Florida
Car Accident Lawyer Blog

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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A recent pileup on the Interstate 75 in Florida has highlighted the dangers of car accidents in the area. The deadly accident claimed ten lives and backed up traffic for miles. A police investigation is ongoing, but it is believed that poor visibility due to nearby fires could have contributed to the massive collision. At least At least twelve trucks and passenger vehicles were involved in the multiple-vehicle collision, which took place at 4 in the morning. The January 29, 2012 multiple vehicle crash may eventually become a criminal investigation, according to some media sources. According to experts, there are several things that drivers can do to keep themselves safer from multi-vehicle Miami truck accidents:

1) Proceed carefully when a road is re-opened after an accident. According to some media reports, the January 29, 2012 multiple vehicle accident on the Interstate 75 happened after the road had been closed earlier and re-opened. When a road is reopened, drivers still need to stay alert for any problems that may have caused an earlier accident or road closure.

2) Adjust for weather and other conditions. According to some media reports, visibility was so poor along the Interstate 75 in Florida at the time of the accident that people making 911 calls from the accident scene were reporting hearing accidents that poor visibility prevented them from seeing clearly. In poor conditions, it is important to slow down and even to choose an alternative route. A Miami traffic collision is always more likely in any conditions that decrease visibility.

3) Give the driver in front of you plenty of room. Many Miami car accidents involving multiple cars occur when one car is traveling too closely behind another car, making it impossible to stop in time in the event of an accident. If driving behind a passenger car, leave at least one car length in front of you. Leave more space in bad weather and if driving near trucks, since trucks take longer to slow down and stop.

4) Drive alert. Driving while impaired, tired, or distracted, can make it hard for you to anticipate problems and react to them in time. When driving, make sure that you are physically and emotionally in good shape for driving and keep your entire focus on the road.

5) Drive defensively. Looking ahead and anticipating challenges ensures that you can react to problems before they become a collision.

In a multiple-vehicle Miami car accident, issues of liability and damage claims can be far more complicated, since multiple cars and multiple insurance carriers are involved. Multiple-vehicle crashes are also more likely to result in serious injuries and even fatalities. For all these reasons, it is important to consult a Miami personal injury attorney if you have been in a multi-vehicle accident. A good attorney can investigate the cause of the accident, can protect your interests, and can help you understand your best options.

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Governor Rick Scott and other legislators are currently supporting HB 119, a proposed law which would require anyone injured in a Florida car accident to seek an evaluation at a hospital or clinic. The proposed law is aimed to help reduce the instances of insurance fraud, which according to the Insurance Institute total $1 billion annually. Florida has been noted to be one of the leading locations in the country for insurance fraud, with more instances of car insurance fraud occurring here than anywhere else.

The new proposed law would take aim at insurance fraudsters in a number of ways. The law would limit the choices those injured in car accidents would have about where to seek medical treatment. This is significant because in Florida instances of insurance fraud have been found to involve large networks of unscrupulous doctors and other professionals. Fraudsters work with clinics and medical professionals who overcharge for routine exams and charge for medical exams and treatments not given. Advocates of HB 119 claim the new law would eliminate these medical fraudsters by forcing victims to go to legitimate clinics and hospitals, making it harder for overcharging to work.

There is no doubt that car insurance fraud is a serious problem. In addition to the high cost of fraud – which is passed down to all drivers in the form of increased insurance premiums – insurance fraud in Florida can be a threat to public safety, as well. In some cases, fraudsters cause a minor accident, such as a rear-end collision – in order to claim an injury. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous game, and bystanders could be seriously injured in Medley car accidents or Medley pedestrian accidents caused by a fraudster looking to cause an accident in order to make a fraudulent claim.

In addition, the instances of insurance fraud in the state are negatively affecting those who are legitimately injured in Florida traffic accidents. Some residents of Medley, for example, find that their claims are treated with some suspicion and it can take some time for legitimate claimants to get their claim amounts, even if they are genuinely injured. Some victims have worked with Medley personal injury attorneys to negotiate with insurance carriers in order to ensure a fair, on-time claim recovery.

Opponents of the law, however, claim that the new law might not be the best solution. They point out that not every car accident victim with a minor injury can afford a visit to a hospital emergency room or a clinic, and this will especially be a cost concern for those without insurance. They also note that those who really want to defraud the system will still find ways to do so. Further, opponents of the bill have expressed concerns that having car accident victims with minor injuries report to hospital emergency rooms could potentially clog up emergency departments and make it harder for those who are seriously ill to get medical care.

Continue reading "Would New Law Reduce the Number of Medley Car Accidents or Merely Increase Costs?" »

Dania Beach truck accidents involving tire defects usually make the news. Not only are tire defects a common known cause of truck accidents, but truck accidents tend to be more serious – and are more likely to be fatal -- than many smaller vehicle crashes. However, many Florida and Dania Beach car accidents are also caused by defective tires. Single-vehicle accidents and even more serious multi-car accidents can be caused by several tire problems:

1) Tire wear-and-tear and tire bald spots. With high mileage, tires can eventually wear down and break down. For this reason, it is important for drivers to check their tires often. It is especially important to check tires frequently for loss of treads. Treads are what help the tire grip the road, and when treads are worn, Dania Beach traffic accidents are more common, especially in wet conditions. Wear and tear can also eventually cause the tire to burst or fail, so it is important to consider the age and the wear on the tires.

2) Older tires. The rubber that tires are made of ages and deteriorates, even when it is not used. This can especially be the case in Florida and in Dania Beach, where high temperatures can allow the rubber to deteriorate even more quickly. All tires have a code on them, which can allow you to evaluate how old the tire is. You can contact the manufacturer to determine how old your tires are and whether they are still safe.

3) Wrong size tires. Incorrectly sized tires – even one tire that is the wrong size – can throw your vehicle off balance, increasing your risk of a Dania Beach rollover accident or car accident. One thing that many drivers do not think of, for instance, is the spare tire in their trunk. If you get a flat tire and put on your spare, in many cases the spare tire is a smaller size. The aim of the spare tire is to get you to a mechanic or auto shop to get a new tire. You should never drive around on this spare tire, as it is not the correct size and intention for that tire.

4) Under inflation or over inflation. A tire that is overinflated or underinflated is more likely to blow out or fail on the road. A simple pressure gauge is very inexpensive and allows you to check your own tire pressure yourself as needed. Checking your tire pressure lets you top up air in your tires when you need it, which also allows you to enjoy better mileage for your fuel.

5) Poor alignment. Incorrectly maintained and aligned tires can fail, so it is important to have them aligned periodically, especially when you switch tires or get a new set of tires for your car.

6) Defective tires. In some cases, manufacturers create tires which are defective. Checking for recalls periodically is important. However, even if a tire has not been recalled yet, that does not necessarily mean that there aren’t defects with a tire that have caused known problems. In many cases, Dania Beach tire defect cases only come to light after a certain number of people have been injured. If you suspect that you were involved in a car collision because of a tire defect, speak to a Dania Beach personal injury attorney. A good attorney can determine whether the tire manufacturer is a liable party in your case.

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In Florida, a state with a high percentage of elderly residents, the debate about elderly drivers has been a long-standing discussion. There are some studies that suggest that older drivers are not at greater risk of car accidents than younger drivers. However, there are also studies such as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study and the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, which found that between 1999 and 2004, the rates in car accidents for seniors ages 75 to 84 is about the same as for younger teen drivers. The studies found that for drivers who are over 85, the death rate is about four times higher than it is for teen drivers.

The US Census Bureau predicts that by 2030, there will be 9.6 million residents in the US who are 85 years of age or older, meaning more elderly drivers on the road. This has raised concerns about the dangers for drivers and pedestrians. According to experts, there are many risks for elderly drivers when it comes to Coral Springs traffic accidents. For example, dementia and a number of other age-related illnesses are often slow to be recognized, yet can cause problems with cognition and driving skills even before diagnosed. As well, elderly drivers may have vision problems which have not yet been diagnosed or treated but which may be serious enough to cause Coral Springs car accidents.

There have been a number of suggestions made about ways to reduce car accident rates among elderly drivers:

1) Improve transportation options to reduce car dependency. One of the reasons many elderly drivers are reluctant to give up their driving privileges is because they worry that doing so will reduce their independence. Offering a number of transportation options, including shuttle services and other low-cost options, can help make it easier for the elderly to get around without having to rely on their cars.

2) Create legislation that would make it mandatory for seniors to renew their licenses in person. According to a 1995 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, this is the only method that has been scientifically tested and found to reduce fatal car accidents among seniors.

3) Mandate more frequent health and eye checks for senior drivers. While this proposal has been suggested, it has raised quite a bit of controversy. Of course, adults at any age can develop eye problems and health conditions which can make it dangerous for them to drive. Some people claim that asking only senior drivers to get eye checks and health checks for driving privileges is discriminatory. Others, however, argue that since the elderly are more susceptible to health related problems that can affect their driving ability, such tests could reduce the number of Coral Springs pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents.

4) Mandate regular road tests for elderly drivers. Some legislators have proposed instituting regular, even yearly, road tests for senior drivers. Again, this is controversial because it suggests that drivers of certain age groups are more dangerous than drivers of other age groups. Nevertheless, some experts have suggested that such regular testing would help reduce the number of Coral Springs traffic accidents.

5) Improve communication between health care providers and the DMV. In many cases, healthcare providers are the first to realize that a person has a serious condition which could potentially affect their driving abilities. Some have suggested that better communication between healthcare providers, occupational therapists, and others would help improve safety for all drivers, including senior drivers.

Continue reading "Are Elderly Drivers at Greater Risk of Coral Springs Car Accidents?" »

There are few things more intimidating than being in a hit and run accident. One minute you are driving to your destination and the next minute you have been in a Cooper City car accident. Before you can exchange information, the other driver is gone, leaving you shaken and frightened. If you are in this situation, there are several things you need to do:

1) Get immediate medical help for yourself or anyone who is injured. Your first priority should be to get immediate medical attention. Some injuries, such as severe blood loss and Cooper city spinal cord injuries require immediate medical assistance or they will become fatal. Call 911 and get medical help. Be sure to keep a copy of any medical records or emergency room records if you can, as this can help you document your injuries and prove your injuries if your case goes to trial. Even if you do not think you are injured, it is a good idea to see a doctor within a few hours of your accident, just to rule out injuries. Some common injuries, including Cooper City brain injuries, may not show immediate symptoms but may be fatal if left untreated. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health.

2) Write down any facts that you remember about the accident and take photos of the scene if you can. If you remember any details about the hit-and-run driver or their car, write this down before you forget. If you can, take pictures of the immediate area with a cell phone camera or a camera. The more evidence you gather, the more information attorneys and investigators will have.

3) Get the contact information of any witnesses at the scene. Witnesses may have seen something that you didn't, and can help you find the hit-and-run driver who has injured you.

4) Report the incident to police. Leaving the scene of a Cooper City traffic accident is a crime and it is punishable by law. Even if your car was parked when the accident took place, the other driver is obligated to leave contact information on your vehicle. As with your medical records, get a copy of the police record if you can, as this can help you document your case. Police authorities can help you investigate the accident and may even be able to help you find the hit-and-run driver who has injured you. This can be especially important in ensuring that the same driver does not injure other people in a Cooper City car accident again.

5) Contact a Cooper City personal injury attorney with experience in hit and run accidents. Contacting a personal injury attorney is important, as attorneys can work with private detectives to further the investigation into your case and increase the chances that the hit-and-run driver will be caught. A Cooper City personal injury attorney can also help represent you, can help you navigate the insurance claim process, and can generally ensure that anyone who is liable for your accident is held accountable so that you do not have to pay all the costs of your accident yourself.

6) Contact your insurance company. Depending on your coverage, you may be covered for hit-and-run accidents and underinsured drivers. Contact your insurance company to find out whether you are covered in part or in full for the costs of your accident. If you have retained the services of a Cooper City personal injury attorney, your attorney can also help advise you on the best way to proceed with your insurance company, which is another important reason to retain the services of an attorney in hit-and-run cases.

Continue reading "What To Do if You are in a Hit and Run Cooper City Car Accident" »

According to a 2009 Transportation for America study, among the top cities for pedestrian fatalities are Orlando, Tamp, Miami and Jacksonville. In 2008, 490 pedestrians were fatally injured in car accidents in the state, making Florida the worst region for pedestrian deaths. Over the years, Florida routinely has been listed as one of the worst spots for fatal hit and run accidents. According to experts, there are many reasons why hit and run Miami car accidents happen:

1) Modern development in suburban and urban spaces has created lots of high-speed areas for traffic and fewer areas for bicyclists and walkers. It is no surprise that Miami bicycle accidents are also high when compared to other US cities. Larger urban centers such as Miami have fewer spaces that are just for safe walking and biking. The amount of money spent on safe pedestrian areas is just a fraction of the amount spent on roadways and car areas.

2) Drivers who are afraid of being caught. In many cases, hit and run Miami traffic accidents occur when a driver hits someone but keeps driving because he or she is already doing something illegal. If a driver is driving with no insurance, no license, or is driving drunk, he or she may be more likely to leave the scene of an accident, because he or she is afraid of the legal consequences. Since Florida leads the country in car accident insurance, it is plausible that there is also a high instance of people driving illegally.

3) A car-reliant culture. In Miami, having a car is not just about transportation; many people see it as a sign of independence or even a right. This creates all kinds of problems. Many people use cars when there are other alternatives, which in turn increases congestion and the risk of Miami car accidents. In addition, when people see cars as a right, they are more likely to want to drive when it is not safe to do so. For example, someone with an illness that makes it dangerous to drive may still get behind the wheel of a car because they do not want to lose their independence. Alternatively, someone who has a suspended license or no insurance may still drive because he or she “needs” to get to work.

4) Shared spaces. Miami does have many pedestrians and many congested spaces where pedestrians and vehicles share space. Parking lots, crosswalks, and other areas where pedestrians and vehicles share space are especially dangerous sites for Miami pedestrian accidents.

In Florida, hit and run accidents are taken seriously. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing property damage can be charged with a second degree misdemeanor and may face up to 60 days in jail as well as fines of up to $500. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing an injury can be charged with a third degree felony and may face up to 5 years in prison as well as fines of up to $5,000. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing a fatality can be charged with a first degree felony and may face up to 30 years in state prison as well as fines of up to $10,000. In addition, those who leave the scene of an accident can face Miami personal injury lawsuits, where they can be sued for damages caused.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Miami Car Accidents: What Needs to Be Done" »

Before the holidays, organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as well as local police forces work hard to ensure that the risk of Hialeah drunk driving accidents is as low as possible. There are educational programs to alert drivers of the dangers of drinking and driving, and police set up checkpoints to stop drunk drivers before they can cause a Hialeah car accident.

Now that the holidays are over, those messages may not make the news anymore. However, the message is still just as important. Drunk driving is an unfortunate risk at any time of the year. To make 2012 safer, make sure that you remember that drunk driving can cause Hialeah traffic accidents at any time of the year. Fortunately, there are many things you can do:

1) Support organizations that fight drinking and driving. MADD gets lots of press coverage and help during the holiday season, but after the holidays they can use some extra help. If you have money or time to donate, contact the organization of your choice to find out how you can help.

2) Have a get-home-safe plan available year-round. During the holidays, you may plan on drinking and may consider ahead of time ways that you can get home safely. While this is great, it is important to have this type of plan available all year long. Even though it is no longer holiday time, you may still end up going to an event where wine is served or may end up having a few drinks when out for dinner. Having a plan and a few options in place around the clock ensures that you can always make a responsible decision. Consider creating a small kit to keep in your car. Supply the kit with the phone numbers of taxi companies, plenty of cash for a cab, and the names and numbers of friends you can call for a drive home if you have been drinking.

3) Decide not to drink and drive and encourage others you know not to drink and drive. Making an absolute commitment to not drink and drive is one of the best ways to ensure that you will not make a poor choice. Talk to your friends and children about drinking and driving and make sure that they have the information and the facts they need to make safe choices.

4) Report drinking and driving. A drunk driver or any driver who is driving dangerously can cause a Hialeah pedestrian accident or traffic accident and is therefore an immediate threat. Have a passenger call police if you see such a driver – police can send a car to investigate the situation to prevent an accident.

Continue reading "Just Because the Holidays are Over, Don’t Forget About the Risks of Hialeah Drunk Driving Accidents" »

There is no doubt that texting while driving is dangerous. Each year, Coral Gables car accidents are caused by distracted driving. In fact, car collisions across Florida are caused regularly by drivers who are thinking about or engaged with someone other than driving. Numerous studies have shown that the use of mobile devices while driving is dangerous – yet Florida remains one of only 15 states not to ban texting while driving.

Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for a national ban on all mobile device use while driving. The NTSB wants to ban not only texting and driving, but the use of any mobile device for any reason other than an emergency. The agency even wants to prohibit hands-free devices. The recommendation comes after a number of high-profile studies have suggested that mobile devices play a role in many traffic collisions. According to the National Safety Council, 28% of all car accidents in the US are caused by drivers who text or talk on cell phones while driving. As well, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that in 2011, 3092 traffic fatalities in the US occurred in crashes that were caused at least in part by a distracted driver.

Some experts have compared distracted driving to drunk driving. At one time, there were few laws and social pressures to prevent people from driving after drinking. However, growing awareness about the dangers as well as increasing numbers of Coral Gables drunk driving accidents and US drunk driving accidents pushed legislators and the general public into action. New laws, coupled with public education have made most Coral Gables drivers aware that drinking and driving leads to Coral Gables traffic accidents.

There has been a similar trend with distracted driving, argue experts. At one time, cell phone use while driving was not seen as a serious problem. However, advocacy groups and even celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have spoken out about the dangers of distracted driving.

Legislators in a number of states have passed laws banning texting and driving. Federal rules already prohibit commercial drivers from texting and driving. If experts are correct, the wide-spread acceptance of the dangers of distracted driving is next, and distracted driving will be seen as socially unacceptable – and may be as widely illegal – as drunk driving.

Until a ban is in place across the nation, Florida lawmakers continue their efforts to pass legislation regarding distracted driving. Advocacy groups in Coral Gables and across Florida continue to raise awareness about the issue and each day drivers make the right decision to turn off their mobile devices before getting in their cars. The court system also allows victims of distracted drivers to take legal remedies. If you have been injured in a Coral Gables pedestrian accident or traffic accident caused by a distracted driver, you can seek legal redress for your injuries, medical costs, lost income, and other damages.

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Many people already have plans for New Year`s. Whether you already know how you will ring in 2012 or whether you are still considering options, you need to ensure that your plans include planning for safety. Unfortunately, New Year`s Eve means a higher than normal risk of Miami traffic accidents. With more people out celebrating the start of a new year and more people drinking at parties, it can be one of the more dangerous nights to be on the road. To stay safe:

1) Have a plan for a sober ride home. Miami drunk driving accidents are an especial concern on New Year`s Eve, especially since many people ring in the New Year with their favorite drinks. Whether you plan on drinking or not, have at least a few options for getting home safely with a sober driver if you do end up drinking. Make it very easy for yourself to make the right choice – have money on hand for a taxi and have a list of people you can call for help if you do get stuck without transportation. Find out about the many options Miami has for getting home safely on New Year`s Eve.

2) Have a plan for an alert drive home. In addition to drunk driving, another risk on New Year`s Eve is fatigued driving. On this night of the year, you may end up staying out much later than you are used to, and this can make it dangerous for you to drive home. This is one reason you will want to have several options for getting home safely – even if you do not plan on drinking, you could end up simply too tired to drive home safely.

3) Have a plan for a distraction-free ride home. It can be easy to drive distracted on New Year`s Eve. There are many things happening outside the car and you may be tempted to check in with friends during the night. However, with extra traffic on the road (including pedestrian traffic) it is important to focus entirely on driving in order to prevent a Miami car accident.

4) Have a plan for traffic. Traffic can be heavily congested after the New Year countdown, and this can easily lead to frayed nerves and even road rage. Have a plan for heavy traffic. You may want to plan ahead to take a less busy route, to wait a little while before heading home, or have another plan for getting home.

5) Have a plan for a car-free night if possible. A great option is to leave your car at home if possible. Using public transport to get to and from a New Year`s Eve event is a good choice because you will not be tempted to drive after drinking – even if you can`t find a taxi. You also will not have to return to get your car and you will save yourself the hassle of parking on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Continue reading "Will Your New Year Plans Prevent or Risk a Miami Car Accident?" »

No one wants to start 2012 in the hospital or in jail, but New Year’s Eve is in fact one of the most dangerous nights of the year for Miami car accidents. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations do involve alcohol, and this can lead to Miami drunk driving accidents. In fact, each year some motorists are pulled off the roads for DUI or are involved in DUI accidents in Miami. To avoid becoming a statistic, make sure that you:

1) Have several get-home plans available. With lots of revelers out on New Year’s Eve, you will want to have several options. Do not just rely on public transport or a designated driver – what if your designated driver does drink or what if you stay out too late for the bus? Write down a list of friends and taxi services you can call, places you can sleep for the night, and other options for getting home safely.

2) Do not assume that you will not drink. Even if you attend an alcohol-free event, you may eventually end up drinking. The tradition of drinking on New Year’s Eve is well ingrained. Have several plans to get home safely – just in case. This way, you can even help friends who need to get home safely.

3) Do not count on getting a cab home. New Year`s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for taxi cab companies. You may simply not be able to get a cab home right away. Be willing to share a cab and stay flexible in your get-home-safe plans.

4) Plan for an after-New Year event. Keep a list of 24-hour and late-night eateries in your wallet. Getting a snack after the count down gives taxi cabs a chance to return from their first fares, increasing the odds that you can get a taxi home.

5) Consider attending an alcohol-free event. You will be less tempted to drink. However, still plan out a get-home-safe strategy, just in case.

6) Consider hosting an event at your home. If you are at home, you will not need to drive anywhere, so you can ring in the New Year and not worry about driving. This can also be safer, since it keeps you away from other motorists who may choose to drink and drive. If you host your own New Year`s party, however, keep in mind that you need to keep your guests safe. If your guests drink, consider letting them sleep over or make sure that they can get home safely.

7) Consider leaving your car at home on New Year`s Eve. This guarantees that you will not be tempted to drive back home after drinking. You will also not need to worry about traffic, parking, or picking up your car the next day. Miami has several transportation options for revelers for New Year`s Eve – choose the one that is best for you and you just might end up preventing a Miami traffic accident.

Continue reading "Do You Have a New Year’s Plan in Place to Prevent Miami Drunk Driving Accidents?" »

Most communities institute checkpoints in order to ensure that there are fewer drunk drivers on the roads during the holidays. Miami police authorities, for example, routinely put up checkpoints at strategic locations in order to ensure that drivers aren’t taking risks that can lead to Miami drunk driving accidents. Sober drivers have nothing to fear from checkpoints – these checkpoints do not delay sober drivers and help keep streets safer.

Unfortunately, there is a trend in recent years to report checkpoints and their locations. Many police authorities frown on this practice, as it allows drivers who have been drinking to simply avoid the checkpoints. In effect, this can help increase the risk of Miami car accidents in a number of ways:

1) It sends the wrong message about DUI checkpoints. Checkpoints are not meant to be punishment. They remind people that drunk driving causes Miami traffic accidents and ensure that drunk drivers are removed from the roads before they can cause a serious collision. By reporting on the location of a checkpoint, drivers are sending the message that checkpoints are not that important and can be avoided. This is just not the case; checkpoints can save lives and police authorities in some cases give up time with their families to man checkpoints. The courteous thing to do is to stop at the checkpoints and to not report their location.

2) It allows those who drink and drive to avoid the checkpoints and keep driving. Reporting a checkpoint makes it easy for drivers who have been drinking to continue drinking and driving. In some cases, a driver who has been drinking may need to go out of their way to avoid a checkpoint, increasing the length of road traveled under the influence and increasing the risk of a deadly Miami pedestrian accident or traffic accident. By not reporting checkpoints, you increase the chances that drunk drivers will be removed from the roads before they can harm someone.

3) It does not allow authorities to gather accurate information about drinking and driving. In addition to stopping drunk drivers, Miami police gather information during checkpoints. This allows them to see how prevalent a problem DUI is in some areas. In cases where DUI is a problem, Miami police can institute new policies and programs to reduce instances of drunk driving. If checkpoints are reported, drunk drivers avoid the checkpoints and police cannot gather the information they need to create life-saving educational and preventative programs.

The right thing to do at a checkpoint is to stop, cooperate with police, and carry on without reporting the location of the checkpoint. Encourage others you know not to report checkpoints. Not allowing drunk drivers to avoid these police programs ensures that drunk drivers are removed from the road before they cause an accident. Keeping the location of sobriety checkpoints quiet is one way you can help stop Miami drunk driving accidents.

Continue reading "Why Reporting Check Points Can Lead to Miami Drunk Driving Accidents" »

Miami takes extra steps to prevent Miami car accidents caused by drinking and driving during the holiday season. Unfortunately, holiday parties and events can increase the number of DUI accidents on the city’s roads. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent these types of Miami traffic accidents and there are many things you can do to help prevent DUI accidents this holiday season:

1) Carry extra cash in your wallet. Place this money apart from the rest of your money, perhaps in a separate pocket or behind some of your ID, so that you will not spend it. Having extra cash ensures that you always have money towards a taxi, so that there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of your car after you have been drinking.

2) Have more than one safe way to get home at all times. In many instances, public transportation or even a taxi may not be an option – especially if you are well outside the city. In your glove compartment, keep a range of taxi phone numbers, cash for taxis, information about bus routes, motel room information, and a list of friends you can call for a safe drive home. The more safe options you have, the more likely you are to choose a safe alternative to get home.

3) Prepare to drink – even if you don’t plan on drinking. It’s easy to assume that you will not drink at a holiday party and will therefore be able to get yourself home. However, once at that party you may be tempted to drink or you may end up unwittingly drinking a holiday punch that is full of brandy. Don’t assume that you will be able to drive yourself home; always have options and cash on hand.

4) Consider taking a no-drinking-and-driving pledge with friends. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) as well as other organizations make such pledges available. Signing a pledge and promising not to drink and drive can help you consider the risks of Miami drunk driving accidents and can help you make the right choice.

5) Talk to your children about drinking and driving. Don’t assume that just because your children are under the legal age of drinking that they are safe from Miami drunk driving accidents. Underage drinking is a very real problem, and even if your teens do not drink, they may get in a car with a driver who has been drinking. Discuss the dangers of drinking and driving with your children and have your children promise to call you rather than driving home with someone who has been drinking. Make sure that you praise, rather than punish, your children for making the right decision if they do call you for a safe drive home.

6) Be responsible when serving alcohol at your holiday parties. If someone is in a drunk driving accident after leaving a party where you served alcohol, you could be held partly liable, and a Miami premises liability claim will make your holidays very unpleasant. Consider holding alcohol-free parties. If that is not an option, stop serving alcohol early and make sure that everyone has a safe way to get home.

Continue reading "How You Can Prevent Miami Drunk Driving Accidents This Holiday Season" »

Are there still people on your holiday shopping list? If you are looking for some great presents that can also help your loved ones avoid Miami traffic accidents, consider:

1) A hand-held breathalyzer. These are available at many department stores, and can help prevent Miami drunk driving accidents. There are even key chains with small breathalyzers on them. Although not as accurate as the systems used by authorities, these small items can help a loved one re-consider driving after they have been drinking.

2) A GPS system. GPS systems are more affordable than ever before – and more accurate. They can help a loved one find their way to various destinations without the distraction of maps. They can guide a driver to a destination without requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road, and this can help prevent Miami car accidents.

3) A rear-view camera system. Miami rollover accidents are tragic, but there are small cameras which can be mounted on the back of a car to allow drovers to see exactly what is behind them before they start backing up. In some cases, these systems are combined with GPS systems in one device.

4) A winter safety kit or emergency kit. Emergency kits and winter driving kits are very affordable but contain the various items that someone might need after a Miami traffic accident or after a car breaking down.

5) A gift certificate for a tune-up. Many mechanics offer gift cards and gift certificates. This can be a great gift for anyone, as it can ensure that a driver’s car is in great shape and ready to avoid a Miami truck accident or traffic accident.

6) Driving lessons. If you have a new driver in your life, consider giving the gift of additional private driving lessons. These can help a new driver hone their driving skills and their confidence behind the wheel, putting them less at risk for a Miami car accident. Refresher courses are a great gift for drivers of any age, as are racing lessons. Racing lessons are fun and help teach driving skills and confidence that can help any driver drive more safely.

7) Reflective clothing for the joggers and pedestrians on your list. Miami pedestrian accidents are a major cause of concern, and Miami bicycle accidents are all too common. If you have friends and family who enjoy biking or walking, get them reflective clothing, hats, or accessories, so that they can stay safer while exercising.

Continue reading "Give the Gift of Safety: Holiday Gifts That Can Prevent Miami Car Accidents " »

At this time of year, many Miami residents are making plans to travel to see family for the holidays. While some individuals choose to take planes, cars are a popular method of getting home for the holidays – they can make for a less expensive trip and can offer more flexibility in terms of travel time. If you are planning a road trip to see family, however, make sure that you avoid Miami car accidents (as well as accidents outside the state) by following these safety tips:

1) Give yourself plenty of time. Estimate how long it will take you to drive from your home to your destination (Google Maps is a good tool for estimating this) and then add several hours. You want to offer yourself plenty of time since you may run into traffic and you will want to leave time for meals, breaks, and rest stops. Knowing that you have plenty of time to get to your destination ensures that you are not rushing, and rushing and speeding, all of which can increase your risk of Miami traffic accidents.

2) Get a weather update. Knowing what the weather will be on the day you travel and knowing what weather to expect at your destination can help you plan your trip. If the weather will be bad, do everything you can to give yourself more time and try to travel during the daylight as much as possible to get the best visibility possible.

3) Drive with a friend if you can. You can share the costs of gas and share driving time as well, so that you are not driving fatigued.

4) Plan your route carefully. Have at least two alternate routes planned so that you can get to your destination safely even if roads are closed. When planning your route, also consider possible problems, such as night driving or driving through wintery conditions, so that you are prepared for any challenges.

