Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

It's no secret that Florida is a major tourist destination and now that the school season is winding down, many people from all across the country and from around the world are making plans to visit the state for their vacations. Tourists bring important cash into the economy, but they can also mean a greater risk of Florida car accidents because:

1) Not all tourists are familiar with Florida roads. Tourists may drive more slowly, back up, and need to turn around as they look for their hotels or destinations. The roads and road signs – as well as the hazards – which are familiar to local Floridians are not familiar to those who have never driven on Florida roads before. Anticipating other cars and driving defensively is therefore important for all drivers.

2) More tourists mean more traffic. More people pouring into Florida and heading on the roads towards major attractions means more traffic – and traffic can mean more frayed tempers as well as a greater risk of car accidents. When driving during the tourist season, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and give yourself plenty of space on the road.

3) More tourists mean more bicyclists and pedestrians. Many visitors enjoy exploring Florida's natural beauty on foot. This can mean more bicyclists and more pedestrians sharing the roadways with cars, which in turn can lead to more Florida bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. It is important to be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists – especially those who may not be familiar with local roads.

To drive safely as we share the state with visitors, be sure to put away and distractions before you get in your car and drive defensively. Courteous driving will keep you and your family safer and will also encourage visitors to come back to the state for their next vacation.

Continue reading " How to Avoid Florida Car Accidents During Tourist Season " »

Summer is the perfect time for a road trip. Whether you are headed across the country or just across the state, however, use these tips to avoid a Florida car accident during your vacation:

1) Make sure your car is ready for the road. Some cars are simply not fit for long road trips. Before you go, take your car to a trusted mechanic for a basic tune-up and a check of major systems. Get your fluids changed and your tires and brakes checked to ensure that your car is ready for the journey.

2) Plan your trip carefully. Map out your trip carefully, making sure to note rest stops, hotels, and alternative routes in case main routes prove impassable. Online communities are a great way to plan a trip. Make sure that you note any hazards on your route – such as mountainous areas or areas known for fog – so that you are prepared.

3) Pack the essentials. In a small duffel bag, you should pack the items that you need to drive safe. These items should include snacks and bottled water, a blanket, a map, sunscreen, a hat, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, and a cell phone (which should be turned off while you drive). Having everything you may need in one place makes it easier to pull over to the side of the road and find the essentials when you need one of these items.

4) Give all passengers a job to do. Passengers can be a great distraction on the road, so give your passengers a game to play or have them trace the route on a map. This is especially important for small children, who can squabble and be very distracting when bored. If you are traveling with children, pack an iPod of music, games, and other distractions.

5) Take your time. Giving yourself plenty of time ensures that you are not trying to drive for hours at a time. When planning your trip, schedule a short break every hour, as well as time for meals plus a good night of sleep at a hotel or motel. Good breaks can make you less likely to be fatigued and therefore dangerous on the road.

Continue reading " Planning a Summer Road Trip? Tips to Stay Safe " »

For many teens, a road trip is an adventure and something of a rite of passage. Therefore, many teen drivers look forward to the day they can gather together a few friends and hit the road. If your teen driver is going on a first road trip, keep these safety tips in mind:

1) Make sure your teen has GPS and a cell phone – but won't use them while driving. A cell phone with a GPS feature can help your teen call for help and get oriented, but since distracted driving is a leading cause of Florida car accidents, you want to ensure that your teen won't use these devices while driving. Make sure that your teen agrees to pull over onto the side of the road before using these devices. Also, arrange a call-in time for your teen to call you to let you know that everything is fine.

2) Help your teen plan the trip. Work together to identify driving times, rest stops and breaks, potential hazards, and good driving routes. Make sure that your teen understands all the information needed to drive safely.

3) Create a written agreement. Create a contract with your teen and sign it. The contract should outline the rules for the road trip – such as when your teen will call in, a no drunk driving clause, a no distracted driving clause, and anything else you need to keep your driver safe. Be sure to outline fines and penalties for breaking the rules.

4) Encourage your teen to choose passengers carefully. Passengers are a major cause of distraction for teen drivers, so encourage your driver to consider who is coming along on the trip. Consider packing snacks or other activities for passengers so that your teen can focus on the road.

5) Make sure that your teen has a safe car to drive. Many teens driver older used cars because they are affordable, but not all of these cars are adequate for the rigors of a road trip. Take the car to your own mechanic to make sure the vehicle is sound and safe.

6) Consider the gift of additional training. The best gift you have give your teen before the road trip is a few hours of extra training with a qualified driving instructor. One on one training with a good instructor can help your teen correct some bad habits and brush up on skills needed for a longer trip.

Continue reading " Your Teen Driver's First Road Trip " »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 30 000 Americans die each year in drunk driving accidents. That's about 32 people a day dying needlessly. In addition to these fatalities, many more millions are seriously injured by drunk drivers. Drunk driving accidents are especially tragic because they are completely preventable. It is as simple as not driving if you are drinking.

This is a good time to talk to your teens about Florida car accidents caused by alcohol, because this is the time of year when teens are most at risk. The months of April, May, and June mean graduation, prom, and other festivities which can include underage drinking. Some statistics show that a significant portion of teen drunk driving accidents take place during these three months.

Many parents miss the signs of alcohol abuse because they assume that their children would never drink. Statistics show time and again that a large percentage of teens have experimented with alcohol by the time they are sixteen, however. Assuming that a teen won't drink is not the best approach. Parents should know that there will be times when their teens are pressured to drink – and it is up to parents that their teens have the skills and tools in place to resist the temptation to drink and drive.

