious and to share the road safely with our vulnerable motorcyclists.

"In 2008, Florida lawmakers passed a law that required training before getting a motorcycle endorsement on a driver license. Since then, we have seen the number of motorcycle crashes fall every year," says Julie Jones, Executive Director of the DHSMV.

Our Jupiter injury attorneys understand that motorcyclists have some of the highest risks for injury and death on our roadways. Florida is actually the most dangerous state in the country for these kinds of accidents, according to recent nationwide statistics.

Our beautiful year-round weather brings out bikers of all ages from all over the country. With so many bikers on our roadways, risks for accidents are pretty high. As we head into the month of May, the number of these kinds of accidents typically spikes. Most motorcycle accidents are seen between March and May, with the highest numbers being in May, and that's why transportation officials choose to recognize this month-long campaign during this time. Drivers are asked to work together to help keep our roads as safe as possible for everyone.

According to Florida's law, all motorcyclists must have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license before hitting the road. To obtain an endorsement, a driver is required to complete a basic rise course through the Florida Rider Training Program.

Florida Law Required Motorcycle Drivers to:

-Wear a helmet. This applies to drivers who are under the age of 21 and lack an insurance policy providing at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries.

-Wear the proper eye protection.

-Have foot pegs on their bike for passengers.

Motorcyclists are also urged to:

-Wear the proper footwear, meaning shoes that protect both the feet and the ankles and can grip the road well.

-Wear gloves to help protect the hands and to make them more comfortable.

-Wear long pants and a jacket to help to protect against windburn, sunburn, abrasions and dehydration.

Drivers Causing Car Accidents in Wellington and Elsewhere with No Blinkers!

Wed, 02 May 2012 06:51:31 -0500

There's an unsafe driving habit that's catching the eye of safe driving advocates nationwide. It's not what dangerous maneuvers drivers are doing behind the wheel, but it's what they're not doing.

According to MSNBC, a recent study was released that concluded that about 2 million car accidents in Wellington and elsewhere a year are caused by drivers' neglect to use a turn signal. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), drivers fail to use a blinker when changing lanes at least 48 percent of the time. They also fail to use their blinker when making turns at least 25 percent of the time. That means that drivers fail to use their turn signal nearly 800 billion times every year.

Laziness? Poor training? A lack of courtesy? Who knows why drivers fail to signal, but the truth of it is that this neglect is very dangerous and leads to about 2 million accidents every year. That's roughly double the amount of accidents caused by distracted driving, according to Ray LaHood, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

Our Wellington car accident attorneys understand that many drivers overlook the importance of a blinker. Honestly, drivers need to make their maneuvers in traffic as predictable as possible and a blinker may be one of the most effective ways to do that. Drivers are required to use a blinker just as they're required to follow other road laws on the books. Experts believe that drivers may be neglecting their blinkers because it's not a top priority of enforcement for police officers and not many drivers are reprimanded for failing to use a turn signal. Safe driving advocates suggest that law enforcement officials start targeting this dangerous behavior as a way of improving compliance.

“This is a first of its kind report on a subject that amazingly, has never been studied,” said Richard Ponziani, P.E., President of RLP Engineering.

Another suggestion that experts have to help get drivers back into the habit of using turn signals is the "Smart Turn Signal."

Researchers say that this system would be the perfect supplement to the Stability Control System. They say that this system would work much like an in-car seat belt warning. Ponziani says that the device would alert drivers if their blinker has been on for an extended amount of time. This would work when a driver has their blinker on and has not made a turn. Blinkers are already self-canceling after making turns, this would help to shut them off long after a turn has been made or is not anticipated. The system would also be able to warn drivers who aren't using the turn signal when needed. A bell and a light in the vehicle would instruct drivers that they need to start using their signals. This technology is believed to be able to help prevent thousands of multi-car accidents every year.

Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Davie and Elsewhere Likely during Cinco de Mayo

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:59:16 -0500

Cinco de Mayo is a popular holiday here in South Florida and if you've been here in the past you know this big day can get wild. It's a big day and a big night out for residents in the area, especially for young adults. During this time of the year we need to focus on preventing alcohol-related car accidents in Davie and elsewhere.

Many party goers may think Cinco de Mayo is a time to pass around the tequila, and for many it is, but it's also an important time to focus on safe and responsible driving. For that reason, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and our Davie accident lawyers are working to help all residents and South Florida visitors to plan for a safe holiday.

MADD is offering you with a few safety tips to help you stay out of a drunk driving car accident. Review the following and share these tips with friends and family members to help make this the safest Cinco de Mayo yet!