5) Prepare a drive safe kit. This should include a cell phone, a first aid kit, flares, a blanket, and a flashlight. If your car breaks down, you will be happy to have these items on hand. If you are traveling somewhere with winter conditions, pack a bag of salt or non-clumping kitty litter (in case you get stuck in ice and need some traction), a scraper for your windshield, and a shovel to dig yourself out of snow.

6) Make sure your car is ready for the trip. Get a tune up if it has been a while, since a poorly-maintained car is more likely to have trouble responding quickly in order to avoid a Miami truck accident or car accident. If you will be traveling somewhere with winter conditions, consider investing in a good set of winter tires – they can save your life in slippery conditions.

7) Plan to be undistracted. Well-intentioned family could phone you while you are driving to get an update on your location, so it is safest to turn off your cell phone and put it away in the glove compartment. Make sure that any entertainment you plan for your trip – such as music – will not distract you from driving.

8 ) Plan to rest before your trip. Avoid going to a party the night before your trip. If you drink late and stay out late, you will be exhausted and driving fatigued. You may also still have an alcohol blood level above the legal level, putting you at risk of a Miami drunk driving accident. Get to bed early the night before you travel, so that you are well rested and ready to drive.

Continue reading "Stay Safe if You are Driving Home to See Your Family: Prevent a Miami Car Accident" »

While Miami car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities for children and teens in the city, parents need to worry about much more than just Miami traffic accidents. Miami children and minors are subject to many car-related injuries, although the good news is that many of these injuries are preventable:

1) Hyperthermia / Heatstroke. While children in Miami rarely need to worry about hyperthermia, heatstroke is a serious concern for children left in the unforgiving Miami heat in a car. Even leaving a child alone in a car for a few minutes can be dangerous, as on a hot day the temperature in a vehicle can quickly reach dangerous levels. The obvious solution is to never leave a child unattended in a car. However, with parents more busy than ever before, it is also important to routinely check the back seat of a car before walking away. Unfortunately, there have been a number of tragic cases where a parent has simply forgotten a child in the back seat of a car.

2) Backovers. Small children sometimes play in driveways or near cars, and smaller children may not be visible to drivers who are backing up. Each year, tragedy strikes when children in this situation are hit and killed or seriously injured. In many cases, it is a parent or family member who injures the child, further adding to the pain and suffering of the family. Today, there are devices which can be installed in most cars which show the driver exactly what is behind the vehicle so that these types of Miami pedestrian accidents do not take place. In many cases, these devices are less than two hundred dollars and can help save a life.

3) Power Windows. Children who play with power windows can easily get their hands or other body parts stuck in the window, causing broken bones and other injuries. Newer models of cars have child-safety locks and windows to keep children in the back seat safe.

4) Seat Belt Entanglement. In the event of a Miami truck accident or car accident, a seat belt can save your life – if you are an adult. Unfortunately, for children, seat belts can be very dangerous. They can wrap around a child’s body and cause injuries. They can also cut into a child’s neck and head, causing injuries. For these reasons, it is important to put children in age-appropriate child restraints.

5) Vehicle Rollaway. Rollaway usually occur when a child accidentally disengages a parking break, causing the car to roll. This is another important reason to never leave children unattended in a car. Keeping children in the backseat of the car can also ensure that they cannot touch anything on the dashboard that can affect the car itself.

6) Trunk Entrapment. Trunk entrapment occurs when children climb into a trunk – often while playing – and become stuck. If children are not found in time, they can suffocate or suffer hypothermia or heat stroke. Most newer cars have trunk release levers in the trunk. These can usually be installed on older models. To prevent truck entrapment, it is also important to lock the trunk of your vehicle when the vehicle is not in use.

Continue reading "It’s Not Just About Miami Car Accidents: Preventing Common Childhood Car-Related Injuries" »

Cars are one of the leading causes of injury to minors and children. From infancy, children and infants are driven around in cars, and this does put them at risk for serious injuries in car accidents. Across the US, car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities for children in the 3-14 age group. Unfortunately, young children are less protected by adult safety belts and air bags – in fact, these devices can seriously harm a child. Children are also more likely to suffer serious injuries in a Miami car accident, since child-aged Miami brain injury victims and spinal cord injury victims, for example, may take longer to heal and may face more complications. Since children are smaller and more vulnerable, they may suffer more serious injuries.

Adult safety devices such as airbags and seatbelts may pose a hazard to young children, there is much evidence that age-appropriate restrains save lives. According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), child restraints have saved approximately 8959 between 1975 and 2008.

It is important to select a car seat or age-appropriate safety restraint system by considering your child’s weight, age, and height. Age alone may not determine the right restraint, since children may grow at different rates. A child that is large for their size, for example, may need to get a restraint for an older child. If you need help choosing a restraint that is right for your child, the NHTSA website has many useful resources that can help.

Once you find the right car seat for your child, consult your car owner’s manual or the seat manufacturer’s directions for the proper use and installation of the car seat. Failure to use the car seat as directed can result in injuries for your child. For as long as possible, keep young children in a car seat – until they no longer fit the weight and height requirement for the seat. As well, once you have a child car seat, make certain that you check often for defects and recalls. You can register the car seat online – often with the manufacturer of the seat – to receive instant notifications in case the product is ever recalled.

The restraint recommendations for your child will change over time. In general, you will want to keep babies in infant seats which are rear-facing. Toddlers are often safest in child safety seats that face forward. Once children are no longer toddlers, they are typically allowed to use a booster seat and to sit in the back using a regular seat belt. In general, children who are younger than 13 years of age should ride in the back seat. According to the NHTSA, this is the safest place for your child to be in the event of a Miami car accident. Florida is one of only four states that does not have a booster seat law, but parents can still choose to use a booster seat for their children. In the event of a Miami traffic accident, a booster seat can ensure that an adult seat belt does not cut into your child’s neck or face, causing serious injuries.

Continue reading "Preventing Miami Car Accident Injuries with Car Seats " »

Aggressive driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), causes many accidents each year. Aggressive drivers can make poor choices on the road due to their anger and they take risks that result in many Miami traffic accidents each year. Many drivers are not even aware that they are aggressive. Aggressive drivers display the following behaviors:

1) They show their frustration against other drivers. This can include gesturing, honking the horn, shouting at other drivers and other signs of aggression.

2) They are distracted drivers. Aggressive drivers pay attention to what is angering them, rather than the road, making them and other drivers at high risk for Miami car accidents.

3) They change lanes often. Aggressive drivers often weave in and out of lanes to speed ahead, and this increases the risk of accidents as well.

4) They tailgate. Following other vehicles too closely is a major cause of Miami rear-end accidents, but aggressive drivers often tailgate as an aggressive gesture in order to pressure other drivers into speeding up.

5) They disobey traffic signals and lights. Aggressive drivers who are experiencing road rage often disobey traffic rules and signs because they are upset or simply don’t want to wait.

6) They speed.
Fortunately, there are many ways that drivers can reduce their risk of accidents and can reduce their aggression when driving. According to the NHTSA, drivers can play relaxing music behind the wheel and can plan ahead so that they know their route as well as alternatives routes. Drivers can also focus on driving by putting away any distractions and can drive the posted speed limit, which helps curb aggression by ensuring that other drivers don’t seem annoyingly slow. Driving the speed limit can also reduce the risk of Miami truck accidents and other traffic accidents. The NHTSA also suggests that drivers focus on driving safely rather than trying to get to their destination on time. It is much safer to be a little late than to drive recklessly to arrive at your destination. Finally, the NHTSA suggests that drivers take public transportation once in a while. Spending a great deal of time on the road can be stressful and can lead to aggression, while taking public transit can provide some relaxation and relief from the usual routine.

Even if you are responsible driver, of course, you may encounter aggressive drivers on Miami streets. According to the NHTSA, your first priority should be to get out of the way of any aggressive drivers. You should ignore the driver’s gestures, shouting (if any) and eye contact where possible, as returning gestures or initiating eye contact can escalate the aggression. If a driver’s aggression is so significant that you think it could cause a Miami car collision, have a passenger call police or pull over when it is safe to do so and call police yourself to report the driver.

Continue reading "How Aggressive Driving Can Cause Miami Car Accidents" »

Miami car crashes claim many lives and cause a devastating array in injuries, including many permanent and life-threatening injuries. As the percentage of elderly persons grows, senior citizens are more likely to be affected by the high numbers of Miami car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 13% of the total US population in 2009 were aged 65 years or older. Senior citizens comprised 16% of car accident fatalities and 8% of injury victims in car accidents in 2009. According to the NHTSA, senior drivers are less likely than the rest of the population to be involved in drunk driving accidents and are more likely to the be the struck vehicle in a car accident. Despite this, there are still some reasons why car accidents claim so many senior citizens’ lives:

1) The growing number of senior citizens. With improved quality of life and medical care, more Americans are living longer. This is a great thing, but it can also mean more people who are seniors – and a growing demographic at risk. In Florida, especially, there are many senior citizens, attracted by the state’s climate and lifestyle. This is one reason why a number of Miami car collisions involve senior citizens.

2) The changing nature of the roads. Over the past few decades, a number of initiatives have been designed to make roadways safer than ever before. At the same time, however, the roads are increasingly complex and congested, increasing the risk of accidents.

3) Medical issues. Any driver can suddenly develop medical problems that can affect driving ability. However, elderly drivers are especially prone to some medical problems, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dementia, which have subtle symptoms but which can significantly impact driving safety. Conditions such as these can be hard to detect at first, even as they affect a patient’s ability to drive safely.

4) Senior citizens may be more likely to walk. In many cities, senior citizens are more likely to be injured in a pedestrian accident than other adults. Part of the reason why seniors are at risk for Miami pedestrian accidents is because seniors often take part in walks for fitness or may rely on walking as a mode of transportation, potentially putting them more at risk. Seniors who have mobility problems are especially at risk for pedestrian accidents and Miami slip and fall accidents while walking.

Unfortunately, seniors may suffer more serious injuries as a result of traffic accidents. Since seniors are more likely to suffer from conditions such as osteoporosis, bone breakage caused by a car accident may be more likely in the senior population. As well, the elderly may be more vulnerable to complications as a result of their injuries and may take longer to heal from brain injuries and other injuries sustained in car accidents. Underlying conditions and overall condition can mean that healing simply takes a long time.

Continue reading "Elderly Victims in Miami Car Collisions" »

Some medical conditions can make drivers unfit for the road. There are measures in place to ensure that drivers who have seriously and potentially dangerous medical conditions can be reported by their doctors and can have their licenses revoked. Each year, across Florida, thousands of drivers have their licenses revoked to ensure that they are not a threat on the roads. The aim of this policy is to ensure that preventable Miami car accidents and Florida traffic accidents in general do not occur because of a known medical condition.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and other groups, however, some known drivers with unsafe medical conditions are getting behind the wheel – and it is putting drivers across the state at risk. In the past few months, at least two fatal accidents in the Tampa area alone have been caused by known medical conditions.

Under Florida law, drivers who have had their licenses revoked due to medical reasons have the right to submit medical reports in order to get their licenses re-instated. Cases can be reviewed by a medical board and doctors can submit regular reports to ensure that someone is not deprived of a license because a condition that is under a control and therefore no longer a threat. However, some experts say that the system is far from perfect.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, some drivers may underreport systems or downplay the extent of their illness in order to get a license reinstated. Other drivers may notice dangerous symptoms but never go to a doctor, so that their license is never revoked in the first place. In some cases, drivers have chosen to alter their names in order to obtain a new license after theirs was revoked for medical reasons.

With the number of licenses revoked for medical reasons on the rise, this is becoming a serious issue in Florida. In 2000, the number of Florida licenses revoked for medical reasons was 3559. In 2010, the number was 7716, more than double. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, many of these revocations occur due to illnesses such as cardiac illness, seizures, dementia, and strokes. About half of licenses revoked are revoked due to these types of illnesses while the remaining half are largely due to addiction-related illnesses and drunk driving accidents.

It’s a sensitive issue, especially with growing numbers of elderly Miami drivers being diagnosed with illnesses every year. Many argue that revoking licenses limits mobility and independence, especially in cases where a person’s ability to drive is not tested and may not even be affected. As well, most patients usually receive care to help control symptoms. In most states, drivers who have not had symptoms for six months and patients who submit to treatment for their conditions are allowed to apply for reinstatement of their licenses. Some argue that this is the best way to give everyone freedom. Others argue that the reinstatement process is too lax and relies too heavily on patient and doctor honesty. If patients are not honest about their treatment and condition, Miami traffic accidents can result.

Continue reading "Medical Conditions Can Lead to Miami Car Crashes" »

Any holiday season can mean a risk of Miami car accidents. As more people celebrate a holiday and imbibe, accidents do happen. To ensure that this Thanksgiving is a safe one for you and your family, follow these tips for safe holiday driving:

1) Have a plan to get home safely if you choose to drink. Miami drunk driving accidents, unfortunately, do occur during many holidays, in part because more people drink during festive celebrations. Whether you intend to drink or not, it is safest to at least consider a few options for getting home safe. Find out about hotels in your area, write down the numbers of taxi companies, or designate a driver. Make the commitment now to avoid driving drunk.

2) Have a plan to get guests home safely if you plan on drinking. If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, make sure that you have a plan for getting everyone home safely if you choose to serve alcohol. Consider making extra beds available for overnight guests, have designated drivers, or have cash on hand for taxis. As a host, you have a responsibility to ensure that your guests are not in a Miami car accident because they have been drinking and driving.

3) If you are traveling to a Thanksgiving event or dinner, plan well in advance. Plan your route and check for weather problems or road closures along your designated route. Pack your car in advance and make sure that you leave mobile devices off while you drive. Holiday driving is stressful enough, and distracting yourself with a mobile device can easily lead to a tragic Miami pedestrian accident.

4) Use extra patience on the roads during Thanksgiving. Give yourself extra time to get to your holiday destinations. Speeding leads to many Miami truck accidents and car crashes each year and rushing can lead you to make mistakes – which can be deadly on busy Miami roadways. Giving yourself extra time also reduces your stress levels and reduces your risk of road rage and distraction.

5) Consider leaving your car at home this Thanksgiving. If you have a long way to drive, it can be safer to travel by plane, train, or bus. Long drives can lead to fatigued driving and highway hypnosis, especially if you are already tired and stressed at this time of year. A long drive can also be especially dangerous for Miami drivers, especially if you are used to driving in Miami and need to drive into a wintery state to celebrate with family. If you are not prepared for winter driving and do not have snow tires, avoid driving to any destinations with snow.

6) Make sure your car can handle holiday driving. If you need to drive to family events this Thanksgiving, give yourself the gift of a holiday car tune-up. Making sure that your tires, brakes, and other systems are in good condition reduces the risk of your car breaking down en route. Having a car that handles correctly can also help you avoid a Miami car collision in many cases.

Continue reading "Steps to Take to Avoid a Thanksgiving Miami Car Accident " »

Miami car accidents occur in the city every day, and unfortunately some of these collisions have a long-term or even life-long impact on victims. In some cases, Miami traffic accidents can cause permanent injuries or severe financial distress for those who sustain serious burn injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries in the crash. According to experts, there are several things you can do after a Miami accident to protect yourself:

1) Do the right thing immediately after the accident. Stay at the scene of the accident, call for emergency help for anyone who needs it, and get the contact information for every driver involved and for any witnesses at the scene. If you have a phone camera, take photos of the scene and the damage as well. Call authorities if the accident is significant or if anyone is hurt.

2) Know that you have a choice about towing and mechanics. If police arrive at the scene, they may recommend a tow service if your car is too damaged to drive. To reduce costs, however, you do have the right to choose your own service. As well, while your insurance company may recommend a mechanic, you also have the right to take your car in to any qualified mechanic you wish.

3) Get medical care – just in case. If you have whiplash or any injuries that do not manifest themselves right away, it is best to start documenting and to start getting medical treatment right away.

4) Call a qualified Miami personal injury attorney first. This should be one of the first calls you make. Many victims call their insurance carrier first, but calling an attorney ensures that your attorney can start gathering evidence in your case right away. Calling a good attorney first also ensures that you have someone to work on your behalf, negotiating with your insurance carrier and reading over documents before you sign them. As well, keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations if you do decide to pursue a legal claim following a Miami drunk driving accident or car accident. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the sooner you can file your claim and the more chance your attorney has of gathering important information to support your case.

5) Keep as many records as possible. The more information you have on paper, the better. Taking photos of your injuries, keeping a journal of your injuries, and costs and keeping careful records of anything is invaluable in case you decide to file a claim. Even if you decide not to pursue legal action, proof of your injuries and your case may be required by your insurance company, so keep records – and don’t toss them out when you get better. You may need them years after the fact.

6) Assemble a team you trust and follow their directions to the letter. If you have been injured, find a terrific Miami car accident attorney and an excellent doctor. Follow their instructions carefully and follow up with these professionals regularly. Both these professionals can help you heal from your injuries and can help you face a brighter future – but only if you cooperate.

7) Be very, very honest. Exaggerating injuries or being dishonest about existing conditions can be very harmful. Due to the risk of insurance fraud, insurance carriers frequently hire private detectives to investigate claims. Since Florida and Miami lead the nation in fraudulent car insurance claims, claims from the state may be met with special scrutiny.

Continue reading "Have You Been in a Miami Car Collision? Here Is What You Need to Know" »

Like all Florida cities, Homestead sees its fair share of car accidents. However, Homestead rollovers are among the deadliest types of car accidents. According to the NHTSA, rollovers account for only 3% of all accidents but account for almost 33% of all passenger car accident fatalities. Rollovers are particularly dangerous because they increase the risk that passengers will be ejected from the vehicle or will be violently thrown against the inside of the vehicle. These types of accidents are also more likely to result in massive vehicle damage and in Homestead brain injuries when compared with Homestead rear-end crashes and side swipe accidents.

Homestead car accidents involving rollovers are likely to only increase as more people invest in top heavy cars such as vans and SUVs. However, according to the NHTSA and other experts, there are many things that can be done to help prevent Florida rollovers:

1) Wear your seatbelt. According to the NHSTA, 72% of all passengers killed in rollover accidents were not wearing seatbelts. Safety belts keep you in place in a rollover, ensuring you are not ejected and reducing the risk that your head will impact with the roof of the car when the vehicle rolls over. Safety belts dramatically improve your chances of surviving any Homestead car accident – including a rollover – so be sure to buckle up.

2) Don’t get complacent about your car. Vans, SUVs, and trucks are more likely to rollover because they have a higher center of gravity. However, even if you drive a passenger vehicle, such as a sedan, that does not mean that you are not at risk of a Homestead rollover. In the right conditions, virtually any car can rollover.

3) Avoid off-roading. Any uneven surface increases your risk for a rollover, so avoid heading off the road.

4) Drive away from the shoulder – and be wary of narrow roads. According to the NHTSA, 95% of rollover accidents involving a single vehicle are what are known as tripped rollovers. This type of rollover occurs when a vehicle leaves the road and tires come into contact with curbs, soft soil, or a guardrail. This can cause a rollover, especially if the vehicle is traveling fast and if the driver tries to overcorrect or over-steer in order to get back on the road. Tripping rollovers can also occur on very steep grades of road.

5) Avoid sudden maneuvers when driving quickly. In less than 5% of cases, rollovers are un-tripped rollovers. These crashes occur when a car does not strike something or roll down a steep hill. Most un-tripped rollovers involve top heavy cars, such as vans or SUVs, and most of these accidents occur when drivers traveling at high speeds make sudden maneuvers in order to avoid a collision.

6) Avoid high speeds. Your risk of a serious or fatal Homestead car accident or rollover is much more likely when you speed. Speed reduces the response time you have to avoid an accident and increases the damage to your vehicle in the event of an accident.

Continue reading "Why Rollovers are the Deadliest of Homestead Car Accidents – And How You Can Improve Your Chances of Survival" »

Many Homestead visitors and residents choose to buy passenger vans. Indeed, in recent years vans have become extremely popular. They offer more loading space for grocery trips, and they are very popular with families, as they provide added room for children and passengers. Unfortunately, passenger vans can also lead to increased risk of Homestead car accidents. Vans handle differently and have a higher center of gravity than most passenger vehicles, potentially making them riskier for rollovers and other problems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are several things that drivers can do to make their vans safer:

1) Gradually get accustomed to your passenger van. These vehicles are wider, higher, and longer than most passenger vehicles and handle very differently. You will rely on your mirrors more and have more blind spots than a driver with a sedan. It will take you longer to brake and more space to park or change lanes. This will take some time to get used to. According to the NHTSA, inexperienced drivers are more likely to be in a van accident. When you first get your van, give yourself plenty of time to get accustomed to the new vehicle before you go ahead and pack it with passengers or cargo. Take your van on frequent rides along less busy streets in order to familiarize yourself with the car. This will reduce your chance of being in a Homestead pedestrian accident or traffic accident.

2) Reduce your risk of rollovers. Vans have a higher center of gravity, making them more of a risk for Homestead rollover accidents. You can reduce your risk of rollovers by getting proper training for your passenger van, by driving without speeding, by avoiding distracted driving, and by loading your car carefully.

3) Maintain your passenger van correctly. Poorly maintained vans are more likely to be in a rollover. Take your can in for required tune-ups, especially if you notice any problems with the way your van handles.

4) Make sure you know who is driving your family in passenger vans. Passenger vans are often used by organizations. If your children are going on a camping trip or to a school event, for example, they may be riding in a passenger van. Ask questions and make sure that the driver in charge of the van has adequate experience with that type of vehicle.

5) Check your tires often. If you own a passenger van, make sure that the tires are properly aligned, not worn down, and properly inflated. Since vans tend to carry larger loads and more passengers than most passenger vehicles, they can place more stress on tires, putting you at risk of a Homestead tire blowout. Poorly maintained tires can also put you at a higher risk for skids, slides, and rollovers, so check your tires before every trip.

6) Don’t carry more items or passengers than your passenger van allows. Check the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your van and be sure to follow the guidelines. Overburdening your van makes it far more likely that you will be in an accident or that your tires will blowout. In addition to carrying less, make sure that every item in your car is properly secured. In the event of a Homestead car accident, any heavy items in your passenger van will become projectiles, increasing your risk of head injury, broken bones, and even fatal injuries.

7) Wear your seat belt. If you are in a Homestead truck accident or car accident, wearing your seatbelt can dramatically improve the chances that you will survive the crash. In all too many accidents, fatalities and permanent injuries occur when a passenger is ejected from the vehicle. Staying inside and secured with a safety belt is your best chance of survival. Even on short trips, buckle up before you start the vehicle.

8) Check safety issues with your van. Some vans have better safety records than others. If you're in a Homestead car accident caused by a manufacturer defect, you may have a Homestead products liability case. However, it is better to know about such defects and problems before you make any purchasing decisions. Compare different bands and safety features to select the safest van you can. Once you have purchased your vehicle, keep up to date with recalls and safety notices so that you can get any issues resolved before they result in an accident.

Continue reading "Homestead Car Accidents with Passenger Vans " »

Many people associate rollover accidents with Miami truck accidents, but rollovers can occur with virtually any type of vehicle. In fact, many passenger cars are involved in Miami rollover accidents every day, especially as customers have become more interested in vans, SUVs, and other larger vehicles that have a high center of gravity. In the right conditions, virtually any type of passenger vehicle can roll over.

Unfortunately, rollovers can be among the most deadly and dangerous accidents on Miami roads. During a rollover, passengers and any unsecured cargo in the vehicle are generally tossed around violently. Any unsecured cargo can easily come flying at passengers at high speeds, causing Miami brain injuries, broken bones, and even fatal injuries. As well, many passengers in these types of accidents may be ejected from the vehicle, causing even more injury. Rollover accidents also increase the likelihood of multiple vehicle accidents and car fires, making these crashes even more deadly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers take several precautions to reduce the risks of these types of accidents:

1) Wear a seatbelt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belt use is one of the most important factors in determining injury and survival rates in an accident. According to the organization, passengers who wear seat belts are 75% more likely to survive a rollover accident, because in most traffic accidents of this kind, fatal injuries occur when passengers are ejected from the car.

2) Load your car carefully. Consult your vehicle’s manual to determine how much your car can carry and stick to that limit. If you use a roof rack, be especially careful about how much weight you place on top of your car, as excess weight on a roof rack can change the center of gravity of your car and actually increase your risk of an accident. As well, make sure that you secure everything in your car, including laptops, tools, and any heavy items. In the event of an accident, this prevents the items from becoming dangerous projectiles.

3) Be especially wary on highways and rural roads, where the risk of rollovers are higher. Any narrow road, curvy road, or high-speed road leaves you less of a margin for error.

4) If one of your tires goes off the road, avoid overcorrecting. Panicking and overcorrecting or over-steering increase the likelihood that you will be in a rollover. If one of your car tires goes off the road, it is best to gradually reduce your speed and gently ease your tires back onto the pavement.

5) Keep yourself focused on driving. According to the NHTSA, the most common reasons for rollover accidents are fatigued driving, drunk driving, and speeding. Drive only when you are in good condition to do so. Do not add to the statistics about Miami drunk driving accidents and fatigued driving accidents.

6) Keep your tires in good condition. Incorrectly inflated or worn tires can cause you to go into a slide, which can increase the chances of a rollover. Check your tires regularly and replace them as needed. Poor tire maintenance can lead to Miami tire blowouts and other problems that can cause a rollover.

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According to an AAA review of 2009 traffic accident data, car accidents and other road accidents cost the US $299.5 billion in 2009. That represents a doubling of the cost of 2005 crashes. According to the AAA, Miami car accidents as well as accidents in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York reported the highest number of injuries. Miami can also be one of the most expensive places for car crashes. According to the AAA, the per-resident cost of car accidents in Miami-Fort Lauderdale is $2,016, which is higher than the costs in San Francisco and all other large cities. There are many things that contribute to the high costs of Miami automobile crashes:

1) More congestion. As a larger city, Miami sees quite a lot of foot traffic, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks, cars. With all of these travelers sharing the road, it is no surprise that Miami sees quite a few Miami pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and other traffic accidents. Where there is congestion, tempers tend to flare, and a larger concentration of vehicles and travelers can increase the risk of Miami car accidents and other traffic accidents.

2) Higher living costs. The cost of living in Miami can be higher, which can mean that the impact of income loss after a Miami truck accident or car accident may be more keenly felt. Trying to get by on savings, personal loans, or credit cards after a Miami traffic accident can be much harder, simply because there are higher costs to contend with.

3) Higher numbers of car accidents. Miami sees more traffic crashes than a smaller city, and the larger number of accidents increases the risk and also the insurance costs for everyone.

4) High speed areas. Miami has many overpasses, freeways, and high-speed roads in order to facilitate traffic movement. Unfortunately, high-speed areas can also mean more high-speed accidents, which tend to be accidents leading to fatalities and more serious injuries.

5) Insurance fraud. Unfortunately, Miami has the dubious distinction of being home to large numbers of insurance fraudsters. In fact, Florida leads the nation for insurance fraud. Insurance fraud delays insurance payout claims for even legitimate cases, as all claims coming from Florida are treated with a degree of suspicion. As well, insurance fraud increases the cost of insurance and car accidents for all Florida motorists.

6) A high number of fatal car accidents. According to the AAA, an average fatal car accident costs $6 million. The AAA considers the costs of accidents by tabulating property damage, lost income, medical expenses, reduced daily or household activities, costs of emergency services, traffic delays, rehabilitation, lost work productivity, legal and administrative expenses, lost quality of life, and pain.

According to the AAA, reducing the cost of accidents begins with reducing the number of accidents. The AAA suggests adding modern roundabouts and placing barriers on two-way roads to prevent accidents. In addition, the AAA promotes the use of rumble strips to reduce the toll of traffic accidents.

Continue reading "The High Costs of Miami Automobile Accidents" »

If you have been in a Miami pedestrian accident or car accident, you may consider yourself lucky if you have sustained no serious injuries. After all, Miami car accidents and traffic accidents are among the leading causes of injuries in the city. However, while injuries are catastrophic and can lead to months or even years of anguish and medical bills, property loss in Miami car accidents is also a serious problem. Even if you walk away from a car accident without a scratch and are incredibly lucky to suffer no injuries, the property loss involved in a Miami car accident can still lead to considerable costs:

1) The repair costs of your car. If your car can be repaired, the costs of repairs can easily add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. You need to ensure that your insurance carrier covers all the costs of repairs, including the costs of follow-ups with your mechanic.

2) The financial impact of losing your car. In addition to losing your car or having your car totaled, not having a car can be expensive. For example, you may need to pay for a rental car or for taxis in order to get around while your car is being replaced or repaired. This can add up substantially, especially if you have a long commute to work every day.

3) Replacement costs. If your car is beyond repair, the costs of replacing a car can be substantial. Simply replacing the current value of your car is not enough, as the current value of your car will not likely get you a similar vehicle.

4) The impact of loan payments. Even while you do not have use of your car, you may need to continue to make loan payments if you have financing on your vehicle. If you have a leased vehicle, the accident may affect your ability to turn in your vehicle at the end of your lease period. Your costs, furthermore, will remain the same even if the value of your vehicle plummets because of the accident. Even if your car is worth substantially less because of the accident or even if your car is totaled, you will still owe loan or lease payments, which you will need to continue to make. It is important to ensure that insurance covers these costs, or these costs will be coming out of your own pocket.

5) Diminished value for your car. Even if you are in a minor accident and are able to repair your car, you need to be aware that your car will be worth less. If you decide to sell your car at some point, the fact that it has been in a car accident will reduce the value you can expect to recoup. Insurance carriers will not usually pay for diminished value, but this can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in lost money if you need to sell your car. A qualified Miami personal injury attorney can work to ensure that these types of costs are at least partly covered with a fair settlement offer.

6) Insurance costs. Once you have been in a Miami traffic accident, you can expect your insurance premiums to increase – increases that may last for years or a lifetime.

