Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to Florida officials, about one quarter of Florida drivers will be seniors by the year 2030. Currently, about 20 percent of drivers in the state are seniors age 65 or older. Much has already been written about elderly drivers and Miami car accidents. Some experts claim that age-related health concerns could make these drivers a risk. Others argue that health concerns that affect driving ability can occur at any age, so it is unfair to target elderly drivers.

A new study, however, suggests that it is not only elderly drivers we need to be concerned about: it is also senior personal injury victims injured in car accidents. According to TRIP, a transportation research group, more senior drivers were killed in 2010 in car accidents in Florida than in any other region of the US. According to the study, 271 seniors were killed in car accidents in Florida in 2010. The study also found that in 503 deaths related to car accidents, the drivers involved were senior drivers. Florida has 9.87 elderly fatalities per 100 000 individuals. Only Texas had a higher rate related to population, with 10.7 senior deaths per 100 000 people.

According to both TRIP and an advocacy organization known as Floridians for Better Transportation, more needs to be done to make Florida roadways safer for everyone, especially now that the number of senior drivers is on the rise. According to Floridians for Better Transportation, one of the issues is that many retirees choose to settle in Florida in their golden years, and this can mean that drivers who are used to driving in other states (and not used to driving in Florida) end up in Florida. Another issue is that drivers are driving longer and seniors are living longer, meaning that elderly drivers spend more time behind the wheel than in past generations.

One issue with Miami car accidents and traffic accidents is not only what causes them, but also the types of injuries which passengers and drivers can sustain. The high rate of fatalities found in the TRIP study could suggest that elderly drivers are vulnerable to injuries sustained in car accidents. Some age-related illnesses, such as osteoporosis, can make elderly victims of Miami truck accidents and traffic accidents more susceptible to broken bones, for example. If an elderly driver or passenger has a pre-existing health condition, any brain injuries, fractures, burn injuries, and other injuries can take longer to heal.

Elderly car accident victims face many challenges as they recover as well. Since many seniors are on fixed incomes, medical costs, car repair costs, and other Miami traffic accident-related costs can create substantial financial distress. At the same time, insurers do not always provide elderly injury victims with fair claim amounts. Since elderly victims may not be income earners, for example, they may not recover for lost income and other related expenses. In addition, elderly drivers may sometimes be unfairly blamed for an accident.

For all these reasons, it is important for elderly car accident victims to consult with a qualified Miami personal injury attorney after their accident. An experienced Miami personal injury attorney can investigate the cause of the accident, can help the accident victim understand the value of their case, and can negotiate with insurance carriers for fairer compensation.

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Technology has always been instrumental in helping to prevent car accidents and injuries. The seat belt, one of the simplest forms of technology introduced to early cars, is still one of the best ways to help prevent brain injuries and head injuries in a Hollywood car accident. Each year, car manufacturers roll out new safety systems to help prevent accidents and injuries. Could the newest technology be instrumental in helping prevent Hollywood traffic accidents even more? The Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue seems to think so.

The Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue has reviewed a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology which allows cars in the same area to use a wireless system to communicate with each other. This can help cars communicate with each other about direction of travel, speed, and location of each vehicle. This in turn helps cars communicate about when an accident is likely to happen and warn drivers ahead of this time. The technology can even brake if the driver does not respond in time. It also warns drivers of cars in their blind spots.

With this system, if one car cuts another car off, for example, the technology signals loudly to the drivers, so that both drivers can respond in time to avoid the accident. The technology also signals loudly if a driver attempts an unsafe lane change or is about to enter an intersection where an accident is very likely. Since the technology can tell where other cars are, it can estimate when it is unsafe to enter an intersection due to another car’s speed and travel direction, for example.

While the technology might not be as effective in preventing Hollywood drunk driving accidents and Hollywood pedestrian accidents, there is a suggestion that it could be very effective in preventing the most common car accident types. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration predicts that this type of technology could help prevent or minimize an impressive 80% of car accidents involving sober drivers.

Some of the new technology allows not only cars to communicate with each other, but also allows cars to communicate with school zones, traffic lights, and work zones. V2V technology along with this new technology is known as V2X technology. Implementing the technology could still be many years away. In addition to the possible cost factors that car manufacturers need to consider, there are also cyber security and privacy concerns that need to be addressed with the new technology. While many auto industry experts say that the technology is the next big safety feature breakthrough, more regulations need to be in place, say experts, to ensure that the private information that cars would gather would not be abused.