If you're planning on drinking during Cinco de Mayo:

-Make sure you designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. This isn't something that should be planned once you're already out. Decide before leaving your home.

-Make sure you have something in your stomach before you start your festivities. Try enjoying you favorite Mexican foods to get in the mood and to help to keep yourself from over drinking.

-If you find yourself without a sober driver, call a friend or a family member to come pick you up.

-If you can't get a hold of anyone to come get you, call a cab, take the bus, stay at a friend's house or get a hotel room. If you've been drinking, you should never get behind the wheel. Find your alternatives!

-If someone you know or love has been drinking and is reaching for their keys, intervene. You don't want to let anyone you know get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Do your job to help save lives, step in and speak up.

If you think you spot a drunk driver on our roadways:

-Stay away from the vehicle. You don't want to jeopardize your own safety.

-Try to jot down the license plate number, the year, make and model of the vehicle as well as a description of the driver. Don't get too close to try to get this information.

-Make sure to take note of the location and the direction of the vehicle.

-Call your local authorities to report this information.

Your call can help to save lives during this year's event.

For more information on what's going on around you for this year's Cinco de Mayo, visit SouthFlorida.com for all of the planned events. While planning for your big night, don't forget to plan out a safe and sober way to get home. Planning is the key to a safe holiday! Fiesta!

NHTSA Campaign Fighting Car Accidents in Tamarac and Elsewhere

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:29:44 -0500

Our Tamarac car accident attorneys oftentimes talk about the risks and the dangers that are associated with dangerous distracted driving habits. When we discuss these kinds of dangers, we're frequently talking about inexperienced, teenage drivers.

According to a recent survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teen drivers aren't only dangerous drivers when it comes to distractions they're dangerous passengers, too. Teen passengers are some of the least likely of passengers to speak up when riding with a driver who is engaging in distractions and endangering the vehicle's occupants on our roadways.

Older drivers were more likely to speak up and urge a driver to curb the distractions.

To help to get our teen passengers on board regarding the risks associated with distracting, and to get them to stop engaging in these dangerous distractions behind the wheel, the NHTSA is unveiling a new contest and campaign. It's called the Distracted Driving Design Challenge and it's asking teens between the ages of 13- and 18-years-old to design a social network icon. The winning icon will be used throughout the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) distracted driving campaign. The icon will be used on the Department's Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and its other social media websites.

Teens have some of the highest risks for distraction-related car accidents in Broward and elsewhere. As a matter of fact, they've recorded the most distraction-related accidents of all age groups in recent years. The new anti-distraction campaign is working to shed some light on these dangers and to get teens talking, talking with one another about the risks that are associated with this dangerous driving habit.

"Distracted driving is an epidemic on our roadways, and these new findings show that our youngest drivers are particularly at risk," said Secretary LaHood.

The NHTSA's poll took the opinions and reports of nearly 10,000 drivers. When surveyed as passengers, about 90 percent acknowledged that driving while distracted was a dangerous habit and that the risks for an accident were in fact increased during that time, Only about a third of young drivers said that they would speak up and say something when riding with a driver who was engaging in distractions. About half of all participants who were surveyed who were over the age of 64-years-old said that they would speak up if they were in the same scenario.

Drivers and passengers are asked to work together to help keep our roadways distraction-free and ultimately accident-free.

New Rule to Help Reduce Risks of Trucking Accidents in Fellsmere and Elsewhere

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:53:17 -0500

Healthcare professionals are going to have to be better trained, tested and certified when it comes to examining truckers nationwide. The improvement was recently announced through a new rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to help to reduce the risks of accidents in Fellsmere and elsewhere.

These healthcare professionals examine truckers to make sure that their health and their physical qualifications are up to par and they're safe on our roadways. In addition, the new rule is pushing a new online database of medical examiners who have completed the certification process. We need to keep a closer eye on our truck drivers nationwide to help make our roadways safer for all. Better and healthier truck drivers can do just that and we need better trained medical examiners to help us get there.

Our Broward accident lawyers understand that truckers are required to undergo this examination once every two years in order to keep their commercial driver's license and to operate a commercial vehicle. Reexamination of these drivers is critical in making sure they're equipped to handle these large vehicles and stay out of potentially fatal accidents. It is important that these drivers are healthy and are not suffering from any debilitating medical conditions. Just in 2009, trucking accidents took the lives of more than 3,100 people across the U.S. Keeping a closer eye on these drivers can help us to reduce this number.