Continue reading "Property Loss in Miami Car Accidents" »

For many motorists in Miami, car accidents are just not a daily consideration. Many motorists assume that as long as they drive safely, their risk of being in a car accident is quite low. Unfortunately, each day, Miami truck accidents and car accidents occur to even good drivers. Statistics show that the longer a motorist is on the road, the greater their chances of being in a car accident. Since Miami is a large city with a large volume of traffic, unfortunately, the risk of Miami car accidents and traffic accidents is that much larger.

One problem is that many motorists drive far less safely than they believe. Driving while under the influence or driving while distracted can lead to a car accident – no matter how strong a driver you think you are. It is important for motorists in all cities, especially large cities like Miami, to ensure that they are driving as safely as possible. This means shutting off all mobile devices before getting behind the wheel. It can also mean occasionally taking refresher courses or getting driving skills reevaluated as necessary to ensure that you are still doing everything you can behind the wheel in order to stay safe.

Unfortunately, even being an extremely safe driver does not guarantee that you will never be in a Miami car accident. Even if you drive safely, other motorists may take risks that result in a car accident. Even if you do not drink, for example, other motorists may make poor decisions that lead to Miami drunk driving accidents that affect your vehicle as well. Learning to drive defensively is one way to ensure that you can respond quickly to avoid a collision. However, even defensive driving and excellent driving skills will not prevent all accidents.

In addition, Miami has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the cities with the highest rate of staged car accidents. Insurance fraud is unfortunately on the rise in Miami, and this means that criminals choose to get innocent motorists involved in car accidents by rear ending them, by breaking suddenly, and by engaging in other reckless behavior in order to make false insurance claims. Unfortunately, if you're targeted by an insurance fraudster, you could still sustain a serious car accident and serious injuries.

For all these reasons, it is important for all Miami motorists to be prepared for car accidents at all times. This means that you should have adequate insurance coverage, and you should have an emergency kit in your car. Your emergency kit should contain a disposable camera for taking photos of the scene, a pen and paper for taking down insurance information and contact information from the other driver, and a first aid kit that allows you to treat any minor wounds on site. Reviewing what you need to do if you are in a Miami car accident is also a smart move, and ensures that you are ready if the worst happens.

Continue reading "Why You Need to be Prepared for a Miami Car Accident" »

If you have been in a Homestead car accident, your first priority should be to get medical help for yourself and for anyone else injured at the scene. However, you must not lose sight of the fact that your Homestead pedestrian accident or car accident could also have a huge financial impact on your life, as well as medical implications. If you have been injured or if the crash was a severe one, there are many costs that you may need to pay:

1) Medical costs. The immediate and long-term medical costs of a Homestead truck accident or car accident can be staggering. Homestead personal injury patients may need to pay tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in medical costs, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Some of the costs may not even be covered by insurance. For example, Homestead burn injury victims often require cosmetic surgery and skin grafts. Even though these are necessary in order for the victims to resume a normal life, few insurance companies will agree to pay for these procedures. In addition to hospital stays and medical costs, patients may also need to pay additional medical costs, such as visits to specialists, rehabilitation, therapy, and other costs.

2) Lost income. Unless you have substantial assets or savings, you will need to find ways to replace the income that you were getting before the accident. If your Homestead car accident was a severe one, you may be unable to work for months or even years. Some victims are never able to return to work. In order to continue to pay for living expenses and basic costs, you will need to find a way to replace this income.

3) Property damage. If your car has been destroyed, you may need to pay for car repairs, car replacement, and even transportation costs to and from the hospital or to your attorney while you're awaiting a new vehicle. If there was anything of value in your car that was destroyed in the accident, you may need to pay in order to replace that property as well.

4) Insurance costs. After a car accident, your insurance costs may increase, sometimes substantially. You may need to pay for these added costs as well.

If your car accident was caused by someone else's negligence or recklessness, Florida law does ensure that you may not have to pay these costs by yourself. You could have a personal injury claim, which could help you secure a settlement that helps to pay for more of the costs of your accident. Unfortunately, in many cases, insurance claims and insurance coverage does not cover the full cost of a severe accident. That's why it is important to consult with a qualified Homestead personal injury attorney before making any decisions about insurance or your accident claim. An attorney can help you understand your options.

Continue reading "Evaluating the Cost of Your Homestead Car Accident" »

In Hollywood, Florida, Halloween is a big night. There are parties, special events, trick-or-treaters, and lots to see and do. Unfortunately, the additional car traffic and pedestrian traffic can increase the risk of Hollywood pedestrian accidents on Halloween night. Ensure that you and your passengers stay safe on Halloween night if you will be driving on Halloween. You need to start planning now in order to ensure that Halloween is fun, and not frightening:

1) Have a “get home safe” plan for you and your passengers. While you may not plan to drink on Halloween, many parties on Halloween night do involve alcohol. If you do accept a drink, you need to make sure that you can get home safely. Use a designated driver, ensure that you have enough cab fare to get home, or rely on someone else to get you home. However, have at least a few plans for getting home safely – just in case. It could help prevent a Hollywood drunk driving accident.

2) Avoid driving late if you can. The later you are driving, the more tired you will be and the poorer the visibility will be.

3) Remember to stay alert all throughout October 31. Many younger children start trick or treating in the daytime, so you should expect extra pedestrian traffic during the daytime as well as at night. Don't assume that you have to wait until dark to see trick-or-treaters.

4) Turn off your mobile devices. Driving distracted on Halloween night is a sure way to get into a Hollywood car accident. To avoid personal injury, keep your entire focus on the road. You need to stay extra alert because children do sometimes run out into traffic on this night while trick or treating.

5) If you can, avoid driving trick or treaters to a trick or treat destination. Instead, walk to a nearby neighborhood for trick or treating. If this is not an option and you do need to drive, take along an extra adult in the car. Children who are excited about Halloween can be very distracting, so the extra adult can take care of supervising the children while you can put your full focus on driving.

6) Ensure that your car is in good repair. Having your car in good shape means that it will be in good shape in case you need to brake suddenly.

7) When driving on Halloween night, check your blind spots more carefully. Children may be walking all over your neighborhood, so you need to stay alert. Being very aware of your surroundings is also important because there may be pranksters egging cars and engaging in other risky behaviors. Seeing them first can help ensure that you aren’t startled.

Continue reading "Plan Now to Avoid Hollywood Halloween Car Accidents" »

If you have a new teenage driver in your household this year, bear in mind that Halloween can pose a higher than usual risk of Miami car accidents. If your teen is out and about on Halloween, he or she will have to contend not only with night driving, but also with lots of children in costume running around. Unfortunately, some children do get overly excited on Halloween and may run out into traffic. Drivers who are out on this night need to be extra cautious. New drivers may not yet have the skills to deal with the added stress and dangers of Halloween driving. To ensure that your new teen driver is safe on the roads, consider:

1) Discussing the dangers of Halloween driving. If your teen will be out and about driving on Halloween night, make sure that he or she understands that Halloween is a riskier night than usual, simply because of the larger number of children out on the streets. The higher level of pedestrian traffic increases the risk of Miami pedestrian accidentshttp://www.flaxmanandlopez.com/lawyer-attorney-1118456.html. Talk to your teen about the dangers, and work together to find a solution that will help keep your teen safe on the roads. Get your teen to come up with their own ideas for staying safe – teens are more likely to follow safety rules if they propose them.

2) Ensure that your teen will be turning off all mobile devices while driving on Halloween. Halloween is no time to be texting and driving or talking on a cell phone and driving. On this night, drivers, especially, need to place their entire focus on the road. Ensure that your teen understands the dangers, and is willing to turn off their mobile device before getting in the car.

3) Make sure your teen has get home safe plan in case they attend a party where there is drinking. Many Halloween parties for older teens do involve drinking, and like all holidays, Halloween night can mean a higher risk of Miami drunk driving accidents. To avoid a serious injury, ensure that your teen knows that they can call you or a friend to get a safe and sober ride home – no questions asked. Make sure that your teen also has enough cab fare to get home safely as well.

4) Be wary of Halloween pranks and where your teen is going on Halloween. Unfortunately, many older teens do engage in risk-taking activities on Halloween night. Smashing pumpkins, playing pranks, and even toilet papering houses can lead to aggressive confrontations and even personal injury. Make sure that your teens understand the dangers of risk taking. If you're not sure about your teen’s safety on Halloween night, consider arranging an event or party at home.

Continue reading "If you Have a New Teen Driver, Help them Avoid Halloween Miami Car Accidents" »

Miami car accidents are a special risk during Halloween, since children are out and about trick-or-treating at the same time as cars are driving around. Miami sees a lot of car traffic, making it especially risky for childhood car accidents, especially during Halloween. Children who are trick-or-treating can get overly excited about the candy they are getting, and this can make them less cautious about running in front of cars or about crossing the street. To ensure that your children are not affected by Miami pedestrian accidents this Halloween, make sure that you:

1) Choose costumes carefully. Costumes should be highly visible, and should include flashlights or reflective strips. Any props, such as guns or swords, should be clearly made of foam and should not look too close to the real thing. Ensure that your child's costume does not prevent them from walking safely. This means ensuring that there is nothing dragging on the ground when your child walks in his or her costume.

2) Make sure that your child can see correctly. Avoid costumes that cover the face, and costumes with masks that inhibit visibility. Where possible, use face paint rather than masks for your child’s Halloween costume. Also be wary of costumes that require capes or hoods, as these can affect peripheral vision and can make it harder for your child to see oncoming traffic.

3) Set out a route for your child's to follow. Make sure that your child is accompanied at all times by an adult. The route that your child uses for Halloween should be well lit, and should have relatively little traffic.

4) Go over pedestrian safety rules with your child in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Make sure that your child is repeatedly told look both ways before crossing the street and to always cross at corners. When your child is out trick-or-treating, he or she should visit houses along one side of the street, cross at the corner, and then continue to visit houses along the other side of the street. Make sure that your child does not crisscross the street to get to different houses, crossing from in between parked cars.

5) If you live in a high traffic area of Miami, consider taking your child to a Halloween party rather than having them trick-or-treat. This ensures that your child is safe indoors rather than risking injury outdoors. This can also help protect your child from Miami drunk driving accidents, which unfortunately can be a concern on a night when many Halloween parties are serving alcohol.

6) If a younger child does want to trick or treat, consider sending them out early. This way, the child will be back home before dark. Have extra Halloween candy at home so that he or she is not disappointed with fewer treats.

Continue reading "Helping your Children Avoid Miami Car Accidents this Halloween" »

Unfortunately, Florida sees its share of traffic accidents. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, 2,983 people lost their lives in Florida car accidents in 2008. 1,169 of the deaths were due to Florida drunk driving accidents. As a city in Florida, Hollywood also sees its fair share of car accidents. Hollywood car accidents can occur anywhere and at any time. If you live in Hollywood, the Flaxman Law Group legal team hope that you are never in a vehicle collision. However, if you are, knowing what to do can make a dramatic difference in your recovery and future. If you have been in a Hollywood traffic accident, you need to:

1) Offer assistance to anyone who has been injured. If the accident is a Hollywood pedestrian accident, you will need to contact emergency personnel immediately. The same is true in case of a Hollywood bicycle accident or motorcycle accident, where victims are less protected than they would be in a vehicle.

2) Contact authorities. In a case where someone is injured or the accident is severe enough to cause serious damage, call police right away. In minor accidents, move the vehicles involved out of the way of traffic and contact authorities. In cases where police cannot come to the scene, file a police report within 24 hours of the accident by visiting the local police station. Ensure that your version of events is included in the police report.

3) Gather information. Get a copy of the police report and exchange contact information, driver’s registration information, and insurance information with any other drivers involved. Also, be sure to get the contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident. If you are taken to a hospital, get a copy of any medical reports and files. If you decide to pursue legal action, this information will be invaluable. Even if you decide not to pursue legal action, this information can be important for insurance claims.

4) Start documentation right away. Note down the time and exact location of the crash, as well as any other particulars you remember. If possible, take photos of the crash scene, the position of the cars and any other details you can. Even photos taken with a phone camera can contain details which are invaluable for Hollywood car accident reconstruction professionals. If you sustain any injuries, take photos of your injuries and start keeping a journal about the costs of your injuries as well as the symptoms you experience.

5) Seek medical help. If you are injured in a Hollywood traffic collision, seek medical help right away. Even if you feel fine after an accident, however, it is important to seek immediate help if you suspect you may have hit your head. Some brain injuries do not manifest symptoms right away but can be fatal, so it is always better to err on the side of caution and seek help at once.

6) Consult with a Hollywood personal injury attorney specializing in car accident claims. In many cases, you will need the help of an attorney to get the fairest claim possible, especially if you have significant or expensive injuries. A consultation will at least help you understand your options and the likely total costs of your accident, so that you can make an informed decision in your case.

Continue reading "What Actions to Take if You are in a Hollywood Car Accident" »

The statistics surrounding the risk of car accidents in Miami and other major Florida cities can be frightening. For example, did you know…

1) There were more than 43 000 Miami Dade County car accidents in 2008 alone, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That means 118 accidents daily in just that one county. The accidents also had a high cost that year, causing 271 fatalities. In 85 of the fatal car accidents in Miami Dade County, alcohol was a cause of the accident, again underscoring the risks of Miami drunk driving.

2) Miami Dade County experienced an especially high rate of serious car accidents in the early part of the 2000s, with 51, 132 road accidents in 2002 and 54, 519 Miami Dade traffic accidents in 2001. After 2001, the number of accidents began to decline, but tens of thousands of accidents still occur across the county every year.

3) While Miami Dade County has many large cities, including Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Homestead, Miami Beach, North Miami, South Miami, and others, Miami is the city that sees the largest number of car accidents. Miami car accidents account for up to a quarter of all accidents in the County some years.

4) A significant number of Miami car accidents are Miami drunk driving accidents. Statistics show that in 2005, 4.63% of traffic accidents were related to alcohol. In comparison, 2.12% of traffic accidents across Miami Dade County were linked to alcohol consumption that same year.

5) Miami Dade County has significant rates of most types of traffic accidents. While the statistics about Miami traffic accidents are sobering, the County sees quite a number of different types of accidents. In 2005, there were eight fatal Miami Dade bicycle accidents, 81 fatal pedestrian accidents, and 45 fatal Miami Dade motorcycle accidents as well. In addition to these fatalities, many more residents were injured in these types of accidents but survived their injuries. Across Florida that year, more than 1000 people were injured in pedestrian accidents and more than 400 people were injured in bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, Florida has earned a reputation as a state with a high number of bicycle accidents.

Knowing about the statistics can be useful for Florida drivers and pedestrians. If you live, work, or travel to Miami or the surrounding areas, knowing your risks is important. While you cannot prevent every accident, there are many things you can do to stay safe. Getting adequate driving training, staying distraction-free, and following the rules of the road are all important first steps. Authorities agree that many car accidents across the country are preventable. Driving safely and responsibly can keep you and your loved ones safe.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents: A Look at the Statistics " »

It’s well-known that Miami drivers love their mobile devices. Florida is one of only a few states with no bans on texting or talking while driving and each year many Miami pedestrian accidents and car accident – as well as many traffic accidents across the state – are caused by distracted drivers using cell phones.

Even though the dangers of distracted driving are well documented, many drivers still choose to drive while texting or using their mobile devices. This is the case even in states with strict texting bans in place. A new study out of Canada could shed some light on why drivers take the risk. Recently, the province of British Columbia in Canada held a crackdown on drivers who use mobile devices and cell phones while driving. Authorities issued more than 3500 tickets as part of the crackdown. As part of the initiative, authorities also kept track of some of the excuses used by drivers who were caught driving while texting or talking on their cell phones:

1) “I do not agree with this law.” This is an interesting reason, because, of course, residents are obligated to follow all traffic laws – even ones they do not agree with.

2) “I had to use the phone – it was my employer/family/spouse.” This is another interesting reason for driving distracted. The reality is that no phone call is so urgent that it is worth risking a car accident over. If there is a truly important phone call to be made, motorists should pull over to the side of the road to make the call.

3) “I was not using the phone – just holding it.”

4) “I did not see you, office – I was on the phone.”

5) “Something happened to my Bluetooth and I cannot use it.” While hands-free devices at least allow motorists to focus on the road and not take their eyes off the road, some studies have suggested that hands-free devices still distract drivers and are still therefore a hazard on the roads. In addition, a technical problem with a hands-free device does not make it acceptable to use mobile devices while driving.

6) “I was stopped at a red light and was not driving and texting.” In areas where cell phones or texting are banned behind the wheel, the understanding is that drivers will not use their mobile devices at any time while operating a motor vehicle – and that includes stops at red lights. In fact, drivers need to be alert at stop signs and red lights in order to monitor the flow of traffic, so mobile devices in these situations are quite dangerous.

7) “I was just checking my battery/the time/to see if my cell phone was working.” Again, a cell phone ban implies that mobile devices will not be used in any manner while driving. Checking the time on a phone is just as distracting – and just as likely to lead to a Miami car accident – as texting. Experts and authorities agree that it is safest to turn a mobile device off and put it safely away before getting in the car, to avoid the temptation to check messages or the device itself.

Continue reading "Canadian Excuses Could Shed Light on Miami Car Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving " »

Burn injuries can be one of the most challenging injuries after a Florida car accident. The scarring, pain, and even mobility loss after this type of accident can be devastating. Burn injuries often occur in Florida car accident when a fuel tank leads or explodes, causing a fire.

The first step with a serious burn injury is to seek immediate medical care. Florida burn injury patients are usually rushed to an emergency room after a car accident and may be transferred to a specialty burn unit. Emergency personnel work to stabilize the patient, assess the degree of the burn, and commence treatment. In some cases, burn injuries can be life-threatening. Wide-spread burns and burns in specific areas of the body can place stress on major organs and can even prove fatal.

The initial priority with a burn injury is to prevent infection and ensure healing. The burns are usually treated and covered. Doctors will typically commence treatment and will work to monitor a patient, if the burns are widespread, to ensure that major organs are functioning well. A severe or wide-spread burn may require weeks of hospital stay and many months or even years of treatment on an out-patient basis.

Rehabilitation is necessary with some burn injuries. In cases where the burn penetrates the skin and affects muscles and bone, mobility can be severely affected. To regain mobility, patients may need to take months in therapy and rehabilitation to regain lost mobility.

After your car accident, you may also want skin grafts and other forms of treatment to minimize the scarring associated with your burn injury. Scarring is often not just cosmetic, but is also profoundly difficult for a car accident victim. Car accident victims with severe scarring may notice others staring at them or may face extreme difficulty in social situations. Unfortunately, many medical insurance carriers see skin grafts and other scar treatment as "purely cosmetic" and may not be willing to cover the costs, which are substantial. For this reason, burn injury victims may wish to consult with the Flaxman Law Group to determine whether they can seek a settlement that helps them cover these important costs. The initial consultation with the Flaxman Law Group is free of charge, and is a good way to explore various options for treatment and recovery.

Pain management will also likely be a long-term solution for most Florida burn injury patients. Burn injuries can be very painful, especially as the skin starts to heal. Most patients will require expensive pain medication as well as alternative pain treatments, in some cases where traditional pain management does not work.

In addition to taking care of the physical needs of burn injury patients, most medical professionals today also recognize that these patients require emotional support as well. Burn injuries and the scarring they create can be very traumatic for patients. Some patients have a hard time resuming normal relationships and social activities after their injury. Depression, upset, and even anger are not uncommon. Therapy and counseling are often necessary to help patients work through these problems. Again, however, many insurance carriers do not pay for these needed services. For this reason, Florida car accident victims who have sustained serious injuries should seek the help of a qualified attorney to ensure that they have the financial resources to pay for all needed treatment.

Continue reading "Treating Florida Burn Injuries After a Florida Car Accident" »

Florida car accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities for young children. While children do not drive, they spend comparable time in cars when compared with adults, simply because children are always being driven to school, to appointments, for visits to friends and family, and to other events. Long hours on the road mean an increased risk of accidents.

Children are more vulnerable to car accident injuries because they bodies are small and developing. A Florida brain injury sustained by an adult, for example, can heal more quickly than one sustained by a child, where the brain is smaller and still growing. Small bones can break more easily and since children have not developed a stronger immune system, they may be more prone to complications after an injury.

Children are also more vulnerable in a car accident because many of the safety devices in cars are designed for adults. Seat belts and airbags are designed for adult passengers and can in fact be dangerous for a child. Air bags, when they deflate, tend to hit an adult passenger in the chest, reducing the possible impact against a dashboard. With a child, however, the airbag is likely to push violently against the face, which can cause severe head injuries and can prevent the child from breathing normally. Seat belts, too, can cut into a child's neck during an accident, since the seat belt is designed for an adult.

Childhood injuries in a car accident are more likely to happen if children do not use child-appropriate safety restraints. The safest place for a child is in the rear seat, in an age-appropriate child restraint. That means a child seat for infants and a booster seat for older children. Of course, it is imperative that these devices be used every time the child is in a car. Placing a child in an age-appropriate child restraint can also help prevent an accident, as it ensures that the child is restrained and is unable to cause a distraction in the car by getting into trouble while the car is moving.

Of course, it is important for all parents to drive carefully to prevent a Florida car accident. There is no point in putting a "baby on board" or "child on board" sign on a car if the driver does not take care to drive carefully as well. Putting away distractions, leaving ample room in front of you, and obeying traffic laws is imperative in keep you – and your child – safe.

Another way to protect your children is to be careful about who drives your children around. Most parents feel comfortable driving their child around, since they know that they will take the necessary precautions. However, it is also important to consider child safety when allowing your child in the car with a relative, friend, baby sitter, or day car provider. Ensure that everyone who drives your child has age-appropriate child restraints and uses them correctly. Ensure that driving safety records are good before allowing someone to drive your child to school or an appointment.

Continue reading "Child Injuries and Florida Car Accidents" »

Side impact collisions, also known as broadside crashes and t-bone collisions, occur when one car hits the side of another. These Florida car accidents can in fact be more risky and more likely to lead to fatalities and serious injuries than Florida rear-end collisions and front-end crashes. This is usually because with rear-end collisions and front-end crashes passengers are shielded by trunk space or the engine bay. With a side impact collision, there is usually very little padding and protection between the passenger and the car.

These Florida car accidents are usually caused when one car does not yield right of way of another car. These accidents typically occur at intersections, and at full speed. Although many drivers see right-of-way rules as simply a part of road etiquette, failing to yield right-of-way can literally lead to a fatality.

The passengers of the car that collides with the side of another car are usually less at risk. There is trunk space protecting the passengers and crumble zones that disperse part of the force. Unfortunately, this makes side impact collisions especially cruel. If someone behaves in a reckless or negligent way -- such as running a red light, for example -- it is often the person that they hit who suffers the most while the offender walks away with hardly a scratch. While some hitting vehicle drivers do sustain injuries, it is certainly not as common and injuries are rarely as severe as the injuries sustained to the car being hit.

T-bone accidents often take place when a car runs a red light or when a driver is driving aggressively or while distracted. This also makes them frustrating for victims, as these accidents are often largely preventable. If a driver runs a red light, or is distracted and does not notice a light change, an innocent driver or passenger's life may be forever ruined by a permanent injury. As well, a responsible driver may do everything right but may still be affected by a side impact accident caused by negligent driver who does not stop for a red light or stop sign. This can be frustrating for victims who drive carefully but are injured by someone's negligence.

Continue reading "Side Impact Florida Car Accidents " »

Getting your car properly taken care of every season can help you prevent the risk of Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents, as it ensures that your vehicle is in good shape to prevent an accident. If you need to stop suddenly or maneuver quickly in order to avoid a collision, having a car that responds well is important. To get your car maintained this autumn, make sure that you:

1) Get your car checked out. Taking your car periodically to a trusted mechanic periodically can help ensure that your car is in good shape to drive and has no obvious problems. It is especially important to take your car in to a trusted mechanic if you notice any problems, unusual noises, or if you notice that the car is responding oddly. Regular tune-ups and maintenance are vital, especially in the autumn, when many drivers are on the road more frequently due to the school run.

2) Have a plan for keeping your windshield clear. Mud, rain, and autumn weather can wreak havoc with your ability to see clearly through your windshield. Top up your windshield fluid regularly, make sure that your windshield wipers are in good repair, and consider upgrading your wipers to ones that do a better job of clearing dirt and debris from your windshield. It's a smart investment that can help ensure that you see what is in front of your car.

3) Assemble a kit for safe and comfortable driving. Your kit should include a first aid kit, a cell phone for calling for help in an emergency, a blanket, flares or flashlight, a spare tire, instruction manuals for changing tires, and a good spare tire. Your glove compartment box should contain sunglasses which can help you see clearly, and gloves for days when your wheel is too hot to hold firmly.

4) Create a space for your mobile devices. Distracted driving is a serious problem across the US. You can help conquer the problem by always turning off your mobile device and putting it away before you get behind the wheel. In fact, it is best to turn off your mobile device and put it away, such as in your glove compartment, to ensure that you will not be tempted to check your messages while you drive.

5) Get your tires checked. Summer can be hard on tires, and at this time of year the wear and tear of driving on hard surfaces can really show up. Make sure that your tires are correctly aligned and are still in good condition. If the treads on your tires are worn, it is important to have them replaced before the wet autumn season begins. If you will be driving outside of Florida this winter, you may also need to invest in a good set of winter tires for any winter driving you will need to do.

Continue reading "Fall Maintenance Tips to Prevent Florida Car Accidents" »

When a car tips over on its side or roof, serious injuries can result. Florida rollover accidents usually occur with specific top-heavy cars – such as vans and SUVs – and typically take place when a driver travels too fast when turning. Tripping, a collision with a vehicle, and not being able to maneuver a slope are other reasons for rollovers. In many cases, speed is at least one factor in a rollover.

Some vehicles are more prone to rollovers because they have a high center of gravity. SUVs, vans, and trucks, for example are far more likely to be in a rollover accident than most low-slung passenger vehicles. Some models are especially well-known for having a high rollover risk and in fact some cars have been recalled over this risk. Very large trucks with heavy loads are especially liable to rollovers, because they are top-heavy.

There are many things that manufacturers can do to help prevent rollovers. Some vehicles have wider wheel tracks, for example, making the cars more stable. Roll bars and roll cages can also maintain the integrity of the vehicle in a rollover, reducing the risk of serious brain injury. However, such safety features also reduce passenger space and for this reason many manufacturers do not install these additional safety features in cars that are intended for passenger use. Military vehicles and commercial vehicles tend to have these additional safety features, but most passenger cars do not. Convertibles, however, do have roll bars or additional protection of some type, simply because in the event of a rollover, passengers in a convertible have almost no protection from the impact, other than the windshield.

There are a number of things that drivers can do to help reduce their risk of a rollover accident. If you have a vehicle that has a higher center of gravity, for example, avoid loading any weight on the roof of the vehicle. Additional weight there makes your vehicle top-heavy and makes it more likely to roll over if you have to drive down a very steep slope or if you accidentally collide with an object or vehicle. As well, avoiding making sharp, fast turns. This is the highest risk factor for most rollover accidents, so driving the speed limit and avoiding taking your car off the road onto slopes and into ditches can greatly reduce your risk of a rollover

Rollover accidents tend to be serious. In this type of Florida car accident, it is common for the roof to cave in or collapse, leading to serious brain injuries and other serious injuries. As well, in some rollover accidents the car stops in a position that blocks doors and escape routes, trapping passengers inside. In the event of a fire, this can be fatal as passengers are unable to flee the vehicle in time.

Continue reading "Florida Rollover Car Accidents are a Serious Concern " »

Rear-end collisions usually occur when a vehicle is tailgating or when one driver brakes suddenly. Moderate speed Florida rear-end crashes can result in whiplash. Higher speeds can result in herniation, brain injuries, and other serious injuries. This type of car accident can be jarring and upsetting. It can also lead to serious Florida brain injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries. In cases where there are items, such as groceries, in a vehicle, these objects can become airborne during a Florida car accident and can cause serious injuries, even at lower speeds. Even though some rear end Florida car accidents are nothing more than fender benders, serious injuries and even fatalities do occur with this type of car accident.

The trunk space of a car can help protect passengers from impact. Those most likely to be injured in this type of crash are the passengers in the rear of a van, as the rear crumple zone in a van tends to be small. In fact, any passenger vehicle with reduced trunk space can be more problematic with a rear end collision. In some cases, victims who have sustained injures in rear end collisions are injured because there is a flaw with the design of the car, which causes additional injuries despite there being a cushion of trunk space. If you believe that your Florida car accident injuries were caused by this type of defect, you will need to work with a qualified Florida product liability attorney to help investigate the true cause of your injuries.

Unfortunately, rear end car accidents are more likely to injure people sitting in the rear of the vehicle, as that is where most of the impact occurs. Tragically, it is often children who are sitting in the rear seat of the vehicle. For this reason, it is very important to ensure that any children in your car are always restrained with age-appropriate safety restraints. Without these restraints, children can be flung about the interior of the car, causing serious and permanent injury.

The driver of the car that rear-ends a vehicle is usually considered to be at fault. Usually, authorities believe that the driver did not pay due attention or did not leave adequate room to stop safely. However, is dangerous to assume that the hitting car is always at fault. Some Florida staged car accidents, for example, occur when a car brakes suddenly or drives recklessly, causing other cars to rear end it. If you have been in the rear end collision, it is important not to take blame or agree with an assessment of the situation until a thorough investigation of the accident can be completed. If you are accused of a rear end accident but believe that you were not at fault, you may need to work with a qualified Florida attorney to determine true liability in the accident.

Continue reading "Florida Rear-End Collisions: What You Need to Know" »

Florida has the unfortunate distinction of leading the country in staged car accidents and insurance fraud. Unfortunately, many staged Florida car accidents end up costing victims the most. This type of insurance fraud increases insurance costs for all Florida drivers. As well, innocent drivers are often accused of causing an accident so that criminals can claim expensive medical expenses. In many cases, fraudsters will wave a driver to change lanes and liberally cause a car accident. In some cases, fraudsters deliberately slam on the brakes in order to cause a minor car accident. In each of these cases, an innocent driver is unfairly dragged into insurance fraud. In many cases, the fraudster's cars is filled with passengers, each of whom claim expensive medical costs. Frequently, the fraudsters work with unscrupulous medical experts and other professionals in order to bolster their claims. In some cases, the innocent driver or their passengers are seriously injured due to the staged accident.