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As baby boomers start turning 65 and as the number of seniors in Florida continues to rise, many are asking about the connections between age and Fort Lauderdale car accidents. Studies out of both the US and Canada suggest that older drivers are actually involved in fewer car collisions when compared with younger drivers. However, some studies also suggest that older drivers are more likely to suffer serious Fort Lauderdale personal injuries or fatalities as a result of an accident when compared with younger drivers.

Researchers in many studies have also suggested that older drivers are more likely than younger drivers to suffer from health problems, including vision problems, which can affect driving safety. However, there is some debate about the best methods for identifying drivers who are at risk due to health issues.

Some experts have suggested mandatory re-testing for older drivers who want to renew their licenses. The benefit of this plan is that it would ensure that age-related illnesses might be caught more often. However, others argue that such testing would increase costs and would not necessarily help, since adults of any age can develop health conditions that prevent them from driving safely.

Other experts have suggested that doctors take a larger role in keeping unsafe drivers off the roads, by being more aggressive in removing drivers with potentially hazardous conditions from the roads by taking away licenses. Many doctors are reluctant to adopt this plan, however, noting that even adults with chronic conditions can eventually manage their conditions and drive safely, making it difficult for doctors to distinguish safe drivers and unsafe drivers. Many doctors point out as well that their role is medicine, not policing the roadways.

While Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents involving elderly drivers often make the news, many experts point out that older drivers are actually less likely to cause a collision than a distracted driver or young driver. Some experts feel that targeting older drivers is unfair for this reason.

One of the best options is for drivers to voluntarily give up their keys when they know that they are no longer able to drive safely. However, this solution is also problematic for a number of reasons. In many cases, drivers are not aware that their condition or symptoms are a danger to themselves or others. In addition, many older drivers are reluctant to give up driving privileges because of the freedom of movement and the independence that driving offers.

In some cases, an illness or symptoms may come on very suddenly, and a driver may have no indication that there is something wrong until it is too late. A driver may have a sudden heart attack, for example, and cause a Fort Lauderdale truck accident without having had any previous symptoms of heart problems. Predicting possible health dangers for drivers ahead of time is just not always possible.

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According to an investigative report by the Sun Sentinel, at least 21 people in Florida have been seriously injured or killed by speeding police vehicles since 2004. In some cases, the speeds do not seem justified. In 2008, 20-year-old Erskin Bell Jr. was left severely brain damaged when a police car rear-ended his vehicle at 104 mph. A subsequent investigation showed that the police officer behind the wheel, Mark Maupin, was not responding to a call and was not taking part in a pursuit when he lost control of his police car. Maupin had a history of accidents and speeding violations on the job, but after the Bell accident the only punishment he received was to lose his license for 90 days. Maupin was also injured in the crash.

According to the Sun Sentinel investigation, seemingly unnecessary speeding is one of the most disturbing trends when it comes to Florida car accidents involving police cars: in most of the 21 cases involving a serious car accident with a police car, the officers involved were responding to a routine call or were simply driving too fast. In most cases, they were not speeding due to an urgent situation. The investigation also found that police officers involved in these 21 accidents tended to face low criminal sentences, ranging from no jail time to no more than 60 days in jail, even when the car accidents they caused were fatal.

The problem of speeding police cars also causes a heavy toll for police officers. Of the people killed by police cars between 2004 and 2011, seven were police officers. In some cases, their vehicles were traveling as much as 61 mph above the posted speed limit at the time of the accident. Obviously, the Sun Sentinel report is disturbing, as many of these accidents that lead to serious accidents appear to be highly preventable.

There is no doubt that law enforcement personnel do a terrific job in keeping communities safe. They work tirelessly to uphold the law and help individuals. In many cases, they risk their lives for others. In some situations, police officers and other emergency vehicles do need to speed. If they are chasing someone who is dangerous or trying to get to a life-threatening situation, speed of course can save lives. And emergency responders do get special training to ensure that they do get to emergency situations quickly in order to save lives.