“This new rule will ensure that healthcare professionals conducting exams keep in mind all of the demands required to operate large trucks and passenger buses safely," said USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

The new database, called the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, is a tool from the FMCSA that is being used to help assist its commitment to holding medical examiners accountable when examining our truckers. Part of the safety of our roadways lies in their hands. Being more in tune with the kinds of health conditions that trucks are subjected to will help to reduce the risks of injuries and fatalities resulting from trucking accidents. The nationwide database is used as a supplement to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) new recommendations regarding training for these examiners as well as keeping better track of driver medical certificates and examinations.

Within the next month, the FMCSA will be posting uniform testing and training standards on its website for medical examiners. When these new standards are posted then individuals will be able to look them over and even sign up for updates on the new rule.

In two years, all those who are certified in these examinations will be required to be listed on the National Registry database. Those who don't keep up with their certifications and training will be taken off of the registry.

Rollover Car Accident in West Palm Beach: Cause Unknown

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:26:37 -0500

After a recent West Palm Beach rollover accident, a man in his 50s had to be rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center. In the accident, he was thrown out of his vehicle, according to a spokesman with the West Palm Beach Police. The accident happened at the intersection of Village Boulevard and 45th Street just before 2:00 p.m., reports The Palm Beach Post.

Officials have yet to determine the cause of the accident, but reports indicate that the man's SUV ended up rolling over onto its roof after striking another vehicle at that intersection. Fault has not been determined. The man was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. The two passengers of the other vehicle were transported to Columbia Hospital.

Our West Palm Beach car accident lawyers understand that more than four out of every ten Americans think they're safer in an SUV than in a smaller passenger car, according to the National Consumer Survey. At the same time, about half of Americans don't consider that loading contributes to the risks of rollover accidents. Sometimes, SUVs provide a false sense of security for drivers. Nearly 40 percent of surveyed drivers said that they felt more powerful behind the wheel of an SUV than behind a smaller passenger car.

Here are the hard facts:

-SUVs rollover much more easily than other kinds of vehicles. Nearly 40 percent of deadly accidents involve a rollover. Less than 20 percent of passenger cars rolled over in the event of a fatal accident.

-SUVs had the highest occupant fatality rate of any kind of vehicle in rollover accidents. The rate was roughly 8 per 100,000 registered vehicles. Pickup trucks have a rate of less than 7, vans at about 3 and passenger cars slightly over 3.

-In 2006, single-vehicle rollover accidents accounted for about 50 percent of driver fatalities in SUVs. This is compared to less than 40 percent with pickup truck drivers and roughly 20 percent in passenger car drivers.

-In 2006, there were nearly 8,100 SUV occupants who died in a motor vehicle accident.

Just last year, there were more than 8,000 people who were killed in SUV rollover accidents. Motorists oftentimes feel a sense of security in these vehicles, but the truth of it is that these vehicles are much more prone to accidents in certain scenarios than other smaller vehicles. Drivers of all vehicles are urged to be cautious on our roadways, regardless of vehicle type. Safe and responsible driving habits may be your best defense in the event of an auto accident, regardless of which vehicle you're in. Be safe out there!

Risks of Child Injury in Hollandale Increase with Rising Temps

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:47:13 -0500

We're getting weather temps creeping into the 90s and the heat brings about increased risks for heatstroke, hyperthermia and other heat-related child injuries in Hallandale and elsewhere.

To help raise awareness about the problem and to help to get parents, caregivers, babysitters and other childcare providers to keep a close eye on children during this time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a new campaign, "Where's baby? Look before you lock." These kinds of accidents are actually the number one cause of non-crash, vehicle related fatalities for kids 13-years-old and younger. In just 2011, there were more than 30 of these fatal accidents reported.

"This campaign is a call-to-action for parents and families, but also for everyone in every community that cares about the safety of children," said Ray LaHood, the USDOT Transportation Secretary.

Our Hollandale car accident lawyers understand that drivers don't usually consider heatstroke and hyperthermia when talking about car accidents. But the truth of the matter is that these are very real threats and take the lives of far too many children every year. These accidents are completely preventable with a little bit of awareness. During the next few weeks, the NHTSA will be launching a number of online and radio ads to push the message of the "Where's baby? Look before you lock," campaign. The campaign is urging adults who transport children to check the car before getting out, locking it up and walking away. These kinds of accidents happen to all walks of life. Don't think you're safe.

Researchers with the NHTSA will be looking into after-market products designed to help adults remember children in the vehicle. Later in the summer, the findings and the ratings of these devices will be released.

While there were more than 30 fatalities reported because these kinds of accidents in 2011, the number of injuries resulting from these incidents is unknown. Some of the injuries that can result from leaving a child in a car can be a loss of hearing, a loss of eyesight and irreversible brain damage.