According to authorities, there are many things that Florida drivers can do to help avoid becoming involved in a staged car accident:

1) Leave additional space between you and the vehicle in front of you. The car in front of you cannot brake suddenly and cause an accident if you leave adequate space.

2) Be aware if someone waves you to change lanes or merge. While in many cases this is simply a driver being polite, it could also be a fraudster setting you up for a car accident.

3) Be wary when making left-hand turns. Oncoming cars can deliberately accelerate in order to cause a car accident in this way.

4) Never drive distracted. Not only is it more likely to cause a Florida pedestrian accident, car accident, or other traffic accident, but insurance fraudsters often target distracted drivers. Distracted drivers are less likely to notice suspicious behavior on the part of the other driver, making them ideal victims. Distracted drivers are also less likely to react in time in order to avoid a collision and are less likely to notice a deliberate attempt to cause a collision. Stay alert and be aware of the drivers around you.

5) Be aware of drivers driving erratically. They may be driving under the influence, or may be out to deliberately cause an accident.

6) Make sure that you have defensive driving experience and training. Defensive driving can help you avoid an accident, even one that is caused deliberately.

7) If you have been in accident, beware of signs of insurance fraud. If you are offered money to use a specific medical or legal professional, mechanic, or other professional, refuse. Ask for a list of recommended mechanics from an insurer or other trusted professional. Work with an experienced Florida car accident attorney to determine the true cause of an accident and avoid accepting liability or blame for an accident until it can be thoroughly investigated.

Continue reading "How to Avoid Staged Florida Car Accidents " »

If your teen is a new driver this fall and is looking forward to driving to school, work, or after-school activities, you will of course want to ensure that your teen is driving safely. There are many ways you can help your teen avoid a Florida car accident or truck accident:

1) Help your teen find a safe car. Whether your teen is saving up for their first car or whether you will be gifting a car to your child, make sure that the car is safe. Have it inspected by a trusted mechanic and consider adding some safety features – such as a security system that lets your teen get in touch with a live operator in the event of a problem. Alternatively, make sure your teen has a cell phone so that they can call for help if needed.

2) Establish rules about drinking and driving and distracted driving. Your teen has already heard the message in driver education, but this is one message that needs to be stressed again and again. Make sure that your teen has several options for getting home safely without drinking and driving. This may mean that you need to agree that your teen can always call you for a ride with no questions asked and no lectures or punishment for underage drinking. An agreement like that can help prevent one more Florida drunk driving accident, however. As well, review the types of activities that constitute distracted driving and ensure that your teen agrees never to engage in those activities.

3) Limit the number of passengers your teen can have in the car – at first. Even if your teen promises never to drive distracted, passengers are one of the most distracting things for a new driver – and, inevitably, once your teen has a license many unlicensed friends will want a ride. At first, limiting the number of passengers your teen is allowed to take can ensure that distractions are kept to a minimum. As your teen gains confidence and experience behind the wheel, you can consider relaxing the restrictions.

4) Consider additional training. Private lessons, defensive driving courses, and even racing school, can help address any bad driving habits before they set. Additional training with a qualified instructor can also give your teen additional guided experience on the road – an important factor in preventing car collisions.

5) Take frequent drives with your teen. Being a passenger when your teen drives can reassure you about your teen's driving. It can also help you to see whether additional training and restrictions are needed.

Continue reading "Helping Your Young Driver Avoid Accidents This Fall " »

Most insurance companies charge young drivers higher insurance premiums because statistics show that young drivers do have higher rates of accidents. Over the past two decades, a number of initiatives have been launched to help prevent Florida car accidents involving young drivers. For example, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have created education campaigns to alert young drivers about the dangers of Florida drunk driving accidents. As well, legislators have passed laws requiring more training and placing additional restrictions on new drivers. Graduated licensing ensures that teens cannot

However, most experts agree that the way to prevent car accidents among young drivers is to include more training. There are many suggestions about adding more training for young drivers:

1) Defensive driver training. Defensive driving courses go one step further than basic driver education, by helping new drivers learn how to anticipate and avoid car collisions. Many parents already send their teens to defensive driving courses or even to racing school – which also teaches additional defensive driving skills. Insurance companies often encourage parents to pay for this type of additional training by offering insurance discounts to teen drivers with additional defensive driver training.

2) Decision training. Some experts believe that teens may be more likely to make poor decisions – such as the decision to drive while talking on a cell phone or the decision to overload a car with passengers – which older and more experienced drivers can resist. Teaching teens to make good decisions behind the wheel can help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents, according to some experts.

3) Night driving training. Most driver education classes and all driver tests for licensing take place during the day, which means that most teens learn night driving through practice. Taking private night driving lessons with a trained driving instructor can help close the gap, but currently this additional training is not required.

4) Additional restrictions for new drivers. Young drivers are not allowed to have any alcohol in their system and may face additional restrictions. Some legislators have suggested additional restrictions for young drivers – such as banning young drivers only from using mobile devices while driving.

5) Increasing the age for new drivers. Some Florida residents in years past have suggested that 16 years old is too young to be behind a wheel. In fact, across the country there have been campaigns to increase the driving age to 18. However, this is considered a very controversial suggestion.

6) Winter driving training. Most Florida residents do not need to worry about whiteout conditions, black ice, and other dangers of winter driving. However, some argue that winter driving skills should also be taught in Florida, since eventually Florida drivers may move or travel to other states where winter driving is a very different experience.

7) Longer in-car training hours. Most basic driver education courses require only a limited amount of in-car training. Some argue that these hours are not adequate to really teach teens to drive safely. Some Florida parents pay for additional private lessons for their children, to ensure one-on-one attention from a driving instructor and more supervised driving.

Continue reading "How Much Training is Enough to Prevent Young Drivers From Getting into Florida Car Accidents?" »

Driving at night can increase the risk of Florida car accidents, for many reasons:

1) Fatigue. Driving late at night can mean driving at a time when the body is naturally tired and ready to go to sleep. If you are driving past the time when you normally would go to bed, especially, you may be fighting your natural rhythm. Many drivers who fall asleep at the wheel do so driving late at night.

2) Animals. Many animals – including deer and raccoons, to name only two – are most active at dusk and dawn. When these animals run out into the road, drivers often have only seconds to react. Combined with the darkness and poor visibility of the night, this can be a fatal combination, especially on rural roads, which are more likely to be dark and more likely to have animals on them.

3) Glare. Glare can occur from many things, including a dirty windshield, eye glasses problems, vision problems, high beams, and other reasons. When it occurs, through, it is difficult to focus on the road and difficult to see well enough to drive.

4) Shadows and poor visibility. Poor visibility due to darkness can cause all sorts of problems for drivers. Drivers may feel nervous when driving along dark stretches of road or may not see enough to anticipate hazards ahead. When pedestrians and bicyclists do not wear reflective clothing on dark roads, Florida bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents are the tragic result.

5) High beams from other drivers. On rural roads especially, some drivers leave their high beams on at all times. This effectively blinds oncoming drivers and can cause a serious accident.

6) Vision problems. Many vision problems are worse at night. For example, some people with vision problems see halos or a glare around objects in the dark. Eye glasses can give off a glare in the dark and any flaws in corrective lenses – such as scratches – can be more visible in the dark. If you have any vision problems, it is important to visit a doctor every year for a check up to ensure that your corrective lenses are in good shape.

7) Lack of training. Most driving classes take place in the daytime and all driver tests take place during the day. As a result, most new drivers do not have their night driving skills tested extensively. With time, drivers gain confidence and experience with night driving. However, since night driving is under-tested it is a good idea to give your teen driver some night driving lessons. In many cases, private lessons are available for this particular skill.

We all need to drive at night at some point. However, it is important to be alert that the night time does pose some added dangers. If you do not have to drive at night, avoid doing so, especially along darker highways and roads where visibility can be especially bad. If you have teen drivers in your home, make sure that they have adequate training before driving alone at night.

Continue reading "How Night Driving Contributes to Florida Car Accidents" »

The start of the school year means a return of the school-year routine for many families. If you have a child, your morning routine will likely mean a commute to school. If you drive your child to school, you will need to plan ahead to reduce the risk of a Florida car accident on the way to school. Unfortunately, traffic accidents frequently occur on the morning school commute, as dozens of parents are dropping off children and trying to scramble through a hectic morning. You can reduce your risk if you:

1) Encourage your school to create a drop-off zone. A drop-off zone at school usually is apart from school buses and is designed to handle high-flow levels of traffic. This is far more convenient and safer than trying to drop off a child near school bus lanes or near a busy school parking lot.

2) Consider car pooling. Arranging for car pooling for your child reduces stress and saves you time. Arranging car pooling at your child's school also reduces the number of cars pulling up by the school, which can reduce the risk of collisions.

3) Get your car checked out. A well-maintained car will respond better, making it easier for you to stop suddenly if you need to.

4) Do a test run. If you are new to a school, especially, consider visiting the school some morning before classes start. Test out different routes to the school and time how long the drive takes (but make sure to factor in morning traffic during the school year). Consider where you can park and where you can drop your child off. Take note of the school bus zones as well so that you are prepared for the morning commute.

5) Create a time schedule to keep mornings less hectic. A chaotic morning can increase your risk of an accident because it is distracting to be rushing and thinking about the time. Set up a system by the door and have each child place their shoes, coats, and full backpacks by the door. Set out clothing the night before. Consider pre-packed lunches or wake early to pack them. Shaving off time in the morning also ensures you don’t have to get up too early, which reduces the risk of driving fatigued.

6) Consider alternative forms of transport. If your school offers a bus ride, consider this as a viable alternative. While Florida bus accidents do occur, they are statistically far rarer than car accidents.

7) Consider parking a block from school and walking. If your child's school is large and has no drop-off zone, you may find the traffic near the school too chaotic and unsafe. Parking a short distance away and walking up can be safer, especially if the entrance to the school is a distance away from car traffic.

Continue reading "Getting Ready to Prevent Florida Car Accidents in the School Year" »

Florida truck accidents caused by tire blowouts are often in the news, because these types of accidents tend to be very destructive. However, passenger car drivers also need to worry about car blowouts. While blowouts on large trucks are more destructive because of the pressure and force of the large vehicle, passenger car tires also fail regularly and this can cause Florida car accidents.

In fact, passenger drivers may be more at risk when their own tires blowout. Most passenger car drivers do not receive the same extensive training that truck drivers do and may have less driving experience, so they are less prepared for a tire blowout than commercial truck driver. As well, tire blowouts often frighten drivers and force drivers to respond very quickly. In most cases, drivers will slam on their brakes or move their wheels suddenly when they feel or hear a tire blowout. This can make it even harder to control the car. Experts advise that there are many things that passenger car drivers can do to make tire blowouts less likely to lead to an accident:

1) Take excellent care of your tires. Check pressure and traction regularly and have your tires aligned and maintained regularly by a trusted mechanic. When buying new tires, check to make sure that the brand and model you are buying have not been recalled (this is especially important if you are buying tires second-hand). As well, check the date the tires were manufactured. Some tires sold as "new" have been in storage for some time and may not be as safe as newer tires, since rubber can disintegrate, especially when kept in a hot warehouse.

2) If your tire does suddenly deflate, do not slam on the brakes. Your car will lose traction, so it is important to maintain your speed rather than making a drastic change. Keep both hands on the wheel to maintain better control of your vehicle.

3) Gently counter-steer. The damaged tire will drag, making you drift into an oncoming lane. To avoid a head-on Florida car crash, compensate for this with your steering, but avoid making any sudden or jerky movements with the wheel, as your car is losing traction.

4) If you feel you have the car under control, drop your speed gradually so that you can pull over. Put on your flashers and contact a tow truck for help.

5) In many cases, blown tires are caused by drivers driving over something sharp. Maintaining a good distance from the car in front of you and driving alert can help you spot objects on the road and steer to avoid them.

Continue reading "It's Not Just Trucks: Florida Car Accidents are Also Caused by Tire Blowouts" »

According to the Insurance Research Council, one in four Florida drivers is on the road with no car insurance. Across the US, one in six drivers do not have insurance, making Florida one of the top five states in the nation when it comes to uninsured drivers. Only New Mexico, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama have a higher percentage. In addition to these numbers, many more drivers on Florida's roads are underinsured.

Underinsured and uninsured drivers pose a huge risk for all drivers. Florida mandates that all drivers carry a minimum amount of insurance, which covers medical injuries and other injuries to the driver and passenger as well as coverage for property damage to another car. Drivers are free to buy additional insurance as well. Florida law does not require drivers to buy coverage for any medical costs to passengers of the other vehicle involved in a car accident. Drivers who do not have this type of coverage are considered underinsured, since if they are in an accident, their insurance will not pay for the medical costs and injuries they cause another person.

If you are in a Florida car accident caused by an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may have considerable challenges in recovering the costs of injuries, medical expenses, property damage, and other injuries sustained in the car crash.

Florida is a "no-fault" state, meaning that victims who sustain an accident in a car accident can get compensation for medical costs and lost wages in the event of a car accident. The payout is usually quick, since insurance companies do not consider liability when assigning claim amounts. As well, payout comes from the driver's own insurance company, not from the company of the other driver. Therefore, even if the other driver is uninsured, the victim can still get some compensation. However, only small claims of under $10 000 qualify, in most cases, for no-fault benefits.

Serious accidents usually involve lawsuits and legal claims, since no fault benefits do not cover the substantial medical costs and lost income involved. In these cases, the victim will sue the at-fault driver for damages. If the at-fault driver has good insurance coverage and personal assets, the injured driver can get compensation through these means. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, the injured driver may need to seek recovery from their own insurance company.

If you drive in Florida, you may wish to speak with your insurance provider about additional coverage that will protect you in the event of a car collision with an underinsured or uninsured driver. While many drivers are upset that they need to pay extra for someone who negligently does not obey the law in getting car insurance, the fact is that many drivers in Florida do not have adequate insurance to protect you and your family in an accident. If you are in an accident with this type of driver, having your own coverage can help pay for medical care and lost income for you and your family.

The claims process in a Florida truck accident or car accident involving an uninsured driver can be very complicated. In some cases, drivers with no insurance will leave the scene of an accident because they do not want to admit that they have broken the law and not taken out car insurance. For these reasons, it is important to secure a Florida car accident attorney immediately after your accident if you believe that the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Continue reading "Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers Can be a Risk in a Florida Car Accident " »

Many Florida spinal cord injury patients sustain their injuries as a result of a car accident. The force and impact of a car collision often causes extensive trauma to the entire body. Being ejected from the car or being tossed about inside of the car – often the result of not wearing a seat belt – can easily lead to brain injuries and spinal cord injuries as the body comes into violent contact with hard surfaces.

Florida spinal cord injury patients traditionally face many obstacles. Back injuries sustained in traffic accidents are often very serious, due to the impact of the accident. As well, spinal cord injuries are among the more expensive Florida car accident injuries to treat. Many patients have in excess of $100 000 in medical bills in their first year after their accident alone. This is because spinal cord injuries often require extended hospital stays, surgery, and other expensive treatment.

Florida spinal cord injury patients often face additional challenges after their accident, as well. For example, some of the treatments for spinal cord injuries – including rehabilitation work and home care – are not covered by health insurance. As well, car insurance is often capped far below what spinal cord injury patients will need to pay for their injuries, and since patients often cannot work after their injury, there are few resources available. Worse, in many cases spinal cord injuries are permanent, and require a lifetime of home care and medical treatment and represent a lifetime of lost income.

For all of these reasons, it is important to contact an experienced South Florida personal injury attorney soon after a serious car accident. A good attorney can investigate the accident, find all liable parties, and aggressively pursue all sources of recovery. This can make a tremendous impact on a spinal cord injury patient's outcome. With financial resources in place, a back injury patient can get the support, medication, income, and medical care needed to make the best possible recovery.

There is also good news for Florida spinal cord injury patients. Traditionally, some patients have been treated with spinal fusion, which helps patients with herniated discs in the neck. While the treatment can be effective, it does usually require multiple surgeries and months of recovery. However, doctors as Bay Medical Center have been offering a new procedure for patients with herniated discs in the neck. The new procedure places an artificial disc in the neck and patients who have this procedure often enjoy a shorter recovery time and may not require repeat surgeries. Surgery takes about an hour and a half and currently the procedure is available for patients with only one damaged disc. The ideal patients for the surgery are under 50, in good general physical condition, and are non-smokers. Currently, only a few physicians offer the procedure in Florida.

Continue reading "Options for Florida Spinal Cord Injury Patients" »

Many businesses, including bars and restaurants, rely on alcohol for business. However, these businesses also face legal problems is their patrons cause an accident while driving home drunk. As a result, many businesses in Florida have been working to help prevent Florida drunk driving accidents in a number of ways:

1) Taxi services. Many businesses set up free taxi phones or offer to call taxis for patrons who have been drinking. In many cases, businesses may even be able to get referral dollars for patrons recommended to a taxi company.

2) Be My Designated Driver services. In the Tampa Bay area, a number of restaurant and bars are trying out this new service. Be My Designated Driver is a company that works with teams of drivers. When a patron has had too much to drink, one driver from Be My Designated Driver takes the patron home and the other driver takes the patron's car home. That way, instead of driving drunk, the patron is taken home safely and does not need to drive back to get their car. The service has a flat fee as well as a mileage fee, but is generally less expensive than taking two taxis.

3) Designated driver benefits. Some bars around the country offer free non-alcoholic beverages or other small incentives to any designated driver, thereby providing extra reason for one member of a group to stay sober to get everyone safely home.

4) All-night parking. After drinking at a bar, many patrons are willing to take a taxi home but are worried about their cars. Some bars make it easy to leave a car overnight, ensuring that drivers can make a responsible decision without having to worry about a parking ticket or towing costs.

5) In-business breathalyzers. Some bars and dance clubs offer breathalyzer machines, where patrons can test their state before making a decision to drink and drive. Often, the machines are very colorful and make responsible choices fun.

6) Business partnerships. Some bars and clubs team up with taxi companies or other businesses to ensure that patrons have ready access to a safe ride home. When patrons can step outside and find a cab waiting, it can be a little easier to make a safe decision. In wine country, vineyards and restaurants have their own fleets of cars or drivers to ensure that everyone gets home safely.

7) Ads and social pressure. Many bars and clubs have ads prompting responsible drinking. In fact, many breweries create coasters and other items with "responsible drinking" messages, to encourage everyone to make safer choices. In addition, many bars and clubs take their responsibilities seriously. Where alcohol is served, staff are expected to ask for ID of anyone who looks underage and must stop serving alcohol to anyone who is inebriated. Many bars and clubs keep a close eye on patrons to ensure that they have all the tools they need to make safe choices about getting home safely.

8) Support for organizations that promote safe driving. Many businesses support organizations such as MADD, which work to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that this year 10,839 Americans will die in drunk driving accidents. This adds up to one fatality every 50 minutes. Many businesses are working to change these numbers.

Continue reading "Can Businesses Help Prevent Florida Drunk Driving Accidents?" »

Distracted driving has been in the news frequently over the past few years. According to an article in The Times, drivers who use cell phones are four times as likely to cause a car collision as their less distracted counterparts. In fact, researchers have suggested that cell phone use is similar to driving drunk, in the way that it reduces response times and increases the risk of a Florida car accident. Some studies have suggested that hands-free phones do not help, while a Harvard study from 2003 concluded that cell phone use leads to 2, 600 fatalities and 330 000 accidents that lead to at least moderate injuries.

With research like this, it is not surprising that many people associate distracted driving with mobile devices. However, experts and authorities agree that cell phone use is simply the most noticeable form of distracted driving, and it is only the tip of the iceberg. In fact, many behaviors – including common behaviors that are almost impossible to litigate – can lead to distracted driving and Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, distracted driving can include:

1) Eating and drinking while driving.

2) An outside distraction. An animal running across the road, an accident nearby, road work, and other events cause many accidents each year.

3) In-car systems, such as radios, CD players, I-pods, DVD players, GPS devices, and others. Even adjusting a seatbelt or your mirrors can distract you from the road.

4) Other passengers. Helping a child or having an animated discussion with a passenger can distract a driver and cause an accident.

5) Objects moving in the car. Insects, an object rattling in the back seat, a pet loose in the car, or any mobile object in the car is a major distraction and a danger.

6) Smoking. Smoking is bad for your health, but it is also a distraction. The act of smoking, finding a cigarette, lighting a cigarette, or dropping a cigarette can mean taking your eyes off the road.

7) Any object in the car. Fumbling through a purse, trying to open a water bottle while driving, looking through the glove compartment while driving – these are all distractions.

8) Driver fatigue.

9) Medical issues.

10) Being lost. Looking at road maps or signs can distract you from pedestrians and cars around you.

11) Emotional distraction. Highway hypnosis or simply being inattentive can be just as dangerous as any other type of distraction.

12) Mobile devices, such as cell phones and texting devices.

Of course, it is impossible to avoid all of these distractions all of the time. It is inevitable that sudden events or problems crop up on the road and distract us. However, it is also important for drivers to stay aware of all the possible types of distractions which are possible when driving. When drivers are aware of these distractions, perhaps they will be more willing to pull over rather than keep driving distracted. This sort of paradigm shift can help prevent Florida traffic collisions.

Continue reading "What Types of Distracted Driving Cause Florida Car Accidents?" »

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of fatal Florida car collisions has dropped. In 2002, 3,143 individuals were killed in Florida car accidents. By 2010, that number had declined to 2,563. This is despite the fact that the population of the state has climbed 18 percent and despite the fact that during this period drivers have been more distracted than ever before, with DVD players, GPS devices, texting, mobile devices, and other technology.

In 1995, only about 13 percent of Americans owned cell phones. Today, 80 percent of Americans own them, and this has led to quite a debate about cell phone safety behind the wheel. Many studies have been done proving that cell phone use while driving is risky and increases the risk of a car accident. However, there is no doubt that overall traffic fatalities have been dropping.

What is going on?

Part of the answer may lie in the fact that highway safety systems and laws have improved in the same time period. Seat belt laws, for example, have become stricter in the past two years. Now, police can give out tickets if a driver is not wearing a seatbelt. In fact, drivers can now be pulled over even if that is their only violation.

However, does that mean that drivers are safer – even with cell phones and mobile devices – or do the numbers hide the dangers of distracted driving? Even cell phone companies are advertising that drivers should not use their products while driving. A number of bills have been introduced in Florida, which would make texting and driving or cell phone use while driving illegal. However, none of these bills have passed so far. They have certainly created a lot of debate about the topic of distracted driving. Currently, Florida is one of only two states to have no rules at all about mobile device use. The state does not even require the reporting of cell phone use in Florida car accidents.

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text have a 23 times greater risk of being in a car crash than non-distracted drivers. As well, drivers spend an average of 5 seconds looking at mobile devices when using these devices on the road. On a highway, this means that drivers take their eyes off the road for about the length of a football field – plenty of time to cause a Florida pedestrian accident or car crash.

If mobile devices were banned or restricted, would it make Florida roads safer? Those who believe so point to studies like the one completed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Those who disagree with proposed bills point to the dropping rate of Florida car accidents and to other studies, which suggest that car accidents stayed static in states that have passed cell phone bans.

Continue reading "Would Restricting Mobile Device Use and Texting While Driving Help Cut the Number of Florida Car Accidents?" »

It makes sense to do everything in your power to avoid being in a Florida car accident. However, it is also important to be prepared – just in case. Sometimes, even when drivers do everything right, the mistakes or negligence of other drivers can lead to an accident. Luckily, there are many things you can do right now to prevent a car accident and to be more prepared in case the worst happens.

One important step to take is to place a few items in your glove compartment – just in case. In your glove compartment, you should have your registration and insurance card, in case you are in an accident. You should also have a list of emergency numbers and any information about any medical conditions you have. As well, a small first aid kit is a nice thing to have. Finally, place a paper and pen or pencil in your glove compartment, so that you can write down anything you need to after an accident. Having a camera is also nice, but not necessary.

Luckily, there are many things you can do to prevent an accident or accident-related injuries in the first place. Wearing your seatbelt and ensuring that all passengers wear age-appropriate restraints is an important first step to protecting yourself. Driving carefully and defensively is also an important way to prevent accidents.

If you are in a Florida car crash, you must stop at the scene of the accident. If the accident is minor, you can move your car off the road so that you do not block traffic and do not pose further danger to your passengers. Immediately call for medical assistance if anyone is injured. If you are not sure whether there is anyone injured, it is better to get possible victims evaluated.

Once everyone has received assistance, your next priority is to protect the site of the accident, which can help law enforcement officers determine what happened. Unless your car is creating danger or blocking traffic, leave it where it is. If you need to move your car, note where the car was at the time of the accident. Turn on your four-way flashers and lights to alter other drivers of a possible hazard. Notify police of the accident if needed and then exchange information (including names, addresses, and insurance information) with any other driver involved. Take note of any important details at the scene and take photos if you have a camera. Err on the side of taking more information than you need – you never know what detail will be important for an insurance company or attorney if you decide to pursue a claim. Take the names and numbers of any witnesses and note anything that may have in any way contributed to the accident.

If your accident has resulted in fatalities, injuries, or more than $500 in property damage, you will need to notify authorities of the accident. Stay with your car until police arrive and cooperate with the investigation. Speak with the investigating officer, but stick with the facts. Do not admit fault or discuss the accident in detail until you have a Florida personal injury attorney to advise you and to help you protect your rights. If insurance company investigators are at the scene, do not discuss the accident with them until you have a personal injury attorney, as a good attorney can help you protect your interests. In many cases, you can contact a Florida personal injury attorney – such as the Flaxman Law Group – right from the accident scene. Do not leave the scene of the accident until you have spoken to the investigating officers at the scene and they have allowed you to leave.

Once you have left the scene, see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. This can help start document any injuries you may have sustained during the accident. If you have not done so already, consult with an attorney and notify your insurance company of the accident.

Continue reading "Dealing with a Florida Car Accident, and Preventing an Accident in the First Place" »

While 33 states – including Guam and the District of Columbia -- have bans on texting while driving, Florida is one of just 17 states that do not have specific bans against texting and driving, despite a number of efforts by legislators to pass these types of laws. Currently, no states have blanket bans which prohibit all cellphone use by motorists. However, eight states – as well as the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia – have laws which ban the use of handheld cellphones while driving.

In Florida, a number of proposed laws were considered by Legislature in the latest session. One proposed law would have mandated driver education programs to include information about the dangers of distracted driving and the hazards of cellphones and other mobile devices while driving. Another proposed piece of legislation would have made it illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use handheld cell phones and mobile devices while driving. None of these bills passed. Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn, R-Ormond Beach sponsored SB 80, which would have created the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law. That law also did not pass, but Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn has spoken out about the need for such legislation.

Certainly, a number of studies do seem to suggest that the use of cell phones and mobile devices while driving is dangerous. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute completed a study in 2009 which found that using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of accidents and near accidents. Those who text drive are about 23 times as likely to be in a car crash or near car collision as those who drive distraction-free, according to the study. The study found that texting, specifically, was the most dangerous activity related to cellphones and mobile device use while driving. As well, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 0.2% of car accident related deaths and 1.22 % of car-accident-related injuries in Florida are caused by distracted driving. In 2009, for example, 1,532 people in Florida were injured and four were killed due to distracted driving. However, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the actual number of Florida car accidents caused by distracted driving may be quite higher, since drivers who have been in an accident rarely own up to driving distracted and, in some cases, there is no evidence to confirm that a driver was distracted.

Statistics such as these have led many Florida residents to conclude that there needs to be laws against distracted driving in order to prevent more Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. However, others oppose the idea of more government interference for drivers. They note that written tests for learner's permits in Florida already contain questions about distracted driving. As well, a 2010 study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that in states with texting bans, the rates of car accidents did not actually decrease after a texting ban. In fact, in three states, the number of car collisions increased after the texting ban was put in place. Another study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that bans which prohibit the use of handheld cell phones and mobile devices also did not reduce the number of car crashes. As well, some believe that technology is actually helping to prevent Florida car accidents, as there are hands-free texting applications, alerts for distracted drivers, and other special safety features, available for drivers.

Continue reading "What's Being Done to Stop Florida Car Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving " »

Each year, some Florida car accidents and traffic collisions occur when authorities pursue suspects in cars. While high-speed chases may routinely be added to movies to make them more exciting, in real life such chases can be dangerous. While police and other authorities are specially trained to drive quickly in order to get to emergency situations, accidents and crashes can easily take place. The suspect escaping from police may drive dangerously and even veer into others on purpose in a high-speed chase. The suspect or pursuers can easily lose control of their vehicle. In many cases, accidents occur because other motorists do not get out of the way in time.

There are a number of things that can be done to stay safe if you see a high-speed chase:

1) Immediately get out of the way. Give authorities plenty of time to do their job and stay out of the way of the suspect, who may be desperate and reckless. Pull over if you can. Even if you see someone stopped for a routine traffic violation, it is a smart idea to give the authorities an extra lane of room and to slow down. Many officers are injured by motorists who do not provide enough room.

2) Focus on your own driving. While it is natural to be curious about a chase, many secondary accidents take place when motorists focus on the chase or stop to take photos. Focus on getting safely out of the way and keep your eyes on the road. You can always learn the details later on the news.

3) Watch for pedestrians and bystanders. It's not just motorists who are curious about chases. Sometimes, pedestrians crowd onto sidewalks and even the road when there is something happening. You may find pedestrians in unusual areas – such as your lane. Slow down and stay alert to help avert a Florida pedestrian accident.

4) Watch for help and signals from police officers. If police or other authorities do need to pursue someone by car, they will sometimes direct traffic to divert cars away from danger. In some cases, roads may be closed so that officers can do their job. Stay alert to any signals or instructions from police and follow these instructions carefully.

5) Stay away from mobile devices. This is not the time to quickly call a friend to report what you have seen. It is also not the time to text or snap a few photos. Distracted driving can be deadly in this situation, simply because there are so many unexpected conditions, more pedestrians, and hazards nearby. Stay distraction-free to stay safe.

6) Write to your elected representatives with your concerns about road safety. If you have suggestions for keeping the roads safer, be sure to share them.