Many parents also have a hard time discussing the issue with their teens. It can be awkward to discuss drinking with underage minors. However, there are a number of good tools that can help. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have many resources and tips on their website that can help start the conversation. As well, many police stations have educational materials that can help parents talk to their teens.

In many cases, parents send teens mixed messages about Florida drunk driving accidents. This can be a problem. On the one hand, parents want their teens to never take part in underage drinking. On the other hand, parents want their teens to know that if they do drink they should not drive. This can seem confusing to teens. Worse, parents may have their own complicated attitudes about alcohol and other controlled substances. The key is to be the best role model possible and to have discussions about underage drinking and about drunk driving separately. That way, you can enforce the dangers of both drinking itself and drunk driving.

Continue reading " This is the Month to Teach Teen Drivers About Florida Drunk Driving Accidents " »

Two bills have been introduced in the Florida Legislature which would allow drivers and product manufacturers to share liability in products liability cases. These bills would let juries hear evidence about any role the driver played in causing a Florida car accident, even if the accident was partly caused by a defective automotive product.

Currently, Florida laws place the liability of defective products with manufacturers. Therefore, if under current laws a driver is in a car accident in a car with a defective part, only the manufacturer is held liable – not the driver. This is seen as the risk of doing business in the industry.

The two laws, including Senate Bill 142, have already been approved by Senate. Senate Bill 142 would make changes to Florida Statutes § 768.81. If passed, the bill would require juries in automotive products liability cases to consider the potential liability and fault of all parties – including the driver – before determining the distribution of damages.

Bill HB201 has already been given approval by the Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee. This bill will allow evidence of fault to be presented in all automotive products liability cases in Florida where no defective product can be defined. This bill will allow liability to be allotted to all parties found to be partly responsible to the accident.

The bills have caused some debate. Some feel that the bills are fair because they take into consideration driver negligence rather than assigning all fault to manufacturers. However, some attorneys have expressed concerns that if passed the new legislation will deflect attention from poorly made or defective automotive parts by blaming drivers.

Continue reading " Two Bills in Florida Could Affect Car Accident and Florida Products Liability Cases " »

Car safety can mean road safety. When your car is well-maintained and in good shape, it responds as you need it to in order to help you avoid a car accident. A car in poor repair may not brake or stop correctly, potentially increasing your risk of being in a Florida car accident. To keep your car safer on the roads, make sure that you:

1) Take your car in for regular maintenance. If you notice something off with your car, take it in promptly to a trusted mechanic – before that small problem becomes a key hazard. Regular maintenance can also ensure that your mechanic can notice and deal with any potentially dangerous problems – such as brake issues.

2) Tighten your tires. If you have changed your tires changed recently, return to the mechanic within a few days to have your tires – and the lug nuts on them – retightened. Failure to do so can mean that your tires are too loose, which can be very dangerous as it can cause the tire to fly off while you are driving.

3) Check the age of your tires. When you notice that the treads on your tires are worn down, it is important to have your tires changed. Good treads are important for giving you good grip in all road conditions. Even if your treads are fine, however, take a closer look at the serial number on your tire to check when your tires were made. Rubber ages poorly, so even new tires that have been stored for a number of years can be a hazard on the roads.

4) Test the less important systems in your car. Windshield wiper fluid may not seem important – until your windshield gets sprayed with mud and you need to clean your windshield fast to see properly. Check the things your mechanic may not check – such as seatbelts, head rests, and sun visors – to make sure these things are there when you need them.

Continue reading " Are Your Tires and Car Safe Enough to Prevent a Car Accident? " »

Many parents of teen drivers worry about their children and may even sit down for discussions about Florida drunk driving accidents or distracted driving. While such talks can be great, it is also important to remember that it's best not to wait until sixteen. By the time your child is sixteen, he or she has been in and out of cars for years. It is important to start having these discussions much earlier – when your teen is a pre-teen or a child. There are many things you can do:

1) Have a list of people your teen can call. Your child or teen may not always feel comfortable talking to you or calling you if he or she wants to avoid a drunk driver. It’s a good idea, therefore, to have a list of adult friends and family they can call for a safe ride home. A list of contacts also ensures your child is safe even if they cannot reach you directly.

2) Create a agreement with other members of your family. Consider creating a formal agreement with your teens or pre-teens and with some adult friends and family. The agreement can indicate that your teen or pre-teen can call any of these adults when they need a safe ride home and they will get one – no questions asked. Have your teen add any provisions they need to feel comfortable with making that call.

3) Sign an agreement with your teen or pre-teen about driving safely. Get it in writing and get it specific so that your teen or child knows exactly what their responsibilities are. It is best to have your child help you in drafting the agreement, to ensure that they understand it completely.

4) Teach your child about pedestrian safety. Children are more likely to be in Florida pedestrian accidents because they spend less time in cars than most adults. Reviewing pedestrian safety rules regularly is important to ensure that your child knows how to be safe around cars – as well as in them.

5) Teach your child about car safety. It's not just Florida car accidents that are a danger – there are also strangers in cars, cars backing up, and other dangers. Show your child the basics of car safety – how to get out of a car or trunk, how to approach a car, how to recognize when a car or truck is backing up. The more your child knows, the more he or she can stay safe.

Continue reading " Don’t Wait Until 16 To Talk to Your Teen About Florida Drunk Driving Accidents " »