To help to prevent these kinds of accidents, the NHTSA offers the following tips:

-Adults are urged to never leave a kid alone in the car. It's even extremely unsafe to leave a kid in the car with the air conditioning on full blast and the windows cracked.

-Adults are to make it a habit of looking throughout the car, for children, before getting out, locking the door and walking away.

-Parents and guardians should ask their childcare provider, daycare center or babysitter to alert them immediately if their child does not show up when expected.

-Place things in the front seat to remind you to turn around and check the car before getting out. An easy way to remember is to keep your purse, your briefcase, your cell phone or another important object in the back seat to force yourself to turn around and view the backseat before getting out.

-Keep you household's car keys out of sight and out of reach of children.

Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere Targeted by Prom Patrol!

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:10:58 -0500

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is continuing on in its efforts to help keep our teens safe and out of potentially fatal car accidents throughout the state of Florida with another installment of its Education & Prevention Program (EPP).

According to The Examiner, this program reaches more than 10,000 Florida high school students and was created to help teach these kids about the dangers of dangerous driving habits, spinal cord injuries and other consequences of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere.

This year's presentation campaign, called “Prom Patrol: Keeping Teens Safe,” will be showcased at various South Florida high schools from the 23rd of April through the 4th of May.

Prom Patrol will be reaching out to South Florida teens in an attempt to promote positive habits and behaviors while teaching students about the dangers of distracted driving, drinking and driving and other dangerous prom-night behaviors. These messages will be conveyed through the program's video presentation, “It Could Happen to You,” during the event.

Our Fort Lauderdale injury attorneys understand that teens face some of the highest risks for car accidents during this time of the year. They get to look forward to prom, to graduation and to summer break. What many overlook and fail to recognize are the risks that they face on our roadways. Teens, mile for mile, actually have the highest rates of accidents. Let's all work together to spread the message of safe and responsible habits behind the wheel to our young drivers. Speaking up and reaching out may be one of the most effective ways to help keep these young ones safe on our roadways during this dangerous time of the year.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation started back in 2002. Darrell Gwynn, the President of the Foundation, is a successful race car driver and team owner. Back in 1983 he took the top spot at the NHRA World Championship driving a Top Alcohol Dragster. Later in 2001, he was voted as one of the “50 Greatest Drivers All-Time” by NHRA. Just a year later he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Now, he lives in Weston and uses his time helping to keep our roads safe for everyone. During this time of the year it's the young drivers he targets.

Parents are urged to join in on Mr. Gwynn's efforts and reach out to the teen drivers in their lives. These teens may not be old enough to drink, but that doesn't mean they won't. Of the teen drivers who were killed in car accidents last year, about a third of them were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Parents are urged to keep an eye on their teen's prom plans. Make sure these plans don't include booze. It's also a good time to talk with them about the importance of focus behind the wheel. These young drivers are more likely than any other group of drivers to engage in distractions behind the wheel.

Elderly Drivers and Car Accidents in Weston and Elsewhere Less Likely?

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:32:09 -0500

Just this last week, a 100-year-old Florida man reportedly drove his vehicle into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, landing both men in the hospital. In the same area just 20 minutes later, an 80-year-old woman crashed her vehicle into a Chinese restaurant, demolishing the building and injuring two people. She said she mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal, according to The Tampa Tribune.

It's accidents like these that undoubtedly reinforce the perception that many have about elderly motorists and their risks for car accidents in Weston and elsewhere. Comparative data, though, shows these kinds of accidents in a completely different light.

Our Weston injury attorneys understand that drivers who are 80-years-old and older had an accident rate of 90 per 10,000 drivers in 2010. When you compare this to the accident rate for drivers aged 15- to 24-years-old, at nearly 350 accidents per 10,000 drivers, it doesn't seem that bad. But it's still a very real threat. With age, our senses deteriorate and were less able to navigate our roadways safely. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a part of life. It's important that we recognize this deterioration and address it early!

It's a fact, elderly drivers drive less than teenage drivers, which can ultimately have an effect on the accident data. What none of us can argue is that the post-retirement population of drivers in the state of Florida is growing rapidly. More and more of these elderly residents are driving along our roadways. As a matter of fact, the number of Florida residents 71-years-old and older with a driver's license jumped by almost 100,000 in the last five years. We've now got nearly 2 million of these drivers in our state. The number of drivers 90-years-old and older has also jumped nearly 30 percent since 2007. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), there are nearly 500 licensed drivers in the state of Florida that are 100-years-old or older.