Continue reading "Can Florida Car Accidents Caused by Emergency Vehicle Pursuits be Prevented? " »

Florida drunk driving accidents are a tragic and very preventable type of collision – a type of collision that claims far too many lives each year. However, studies suggest that an increasing number of drivers are not only driving under the influence of alcohol, but also under the influence of drugs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatal car accidents involving drugs rather than alcohol increased 55% between 1999 and 2009. Each year in California, about 1000 car accidents are attributed to drivers driving under the influence of drugs.

The most common drugs used before driving included marijuana, although car accidents caused by DUI can be caused by an array of both legal and illegal drugs. According to government statistics, 16% of drivers stopped in random checks across the US were found to be impaired by illegal or legal drugs. About 50% of these drivers were driving under the influence of marijuana. According to experts, drivers in 33% of fatal car accidents are under the influence of drugs at the time of the collision. In comparison, alcohol was a factor in 32% of fatal car accidents in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one major problem with drugged drivers is that there are no clear rules and standards about drugs and impairment. While blood alcohol level can be measured accurately and while there are standards for what constitutes impaired driving with alcohol, no such standards exist with drugs. Agencies do not have standards for what amounts of drugs impair a driver.

Police officers can administer a test that examines coordination, pupil dilation, blood pressure, pulse, and other factors. This can help determine impairment. But it does not help drivers determine what drugs and in what quantities constitute impairment. Worse, some drugs – even legal or over-the-counter drugs – may react with one another, leading to impairment. Some drugs, notably marijuana, may linger in the system for days or even weeks, making it even harder to set firm standards for impairment. Thirteen states currently have zero-tolerance laws for driving drugged. However, this also causes legal headaches, as marijuana and its effects on the body are less well understood than alcohol.

Another problem is that while there has been a great deal of education about the dangers of drunk driving, there has been relatively little information about drug use and driving. Agencies such as MADD have done admirable work in educating drivers about the dangers of drinking. However, many drivers do not consider medications, over the counter medications, and other drugs when making the decision to drive.

Currently, a number of studies are underway to help authorities better understand drugs and the effects of different drugs on driving impairment. As well, a number of agencies, including the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are creating educational resources to raise awareness about the issue. The hope is that researchers will eventually be able to develop a simple test – similar to the breathalyzer – to help authorities accurately analyze impairment from drugs. However, such a test may still be many years away.

Continue reading "Florida Drunk Driving Accidents are Not the Only DUI Concern" »

The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching and most people this week will be solidifying their plans for a successful Independence Day weekend. The perfect Fourth of July weekend usually includes a barbecue, a party, and some fireworks. However, it is also a time when many Florida drunk driving accidents happen. Even if you do not plan on drinking, it is important to develop a contingency plan now. That way, if you are offered beer or find yourself choosing to drink this holiday weekend, you will have a plan in place to get some safely. Here's how to create your plan:

1) Write down your plans for the weekend so that you can plan ahead. Will you be far from home this holiday weekend? Will you need to travel from one party to the next? Who will accompany you to the party? Is there anyone who can be a designated driver? Working things out on paper allows you to notice any problems areas and any parts of your plan that need some work.

2) Once you know where you will be for the weekend, create a list of taxi cab companies, bus routes, 24-hour events and restaurants, and hotels in the area. You can also bring a mobile device so that you have this information at your fingertips. Even if you plan on not drinking and have a designated driver, you need to have a plan B and a plan C in case you do find yourself drinking and unable to get home safely.

3) Make a list of all the ways you could avoid drinking and driving on the Fourth of July, and be sure to bring a list of everyone you could phone to get a safe ride home. Be sure to bring enough money for taxis or buses and tuck this information into your wallet.

4) Check online to find out what public transportation will be available on the Fourth of July and print out any information you need. Many communities make alternative forms of transportation available over the holiday weekend.

5) If you have teen drivers in your home, have them sign a pledge not to drink and drive and make sure that they have a plan for getting home safely during the holiday weekend.

Continue reading "Do You Have Your Fourth of July Contingency Plan Ready to Help Prevent Florida Car Accidents?" »

According to the National Golf Cart Association, golf carts are becoming a very popular mode of transportation – and not just on the course. Many people are in fact using the golf carts on public roads, in order to run errands or just to get around. Thanks to increasing gas prices and an increasing number of retirees, there is a huge growth in golf cart use, especially in residential areas. In fact, in some Florida residential communities, golf carts are a more popular form of transportation than cars.

Unfortunately, there is also growing concern about the number of car accidents involving golf carts. According to a research study completed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, between 2002 and 2005, there were 48,000 golf cart-related injuries reported across the US. Men between the ages of 10 and 19, as well as people over the age of 80, were most likely to be in these types of accidents. According to police authorities, the National Golf Cart Association, and other experts have several suggestions for preventing these types of injuries:

1) Create new rules and safety instructions. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham study, safety instructions are not adequately provided by golf cart retailers and manufacturers. Researchers felt that such instructions as well as safety standards for golf cart users would help to prevent accidents.

2) Create educational awareness programs for drivers and golf cart users alike. According to authorities, many golf cart users treat golf carts just like cars, and this can be dangerous. According to experts, golf carts should not be used of higher-traffic or higher-speed roads and even a turn at 11 mph can cause a golf cart user to be ejected from the cart. Drivers must also be taught to share the road with golf cart users and to be aware that such vehicles may be sharing some roads.

3) Enforce traffic rules and keep statistics. Many municipalities do not keep records of golf cart accidents, the way they do for Florida truck accidents and car accidents. More careful record keeping and stricter enforcement of rules for both golf cart users and drivers can help prevent many accidents.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents Involving Golf Carts" »

Twelve states, including Florida, have no-fault car insurance laws, which allow victims of car accidents to recover damages for car accident quickly through their own insurance companies. In exchange, claims are processed quickly but victims can only sue for suffering and pain in cases of severe accidents. These laws were created to ensure that victims – especially those without medical insurance – could recover money quickly. However, some experts claim that the laws are now broken and are contributing to insurance fraud.

In Florida, drivers must have car insurance to drive and this includes personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This insurance covers the medical costs of the car's drivers and passengers up to $10 000. According to the Consumer Federation of the Southeast, however, this coverage has created some unintended effects, so that Florida is now the nation's leader in staged car accidents.

According to Walter Dartland of the Consumer Federation of the Southeast, the laws have allowed criminals to steal billions of dollars through staged Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents – by claiming up to $10 000 at a time. The problem is so bad that experts claim organized crime is involved, sometimes going so far as to smuggle people into the US to take part in staged Florida car accidents.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau in Florida, the problem is not so much the law itself as the fact that the system gives people access to money – and anytime there is a possibility of attaining money, there will be a certain element interested in taking advantage of that. Another problem is that it is relatively easy to open a medical clinic in Florida. This allows criminals to work with unscrupulous medical professionals in order to stage Florida car accidents. According to investigators, some of the clinics opened for this purpose provide no medical help at all, but only bill insurance companies.

Florida law requires insurance carriers to pay victims within 30 days of a claim being filed. If insurers fail to pay, healthcare professionals and victims can start legal action against the insurer. In 2010, 2779 suspicious claims in Florida were forwarded to the National Insurance Crime Bureau by insurance companies. This represents a 119% jump in such suspicious cases between 2008 and 2010.

The effects of such fraud are serious. Insurance fraud costs Florida about $1 billion a year and increases the insurance costs for all drivers. In fact, the average family with two cars will pay $100 more annually to cover the losses the insurance industry loses to fraud. There are other, more serious, consequences as well. Even staged Florida car accidents can and do lead to real injuries. When someone stages an accident, they sometimes rear-end other cars or intentionally cause a small accident. Such accidents can still lead to serious brain injuries, whiplash, and other problems for victims. As well, insurance fraud casts doubt on everyone, including real victims of car accidents. Many Florida car accident victims with legitimate injuries find that they have a hard time convincing insurers of their injuries, simply because insurers now look at Florida claims with some built-in suspicion.

Continue reading "Are No-Fault Laws Causing Staged Florida Car Accidents?" »

During the summer months, most police authorities crack down on dangerous driving and on traffic risks. It's no coincidence: research has suggested that summer months are more dangerous in terms of Florida car accidents. There are many risks in the summer months that can lead to car accidents:

1) Heavier Traffic. During the summer months, teens are home for the summer – and behind the wheel. As well, more people take advantage of vacations and the nice weather to go on long-distance road trips. In Florida, tourists flock to major cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, creating even more congestion on the roads. As well, tourists and residents alike head out for walks to take in all the Florida summer activities, increasing the risk of Florida pedestrian accidents.

2) Road work. Summer months are also often the time for repaving and other road work and construction. This can create new obstacles on the roads and can lead to accidents. It's a good idea to keep aware of construction and road work in your area through apps or news reports. That way, you can plan ahead and maybe even avoid these higher-risk areas.

3) Tires can deteriorate faster in hot weather. Florida's famously hot summers are not good news for tires. Hot pavement and sand can make tires wear down more quickly (especially with all those extra road trips). The problem can be even more dangerous if tires have any small defects. Check the age of your tires and go online to see if the tires you are using now have been recalled or have any safety problems. If your tires are getting worn, summer is a good time to change your tires.

4) The effects of hot weather and sun can have a negative impact on drivers. Hot, sunny weather can be distracting and can make drivers feel sleepy and drowsy behind the wheel. In extreme cases, very sunny weather can make it hard to see or can lead to dehydration or sun stroke. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses for your car and wear them behind the wheel to maintain good visibility in the summer and stay hydrated. If you feel unwell, get medical attention and avoid driving until you are given the all-clear.

5) More Florida drunk driving accidents. Summertime events can mean alcohol and that can mean more Florida drunk driving accidents, especially around holidays such as the Fourth of July. If you see someone you believe is driving erratically, call authorities to help prevent an accident. If you have been drinking yourself (even a drink or two) do not get behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Why Florida Car Accidents May be a Bigger Risk in the Summer" »

Florida car accidents mean many worries: will you be able to get your car repaired? Will you be able to return to work? While you are in this state of worry, you will need to make many choices. Making the right choices can make it easier for you to start on the road to recovery, while the wrong choices can follow you for years.

After a car accident, one of the first choices you will need to make is whether or not to get medical help. Many people who feel fine after a car accident never bother to see a doctor. In some cases, this can be a fatal mistake. If you have been in a serious car accident or have hit your head or lost consciousness (for even a few seconds) you need to get immediate medical attention. Many Florida brain injury patients do not experience symptoms right away and only find out too late that they have a serious injury. Some brain injuries – not to mention whiplash – do not always present symptoms right away, so if there is any possibility that you may have sustained an injury, play it safe and get immediate medical attention.

Another choice you will need to make is who to trust with your accident claim. Florida, unfortunately, is one of the nation's leaders when it comes to insurance fraud. A number of companies have been raided for trying to target victims of car accidents. These companies will call car accident victims – in some cases claiming to be an insurance representatives – and will ask the victim to visit specific doctors and attorneys. The company will then bill insurers for fake injuries or will over-bill for medical services. When a company calls you, make sure that you understand who they are and who they represent. If the call sounds suspicious, hang up. You do not want to become involved in this type of illegal activity.

Another choice that car accident victims will need to make is whether to contact a personal injury attorney. Many Florida car accident victims believe that as long as they can get a claim from an insurance provider, there is no need to get an attorney involved. However, insurance companies do not pay out the maximum possible for a claim. If you have been in a serious Florida car accident or in an accident that involves commercial vehicles or multiple vehicles, you may need a qualified Florida personal injury attorney to help you get the maximum recovery for your claim.

Finally, all accident victims will need to make a decision about the claim amount they accept for their injuries. Whether you decide to pursue the case in court or rely on your insurance company to pay you for medical costs, lost income, car repairs, and related costs of your accident, you need to make sure that the amount you receive covers all your expenses. If you do not, you could end up paying thousands out of pocket. With longer-term injuries, especially, it can be hard to determine the total costs of an accident. An experienced Florida attorney can often help you determine the true costs of your accident.

Continue reading "Making the Wrong Choices After a Florida Car Accident" »

Florida ranks highest for fatal pedestrian accidents, according to a study by Transportation for America. There are many factors that affect the rates of such accidents:

1) Traffic. High volumes of traffic increase the odds of Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents. Quite simply, the more pedestrians are out and about and the more cars are on the roads, the more interaction there tends to be between drivers and pedestrians, which increases the risk of an accident. Florida has very busy roads and many pedestrians as well, increasing the chances of collisions.

2) Road design. According to Transportation for America, many roads with high fatality rates were designed mostly for motorist use. Many of these roads are designed with little consideration for pedestrian safety. Once the roads are constructed, adding safety features can be a challenge. For example, it can be hard to add a wider sidewalk for pedestrians in an already-congested Florida urban area.

3) Laws. Some advocates for pedestrian and bicycle safety note that motorists who cause serious Florida bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents often receive very light penalties (or none at all), even when they seriously injure or kill a pedestrian or cyclist. Some experts recommend new laws which would make laws stricter, especially for motorists who cause multiple accidents.

4) Distractions. Numerous studies have been published, showing the dangers of distracted driving. Currently, Florida has no laws preventing texting and driving. However, studies have shown that drivers who text and drive effectively take their eyes off the road for the length of entire football fields – more than enough time and space to cause a serious pedestrian accident. Less research has been done about the dangers of walking and texting. However, distracted pedestrians are also less likely to notice and anticipate dangers.

According to the Transportation for America study, four out of the top ten most deadly urban areas for pedestrians are in Florida. Between 2000 and 2009, the Orlando-Kissimmee saw the highest rate of fatal Florida pedestrian accidents, with 557 pedestrians killed. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater was in second place as a dangerous area for pedestrians and Jacksonville as well as the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach were also listed as among the most dangerous in the country.

Continue reading "Preventing Florida Car Accidents Involving Pedestrians" »

Florida residents love their pets, but when those pets are loose in a car, they can easily contribute to deadly traffic accidents. According to the organization "Paws to Click," one accident occurs every 18 minutes in this country because there is a pet loose in the vehicle, distracting the driver. About 30 000 accidents in the US each year are caused by dogs alone. According to the same source, one in five drivers admit to driving with a dog on their lap. While Florida does not have any regulations requiring pet owners to restrain their pets in a vehicle, it is the safest and most humane option.

While dogs are lovable creatures, when they are left loose in a car, they can cause a great deal of distraction to the driver. The dog may begin chewing the upholstery or may try to dig under the seats. Some dogs get motion sickness and vomit in the car. Many dogs like to hang out the window, which puts them at risk of falling out of the window or getting debris in their mouth or eyes. Many dogs also enjoy jumping all over the car, getting underfoot, or placing their paws on the steering wheel. All of these distractions can become deadly for the driver – and for the drivers of other vehicles nearby.

Another tragic consequence of allowing pets loose in a car is that they become victims in the event of a car accident. If you are in a car accident in Florida and are holding your dog in your lap, your dog will likely be killed due to the impact of the airbag inflating in front of you. As well, if a pet is unrestrained and you are in a collision, that pet becomes a projectile which can harm you in an accident. If your pet is airborne during an accident, they will likely impact and this will prove fatal. Placing your pet in a carrier or appropriate restrains can help prevent an accident, and can also save your pet's life.

There are many ways to safely restrain your pet in your car. There are booster seats, car seats, and seat belts made for dogs. These items are inexpensive, widely available, and allow your dog to look out the window while staying safer. It is important to place your dog in restraints in the back seat of the car, where airbags will not harm your pet in the event of an accident. All other animals should be placed in carriers or crates in the back seat of the car. Crates and carriers are also available for dogs.

Continue reading "Pets Can Cause Florida Car Accidents" »

Florida car accidents involving teens have a high cost – both in terms of lives lost and in terms of dollars. According to the AAA, car accidents involving teen drivers who are between the ages of 15 and 17 cost the US over $34 billion in 2006 alone in damages and medical costs. Teen drivers cost the US $9.8 billion in fatal crashes that year and teen driver car accidents caused 2,541 fatalities and 406,427 injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that car accidents account for about 36% of deaths for teens, making it a leading cause of death for this age group. The risk of car accidents for teen drivers between 16 and 19 years old is higher than the risk for any other age group. Teens who are 16 and 17 are especially at risk, with one out of three drivers reporting an accident in their first year on the road.

Many Florida car accidents involve young drivers, and there are many ways to reduce the risk for young drivers, according to experts:

1) Increase mandatory training. Teen athletes log in thousands of hours of practice, but most states require just a few dozen hours of training time with a skilled instructor. Asking your political representatives to increase mandatory training is an important first step. In the meantime, parents and family members can pay for extra training time for their teen drivers – and check to make sure that teens take advantage of the offer. The more experienced drivers are, the less likely they are to be in an accident.

2) Focus on defensive driving. Once teens learn the basics of parking, turning, and sharing the road, they should also be taught emergency driving situations and defensive driving or collision-avoidance techniques. Ideally, these would be required by law. Until they are, parents can ensure that their teens get the extra training needed to stay safe. Many national programs cost less than $100.

3) Graduated licensing. Studies of graduated licensing programs have shown that easing new drivers into driving by increasing driving privileges gradually works. Signing pledges and creating new driver agreements to ensure that teens do not drive under the influence or while distracted can also be helpful.

4) Limiting the number of passengers in a car. Additional passengers mean additional distractions and each additional passenger increases the risk of a serious Florida car accident, according to many research studies. Unfortunately, teens tend to ferry many passengers, since younger friends are often without a license and car of their own. Parents can insist that teen drivers drive no more than one or two friends at a time to reduce the risk of accidents.

Continue reading "The High Cost of Teen Car Accidents in Florida " »

Florida parking lots are a high-risk area for car accidents and Florida pedestrian accidents. Parking lots involve a lot of cars zipping around, many pedestrians headed to their cars, and many drivers who are distracted with getting that ideal parking spot. Although accidents in parking lots are usually low-speed collisions and therefore do not cause much damage, pedestrian accidents in parking lots can still lead to serious Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries.

As well, some motorists drive very quickly in parking lots, which can make car accidents much more serious. Since most stores rely on trucks for delivery of inventory, parking lots can also mean that cars and pedestrians share the space with large commercial trucks. A Florida pedestrian involving a truck – even a truck moving at a slow speed – is still likely to be fatal. Therefore, it is important not to get complacent about parking lot accidents.

If you have been in a Florida car accident in a parking lot, even if it's just a fender bender, pull the cars to a safe location to prevent a secondary accident. Exchange phone numbers with anyone involved and with any witnesses. Call the police and your insurance company to file a report. Even if the accident was relatively minor, you may still need to make a claim to have your car repainted – small damage can still be expensive to fix. If you decide to file a claim later on or realize that the damage was more severe than you thought, having some documentation is important and filing insurance and police reports is important to ensure good documentation. Take photos of the accident and note down the conditions, location, date, time, and weather at the time of the accident.

If the car accident is more serious and you cannot move your car, get out of your car and put on your emergency flashers to ensure that no one rear ends you. If anyone is injured, get medical help immediately. Take photos of any conditions that may have contributed to the accident – such as an incorrectly parked car or poor paving. If anyone is injured or if the accident involved a drunk driver or commercial car or truck, you will want to possibly contact a personal injury attorney. You will also want to contact a personal injury attorney if the damages are considerable.

Although car accidents in parking lots are usually low-risk, you want to avoid them, and you can often do so simply by parking further away from other cars and especially from larger trucks. You can also help prevent accidents in parking lots by driving slowly and by using signal lights to indicate turns. Use extra caution when entering or exiting parking spots or the parking lot itself – these are the highest risk times for a car accident in a parking lot.

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In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that Florida led the US in bicycle accidents. Although the numbers of bicycle accident fatalities in the state has been dropping slowly since 1991, the state still sees many such accidents and according to at least one Florida newspaper, twenty percent of traffic fatalities in five Florida countries (Broward County, Indian River County, Martin County, Palm Beach County, and St. Lucie County) in 2009 were attributed to pedestrian and bicycle accidents.

There are many things that cause Florida car accidents involving bicyclists. One problem is that there are many motorists and many bicycle enthusiasts in Florida, which means two very different types of vehicles sharing the road. Some counties have been trying to build more bicycle-only paths and lanes to keep bicyclists and cars apart. In May 2011, for example, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties proposed a new trail for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-car traffic.

The summer is an especially dangerous time for Florida bicycle accidents. More cyclists take the opportunity to head outside and more tourists can mean more car traffic in Florida, as well. Vacations and time away from work also mean more chances for people to hop into their cars or on their bikes, meaning more traffic. Luckily, we can all work together to prevent Florida car accidents and bike accidents this summer.

Bicyclists can help by riding safe. That means riding on bicycle trails or bike lanes where possible. When no such options are available, it is safest for bicyclists to ride with the flow of traffic on the far right, closest to the right hand side of the street. Bicyclists can also wear reflective clothing, maintain good eye contact with drivers around them, and use hand signals to ensure that drivers are aware of their intended direction.

Motorists can help by staying alert for bicyclists. In many car accidents involving passenger cars, motorists claim that they simply did not see a bicyclist in time. Stay alert when passing popular areas for bicyclists and never drive in the bicycle lane. Give bicyclists plenty of room and become familiar with the hand signals that bicyclists to indicate turns.

Both bicyclists and motorists can avoid traffic accidents by driving sober and alert. While motorists tend to be the focus of awareness campaigns, both bicyclists and motorists are dangerous on the road when driving under the influence or when driving tired. Both on a bike and in a car, you need good response times and a good focus. If you are tired or intoxicated, take a cab or get a friend to drive you safely home.

Continue reading "This Summer, Let's Work Together to Lower the Florida Car Accident Rate Involving Bicycles" »

Florida has the unfortunate distinction of being first in the country for pedestrian accidents. Florida pedestrian accidents are especially prevalent in four areas of the state: the Orlando-Kissimmee are, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach communities, and Jacksonville. Summer is an especially dangerous time for Florida car accidents involving pedestrians, as there are often more drivers and more pedestrians on the roads, taking part in summer activities.

This year, we can all work together to prevent Florida pedestrian accidents:

1) If you are a pedestrian, cross at designated crosswalks and obey all traffic signals. If there is not crosswalks where you will be crossing, cross at a corner and pay special attention to traffic. Avoid restricted areas where drivers do not expect to see pedestrians – such as freeways.

2) If you are a driver, pay attention to pedestrians as well as other traffic. If you are driving in an area with no sidewalks, be aware that pedestrians will be sharing the road with you. If you are driving in an area with many parks or walking trails, stay alert for pedestrians.

3) Stay visible. This applies especially to pedestrians, who should wear light or reflective clothing, especially when outside at dark. Cars should always use headlights after dark or on overcast days. If one of your lights is not working correctly, fix it immediately. Being seen by other drivers and by pedestrians is an important way to prevent accidents.

4) Stay alert. Distracted driving and distracted pedestrians are both a danger on the road. Distracted drivers are unlikely to see a pedestrian in time to avoid a collision. Pedestrians who are listening to music, talking on a cell phone, or texting may also not be aware enough of traffic to obey the laws and walk safely.

5) Never allow your young children to play near roadways. Pedestrian accidents involving children are very common – and especially tragic. Children are more likely to sustain fatal brain injuries in a pedestrian accident, due to their smaller size. Keep your children supervised at all times.

6) Never drive or walk drunk or under the influence of drugs. Every driver is aware of the risk of Florida drunk driving accidents, but pedestrians who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to be in a pedestrian accident as well. If you are under the influence, do not walk or drive home. Have a friend help you home or take a taxi.

Continue reading "Preventing Florida Pedestrian Accidents This Summer" »

Tired drivers are a danger on the road and cause many Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents each year. Tired drivers are more likely to cause a Florida truck accident or car accident because their thinking is muddy and their reaction times are slow. Some studies have found that driving tired can reduce response times as much as driving drunk. According to medical experts, getting a good night's sleep – the kind of sleep that can make you safer as a driver -- involves practicing good sleep hygiene. This means:

1) Creating a good atmosphere for sleep. Do your best to create a quiet, dark, and comfortable sleep environment. Experts recommend a room temperature of 65 F for optimal sleep. Dark, heavy curtains can help block out light and ear plugs or a solid window can help create a quiet atmosphere. Scientists have found that sudden loud noises can interrupt quality sleep and leave sleepers more tired in the morning, even if the sleeper did not fully wake up at the noise.

2) Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Doing so helps you fall asleep more easily and allows you to create a solid sleep-wake cycle, which can help you feel more rested and can help ensure a quality sleep.

3) Create a soothing ritual for going to sleep. To create a good sleeping and waking schedule, start relaxing a good thirty minutes to one hour before your bedtime. Avoid any stimulants during this time – including TV, nicotine, or caffeine. Try to avoid exercise four to six hours before your ideal bedtime, as it will keep you awake longer. Sipping a soothing warm drink, relaxing, reading quietly, or listening to soothing music can help get your body and mind ready for sleep and can help you fall asleep more easily.

4) Choose a bed that supports good sleep. Be fussy about your bed and carefully search out the right pillows, mattress, and bed position that you need for the best sleep. Choose comfortable sheets and make sure that you change them often. An inviting and comfortable bed can mean a better sleep and fewer aches in the morning.

Continue reading "Good Sleep Hygiene Can Help Prevent Florida Car Accidents" »

Many parents try to teach their new teen drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving in Florida, or about the dangers of distracted driving. However, younger children are also at risk in Florida car accidents. In fact, the National Center for Heath Statistics reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. There are many ways that parents can teach young children to be safer in cars:

1) Teach your young children to be cautious about getting in a car with a driver who may be drunk. While most youngsters are taught to never get in a car with a stranger, teach children to look for the signs of a drunk driver and teach them to call you instead of getting in the car.

2) Teach your children to wear seat belts at all times. Younger children should always be placed in an age-appropriate safety seat. However, once children are old enough to wear a seat belt, they should be taught about the importance of safety belts and should be encouraged to wear a seat belt at all times.

3) Teach your children not to distract a driver. Younger children can inadvertently distract the driver, without realizing the danger. When driving with a younger child, make sure that they have an activity that can distract them during the trip. As well, be sure to explain to children the importance of not distracting any driver they are getting a drive from.

4) Teach pre-teens about the dangers of too many passengers. Many teens and pre-teens drive around with older friends with cars, and this means that many young drivers ferry around cars full of friends. This can be distracting and dangerous, especially for a younger and less experienced driver. Make sure that you explain to your younger teens about the dangers of distracted driving and the dangers of too many passengers in a car.

Continue reading "Teaching Your Younger Children About Florida Car Accidents" »

Fatigued driving is a major cause of Florida truck accidents and car accidents. Fatigue can be an especial problem in the summer because:

1) The summer sun can be bad for proper rest and sleep. Since the days are longer in the summer, you may naturally be getting less sleep. If your bedroom is filled with sunlight in the morning, you may be waking up much earlier than you need to – especially if you are a night owl. Consider investing in dark, heavy curtains to keep out the sun in the mornings in order to get a restful sleep.

2) Late nights. The summer is often filled with social events, parties, and holidays, which can mean lots of late nights. When planning your social calendar, plan to get home safely from each event if you have been drinking. Planning well ahead is one of the best ways to avoid Florida drunk driving accidents. As well, try to get rest during the day when you know you will be up late. If you feel too tired to drive, take your body's cues seriously and take a nap or call a cab rather than getting behind the wheel.

3) It can be difficult to sleep in the heat. Summer nights can make restful sleep difficult. Hot, dry nights can be uncomfortable and in many places insects can also be an issue. To combat the issue, use a humidifier and a fan or air conditioner to create a pleasant sleeping environment. Add a good-quality screen to your window and a mosquito net to your bed to ensure that insects do not disturb your rest.

4) Heat and light during the day can make it hard to drive. Even if you are rested, hot and sunny days can give you a headache and make you feel exhausted. Heat exhaustion and sun stroke can make it impossible to drive and even simple dehydration can make it difficult to stay alert and focused. Make sure to keep hydrated and wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.

Continue reading "Why Summer Can Mean More Fatigued Drivers on the Road" »

Summer can mean more distractions and therefore more Florida car accidents. There are many causes for distraction in the summer months:

1) A busier schedule. While the dog days of summer are meant to be a more relaxing time, for many people they are anything but. There are children's camp activities and summer plans, a busier social life, wedding season, and many more distractions. A hectic schedule in the summer months can mean being emotionally distracted and unable to focus. It can also mean sleepless nights, late nights, and cell phones ringing while you are trying to drive. To avoid an accident, consider slowing down your schedule where possible and make a good effort to get a good night's sleep.

2) More bustle on the streets. The streets are busier during the summer months, as visitors and local families take advantage of Florida's green spaces, attractions, and beautiful weather. As well, many municipalities introduce special street events, live street entertainments, and billboards to attract visitors. These can all distract drivers and can cause other drivers on the road to rubberneck, as well.

3) More drivers. There tend to be more drivers on the roads during the summer, thanks to no school and thanks to the visitors who visit the state. Extra drivers and cars on the road can mean traffic, aggressive driving, and a higher risk of Florida car accidents due to the congestion on the roads.

4) Road work. Another contributor to congestion, road work is distracting because it can be hard to resist a peek at a new construction or a new project. However, it is important to stay focused on driving and to slow down in these construction areas.

5) Passengers. Whether you are ferrying the kids to summer activities or going on a family road trip, you are likely to have more passengers in your car more often during the summer months. Passengers can easily distract you with chatting and by pointing out sights on the road. Try to keep passengers quiet by having them check a map or do something else for you while you drive.

Continue reading "Why Distracted Driving Can Mean More Florida Car Accidents in the Summer" »

Now that the summer is headed our way, there are some new dangers on the roads. Look out for these hazards to help prevent Florida car accidents:

1) Recreational vehicles. At this time of year, many people take out ATVs, motorcycles, bicycles, and other types of similar vehicles for fun. When these vehicles share the road with you, you need to be extra cautious to avoid a collision. Also, while people are not supposed to use motorized scooters, golf carts, or ride-on mowers on roads, some do, so be alert for these hazards as well.