At the same time, when families lose loved ones due to the situation described by the Sun Sentinel, these types of losses can be devastating and angering. These accidents can cause serious injuries, including Fort Lauderdale brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities. In many cases, victims who have been injured by emergency responders face tremendous challenges when it comes to recovering compensation for injuries and other costs. Community governments and their employees are protected and have teams of experienced attorneys working for them. If you have been injured in a Fort Lauderdale car accident, it is important to speak with a qualified Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney who can defend your rights and can seek compensation for your injuries, so that you do not have to bear the burden of medical costs and other expenses yourself.

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Florida remains one of the few states that has not passed laws that ban texting while driving. There is a strong push to get this type of law passed, but despite the number of people injured and even killed by texting drivers, bill that are introduced to ban distracted driving do not pass into law. Last year, a move was made by Florida legislators to pass a texting ban for motorists, but that proposed legislation failed to pass into law.

While some people argue that banning texting and driving would help reduce the number of Miami traffic collisions, others argue that texting bans would harm individual rights by inviting too much government control into people’s lives. According to Jim Harper of the Cato Institute, texting bans make little sense because Florida laws already ban reckless driving and any driver who causes a Miami car accident due to texting and driving can be charged under those laws. Harper also notes that any new technology causes some accidents but does not require legislation. Speaking with reporters, he mentioned that cup holders caused some accidents when they were first introduced into cars, but no laws banned them.

There is a Senate bill (SB 416) in Florida that would ban texting and driving. So far, that bill has had two votes cast against it but it has passed through three committees. It still needs to be voted on by the full chamber. A House bill (HB 299) banning texting and driving has not moved forward. Some argue that the bills do not go far enough. If the bills become law, they would result in only a $30 initial fine. Any motorist caught texting and driving twice within five years would face an additional $60 fine. Drivers who cause an accident while texting would lose driver points under the proposed legislation. If the bills became law, police would only be able to charge drivers for texting if they pulled the driver over for another violation first.

According to some experts, texting bans might also not make much of an impact on Miami car accident rates anyway. There were 171 538 reported Florida car accidents between January and October of 2011, and under one percent of drivers were known to be texting while driving at the time of the accident, according to Florida highway safety authorities. Some experts have suggested that texting bans could actually increase Miami pedestrian accidents and car accidents, since drivers who want to text and drive would attempt to hide their devices in their laps when driving, taking their eyes off the road more.

Advocates of texting bans point to numerous studies suggesting that texting and driving is as dangerous as Miami drunk driving. They cite government research and studies by the AAA as well as numerous universities, all of which suggest that drivers who text and drive are many times more likely to be in a car accident when compared with undistracted drivers.

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According to a study published in the latest British Medical Journal, researchers at Dalhousie University have concluded that driving under the influence of marijuana almost doubles the risk of a fatal or serious car collision. The study is an especial concern for motorists, as it is the most used illegal narcotic and use of the drug seems to be growing among drivers.

According to the researchers, driving under the influence of marijuana is a bigger problem now than drunk driving in some areas. Part of the problem, according to the study’s authors, is that marijuana is easy to get, inexpensive, and readily available. As well, while the dangerous effects of drunk driving have been stressed again and again in public service announcements and the media, many young drivers, especially, do not believe that driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous. According to associate professor Mark Asbridge, who headed the study, even some designated drivers will smoke marijuana, erroneously believing that it will not impair them.

Another problem is that past studies on the effects of marijuana have not always established a definitive link between marijuana use and car collisions, making it easy for some people to suggest that marijuana is a safer option for motorists. The Dalhousie Research team combined data about 49, 411 drivers from the US, France, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

All the car accidents examined in the study involved at least one vehicle on a public road.
According to the study, drivers who used marijuana within two to three hours of driving faced a 92% greater risk of being involved in a fatal or serious injury. According to the study, marijuana affects spatial awareness, perception, motor skills, and other skills that drivers need to stay safely.

Some countries, including the US, do have saliva roadside tests for marijuana. The tests can detect recent marijuana use, but the tests are not widely used and are controversial. As well, some experts have stated that more research needs to be done to see whether random drug tests of drivers will reduce marijuana-related car accidents.

It is unknown how many North Miami car crashes each year are caused by marijuana use. In many cases, drivers are not tested for the substance after a crash. However, the newest study suggests that more can be done to alert the public about the dangers of driving impaired under the influence of marijuana. Awareness can possibly help to prevent some of the North Miami truck accidents and car accidents caused by controlled substances.