Florida does not require these elderly drivers to undergo thorough screenings to test their driving abilities. Actually, requirements don't change much with age. The only difference can really be seen in the vision test, requiring drivers over the age of 79 to take one. Also, drivers under the age of 79 can hold their license for eight years before renewal. Drivers over the age of 80 can only have a license for six years before a renewal is required.

Regardless of the statistics and the testing, families are urged to keep an eye on the elderly loved ones in their family to make sure that they're staying safe behind the wheel. When an elderly driver's abilities start to fail, it's important to speak up. Your concern and intervention can help to keep them out of a potentially fatal accident.

Reducing Risks of Trucking Accidents in Wilton Manors and Elsewhere with Slower Speeds

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:00:35 -0500

Findings from a recently released study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) concluded that governing the speed limits on our nation's roadways, especially of commercial trucks, may be the way to go.

Reducing speed limits may be the key to helping us to achieve safer roadways and fewer trucking accidents and elsewhere. Transportation officials with the FMCSA have determined that there are plenty of benefits of in-vehicle technology that can govern and limit the top speed of commercial trucks.

It's these same trucks that often produce fatal results in roadway accidents.

"This study confirms what ATA has been saying for years – speed kills and one of the most effective ways to prevent hundreds, if not thousands, of crashes on our highways is to slow all vehicles down," said Bill Graves, President and CEO American Trucking Associations.

Our Wilton Manors injury attorneys understand that the ATA petitioned both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the FMCSA nearly 10 years ago in an attempt to mandate the installation and the use of these speed regulation devices on all commercial vehicles that were made after 1992.

The recent FMCSA study backs up the ATA's claims as they continue to call on rules and regulations to require these devices on most, if not all, trucks on our roadways, according to Vehicle Service Pros.

Researchers with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the American Transportation Research Institute completed this most recent study.

Speed is one of the most common factors in fatal accidents across the country. Still, drivers of all kinds continue to push the pedal to the metal and risk their lives in doing so.

According to Graves, slowing down these large commercial trucks may be one of the most beneficial ways to help make our roadways safer for everyone. Both he and the ATA are proposing a measure to make a national speed limit of 65 miles per hour for all vehicles. He goes on to give a big thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for backing such a thorough study. And he is asking officials to use these findings to create new safety regulations for large trucks throughout the nation.

Speed can be found as a top factor in about a third of all fatal accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Officials estimate that speed-related accidents result in an economic cost to U.S. society of more than $27 billion each year.

Speed significantly reduces the amount of time that a driver has to react to a roadway danger and a potential accident. The faster a vehicle is driving, the higher the risks are for an accident. Slow it down and keep it safe.

Teens, Distracted Driving and Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:30:38 -0500

Distracted driving is dangerous for everyone. The age group already with the highest risks for car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere -- teenagers -- is more likely to engage in distractions behind the wheel.

Go figure! A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety discovered which of these teen drivers were most likely to compromise roadway safety and which were likely to engage in distractions behind the wheel. It was the girls. Female teen drivers were twice as likely to use portable electronic devices at the wheel as male teen drivers.

According to Market Wire, the AAA study looked at the driving habits of 50 families with teen drivers in North Carolina. After combing through about 8,000 video clips from in-car camera systems, it was concluded that females were distracted behind the wheel more than the male teens. They were distracted about 5 percent more of the time.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that more than electronic devices were contributing the driver distractions. Drivers were also witnessed eating, drinking, playing with controls, talking with passengers and much more. All of these actions take driver attention off of the roadway, if even for a moment. It's those moments that can mean the difference between life and death.

"This new study provides the best view we've had about how and when teens engage in distracted driving behaviors believed to contribute to making car crashes the leading cause of death," said AAA President and CEO Peter Kissinger.

This was the first study to use in-car video to examine teenage distracted driving habits. Previous studies involving distracted driving measured braking habits, swerving, acceleration, g-force measurements, etc. Those studies looked at the results of distracted driving as opposed to which drivers were guilty of all this distracted driving in the first place.

The findings of the study concluded that electronic devices are the number one cause of distractions for these young drivers. Aside from electronics, the most common distractions were grooming, eating, drinking, playing with controls and talking to passengers. Female teens were more likely to engage in all of these distractions except for talking with people outside of the car and turning around in the driver's seat.

Older teen drivers were witnessed engaging in more acts of distracted driving than younger drivers. Researchers believe that this is because as the teens got more comfortable behind the wheel, they feel like they are less influenced by distractions and are able to keep their attention on the road simultaneously. That's not true though. Taking your eyes of the road for even a second can cause a fatal accident before you even know it.