2) More pedestrians. Visitors and Florida residents alike enjoy the summer days by heading out for walks. Many people take advantage of lazy summer days to take strolls or try jogging. Keep alert, especially at intersections and in areas near walking trails. Give pedestrians plenty of room and be prepared for the unexpected. Together, we can help lower the rate of Florida pedestrian accidents.

3) Weather conditions. While most of us consider winter weather to be a hazard, summer has its own hazards. Hot, dry days can make it hard to concentrate on driving, for example, while sunny days can make visibility very difficult. As well, high heat can cause older cars to overheat and function poorly. Keep bottled water, sunscreen, and sunglasses in your car so that you can stay comfortable and focused on the road.

4) Road work. At this time of year, many municipalities start building projects and road repair. In these areas, slow down and follow signs or indicators. Stay alert for workers or work vehicles, which pose an additional obstacle for driver. Where possible, learn about road work on your route ahead of time and take an alternate route to avoid traffic and the risks of construction areas.

Continue reading "Summer Road Dangers to Avoid" »

Florida drunk driving accidents are a highly preventable cause of injuries and fatalities year round, but there are certain hazards that make drunk driving even more of a menace during the summer:

1) Summer holidays. College kids are home from school and the summer is filled with long weekends and holidays, leading to parties where alcohol is served. Many police departments set up road checks and sobriety checks during holidays, knowing that more people choose to drink and drive during holiday weekends.

2) Summer barbecues and cookouts. Summer is a time for having a beer by the lake or a few cold ones with a barbecue. Unfortunately, Florida car accidents sometimes happen when someone decides to drive after drinking. In many cases, the driver is not even aware that they are over the legal limit because they have only had a small amount of alcohol. It's best to avoid driving even if you have had only one or two drinks.

3) More cars on the road. During the summer, there are more cars on Florida's roads. Tourists arrive for the season, more parents are shuttling children to summer events, and students home from college are driving on the roads as well. More crowded roads and drinking and driving are a terrible mix, making a car accident more likely.

4) Heat and sunlight. Bright light and heat enhance the soporific effects of alcohol, making it even more likely that someone who has been drinking will fall asleep or have trouble concentrating behind the wheel. For this reason, it is very important to avoid driving, even if you have had only a small number of drinks.

5) Cabins and vacation homes. At this time of year, many people open their cottages, cabins, and vacation homes for entertainment. When alcohol is served at these parties, it can be a problem, as vacation homes are often far from public transit or taxi stands, making it hard to get home safely after drinking. For this reason, it is important to have a plan in place ahead of time to get home safely.

Continue reading "Why Summer Barbecues Can Mean More Florida Drunk Driving Accidents" »

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" »

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, but this is also a great month to talk to your teens about the other dangers of driving. It’s a great time to discuss:

1) Drinking and driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32 people in the US die every day due to drunk driving. Don't let your teen become one of the statistics of Florida drunk driving accidents. Have an agreement with your teen that

2) Drugs and driving. Many people think of impaired driving as drunk driving, but many drugs (including illegal drugs as well as medications and even over-the-counter products) can cause car accidents because they can cause sleepiness or impairment. Talk to your child about natural supplements, over the counter medications, and illegal drugs. Make sure your teen knows about dangers.

3) Distracted driving. Thanks to awareness campaigns, your teen likely knows about the dangers of texting or talking while driving – but does that mean they put away their mobile device when they drive? This is the month to talk about that and to ensure your teens pull over to the side of the road before making a call.

4) Passengers. Mobile devices are not the only distractions on the road. Loud passengers, loud music, and other distractions in the car can have lethal consequences. Create a list of potential distractions with your teen and then help him or her come up with solutions that address each distraction.

5) Stunts and risks. Teens sometimes think that the risks and stunts they see on TV look cool, and may not appreciate the effects of those risks. Show them photos of accidents caused by stunts and discuss the effects of such decisions.

6) Speeding. Speeding reduces your teen's control of the car, which, combined with the relatively less experience your teen has behind the wheel, can result in a crash. Worse, higher-speed accidents are more likely to result in serious injuries and fatalities.

7) Car safety. While Florida car accidents are a major risk for your teen driver, they are not the only risk. Make sure that you discuss issues such as parking and getting to the car safely at night, car maintenance, car break downs, and more.

Continue reading "The Top Driving-Related Talks You Need to Have With Your Teen Today" »

When we think of distracted driving, most of us think of driving with a cell phone to our ear. While there is no doubt that cell phones and mobile devices lead to Florida car accidents, they are not the only cause of distractions. In fact, some of the most common distractions are far more low-tech:

1) Pets. Pets often need to be ferried to the vet, but most types of pets don’t respond well to a moving car. They can easily panic and get underfoot. Even a well-behaved dog can suddenly become unruly if it notices something interesting out of the window. The safest place for your pets in the car is in a pet carrier. This is safest for both you and your pets. With your pets safely stowed, you won’t have to be checking on your pets and you won’t have your visibility compromised by pets jumping in front of the windows.

2) Children. Children can easily be a distraction that can cause you to take your eyes off the road. Whether you are trying to tame two fighting siblings, get something away from your infant, or are checking on the source of mysterious sounds from the back seat, taking your eyes off the road for even seconds can mean a dangerous Florida pedestrian accident. Younger children should be placed in an age-appropriate child restrain, far from anything they can grab. Older children should be given some form of activity or game for the trip so that they can play quietly without being a distraction.

3) Passengers. Passengers may wish to chat and may take your mind off the road. An animated conversation in the car can also cause you naturally to take your eyes off the road to look at the speaker. You don’t have to insist on complete silence, but playing music and having passengers in charge of the play list can help keep conversation naturally to a minimum.

4) Objects. Whether it's a purse dropping to the floor of your car or your groceries tumbling in the back seat or a CD that just doesn’t want to pop into the player, objects in your car can distract. Keep all non-essentials in the trunk and if something falls down, wait until you are pulled over to retrieve it. Today's iPod decks let you create entire play lists for the duration of your trip, so that you never have to change the music.

Continue reading "Pets, Children, and Passengers: Florida Car Accidents and Distractions" »

When people think about impaired driving, they generally think of the Florida drunk driving accidents that claim so many lives unnecessarily each year. While it is true that alcohol is a major cause of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents, drugs are another key problem. Even the simple medications you have in your medicine closet can cause you to have a car accident. Here's what you need to know:

1) Over the counter does not mean safe. Many over the counter medications – even simple medications intended for back pain or a cold – can leave you feeling groggy and sleepy enough to cause a car accident. Always read the label of any over-the-counter medications you buy. If it says you cannot drive on the medication or if it indicates that the medication will make you sleepy, do not drive while taking it. Ask your pharmacist for recommendations.

2) You have to ask the questions when you get a prescription. When your doctor gives you a new prescription, it is up to you to ask whether it is safe to drive and engage in other regular activities while on the medication. This is also a good time to ask about allergic reactions and possible interactions that you need to be aware of.

3) Your pharmacist can keep you safe on the road. Talk to your pharmacist and consider using one pharmacy exclusively. Many pharmacies today will keep a list of the medications you are using and will automatically help you determine whether any of them could have side effects that could be dangerous behind the wheel.

4) All-natural does not mean safe. Natural supplements and "remedies" are not always FDA approved and many have unlisted or unknown side effects. Just like synthetic products, these supplements can make you feel drowsy or unwell – and can lead you to cause a traffic accident.

5) Even if one medication is safe, watch out for reactions and interactions. Even if none of your medications made you drowsy or unfit for the road, you need to be aware of the fact that medications combined with over the counter products or other prescription medications can create dangerous interactions. Talk to your pharmacist about everything you are taking – including seemingly innocuous vitamins – to ensure you are not setting yourself up for trouble.

6) Expired medications. Check your medicine cabinet regularly and toss out any medications that are past their expiry date. Once expired, some medications may have unusual or unpredictable side effects – ones you don’t want to experience when you're driving.

Continue reading "What's in Your Medicine Cabinet Can Contribute to Florida Car Accidents" »

Underage drinking takes place with far more regularity than most parents want to admit. According to some studies, up to 40% of children have experimented with alcohol by the time they are in eighth grade. This means that 40% of children have experimented with alcohol by age 14 or so – well before they get behind the wheel of a car for the first time. Some of these teens will go on to drink on a regular or semi-regular basis. Underage drinking is a menace when it comes to getting the message across about drinking and driving.

The problem with underage drinking and driving is that it can be hidden. Parents often resist the idea that their underage child is drinking – let alone drinking and driving. Children, in turn, will sometimes go to great lengths to hide the fact that they are drinking from their parents – even if it means driving home drunk. Here is what parents must do to address the issue:

1) Bring up underage drinking first. Talking to your kids about drinking is important, because you want to explain why it can be dangerous. Your local police force likely has educational material about alcohol and drug use – they likely have materials you can use when talking to your child.

2) Next, bring up drinking and driving. Once you have had a talk about drinking, choose a separate time to discuss drinking and driving. This ensures that you don’t send a confusing mixed message: "drinking is wrong, but if you do, don’t drive." Addressing the two separately allows you to address the unique risks of both. Again, your local police department can help provide you with statistics about Florida drunk driving accidents as well as educational materials you can use. Be specific in this talk – some teens think that "just one drink" will not make them unsafe to drive. It is your job that they understand the risks.

3) Create an agreement. Have your children sign an agreement with you, agreeing to call you if they need a safe ride home. Ask your child's input about the agreement – they may want a promise that you don’t ask questions, for example. Create an agreement that you can both honor.

4) Watch your own mixed signals. If you drive recklessly, you could cause an accident – and you are sending the wrong message. If you don’t want your child to take risks on the road, you have to ensure you don’t, either.

Continue reading "Underage Drinking and Florida Car Accidents" »

While getting that driver's license for the first time is a thrill and a sign of freedom for most teen drivers, there is mounting evidence that some drivers are abusing their driving privileges and using their cars to perform stunts that can easily lead to Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 70% of participants in car stunts are young male drivers and the number of accidents resulting from vehicle stunts seems to be growing. The most popular stunts include:

1) Car surfing. In this stunt, a passenger rides on top of the car, on the running boards, or on the bumper while the car is in motion. In some cases, someone hangs outside of the vehicle while the car is driving. Some drivers speed up or go at increasingly higher speeds while car surfing. According to the CDC, car surfing alone has resulted in almost 100 fatalities. Those who "surf" on cars can easily lose their grip and fall onto the road or crash into overhanging branches or other objects.

2) Ghost riding. In this stunt, a passenger dances or stands on the outside of the car while a driver drives the vehicle, often at increasing speeds. This stunt is dangerous because the person on the exterior can easily lose their balance and fall off. It's a simple way to become a Florida spinal cord injury patient and a simple way to sustain fatal injuries.

3) Skitching. This stunt mimics windsurfing: while the vehicle is in motion a passenger uses a rope or some other means to be dragged along behind the car on roller skates, roller blades, skateboard, or scooter. This can easily lead to collisions and pedestrian accidents if the person behind the car swings out of control. As well, the person behind the car can easily lose their grip or fall under a vehicle.

While these stunts are no doubt meant to be innocent fun, they are anything but. They can cause serious injuries and death. They can also lead to serious charges against any driver who partakes in such activities. Unfortunately, these stunts are often popularized on YouTube and other social media websites, making them seem fun for young drivers.

Continue reading "Car Stunts Can Mean More Florida Car Accidents, Especially Among Younger Drivers" »

Viral videos online and media news stories sometimes give the impression that older drivers are unsafe drivers. In fact, some states have special rules for older drivers, which require them to get re-tested for their license every few years. Rules such as this as well as popular perceptions of drivers have provoked a lot of controversy.

Although driving is considered a privilege, in today's society it is considered very important for personal freedom. Driving allows people to remain independent, to work, and to remain active in their communities. It also ensures that they are not isolated. At the same time, however, it is important to keep everyone safe by removing unsafe drivers from the road. However, experts often disagree about whether tests for older drivers are age discrimination or simple safety precautions.

Some claim that testing for older drivers just makes sense because it ensures that dementia, vision loss, and other age-related problems do not affect driving skill. These experts believe that because drivers are so dependant on driving they may not readily surrender their privileges even if they have problems which can affect their driving. They also note that other high-risk groups – such as young drivers – have additional restrictions in place to keep accident rates low.

Other experts claim that elderly drivers do not have a worse driving record than any other age group and such tests do not necessarily remove unsafe drivers from the road. They also claim that drivers who are elderly may prematurely give up driving rather than submit to testing, even if they are safe on the road. Finally, some experts claim that if other age groups do not have submit to testing, elderly drivers should not have to submit to retesting, either.

In Florida, drivers over the age of 80 must take a vision test when applying to renew their license. There are 2 million drivers in Florida over the age of 65 and there are 250 000 drivers in the state older than 85. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2009, 5928 drivers between the ages of 80 and 90 were involved in Florida car accidents. There were 116 fatalities caused by these accidents. That year, Florida had 629,699 drivers 80-90 years of age.

Continue reading "Older Drivers and Florida Car Accidents" »

Although the link between texting and driving and Florida car accidents has been well established, Florida has not yet passed a texting and driving ban. In the state, it is still legal for drivers to use mobile devices while driving, even though other states have banned the dangerous practice. However, a new bill has been proposed which would make it illegal for young drivers to drive distracted.

There is already a precedent for special rules for minor drivers. Young drivers are not allowed to have any alcohol while driving, are not allowed to have an excess of passengers in the car, and must obey graduated licensing laws where they exist. The idea behind such rules is that young drivers have less experience and are therefore more at risk of being in a car accident.

The Minor Traffic Safety Act bill would make it illegal for Florida drivers under the age of majority to use a cell phone while driving. Those who violate the law will receive a ticket. As well, if the act passes, it would require Florida drivers under the age of 18 to display a tag identifying them as minors. The bill would also make it illegal for school bus drivers to use mobile devices while driving.

Currently, there is a national texting ban for truck drivers and school bus drivers. Many states have passed laws which make texting and driving illegal for all drivers in that state. A few states have also banned the use of cell-phones while driving, although hands-free sets are still allowed.

Although Florida has attempted to pass similar rules, these bills have not been able to pass into law. Although these bills have wide-spread support, many people are so reliant on mobile devices that they do not want to see a text ban passed. As well, some law enforcement agencies have stated that enforcing any such laws would be very difficult as drivers tend to text below the level of the windshield or the car windows, making the activity hard to notice. The Minor Traffic Safety Act may be a step towards a more wide-spread ban, if it passes.

Continue reading "Could Florida Ban Young Distracted Drivers?" »

According to reports and studies by the Traffic Safety Center Hurt Study, up to three-quarters of all motorcycle and car collisions occur because drivers do not see motorcycles in time to prevent a collision. For this reason, the majority of Florida car accidents involving motorcycles are considered highly preventable.

The Florida Motorcycle Safety Campaign and other campaigns like it across the country have been created to help prevent motorcycle accidents. However, they have not been able to prevent the majority of these accidents. Unfortunately, Florida motorcycle accidents disproportionately affect motorcycle drivers. While most passenger car drivers in such accidents are unhurt, motorcycle riders in collisions with cars often become Florida brain injury patients or sustain serious burn injuries, fractures, amputations, or spinal cord injuries.

The financial cost to car drivers is high as well. The Traffic Safety Center Hurt Study reports that less than 10% of motorcycle riders have adequate insurance that would pay for property damage and medical costs in an accident. As well, many Florida motorcycle accidents are deemed to be the fault of the car driver. As a result of both issues, passenger car drivers tend to pay financially for these collisions.

Preventing Florida motorcycle accidents should involve everyone. Motorcycle riders can help by wearing a helmet and obeying traffic laws. Helmets can help prevent serious brain injuries in the event of a collision and increase the chances of surviving an accident. As well, obeying laws is very important. Since motorcycles are more flexible and much smaller, riders need to be extra patient and follow rules rather than trying to weave around stalled traffic and rather than trying to take other risks which can result in an accident. Wearing reflective and highly visible clothing can also help other drivers on the road.

Car drivers, too, have a part to play in preventing Florida motorcycle accidents. Staying extra alert on the road is crucial. Motorcycles, after all, are not quiet or that small. Drivers need to stay alert and aware of all the vehicles they share the road with – including motorcycles, bicycles, emergency vehicles, and other specialized vehicles. Other vehicles may require extra cautious driving or additional distance. For example, drivers may wish to give motorcycles some additional space, in case a rider makes an unexpected move. A little extra room in such a situation can help prevent a serious accident.

Continue reading "Preventing Florida Car Accidents Involving Motorcycles" »

Florida car accidents related to snow and winter weather are rare. However, if you are driving to snowier states soon, here are some winter-driving issues to consider

1) Ice flying off of trucks and other cars. Snow and ice flying off of cars and trucks can easily cover your windshield, or even impact your vehicle, causing you to become momentarily blinded or even to lose control of the car. When driving in winter or wet conditions, stay well back from trucks, since they will churn up a lot of snow and rain which can hurt your visibility and can easily lead to a Florida truck accident. As well, make sure that your windshield wipers are in good condition and can handle snow. If you park outside and your car is covered in snow and ice, scrape that off (especially off the roof) before driving – snow from your roof can easily slide on your windshield as you drive, blocking your view.

2) Obstructions of snow and ice. Snow and ice piled high on roadways can scrape the bottom of your car and even damage it. You can also lose control of your vehicle driving over this obstruction and cause an accident. If you see a large pile of snow in the street, drive around it carefully.

3) Huge snow banks. Snow banks block visibility, making it hard for traffic to see you when you come out of a side street or driveway. If your view is blocked by a snow bank, flash your headlights so that other drivers can see you coming and edge out slowly until you can see oncoming traffic before pulling out into traffic.

4) Reduced street parking spots. In most cities, drivers are required to park within a foot of the curb. When curbs become covered in snow and snow spills into the street, it can be hard to determine where a parking spot actually is. This can be an especial problem with street parking, where drivers need to leave enough space for emergency vehicles and other cars to get through. If you park in a spot where you are blocking plows or emergency vehicles, you will be ticketed, so that it is often safer to park further away or to pay for a parking spot indoors when streets get really snowy and you can’t get a parking spot that does not block traffic. When parking, make sure there is at least a 12-foot pass for emergency vehicles to get through.

5) Insurance woes. Keep in mind that your insurance company may expect you to pay a surcharge if you cause an accident, even if the cause of an accident was poor visibility due to a snow bank or poor parking due to a snowy parking spot. In most states, there are no exceptions for accidents caused by winter weather and surcharges are automatic, meaning that weather-related accidents can end up costing you extra, even if Jack Frost is really to blame. However, you can appeal the surcharge if the accident was caused by bad weather.

Continue reading "What Florida Drivers Need to Consider When Driving in Snow" »

Under current state laws, drivers who may be responsible for fatal Floirda car accidents do not always needed to be tested for drugs and alcohol. Some groups want to see those laws changed, claiming that legislation changes can help prevent Florida drunk driving accidents.

Under current laws, police need to have a reasonable suspicion or a probable cause to believe that a driver in a fatal car accident is drunk or using drugs before administering a drug or alcohol test. In other states, drivers who cause fatal accidents are required to submit to a blood test to determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. Currently, this is not the case in Florida.

According to some experts, this legislative environment can mean that drunk drivers are released early, to re-offend. For example, if a driver causes a Florida truck accident and is not tested for drugs and alcohol but is driving impaired, that driver will likely receive a lighter sentence than they would have received if it was known that they were driving impaired. This means that they will be free to re-offend sooner. Without a law requiring all drivers causing car accidents to be tested, there is simply no way to know how many car accidents are truly related to impairment.

Groups and families who have lost loved ones to Florida car accidents have been working to get laws passed which would allow all surviving drivers in fatal car accidents to be tested for drugs and alcohol. There are petitions to change the law as well as media attention on the topic. However, so far there has been little push to change the law.

Groups have been pushing to change the Florida law since 2006, but they claim that some groups, including defense attorneys, have objected to the regulation change. Some defense attorneys feel that any such law would be excessively intrusive and would be unconstitutional. They also note that currently drivers have the option to take a blood test, although drivers have to pay for this test themselves and the test is completely mandatory.

Continue reading "Groups Want DUI Laws Changed to Prevent Florida Drunk Driving Accidents " »

While most Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents involve cars, the increased presence of scooters on city streets and pedestrian areas has created a whole new hazard and legal question – one that is difficult o resolve. Scooters, also known as EMDs (electric mobility devices) are showing up in greater numbers to help those who are too elderly, too ill, and too obese to walk easily.

The difficulty with scooters is that they are an in-between entity. Those who ride scooters are not exactly pedestrians and not drivers, either. Under Florida laws, these devices do not require registration or licensing. However, these devices can cause serious accidents if they run into a pedestrian. When drivers use scooters in the roads, they can also cause Florida car accidents.

Currently, auto insurance is not applicable to EMDs and homeowners insurance does not cover any accidents or injuries caused by these devices outside the home. Worse, many who use scooters are in fact using them in ways they should not be used. Manufacturers of EMDs state that scooters should not be used on the roads and Medicare only pays for EMDs if they will be used indoors only. Drive-thru restaurants will not serve people on EMDs due to concerns about liability issues. However, many people who use scooters do use them in sidewalks, in parking lots, and even on the roads. In the event of an accident, this raises further complicated questions about liability.

There have been a number of well-reported scooter accidents across the US over the past year and this has prompted many people to discuss possible ways to insure EMDs. There has been discussions as well about ways to define scooter users legally and possible legislation which can be put in place to protect the public.

In Florida, a recent high-profile case involves a 73-year old EMD driver who got intoxicated and drive home on his scooter, only to be struck down by a car. He was issued a ticket as a pedestrian – for walking out in front of a car. The case underscores the lack of regulations concerning EMDs. While drivers of cars have rules and laws they must follow to prevent Florida drunk driving accidents, there are no laws preventing scooter users from driving drunk.

Scooters can also pose a serious hazard to pedestrians and can cause Florida pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents when the devices are used on sidewalks and pedestrian trails. EMDs are quite wide and can move quickly. If they collide with a bicyclists or pedestrian, serious injuries are the likely result due to the bulk and the speed of the scooter. Currently, however, anyone who is injured by a scooter must seek recovery through civil court because there are too few laws in place protecting pedestrians, car drivers, and scooter users.

Continue reading "Scooters and Florida Car Accidents" »

In Florida as in the rest of the country, it is illegal to drive without a valid license. However, law enforcement authorities in Southern Florida note that in many 2010 Florida car accidents, drivers were without valid licenses at the time of the crash. In some cases, drivers were unlicensed but in many cases drivers had suspended licenses because of Florida drunk driving charges or other violations.

Police authorities and experts say that part of the problem is that laws surrounding drivers with suspended licenses has become more lax. In 2008. for example, a law passed by Legislature ensured that repeat traffic offenders would not face jail time for driving without a suspended license or no license at all. Police authorities report being frustrated by the fact that in many cases they cannot press charges in these cases until a lengthy investigation is complete – even though in some cases the suspect continues to drive without a valid license.

Part of the problem, too, may be attitudes. Although everyone in driver's education classes is taught that driving is a privilege, many drivers have come to see it as a right and a necessity. Some drivers claim that they need to drive in order to get to work or in order to take care of other vital activities, even when they do not have a valid license. Of course, these claims make little sense to the people unlicensed drivers hurt each year in car accidents. Drivers who have no valid license can rely on taxis or public transportation, but many choose to get behind the wheel of a car.

According to Brevard County authorities, in 2010 alone 68 Florida car accident fatalities in the county were linked to drivers driving without valid licenses. These accidents are especially frustrating for the victims. In cases where a driver is driving without a valid license, say authorities, there is often no insurance, either. Unless a car accident victim has uninsured driver insurance, he or she may be forced to pay for any medical expenses out of pocket.

In many cases, injury victims who have been in a car accident with an uninsured and unlicensed driver must take legal action against the driver in order to cover lost income, medical bills, and other expenses associated with the accident. A good Florida personal injury attorney must generally investigate the cause of the accident, the driver's assets and ability to pay, and many other factors to put together a strong case.

Continue reading " In Florida Car Accidents, Suspended Licenses Are An Issue" »

A local news station in Lee County, Florida recently ran an investigative series into Florida drunk driving accidents and DUI incidents. Reporters found that in many cases drivers caught on DUI charges are getting their licenses back and are being allowed to drive again quickly after being ticketed for DUI.

Under Florida law, drivers who have been accused of DUI are allowed to have an administrative hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This hearing occurs before the DUI trial and allows the defendants to argue for their license. While Florida law allows officers to immediately take away the license of someone who is accused of DUI, these hearings, according to investigative reporters, gave back licenses to hundreds of people in Southern Florida in just a three month period.

Someone who is accused of driving under the influence has ten days to request an administrative hearing. At the hearing, officers decide whether to invalidate the license suspension and return the driver's license. According to investigative reports, in 2009 more than 5200 drivers in Florida received their licenses back due to these hearings. In some cases, drivers had been impaired and had been unable to pass a breathalyzer test but had their licenses reinstates because police officers failed to follow testing standards or guidelines when administering the tests.

In some cases, arresting officers did not appear at the administrative hearings, which also allowed the drivers to have their licenses reinstated. Florida is changing that particular law. After July 2010, a driver does not automatically have his or her license reinstated if the arresting officer does not show up at a DMV administrative hearing. As well, police authorities are cracking down on police officers who fail to show up for the hearings.

The investigative report does suggest the importance of good communication between the DMV and authorities. While DMV administrative hearings do not have a bearing on criminal DUI trials – that is, someone who has a license reinstated at a DMV hearing may still be found guilty at a criminal DUI trial – the case is troubling for motorists. This is because it does suggest that drivers who may cause Florida car accidents due to DUI may be back on the roads – legally – after drinking and driving. The DMV hearings are intended to give drivers a fair chance to get their licenses back but more studies need to be done to determine whether reinstatements are leading to more Florida car accidents.

Continue reading "Is There a Link Between Florida Drunk Driving Accidents be Linked to License Reinstatements? More Studies Are Needed" »

Florida is not currently one of 47 states that has a booster seat law for children 4 years of age and older. However, some proponents of booster seat laws are trying to create just such a law in the state, arguing that the legislation would help prevent serious injuries to children. Currently, a coalition has formed to pass a Florida booster seat law. More than thirty organization are part of the effort to change the legislation.

According to some studies, Florida spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, internal bleeding, and other serious injuries are more likely to be the result when children are involved in a car accident and are not wearing a booster seat at the time of the collision. Under current Florida law, children must use seat belts at age four. There is no requirement to use booster seats.

Some experts claim that the seat belt law is not enough and can actually cause more injuries to children. Since children are not as tall as adults, if they are in an accident and are wearing a seat belt without a booster seat the seat belt can easily cut the child's abdomen and neck. According to some experts, allowing a child to use a seat belt but no booster seat can cause Florida brain injuries, broken necks, paralysis and other life-altering injuries.

Studies that have examined booster seat use and seat belt use among young children have concluded that booster seats give children a better chance of avoiding serious injury in a car accident. Young children who use seat belts but no booster seats are four times more likely to experience neck or head injuries when compared with children who do use booster seats. Young children who use seat belts without booster seats are also three times more likely to sustain an injury to the abdomen in a car accident, when compared with young children who are properly restrained with both seat belts and a booster seat. Some experts believe that as many as 4000 emergency room visits can be prevented each year if children between the ages of 4 and 8 wore booster seats.

Proponents of a booster seat law also note that the law could help the state save money. Children who are injured in a Florida car accident may require long term medical care, typically covered by Medicaid. Since booster seats cost only $30 but can help prevent thousands of accident injuries, they could potentially save the state millions of dollars.

Continue reading "Could Booster Seat Law Help Prevent Injuries in Florida Car Accidents?" »

While car accident rates and car accident fatalities have dropped nationwide in the last few years, car accidents still claim about 40 000 American lives each year. As well, some groups of drivers have more to worry about than others. According to AARP, drivers who are between ages 30 and 64 have fewer crashes per mile than elderly drivers over 65. As well, elderly drivers are less likely than younger drivers to survive a collision. Since Florida has a large population of seniors, preventing Florida car accidents means addressing these elderly drivers.

AARP has instituted the AARP Driver Safety Program nationwide. This program allows seniors to take refresher driving courses from experienced, volunteer driving instructions. The idea behind these programs is to refresh driving skills, address changes in legislation, and address changes to cars that may have taken place since an elderly driver first received their license. Drivers who complete the course receive an AARP driving-school certificate, which may qualify them to get a discount on their car insurance. Among the things that these classes teach are:

1) The importance of yielding right of way. According to AARP driving instructors, failure to yield right of way leads to a large proportion of car accidents. It is important for all drivers to remember that they are given right of way. While in some cases a driver must yield right of way, it is important to never assume that another driver will stop.

2) Age-appropriate driving. AARP driving instructors teach students that sight, hearing, stamina, and other physical features may suffer with age. It is important for all older drivers to get annual checkups as well as yearly eye exams to keep fit for the road. Any medications should be cleared with a doctor and pharmacist first to ensure that they will not affect driving ability.

3) Check blind spots. AARP recommends that drivers exercise their necks with neck rolls to ensure that they can turn around to check blind spots. Mirrors alone are not enough.

4) Keep mentally alert. All drivers need to avoid anything – audio books, texting, phone calls, food, drinks, newspapers – that can pose any distraction on the road. It is important to keep 100% of your focus on the road. It is also important to get any mental symptoms – such as memory loss or trouble concentrating – checked out by a doctor. These can affect your driving skills.

5) Be realistic about when it's time to hang up the keys. No one can drive forever. As physical health deteriorates, there may be a time when a driver must stop driving for their own safety and for the safety of everyone around them. Any driver who has any symptoms which could indicate a problem is ethically obligated to seek help. If you can no longer safely drive, it is important to get your condition treated. If this is impossible, it is important to stop driving before your condition leads to an accident.

Continue reading "Could Extra Education For Elderly Drivers Help to Prevent Florida Car Accidents?" »

According to a new study, use of red light cameras has been linked to a lower risk of fatal car accidents. The study, conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, concluded that fatal car accidents decreased by 24% across 14 cities that implemented the cameras. The cities have only implemented red light cameras since 1996 and in some cases only since 2004, so some experts warn that it is too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the technology.