If you have been injured in a North Miami motorcycle accident, car accident, or any traffic accident and you believe that the at-fault driver was driving under the influence, you may want to discuss your case with a qualified North Miami personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney can get you answers about the accident, can determine whether you have a case, and can help you understand your rights and options.

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Many drivers do not realize that pets can be a hazard on the roadways, but pets of all sizes and types cause Miami Gardens car accidents and Florida traffic accidents each year. There are many ways that animals can cause Miami Gardens traffic accidents:

1) Pets that run into the road can cause Miami Gardens truck accidents and car accidents. When dogs are not properly restrained during an outing, they can easily run into the road and cause an accident as drivers swerve to avoid the animal. Dogs that are not on a leash can also lead to Miami Gardens dog bite claims in court. When walking a pet, it is important to always keep it on a leash. This protects the dog and motorists.

2) Pets that are loose in a car can get in the way of driving and can cause an accident. One of the biggest causes of pet-related car accidents has to do with uncaged animals in a car. Unfortunately, when animals are in a moving car they sometimes want to explore. They can leap up on the steering wheel, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, or can climb onto the dashboard and reduce visibility. Small animals can get caught under the gas pedals. For all these reasons, it is important to transport pets in appropriate kennels or cages at all times. In a car accident, the pet and the owner may be seriously injured or killed, so keeping a pet enclosed in a cage in the car ensures everyone’s safety.

3) Pets can be a distraction in the car. Even when pets are contained in a kennel or cage, they can be a distraction for the driver. In some cases, pets can whine or cause a disturbance because they are upset by being in a moving car. If your pet is a distraction for you in the car, you can speak to your vet about possible solutions. You can also travel with a friend when transporting your pet. Your friend can keep an eye on your pet, allowing you to place all your focus on the road.

Pet-related Miami Gardens car accidents can cause fatalities, serious property damage, and serious injuries, including head injuries and spinal cord injuries. When a pet owner does not take the steps necessary to drive safely with their pet in the car, it puts the lives of everyone at risk. An innocent pedestrian or motorist can be injured or killed due to one pet owner’s negligence.

If you have been injured by a motorist who drove recklessly because they had their pet in the car with them, you may have a legal claim. It is a good idea to discuss your case with a qualified Miami Gardens personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, can help you determine the costs of your injuries, and can work on your behalf to ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries.

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While the number of drunk driving car accidents has slowly been declining in recent years across the country, the number of car accidents in the community involving drugged driving has been increasing. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), a third of all drivers killed in US car accidents in 2009 tested positive for drugs.

Like many communities, Miami Gardens has many plans in place to fight Miami Gardens drunk driving accidents. There are breathalyzer tests, roadside checks, and special programs to make drivers aware of the dangers of drunk driving. However, some experts say that not enough is done to make people aware of Miami Gardens car accidents and truck accidents involving drugs.

Part of the problem is that many people are not even aware of the types of drugs that can cause a serious Miami Gardens car collision. Experts list many potentially driver impairing (PDI) drugs which can cause car accidents. Among them are illegal drugs such as methamphetamines and marijuana. However, PDI drugs also include prescription medications and even innocuous over-the-counter drugs, including many popular flu and cold remedies. If drivers are not aware of the dangers of these drugs and do not take care to read labels, they can easily cause an accident.

Another problem is that some of the drugs which can cause Miami Gardens truck accidents and car accidents are illegal. Drugs such as methamphetamines and heroin, for example, can make drivers very unsafe and can also impair judgement to the point where a driver does not realize that they are too impaired to drive. Some experts have suggested that those who flout the law by taking illegal drugs may also ignore safe driving laws and anti-drunk-driving laws as well.

A third problem is that it can be very hard to discern and legislate drugged driving accidents. Breathalyzers and other tools that law enforcement officers use to catch drunk drivers may not work on drivers who are under the influence of drugs. Many drugs also do not leave any odor, the way that alcohol can. In many cases, law enforcement can only determine whether someone has been driving after doing drugs is to get the driver to take a drug test. In many cases, these types of tests are only administered after a fatal accident – after it is too late to stop an impaired driver.

If you have been in a Miami Gardens traffic accident that you think was caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs, it is important to speak to an experienced Miami Gardens personal injury attorney. If the accident was caused by drugs, an attorney can investigate a driver’s medical records and background to determine whether drugs were a factor. If someone’s negligent use of drugs has caused an accident that has caused you injuries, that driver may be held liable for your injuries.

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