Red light cameras are a type of technology which allow cities and communities to place the cameras at specific intersections – often at higher-risk intersections – where the cameras are operational year-round on a 24-hour basis. The cameras automatically detect and photograph any motorists running red lights. Some of the newer cameras can also capture other violations, such as illegal turns or speeding. When the cameras detect a violation, they photograph the car and the license plate associated with the car. The driver of that vehicle is then sent a ticket in the mail.

Red light cameras have recently been used to help prevent Florida car accidents, too. Since September 2010, Fort Lauderdale has had six red light cameras in use. Since then, the city has reported that accidents at those intersections have dropped from 50 to 39. In addition to Fort Lauderdale, other Florida communities have introduced red light cameras, and many have reported a reduction in the number of Florida car accidents in their communities. Currently, Hollywood, West Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Pembroke Pines, Opa-locka, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Homestead, Miami Shores, Miami Gardens, Golden Beach, North Miami, North Bay Village, and West Miami all have red light camera programs in place.

Proponents of red light camera programs claim that the cameras can help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents by making drivers more cautious. When drivers know that their traffic violations will be captured on camera, experts claim, they drive more carefully, which makes the roads safer for everyone. Red light cameras also free up law enforcement officials for other tasks.

Opponents of red light cameras claim that the camera programs are expensive and may violate individual driver rights. In many cases, drivers oppose red light cameras – especially if they receive tickets from the system. In some cases, drivers have claimed that red light cameras have incorrectly read their speeds or have incorrectly sent them tickets. In other states, drivers have been able to successfully defend themselves from red light camera tickets in court.

Continue reading "Could Red Light Cameras Help Reduce Florida Car Accidents?" »

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 2430 fatalities in 2010 caused by Florida car accidents. This represents the smallest number of fatalities seen since 1978, even though the population of Florida has grown significantly since that time. However, while these numbers are cheering, the fact is that there are still too many deaths and serious personal injuries resulting from Florida traffic accidents. There are ways to help reduce these numbers even further:

1) Enact texting bans. Many legislators and experts have been calling for a text ban for drivers. Many states already have such bans in place to help prevent distracted driving. There is a well-established link between distracted drivers and accidents. According to the NHTSA, 448 000 people were injured and 5474 were killed in 2009 due to distracted driving. Of these injuries and fatalities, 24 000 injuries and 5474 fatalities were linked to cell phone use by a driver. However, the measure to ban texting has proven controversial. Currently, there are two bills which could be considered by Florida legislature: H.B. 79 and S.B. 158. Both would limit or ban the use of wireless devices in cars.

2) Encourage more public awareness campaigns and enforcement campaigns. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, increased seat belt use (due in part to public awareness campaigns) and efforts by law enforcement are partly responsible for the lowered Florida car accident fatality rates. Encouraging enforcement and public awareness can hopefully help to drop the numbers of injuries and deaths even more.

3) Enforce drunk driving laws. Florida drunk driving accidents are still a serious problem. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 770 out of 2558 Florida car accident fatalities in 2009 were the result of drunk driving. Only Texas and California had higher rates of drunk driving fatalities.

4) Better training. A number of studies have suggested that graduated licensing and other programs designed to encourage additional driver training ensure that all drivers on the roads have the skills needed to stay safe. Ensuring that teens and young drivers get more training can help reduce accidents involving younger drivers.

Continue reading "Making Florida’s Roads Safer and Preventing Car Accidents" »

According to the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud's south division, scam artists in Florida are staging fake Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents in a bid in order to defraud the insurance industry. The insurance industry has been taking steps to fight the fraud, even closing down Miami-Dade clinics linked to insurance fraud.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that South Florida is leading the US for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance fraud, behind only Tampa Bay. Insurers have been pressuring legislators in Florida to pass tough new laws which would crack down on insurance fraud. Insurers want to see tougher penalties for fraudsters and stricter regulation of medical clinics to help combat the problem. However, some experts questions whether laws alone will help. Staging a Florida car accident to commit insurance fraud is currently a second-degree felony in Florida.

In Florida, all motorists are required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This protection covers up to $10 000 in medical bills in the event of an accident and is designed to help ensure that injured parties can get medical help quickly and affordably without having to go to court to recover the costs. In Florida, PIP is no-fault, meaning that injured parties receive the money regardless of who was at fault in an accident. Unfortunately, this no-fault clause also makes insurers susceptible to fraudsters, who do not have to extensively prove illness to get the money.

There are many ways that insurance fraudsters defraud insurers. In some cases, companies coach “victims” on how to describe injuries to insurance companies in order to get the money. In other cases, fraudsters are involved in complex networks of attorneys, clinics, and mechanics in order to stage accidents that have never taken place. Since PIP claims must be paid within 30 days of an accident, it is hard for insurers to separate fake claims from genuine ones.

Unfortunately, it is the real victims of Florida car accidents that pay for the fraud. With insurance fraud such a concern, insurers charge all drivers more to cover the losses caused by fake claims. Currently, Florida has the fourth-highest car insurance premiums in the country, and the costs are expected to rise as fraud rises. According to experts, fraud costs the average driver an additional $400 in premium costs. As well, insurance companies may suspect genuinely injured victims of fraud and may delay payment, causing financial distress for injured parties. In some cases, fraudsters get innocent drivers involved in car accidents by purposely causing an accident and blaming the other driver for the collision. In these cases, the victimized driver may sustain serious injuries and may find their insurance premiums increasing through no fault of their own.

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According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the number of fatal Florida car accidents in 2010 represented a thirty-year low, even though the population of the state has doubled. In 2010, Florida saw a 5% decrease in fatal car accidents, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 2009 saw 2,563 fatal Florida car accidents while 2010 had only 2,430.

Despite the good news, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles warns that car accidents are still the leading cause of death for Florida residents between the ages of 5 and 34. Despite this, experts at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles believe that a number of factors have caused lower numbers of accidents:

1) Seat belt use. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, more motorists are using seat belts. This is key in preventing fatal car crashes, according to experts, since seat belts help prevent serious Florida brain injuries and spinal cord injuries in an accident, making accident victims more likely to survive accidents.

2) Stricter laws. Florida has passed many new laws over the past thirty years to help prevent Florida drunk driving accidents and other types of accidents. Penalties for DUI, for example, have increased while new laws have been implemented to help stop aggressive driving and dangerous driving.

3) Awareness programs. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as well as local law enforcement have a number of awareness programs to raise knowledge about seat belt use, drunk driving dangers, and other important driving rules. Awareness programs are important in reminding drivers to stay safe. In many cases, law enforcement agencies combine awareness programs with enforcement programs designed to catch and remove dangerous drivers from the roads.

Continue reading "Did Seat Belt Use Mean Fewer Florida Car Accidents in 2010?" »

In Florida, there is no ban on using cell phones and driving. Even so, many drivers are switching to phone applications which allow them to text hands-free. The applications read back text messages and allow drivers to deliver text messages by speaking their messages and then converting the audio file into text. However, police are worried that these phone applications may give drivers only the illusion of greater safety.

Police in Florida and across the country are worried about distracted driving. Distracted driving has been shown to decrease response times and cause accidents. In fact, many experts equate distracted driving accidents with Florida drunk driving accidents – both distracted drivers and drunk drivers are dangerous because they have poor motor skills and cannot focus on the road in a safe manner.

Cell phones are considered a key distraction, because during texting drivers must avert their eyes from the road for several seconds at a time – more than enough time to cause a serious Florida pedestrian accident or traffic accident. There are now five apps on the market which can covert texts into voicemail and spoken messages into texts. The apps are legal in every state because they do not require a driver to hold their device while driving. However, experts worry that the apps are just another way for distracted drivers to drive distracted.

Customers have responded well to the apps, some claiming that they have no time to pull over to send a text or place a call. Some also say that the apps are a more realistic option for distracted driving. Indeed, many polls and studies seem to suggest that some drivers will continue to try to text and drive or talk and drive. The apps at least ensure that their eyes stay on the road and their hands stay on the wheel as they do so.

However, police officers and other experts say that distracted driving is more about the mind than it is about just the hands and eyes. Even with a handless device, drivers can easily become distracted by their phone conversations or text messages and can still easily cause an accident. Some even worry that the new technology itself may be a distraction to drivers.

Continue reading "Could Hands-Free Distractions Still Mean More Florida Car Accidents?" »

According to 2010 statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Florida ranks fourth – only behind Texas, California, and Illinois – for the number of law enforcement fatalities. Nationwide, the rate of law enforcement fatalities rose 40% between 2009 and 2010. In some cases, fatalities occurred as a result of gun violence. For example, three police officers were killed by gunfire in Florida while making traffic stops.

However, Florida car accidents and traffic fatalities seem to contribute significantly to police fatalities. Out of 160 law enforcement deaths cross the country, 73 police officers lost their lives in traffic accidents and many more were seriously injured. According to experts, the reason for the high accident rate is because police officers are often asked to speed and make dangerous decisions behind the wheel of cruisers for public safety. For example, to stop a dangerous criminal, police may engage in a chase. Unfortunately, driving at high speeds can easily lead to accidents and can also harm bystanders.

According to driver experts, the increased number of distracted drivers and heavier traffic make car accidents more likely for everyone, especially for law enforcement professionals, who may significant amounts of time driving as part of their work. Some experts have even questioned whether the presence of computers in police cruisers is not contributing to accidents by distracting law enforcement officers.

Many driving trainers offering driving instruction to police officers and many departments across the country are instituting new rules about police chases in order to enhance public safety. However, in some cases, the danger to the public is greater than the danger of pursuing a suspect. In these cases, police are obligated to pursue a suspect, even if he or she uses dangerous driving and aggressive driving that makes the chase dangerous to police and the public alike.

In the past, some cities in Florida have suggested charging a “crash tax” to the insurance companies of drivers who cause accidents. Currently, a number of cities across the nation charge such a fee, which ranges from about $500 to $2,000, on average. Lately, Tampa has been contemplating such a move.

Tampa Councilman Curtis Stokes is one of the individuals who supports such a fee. In the media, he has noted that currently clean-up costs after an accident are absorbed by a city and its taxpayers, while such a fee scheduled would ensure that the expense of clean-up would go towards the insurance costs of the at-fault driver. The money from the insurance providers, he believes, could be placed in a trust fund to help pay for related Florida car accident expenses, such as public safety expenses.

A law signed in 2009 by Gov. Charlie Crist may pose a legal challenge to such a fee. That law effectively bans fees levied for investigation or response costs. In the past few years, a number of states -- Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia, Indiana, and Tennessee among them – have passed similar laws to protect drivers and insurance companies from such costs.

A number of South Florida cities, on the other hand, are working with contractors to recover costs associated with fire-rescue services provided at Florida car accident scenes. Collection agencies, consultants, and private billing have also suggested to governments that they could build revenues by charging accident fees as well. Now that many governments are facing revenue issues and tightening belts, an added source of revenue is very appealing.

Those who support the fees note that crash taxes ensure that those who are responsible for Florida car accidents contribute to the costs of the accidents. Supporters also note that such fees increase city revenues while reducing the burden on the tax payer. Further, there have been claims made that such fees would add to the financial burden of at-fault drivers, making drivers more cautious on the roads. Opponents of the fees note that insurance companies would pass the costs of the fees to insurance holders, potentially raising insurance costs for all drivers – not just those who cause accidents. They also note that such a move might not help reduce Florida pedestrian accident and car accident rates.

Even though graduated licensing and awareness campaigns exist to alert teens of the dangers of drunk driving and other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel, statistics show that many Florida car accidents involving teens are still highly preventable. In many cases, these accidents are caused by teens who speed, drive distracted, or drive drunk. Even though teens may know that such behaviors are wrong, they sometimes still engage in these behaviors.

Experts believe that lack of driving experience, emotional immaturity, and a belief that dangerous behaviors won’t result in serious consequences ensure that teens still engage in risky and dangerous driving. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and other advocacy groups, it is important for parents to sit down with their teen drivers to discuss dangerous driving. These discussions should include:

1) Set rules. It is important for parents to set rules with their teens. Rules for teen drivers can include things such as “no drinking and driving,” “no cell phone use of any kind while driving,” and “no more than two passengers at a time” can be good places to start.

2) An explanation of how dangerous reckless driving can be. Even though teens may have heard about the dangers of using a cell phone, drinking and driving, and speeding, they need to hear about these things from their parents, too. Keep in mind that many teens feel “it can’t happen to me,” which is why they go ahead and engage in risky behaviors. As a result, it is important to show how Florida car accidents can happen to them. Show them graphically what can happen in an accident – have them chat with Florida burn injury victims or others who have been injured in an accident. Contact your local MADD chapter and law enforcement – they usually have community liaisons and educational materials you can share with your teens. Strive to make the dangers of car accidents real.

3) Repetition. It’s a message that is worth repeating. The more often your teen drivers hear about the dangers of speeding, distracted driving, and drinking and driving, the more likely they are to take the message seriously. Have more than one talk with your teens and arrange for MADD or local law enforcement to visit your teen’s school.

4) Consequences. Make sure that you discuss the consequences for your teen driver speeding, driving drunk, or driving distracted. Make it clear what you will need to do in the event that your teen does decide to drive unsafely. Your teen should know that there are consequences to dangerous driving – even when it does not cause an accident.

5) Options. Give your teen options to driving unsafely. For example, make sure your teen knows that they can always call you (and preferably a few other family members) to get a safe drive home when they need it – no questions asked. Repeat the message often. If your teens know that there is a safe alternative and there will be no punishment, they are more likely to make the safer choice.

Continue reading "Prevent Teen Car Accidents in Florida by Having a Chat with Your Teens " »

Just like quitting smoking or committing to a healthy lifestyle, making a resolution to stop texting and driving can make your life better in 2011. If you are still looking for a New Year’s resolution to commit to, commit to end distracted driving. While many in Florida are divided on the issue of texting bans or cell phone bans, the statistics don’t lie.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System distracted driving caused by texting and driving has caused over 15,000 fatal auto accidents within six years. The Florida Senate has tried and failed to pass a ban on texting and driving. It is expected that the Senate will again attempt to pass the legislation in 2011.

However, there is a growing movement among drivers to stop distracted driving – with or without an official law. For example, Russ and Kim Hurd have become advocates for texting bans after their daughter Heather was killed by a distracted driver. This year, a part of U.S. 27 will be named the Heather Hurd Memorial Highway. The family is also fighting to pass Heather's Law, a which would ban text messaging and cell phone use while driving.

Some companies are also stepping up to stop distracted driving. For example, the government has banned texting and driving for employees. In November, Disney sent its employees a letter prohibiting them from texting and driving. Disney has noted that it could fire or fine employees caught texting and driving. Truck carriers have also largely banned texting and driving.

While many experts applaud the desire to stop texting and driving, however, they point out that many distracted driving accidents in Florida and across the country are caused by many types of distractions. Changing music, talking on the phone, having an emotional discussion with a passenger, eating, drinking, or putting on makeup can all cause a Florida car accident. If you want to make 2011 a better year, therefore, you might want to resolve to avoid all distracted driving. Keeping your eyes and your mind on the road may be the most important resolution you make.

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New Year parties pose one of the largest risks for Florida drunk driving accidents. While many people know the dangers of driving drunk, during New Year’s, many people still choose to drive after drinking. Part of the problem is that many people drink during New Year’s. Another problem is that taxis and buses tend to be at a premium in the small hours of the new year, meaning that many revelers give up and decide to drive themselves home. Here’s what you can do to help prevent Florida car accidents on New Year’s eve:

1) Consider having a no-alcohol party. There are many family-friendly events planned in most cities and many people choose to throw alcohol-free parties on New Year’s. Not drinking makes it simple to avoid driving drunk.

2) Have multiple ways to get home. Keep extra cash for cabs as well as an extensive list of people and companies you can call for a ride. Keep in mind that many other revelers will be looking for transportation, too, so having lots of options is useful. Consider learning about public bus systems and shuttle services available in your community during New Year’s eve – your local MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) chapter and your local police will know more about such programs.

3) Consider throwing your own party. You can invite everyone you know and either designate a driver or else make room for everyone to sleep over so that no one has to drive home drunk. This solution eliminates the problem of being far away with no way to get home. Another option is to consider attending parties in urban and downtown areas, where there is easier access to taxis, buses, and alternate forms of transportation.

4) Have an option to wait it out. Even if you have plenty of numbers to taxi services and other means of transportation, it can be hard to find transport home after all the festivities. Many other revelers will be competing with you. Therefore, keep a list of local late-night and 24-hour cafes and restaurants in your wallet. If you need to, you can grab a cup of coffee or a snack and wait a few hours until it is easier to hail a cab.

Continue reading "Plan for New Year’s to Prevent Florida Car Accidents " »

Florida drunk driving accidents are always a concern at this time of year. Police authorities across Florida report an increase in drinking and driving. Many parties serve alcohol at this time of year, increasing the chances that some drivers will make the bad mistake of driving drunk and potentially causing a serious Florida car accident. No matter who you are, there are things you can do to help avert this type of tragedy:

1) Be a responsible party-goer. If you are headed to holiday events, have at least three alternative means of getting home. If you only plan to call a taxi but the taxis are all busy, you may feel stuck. If you have three plans to get home (such as a designated driver, a friend you can call, or public transit) you are more likely to make the smart choice.

2) No matter who you are, have a plan. You may not think you need a plan because you don’t plan to drink this holiday season or don’t plan to serve alcohol. However, it is impossible to predict when and where you may decide to have a cup of good cheer. Even if you don’t think you will be drinking, have at least three ways to get home. If you have children, talk to them about their alternate routes home, even if they are underage. If your underage children drink, you don’t want them getting in the car with an intoxicated driver. Make sure that they know they can call you and other family members for help.

3) Be a responsible host. If you are hosting a party, make sure that you have alternative means of transport for any guests who may drink. Even if you do not plan to serve alcohol, have a plan ready to help out anyone who brings their own drinks. Refuse to let guests drink and drive.

4) Arm yourself with what you need. To get home safely, you need a plan and you need information. If you plan to take public transportation, for example, you will need a route of the bus as well as a ticket or fare. If you plan to take a taxi, you will need to have a way to pay for the taxi. Having everything you need will greatly increase the chances that you will make the right choice.

5) Take part in the efforts of local law enforcement. Law enforcement authorities often launch drunk driving awareness campaigns at this time of year. Learn how you can take part in and support your local campaign. It could help local authorities prevent more Florida drunk driving accidents.

6) Take steps to avert accidents. If you see someone who wants to drive even though they are obviously drunk, intervene if it is someone you know. If you see someone who is weaving on the road or driving in a way that may mean they are drunk, contact local authorities at once. You could save a life.

Continue reading "Preventing Florida Drunk Driving Accidents This Holiday Season " »

For many of us, the holidays are a very hectic time of year. In addition to the usual round of work and social activities, many of us are contributing to charitable causes, working longer hours, attending holiday functions, decorating for the holidays, hosting holiday gatherings, and more. All of this can lead to sleep-deprivation and fatigue, all of which can contribute to Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents. Numerous studies have shown that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Like drunk driving, driving when fatigues means slower response times. Drivers who are tired may fall asleep at the wheel or may simply be too exhausted to notice obstacles on the road. There are many things you can do to help reduce Florida car accidents caused by fatigue this season:

1) Get good rest and take care of yourself. While it may be difficult to fit in extra rest, it is important. You will find that you may be more productive and therefore need less time to accomplish more with some rest. Short naps and good nightly sleeps are important. Exercise and good food can also ensure that you feel energetic and awake.

2) Never combine alcohol with poor sleep. Florida drunk driving accidents are all too common. When drivers drink, they always run the risk of causing a serious and even fatal car accident. However, combining alcohol and fatigue can be an even more deadly combination. Alcohol causes sleepiness, so if you are already tired, alcohol can actually cause you to fall asleep at the wheel.

3) Use a buddy system. Shopping and running holiday errands with a friend or two is not only more fun – it can be safer. Running errands with a friend allows you to delegate or share some tasks, so that you have more time to rest. As well, it gives you an alternative way to get home. If you are too tired to drive home, your friend can take over driving duties.

4) Treat fatigue like drinking. In many ways, to help prevent Florida car accidents caused by fatigue, we all need to make a conscious shift in our way of thinking. Drinking and driving has become socially unacceptable, but many people still feel that they will be “fine” if they drive tired, even though research has proven otherwise. It is safest to treat fatigue the way you treat drinking: if you wouldn’t drink and drive, don’t get behind the wheel when you feel tired.

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There are many medical conditions which require medical clearance before someone with these conditions is permitted to drive. A new study suggests that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be added to that list if communities want to prevent traffic accidents. The study, completed at the University of Toronto by Dr. Donald Redelmeier and a team of researchers found that a significant number of car accidents involving teen boys may be caused in part by behavior issues and behavior disorders caused by conditions such as ADHD.

According to the study, some accidents might be prevented if teen drivers with ADHD and other behavior disorders were compelled to get doctors’ approval before getting their license. According to Dr. Redelmeier, conditions such as ADHD can be compared to conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, and narcolepsy. According to findings by Dr. Redelmeier and his researchers, drivers should have to show that they are controlling their conditions and are fit to drive.

Dr. Redelmeier and his team found that teens between the ages of 16 and 19 who had behavior disorders may have a higher risk of car crashes. Surprisingly, the study also found that teens with ADHD were more likely to be injured in pedestrian accidents involving cars. The study tested 3,421 teens who needed hospital treatment after a car accident. The study followed the teens over a period of seven years and found that 402 of the teens were diagnosed at some point with ADHD while 767 were diagnosed with some behavior disorder.

The study focused on teen boys between the ages of 16 and 19 because this group is the most likely to be involved in vehicle accidents. While this age group accounts for only 3% of drivers, they account for 6% of all traffic accidents. This is despite the fact that teen boys drive less than other age groups and enjoy better health than older age groups.

While the study may suggest a way of preventing Florida car accidents and even Florida pedestrian accidents, there are some limits to the study. Behavior disorders are notably difficult to diagnose, so it was difficult for researchers to ensure that none of the teen boys in the study were in fact not misdiagnosed. As well, the study did not consider whether the boys in the study were the cause of the accident.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents and ADHD" »

While Florida drunk driving accidents account for thousands of injuries and fatalities each year and while drunk driving awareness campaigns are usually launched during the holiday season, some recent polls suggest that more people are worried by distracted driving than by drunk driving. While no poll has been published about Florida driver’s views, national and international polls suggest that more drivers see texting and driving as a slightly more serious threat to their safety than drunk driving.

This may represent a serious shift in the way we view dangers on the roads. So far, many states have banned texting and driving, although Florida is not currently among that number. Even in states that have banned the practice, experts note that laws are simply not enough. In order to get rid of both drunk driving accidents and distracted driving, society has to make both practices socially unacceptable.

What is interesting about this is that drunk driving has already become socially unacceptable, largely thanks to public awareness campaigns and efforts by groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Public awareness about the topic has increased steadily since the 1980s, and as a result, many drivers see drunk driving as socially unacceptable.

The same process has only begun with distracted driving. This past year, when Oprah Winfrey ran a show about the dangers of texting and driving, the issue received a lot more media attention. As well, advocacy groups dedicated to the topic have been created after families have lost children and loved ones to distracted drivers. These groups have helped raise awareness about the topic and in some states have even helped change legislation. So far, the issue seems to revolve around the use of mobile devices while driving. It is so far unknown whether other types of distracted driving – such as driving while eating or talking to passengers – will also become socially unacceptable.

So far, studies suggest that while drivers worry about the impact if distracted drivers on their own safety, people are not always so willing to put their own mobile devices away. While many drivers believe that distracted drivers are a danger on the road, polls suggest that many drivers do text and drive or talk on their cell phones while driving. Younger drivers, especially, are likely to text and drive, despite the known dangers.

Continue reading "Could Our Perspective on Florida Drunk Driving Accidents Be Changing?" »

Many Florida pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and truck accidents are very preventable. Many are caused by risk factors which could be avoided with a little work. Becoming aware of the risky behaviors which lead to Florida car accidents is the first step. Avoiding the risk factors – such as distracted driving, speeding, and fatigue, to name just a few – is the second important step in preventing Florida truck accidents and car accidents. Finally, you may wish to raise awareness about risk factors to convince other drivers to drive safe. Here’s how we can all spread the message:

1) Social media and the Internet. The Internet and social media sites are a great way to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving, the importance of seat belts, and other life-affirming lessons.

2) Safety campaigns organized by law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies routinely establish safety campaigns to remind drivers about safe driving. Most agencies are happy to have volunteers who spread the message. Call your local law enforcement agency to learn about their current campaigns as well as opportunities for public involvement.

3) Public talks and discussion. When Oprah ran a show about distracted driving earlier this year, many people and media outlets suddenly began talking about the issue. While few people have that type of clout, spreading the message on a smaller scale and taking part in discussions about safe driving can save lives.

4) Petitions to legislators. Signing petitions for new laws that would make the streets safer sends an important message to legislators and in some cases changes laws for the better. In many cases, laws have been changed due to a few determined people who wanted to make the roads safer.

5) Pledges among students and drivers. Pledges are another way to make Florida roadways safer. When you take a pledge to stop distracted driving, drunk driving, and other dangerous driving habits, you make the roads a little safer by making your own driving safer.

Continue reading "Raising Awareness About Florida Car Accident Risks" »

When one reads about Florida pedestrian accidents and fatal car accidents, it’s easy to think that there’s nothing that can be done. However, every driver and pedestrian on the roads has several options to ensure everyone’s safety:

1) Become a good driver. Everyone thinks they are a good driver, but most of us have trouble spots and bad habits that can easily lead to a Florida car accident. The only way to find out whether you have any deadly habits is to get the input of a professional driving instructor. An instructor can evaluate your driving skills and can suggest ways to improve your driving. Racing school and defensive driving courses are two other ways to ensure that you are safe on the roads.

2) Get aware. Read up about the latest news and studies regarding Florida car accidents. Find out which intersections and risky behaviors have the highest rates of crashes. Keep up to date about car recalls to see whether your vehicle is affected.

3) Get involved. If you do spot any problems that can lead to a car accident – such as a dangerous interaction or poor lighting along a stretch of road – write to your elected representatives and your local newspaper. Sign petitions to suggest new laws which can make the streets safer for everyone. Join the public discussion and the effort to make driving safe.

5) Become responsible. It all starts with you. When you avoid drinking and driving and swear off distracted driving, you make the roads a little bit safer. When you decide to take a taxi rather than drive distracted, you may be taking a very small step that can help prevent a Florida car accident. Don’t make excuses. Instead, make the right decision to do the right thing. It’s easy to blame the other “bad” drivers out there, but if more people were responsible for their own driving, we’d see fewer Florida car accidents.

Continue reading "How to Make a Difference to Florida Car Accident Rates" »

According to the CDC (the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), teen drivers in rural areas have a higher fatality rate when it comes to car accidents than city teen drivers. According to the CDC, the highest fatality rate for young drivers is in Wyoming. In that state, about 60 car accident fatalities occur for every 100 000 people between the ages of 16 and 17. In New York and New Jersey, there are strict laws governing young drivers and these states have low fatality rates for teens – about 10 in 100 000.

In Florida, however, teen drivers seem to have a disproportionately high rate of car accident fatalities. In Alachua County, for example, there are only 22 345 residents who are between 15 and 10 years old. However, the county has seen 27 teen Florida car accident fatalities in five years. In Marion County, there are 15 419 teen drivers, but in the last five years, there have been 40 traffic fatalities involving teens.

Florida has launched a number of initiatives to help prevent Florida car accidents involving young drivers. For example, the Florida Highway Patrol's Teen Driver Safety Week is a state-wide effort to reduce car accidents, distracted driving, and Florida drunk driving accidents involving teens. According to research released by the CDC, there may be good reason to target young drivers. The CDC reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for US teens and Florida teens. One third of deaths among teens occur during car accidents.

Although fatal Florida car accidents involving teens declined 21% between 2008 and 2009, experts say there is still plenty of room for improvement. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, teen drivers have the highest car accident rates of any age group. They are least experienced also most likely to take risks. In car accidents involving teen drivers, careless driving is the most common cause of accidents, followed closely by drunk driving.

Experts say that Florida’s efforts to rein in young drivers have been preventing car accidents involving young drivers. Graduated licensing, seat belt laws, strict drunk driving laws, and laws restricting teens from driving late at night all work together to ensure that teens are less often in dangerous situations which can lead to a Florida car accident. Despite this, however, Florida teens continue to die needlessly in car accidents and continue to suffer serious injuries as a result of car accidents. Many teens with serious Florida spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, and other life-long injuries sustain these injuries in car accidents.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents Involving Teen Drivers" »

If you’re planning on driving in order to get to a family holiday event, you may well have to leave Florida and enter states where winter driving has a whole new meaning. Although in many cases Florida drivers do not need to worry about the dangers of winter driving – dangers which can include driving snow, snow drifts, and icy roads -- once Florida drivers leave the state to visit family for the holidays, they may be in more danger than usual. Since Florida drivers are often unused to winter driving conditions, they may be at a higher risk of accidents when driving in unfamiliar, winter conditions. There are some ways to prevent this, however, if you will be traveling out of state for the holidays:

1) Make sure your car is ready for your destination. You may not need snow tires at home to prevent a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident. However, if you are driving to a state where winter conditions are probable or likely, get winter snow tires. If you are likely to be driving in heavy snow or is rural areas, look for studded tires, which have small spikes which grip icy roads and give you more control of your car.

2) Consider alternate forms of travel. If you have no experience driving in the snow, it may be easier and less expensive to fly, take a train, or take some other form of transportation to your holiday destination. Even letting someone experienced in winter driving can help.

3) Take a course in winter driving. A course in winter driving is likely readily available through a local driver’s education school. The tips you learn can help you prevent a Florida car accident and will prepare you for winter roads in other states as well.

4) Make sure you understand what conditions you will face. Use weather stations and Internet weather information from the government to determine what conditions you are likely to face. Knowing whether you are likely to face icy roads, snows, or hail can help you plan ahead.

5) Stay alert of weather condition changes and keep your plans flexible. If you are driving to a holiday destination in a wintry state, check weather forecasts before your departure. If there is any snow, you will need to slow down, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive safely. If the weather is severe, stay flexible in your plans and find another way of arriving safe. In a snowstorm, it will be much safer to leave your car at home and use a train or plane to get to your destination, especially if you have limited winter driving experience.

Continue reading "Even Florida Drivers Need to Worry About Winter Driving During the Holidays" »

If you are planning on having holiday parties or get-togethers at your home, now is the time to start planning to ensure that none of your guests are in a Florida car accident after your party. Remember: if you serve alcohol and one of your guests causes a Florida drunk driving accident, you could be held partly liable for the accident. You don’t want to cause a fatality or serious injury and you certainly don’t want to become involved in a legal action. The only solution is to start planning.

Consider ways to ensure that your guests do not drive drunk. You could avoid serving alcohol entirely, or stop serving alcohol early. If you live in a remote location, consider having enough bedding and space for every guest to spend the night. This way, anyone who is intoxicated would not have to drive. Contact taxi and shuttle services before your party to find out how much transportation would cost. Some driving services provide special flat rates at the holidays. They will drive your guests to and from your party for a flat fee.

Another option is to designate drivers or to create your own shuttle service. Have two or three people abstain from drinking entirely and have these volunteers shuttle your guests back home as needed. Hotels and local motels may also offer group rates to ensure that your guests do not drink and drive. Consider having taxi cash, taxi numbers, and a few alternatives on hand.

Even if you plan to have a few options available to ensure that guests do not drive drunk, however, you will also need to plan to ensure that guests are monitored. You need to have a plan in place to keep guests from driving drunk. At a busy party, it can be difficult to spot every guest heading for their cars, so plan ahead. Consider having all guests deposit their car keys when they arrive at your house, for example. Consider having someone walk each guest to their cars after the party, to ensure that they show no signs of intoxication.

Another great option is to offer breathalyzer key chains as party favors or small gifts. It is an easy and simple way to evaluate intoxication. Another option is to simply observe guests and to note who is drinking how much. At small parties, it’s relatively easy to monitor overall consumption. This is one reason why you may want to keep get-together small. Working with guests to help them make good choices can help you save the lives of your friends and family so that they can visit your holiday events next year, too.

Continue reading "Planning Holiday Parties? Plan Now to Prevent Florida Drunk Driving Accidents" »

This is the time of year when many families are planning long trips – including loan road trips – for the holidays. If you want to help prevent Florida car accidents and arrive safely, you need to plan ahead. Here’s how:

1) Use online mapping tools to chart your holiday driving plans, especially if the route is not familiar with you. Tools such as Google maps and Google Streetview allow you to envision your route before you go, select different routes, and even estimate how long your drive will take you.

2) Plan to drive well-rested. When deciding on your trip, develop a strategy to ensure that you will not drive fatigued. Fatigued driving causes many Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents each year. Make sure that the day before you leave is not too hectic and you have enough time to get a proper rest. Note hotels and motels along your route, in case you are tired and need a rest. Consider driving with a friend, who can do some of the driving when you get tired.

3) Plan to drive undistracted. Distracted driving causes many Florida truck accidents and car accidents each year. Make sure that you avoid all distractions – such as mobile devices and loud music – while you drive. Turn your phone off before you get in the car, to prevent family members from calling to check where you are on your route.

4) Consider weather past state lines if you are driving outside of Florida for the holidays. If you will be driving well outside the state, you may encounter snowy conditions and ice on the roads. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape and has good snow tires for the journey. Listen to weather reports before you leave and change your plans as needed.

Continue reading "Traveling to See Family This Holiday Season? Plan to Arrive Safe" »

When most of us think of Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents, we picture busy roads. However, many accidents at this time of year occur on private properties. As people visit with each other and host special holiday events, extra pedestrian and car traffic is often brought to residential areas, increasing the risk of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents in these areas. Here’s how to prevent this type of tragedy in your home:

1) If you have a party or holiday event, plan for parking. Determine how many guests you will have and plan where they can park. Is there public parking nearby? Is there adequate street parking on your street? If you’re having a large party and parking will be a problem, consider renting transportation for your guests. A charter company can arrange for safe transport for your guests and can help prevent Florida drunk driving accidents, too. Or, consider having guests carpool to cut down on pedestrian traffic and to provide some designated drivers.

2) Make sure your parking area is well-lit. If your guests will be driving themselves, make sure that parking areas are well-lit to prevent accidents, falls, and other hazards. You can buy temporary lights if you need them.

3) When saying good-bye to guests after a party, help them leave safely. Walk them to their car. This will help ensure that they are sober enough to drive. If you notice that they are not sober, don’t let them drive. If your friends are fit to drive, help them by standing near the car and ensuring that the way is clear for them to back out and drive away.

4) Consider rear-view systems as gifts to friends. These handy devices are very useful in preventing Florida pedestrian accidents involving children, because they allow drivers to see exactly what is behind their car as they back up.

5) Do not allow your children to play in your driveway or in the street when there is a party. It’s too easy for visitors to drop by your home and your child to be injured. If there is a party on your street, your child may be drawn to the cars and the party. Any guests backing up out of a parking space may not see your child. When there is extra traffic on your street or expected traffic, find fun indoor activities for your children.

Continue reading "Could You Be at Risk for a Florida Car Accident or Premises Liability Claim at Home?" »

During the holidays and the weeks leading up to the holidays, Florida car accidents often increase in frequency. There are many reasons for this. Many of us are driving more often to take care of holiday errands and visits. As well, slippery roads can easily lead to car accidents. Shorter days and less visibility are a contributing factor to many accidents at this time of year and unfortunately, Florida drunk driving accidents are also more common at this time of year, as some motorists partake of good cheer and decide to drive home.

Florida pedestrian accidents are also more common at this time of year. Unfortunately, many of us are in crowded store parking lots, rushing about with our to-do lists. High stress and more traffic in pedestrian and car shared areas can lead to more accidents. As well, there are often more pedestrians about as people walk from store to store or head out to visit friends. There are also more delivery persons making deliveries, meaning more people walking about. Now is the time to do your part to prevent Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents. Here’s how:

1) Have a plan for getting home safely. If you decide to drink at a holiday event, make sure that you have money to get home or a plan to get home. Preventing Florida drunk driving accidents starts with planning ahead.

2) Be alert for more pedestrians and more cars on the roads. More trucks are on the roads at this time of year, too, as stores go into overdrive to meet consumer demand. Adjust your driving.

3) Adjust your driving to weather conditions. It gets darker at this time of year, which means less visibility. At the same time, holiday lights can cause glare or distract drivers. Wet roads can further compound these problems, especially with more people on the road. Slow down, use your lights and wipers, and stay alert.

4) Note and respect new pedestrian areas. Some stores create new pedestrian areas in order to encourage shoppers. These pedestrian areas may result in closed parking lots or closed streets. Stay tuned to traffic updates on your radio so that you can anticipate and respect these pedestrian areas.

5) Put away your mobile device. Distracted driving is deadly at any time of year, but it is especially dangerous during the holidays, when extra traffic and poorer lighting put you at even greater risk. Your phone conversation or text is not worth the heartbreak you would cause a family this holiday season if you caused an accident. Put your mobile device away and turn it off when driving.

6) Get your car tuned up. Make sure your breaks are in good working order, your tires are in top shape and your wipers and wiper fluid are ready for wet weather. When your car is in good shape, it responds better and allows you to avoid collisions more easily.

Continue reading "At This Time of Year, Florida Pedestrian Accidents are a Concern for Drivers" »

The tradition of beach driving may be costing lives. According to experts, beach driving leads to many Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents each year. Between 2005 and 2010, 45 Florida pedestrian accidents took place on Volusia County beaches alone because someone was driving a vehicle on the beach. According to experts, beach driving leads to about 6% of Florida pedestrian accidents. This year, Volusia County Council has hired a consultant to review beach safety and beach driving to determine whether there is any way to reduce the number of beach accidents involving cars and vehicles.

A review by the News-Journal, a local newspaper, found that in many Florida car accidents and vehicle accidents on the beach, pedestrians were in fact lying down or sitting down on the beach, potentially making them less visible to drivers. In about one-third of cases, drivers were backing up when the accident occurred, suggesting that in many cases the pedestrian was simply not seen by the driver in the rear-view mirror.

As well, according to the newspaper, about half of Florida car accidents on the beach take place during March and July, the months when beaches are busiest. This may mean that simply changing the rules or laws during these two months can significantly reduce the instances of Florida pedestrian accidents on the beaches. Volusia County Council has also considered adding more car-free zones and more signage on the beach to prevent accidents.

Exerts claim that one of the problems is that the beach is a constant intersection. Most Florida car accidents occur at intersections, simply because these are the points where conflict can most easily take place. On a beach, however, the flow of people and vehicles is constant, creating almost endless points of conflict. At the same time, experts note that more people on beaches are bitten by sharks than injured in collisions with vehicles.

Some suggestions for improving beach safety also include creating completely separate areas for sunbathing and driving. This will help ensure that people who are lying down and people who are driving are simply not in the same area. Some experts have also suggested that parts of beaches should be completely closed down during times when the beaches are busy to allow for better supervision. However, for families who have lost children or loved ones to beach pedestrian accidents want cars banned entirely from beaches, saying it is too unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles to share the same space.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents on Beaches Linked to Tradition " »

At least one study suggests it might be the case. According to researchers at the University of South Florida, elderly drivers who take part in brain training reduce their risk of being in car accidents by half, when compared with elderly drivers who receive no brain training. The training involves cognitive training programs which do not address driving skills in particular, but are rather concerned with strengthening cognitive power.

The study tested 908 drivers with an average age of 73. Some drivers were given no training, some took part in a program designed to improve reaction speed while others trained with a program designed to hone reasoning skills. A final group worked with a program created to improve memory. All drivers received ten sessions and were then tracked for six years. According to researchers, drivers who took programs designed to improve reasoning skills and reaction speed were able to reduce car accidents by 50%. The programs designed to improve memory had no discernible outcome on accident rates.

Of those drivers who took the memory training course, 16% had at least one accident that was personally their fault. The drivers who took no training had an 18% accident rate. However, of those who took the reasoning program, only 12% were in car accidents. Only 10% of those drivers who took the speed response program were in accidents over the six-year period.

The study seems to suggest that training – even training that does not have anything to do with improving driving skills – may be able to help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents involving elderly drivers by honing specific skills. Researchers are especially excited by the fact that the brain training seems to have long-term impact on driving ability, since participants were still seeing different car accident rates years after their mind training sessions.

However, another study from the University of Cambridge that studied 11, 000 drivers found that brain training did not help cognitive skills in real-life tasks such as driving. However, authors of the University of South Florida note that theirs is the first study to take driving skills into consideration specifically and to test different types of brain training.

Continue reading "Could Brain Training Help Reduce Florida Car Accidents Involving Elderly Drivers?" »

According to recent studies, Florida is now the leader in car insurance fraud. Although Florida car insurance fraud is not new, it has risen to new highs, largely due to unemployment and economic woes, according to experts. There are a few types of car insurance fraud schemes that are popular in the state:

1) Abandonment. Some car owners are simply leaving their cars abandoned in remote locations to avoid having to pay the high bills that come with cars. Some owners them claim the cars as stolen to defraud insurance providers.

2) Arson. Some owners are lighting their cars on fire to avoid further payments and in order to recover claim money from insurance providers. The fire, they believe, will eliminate the evidence of fraud, although this is often not the case.

3) Florida car accident fraud. In some cases, fraudsters work with others to stage Florida car accidents in order to fraudulently claim insurance money for non-existent injuries. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that between 2007 to 2009 there were 511 staged Miami car accidents and even more such accidents in other Florida states. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, one out of every four staged traffic accidents occurred in Florida.

Florida truck accident and car accident fraud is a serious problem for everyone. Even staged accidents can lead to serious injuries and of course this type of fraud can increase insurance costs for everyone. Plus, there are often innocent victims in these fraud schemes who are accused of causing an accident when in fact they did not. Worse, people who genuinely sustain a Florida spinal cord injury or another serious injury in a car accident often have a harder time recovering their claims because insurance providers are on the alert for fraud.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accident and Traffic Accident Scams Lead the Country " »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10% of all car accidents are hit and run accidents, and the prevalence of these accidents has been rising for more than ten years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that most hit and run accidents are either drunk driving accidents or involve a hit and run driver who is uninsured. That is, in most hit and run accident, the motorist leaves the scene of the crime to conceal intoxication or to avoid legal problems.

Being in a Florida hit and run car accident can be devastating. If there are no witnesses, especially, it can be hard to get compensation from your insurance company. You will need to take the time to file a police report about the accident. You may also feel angry and shaken. If you are alone at the scene of the accident and are injured, it is up to you to seek medical attention – with no help from the other driver involved in the accident.

If you are in a suspected Florida drunk driving accident or a Florida car accident that is hit and run, the first thing you will want to do is call emergency services if you or anyone else is injured. The first priority is to get medical help. Next, make sure that you call the police at once. Leaving the scene of a Florida car accident is a crime, so you want to report that crime.

As soon as you have done this, start documenting the accident. In a Florida hit and run accident, documentation is even more important. Take photos of your car, get the contact information of any witnesses, and jot down anything you remember about the driver of the other car. These details can help police catch the motorist.

You will next have to deal with your insurance company. This can be frustrating, since many policies do not cover hit and run Florida car accidents or uninsured drivers. Read over your policy carefully. Consider contacting a good Florida car accident attorney in order to get legal advice and help about your situation. A good, experienced attorney can help you deal with authorities and your insurance company. He or she can even investigate the accident.

Continue reading "Florida Hit and Run Car Accidents" »

Most Florida car accidents result in some injuries, and a disturbing number of these accidents result in serious accidents. Car accidents are responsible for a large number of Florida brain injuries, whip lash, spinal cord injuries, leg injuries, and trauma. The most common injury is whiplash, while brain injuries are the most common type of Florida car accident injury likely to result in fatalities. While virtually all car accident victims are taken to hospital shortly after an accident, some injuries are not visible right away. Symptoms that some Florida brain injury victims have, for example, can take hours or even days to develop.

The first step in recovering from a Florida car accident is to seek medical attention. If you have hit your head, especially, it is important to visit an emergency room. Some closed-head trauma can be fatal but does not always present symptoms at once. Even if you have no obvious symptoms immediately, you could have suffered a serious personal injury, so prompt medical attention is important. It could save your life.

The second step in recovering from a Florida car accident is to continue to get medical attention. Follow up with your doctor if you have sustained any injury. As well, keep records of your injury. For example, note any symptoms and doctor’s directions, so that you can focus on recovering fully. Documenting your injuries is also important for insurance purposes.

Unfortunately, a large part of your recovery from a Florida car accident depends on money. Your insurance and financial situation can determine the quality of medical care you receive and can determine how well you recover financially from your accident. If you are having trouble with your insurance company or if you believe that another motorist was negligent and caused the accident, it is important to talk to a good Florida personal injury attorney soon after your car accident – certainly before you sign anything.

A good attorney can be important in helping you recover. He or she can help you understand your legal rights and options, so that you can make the best decisions possible in your situation. He or she can also investigate the causes of your accident, find all liable parties, and negotiate with your insurance company. This can help ensure that you get a fair claim amount so that you can afford the best medical care possible.

Continue reading "Recovering From Florida Car Accident Injuries " »

Being in a Florida car accident or truck accident is often difficult enough. After such an accident, you may face serious injuries as well as trauma, lost income, and huge medical bills. If your accident involves a government vehicle, however, you have some added challenges and you may wish to consult a qualified Florida personal injury attorney about the accident.

In most Florida car accidents, if someone’s negligence has caused the accident and you have suffered serious injuries and losses, you can bring a legal action against that person (or, more correctly, their insurance provider) in order to recover the costs of your injuries and losses. In the case of a government vehicle, however, the situation is more complicated because state, federal, county, and city governments all enjoy what is known as “sovereign immunity” or “government immunity.” This doctrine, and the legal decisions passed down from courts about this doctrine over the years, have limited the instances in which the government and government employees can be sued in personal injury accidents and other types of accidents.

There are many government vehicles on Florida roads all affected by this doctrine. If you are in an accident with a firefighter, police officer, mail carrier, ambulance driver, your legal claim may be effected by government immunity, even if the government employee was clearly at fault. In these cases and in any case involving a government vehicle, the incident is generally governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which provides some waiver of the government’s immunity – but only in cases where employees are negligent within their employment.

There are other things which can affect your claim against a government in the event of a Florida car accident involving a government vehicle. For example, the burden of proving driver responsibility will be much higher in these cases. You will need a very experienced Florida personal injury attorney who can very definitely prove that the government employee was negligent and at fault. If you have been injured in a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident with an emergency vehicle, your case will also be more complex. If your are injured by an emergency vehicle while the vehicle is trying to get to an emergency, you will face additional challenges because these vehicles are given additional latitude. You may need to prove serious negligence in these cases – such as proving that the emergency vehicle did not correctly use sirens and emergency lights at the time of the accident. Again, an experienced Florida personal injury attorney may be invaluable in such cases.

If you have been involved in a Florida car accident with a government vehicle, you may also need to file an administrative claim with the government before pursuing your legal claim. There is a time limit on when you must do this. In most cases, you must file the administrative claim within 30-180 days of the accident. Failure to file the administrative claim in time can affect your ability to recover damages, so it is essential to contact a good attorney immediately after your accident.

Continue reading "Florida Car Accidents and Government Cars " »

No one likes to be found at fault for anything, but in Florida truck accidents, car accident cases, and any traffic accident, fault is a key issue. If someone is clearly at fault, through negligence or recklessness, in an accident, that person will often find their insurance company has to pay out more of the damages. In cases where someone is negligent while driving, that driver may also be sued. For example, if you sustain a Florida burn injury because another driver is texting and driving and runs a red light, you can bring a legal claim against that person to cover your injuries, medical treatment, lost income, and other damages suffered in the collision.

In many Florida car accidents, however, determining fault is not so simple. In some cases, it is not immediately apparent what has caused an accident. In other cases, liability is shared among many parties. For example, a tire defect could cause your car to spin out of control. At the same time, another driver may be distracted and a pedestrian may be crossing the street without the benefit of a crosswalk, causing an accident. In this case, the tire manufacturer (and possibly mechanic), other driver and potentially the pedestrian may be found partly liable. In cases where liability is not clear or is shared between parties, it is important to consult a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. A good attorney can investigate the accident and can help assign liability fairly.

Under Florida law, pure comparative fault is adopted to measure damages. This means that the victim’s percentage of fault is used to reduce the damages by that amount. This is often easier to explain by way of example. Let’s say that that Anne is in a Florida car accident that is deemed 50% her fault. She becomes a Florida spinal cord injury patient due to her accident and damages for the accident for her amount to $200 000. Anne can recover up to $100 000 in damages, since she is deduced 50% of the initial amount for her share (50%) in the accident.

It is important to note, however, that while Florida is a pure comparative fault state, many things can affect examples like the one above. First, determining the damages can be tricky. Some insurance providers can underestimate the damages of an accident. If Anne hires a qualified Florida personal injury attorney, for example, the attorney may find that the total expected costs and damages of Anne’s injuries may in fact be far greater, since the spinal cord injury may be permanent or long-term. As well, assigning fault is obviously a difficult concept. An insurance company may find that both drivers are equally at fault, but again, if Anne hires a good Florida personal injury attorney, her attorney may discover added details about the accident which change Anne’s percentage of fault. For example, the attorney may find that the initial investigation did not consider all evidence in the accident or that other parties are partly liable, too.

Since fault is so important in a Florida car accident, it is important not to admit fault until a through investigation of the car accident is complete and until you have retained the services of a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. In the aftermath of an accident, it is common for accusations to be made, but it is important to never agree to any accusations or agree to any responsibly until the accident has been investigated. In many Florida car accidents, fault is simply not as it seems. Admitting fault can affect your ability to recover fair damages for your accident. As well, when speaking to an insurance adjuster, be cautious about admitting fault. In some cases, adjusters want you to admit that you played a specific role in an accident. Do not agree to this until you have consulted with a qualified Florida attorney.

Continue reading "Understanding Fault in Florida Car Accident Cases " »

If you have been in a Florida truck accident or car accident and have retained the services of a Florida car accident attorney to handle your case, you can improve the possible success of your case in two ways. First, it is important to find a good, experienced Florida attorney you can trust. Second, it is important to maintain good communication with your attorney so that he or she can do their job. Here’s how to keep communication successful:

1) Give your attorney the facts they need. If you have documents or evidence of your injuries (such as photos or contact information for witnesses) by all means share this information with your attorney. The more your attorney knows, the more he or she will be able to help. Many attorneys will tell you what they need in order to investigate your accident. Feel free to ask your attorney what you can do to make your case stronger. Of course, always be honest with your attorney. Do not claim to be a Florida brain injury patient as a result of your injury if you are not.

2) Decide on frequency and format of communications. Of course, you will want to get updates about your case. However, you also want to leave your attorney with plenty of time to work on your case. The best solution is to establish, early on, how and when communication will take place.

3) Work with a written agreement and make sure that you understand the agreement before you sign. Your agreement protects both you and your attorney. Many misunderstandings can be cleared up simply by understanding and re-reading your contracts.

4) Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you’re upset about something related to the costs or the case, let your attorney know in a polite and businesslike way. Often, problems can be cleared up with a frank discussion. Clearing the air is important as it allows your relationship with your attorney to remain positive.

Continue reading "Communicating With Your Attorney After Your Florida Car Accident " »

A new survey conducted by Leger Marketing has found that while most drivers agree that distracted driving is dangerous, about 75% of drivers polled say that they allow for such distractions while driving rather than actively striving to eliminate such distractions from the car. The survey results seem to suggest that in order to reduce Florida car accidents caused by distracted driving, it’s not enough to simply let drivers know about the dangers of distracted driving: more has to be done to compel drivers to nix distractions before they get behind the wheel.

The survey further revealed that drivers have skewed notions about which distractions are most dangerous behind the wheel. About 88% of drivers polled agreed that texting on a cellphone was dangerous, but only 19% thought that adjusting an iPod or radio while driving was a problem. Another 83% of respondents said that talking on a cellphone while driving was wrong. This is despite the fact that most experts agree that any distractions to the driver can increase the risk of an accident.

According to the survey results, many drivers continue to engage in behaviors they know are dangerous and distracting. For example, 60% of drivers admitted they adjust their car’s stereo while driving while 8% admitted to texting or emailing behind the wheel. Another 15% of drivers admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving, even though most respondents agreed that the behavior was risky.

According to Allstate, 80% of car accidents can be attributed to distracted drivers. While the survey results from the Leger Marketing study suggest that more drivers are getting the message about distracted driving, it is also clear that drivers are not getting the full message. Drivers are still confused about distracted driving caused by behaviors not linked to mobile devices. As well, even though drivers know the dangers of distracted driving, many drivers continue to engage in risky behaviors. To prevent more Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents, increased awareness and wide-spread changes to driver behavior need to be made.

Continue reading "Preventing Florida Car Accidents May Involve More Than Raising Awareness About Distracted Driving" »

While Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents can occur at any time, there are many things you can do to help reduce your risk of being in an accident – before you even get in the car:

1) Protect yourself with excellent insurance. Good insurance can help protect you if you are in a collision and ensures that you as well as the other driver are covered for medical bills and related expenses in the event of an accident. Buy the best quality of car insurance you can afford to ensure that you don’t have to pay multiple costs out of pocket.

2) Turn off your cell phone or mobile device. Distracted driving has been proven to increase your risk of being in an accident. Just listening to your mobile device ringing can distract you – and can tempt you to pick up the phone or to sneak a peek at that text message. Put away your device and make sure it is off before you drive off, so that you can put all your focus where it belongs: on the road.

3) Make sure you are ready before you get in the car. Before you get in the car, make sure you are ready to drive safely. Make sure that you have not consumed anything which may affect your ability to drive. Prevent a Florida drunk driving accident by avoiding drinking before you drive, but also take a close look at your medication and any over-the-counter medication you are taking. Make sure it is safe to drive with the medications you are taking. Also, avoid driving when you are sleepy or very emotional.

4) Make sure that your car is ready to avoid accident. Keep your car in good repair and make sure that you walk around your car before you get in. Any tire problems or mechanical problems you have can affect your ability to control your vehicle and prevent an accident. Check with the manufacturer about any known problems with your vehicle. This is especially important if you have an older car – check to make sure that previous owners have had any known problems or recalls addressed.

5) Know your route. Knowing where you are going and having a clear idea of your route ensures that you can focus on driving – not on finding house numbers or street names. Use GPS or online mapping before you leave the house. Keep a copy of the map with you when you drive, but be prepared to pull over to read directions or have a passenger direct you as you drive. Trying to figure out your route as you drive is very distracting.

Continue reading "Protecting Yourself From a Florida Car Accident – Before You Get in the Car " »

Teens often enjoy the freedom of commuting to school and most parents support the idea. However a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that teen commutes may contribute to Florida car accidents and accidents across the country. Researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety collected data on accidents between 2001 and 2004 and found that there was an increase in car accident rates during school commutes in the afternoon and morning. As well, researchers found that about 30% of car accidents involving drivers between 16 and 17 years old occurred during school commute times.

According to researchers, many evening car accidents involving teen drivers take place due to drinking and driving or speeding, but this is not the case with school commute time accidents. Instead, researchers concluded that distraction and fatigue are the contributing causes in these accidents.

According to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), there are several things that can be done to help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents during school rush hours:

1) Let your teen know about the dangers. Teen drivers may assume that commute drives are safer because they do not take place at night. Share statistics about school commute accident rates and encourage your teen drivers to stay extra alert.

2) Do not let your teen drive tired. Have your teen agree to drive only if they have gotten eight hours or more of sleep a night. Offer a ride if your teen has been staying up late or is under stress due to exams or school work.

3) Encourage your teen drivers to stay out of cars where other teen drivers display unsafe driver behavior. Teens often commute together and sometimes take turns carpooling. However, teens may also feel peer pressure not to speak up if a driver is driving distracted or tired.

Continue reading "Help Your Teens Commute Safely and Help Them Avoid Florida Car Accidents" »

For many Florida teens, a first used car is a sign of freedom – but could that car be increasing teens’ risk for Florida car accidents, too? According to a 2008 survey by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual, 27% of teens drive used cars that are at least 12 years old and another 60% of teens drive cars that are seven years old or older. According to safety experts, this can be a concern, since older cars may lack newer safety features which can help prevent collisions and which can help prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident. According to experts, parents and teens looking for a used car need to consider the following before driving away:

1) Only consider cars with standards safety features. Stability control, antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, and airbags can help prevent collisions and injuries. It may take extra time to find a car with these features, especially if you are on a budget, but it is well worth considering these features when shopping.

2) Check the head restrains. Head restrains which adjust correctly are important for helping prevent many Florida brain injuries.

3) Check the integrity of existing systems. Are the seat belts in good condition, for example? Are the tires new and in good shape? Even if the tires look fine, you may want to consider replacing the tires on a used car. Tires older than five years – even if driven rarely – can be unsafe because they have deteriorated.

4) Research makes and specific cars. Read consumer reviews and reports about the safety standards of any make and model you are considering. Are there known safety features? Has the model been recalled? If so, were the necessary adjustments made on the specific car you are considering to fix the problem? Get the VIN number and get a history of the car. Any car that has been in a serious accident may be compromised.

5) Consider a larger car. Larger cars may protect the driver more than smaller economy-sized cars do.

Continue reading "Could Your Teen’s Used Car Be a Florida Car Accident Hazard?" »

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released new statistics showing that the number of fatal Florida car accidents is lower. Fatal car accident rates are also dropping in Georgia and nationally, even though the number of miles Americans drive is actually increasing. This has led many experts to weigh in on why the rate of accidents seems to be dropping. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, car accident fatalities in 2009 have declined to 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, compared to 2008’s 1.26 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles driven. During the same time period, the total car miles driven in the US increased by 0.2%.

Fatal Florida car accidents have dropped even more than the national rate. Between 2008 and 2009, the number of Florida traffic accident fatalities decreased by over 400 deaths. The drop has many questioning whether the decrease is permanent, cyclical, or related to a specific set of factors. The numbers, while welcome, have many people questioning the cause of the decrease. Some federal officials claim that the change is permanent. Other possible reasons for the good news might be:

1) A poor economy. Some experts believe that fewer people are driving often due to less expendable income. With less money, experts argue, fewer people are traveling or going on unnecessary trips and fewer people on the roads means fewer car accidents.

2) Better drivers. An administrator with the National Highway Transportation Safety believes that drivers are getting the message from public service announcements and are taking better precautions, such as wearing seatbelts and choosing not to drive under the influence.

3) Less driving. At least one Florida’s sheriff’s department claims that Florida car accidents are decreased because fewer are driving. In fact, according to the Florida Department of Transportation, in Florida the number of vehicle miles driven in 2009 decreased by 2%. With fewer people driving in the state, it is possible that some Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents are simply being avoided.

4) Safer cars. Both car manufacturers and some police departments believe that safer cars may be contributing to fewer fatalities in Florida car accidents. Passenger side airbags, for example, are now standard in many newer vehicles, possibly meaning fewer Florida brain injuries in collisions and therefore fewer fatalities.

5) Laws. New laws are being developed all the time to make Florida safer. For example, as of July 2009, a new primary seat belt allows police to pull over Florida drivers for not wearing a seat belt. Prior to that new law, police had to pull over drivers for another reason and could not pull over a motorist just for not wearing a seatbelt. As well, Florida has a tough law for motorists with multiple accidents. Any Florida driver who has three or more at-fault car accidents within a three year period is required to take driving school in order to brush up on their driving skills.

Continue reading "Are Florida Car Accident Rates Slowly Dropping?" »

Florida injuries to minors and children are very common in state car accidents. Police officers and child safety advocates note that just any seat belt, however, will not help keep a child safe. The wrong seatbelt can actually cause more injuries. For example, using a regular seatbelt rather than an age-appropriate child safety seat with very young children can result in serious injuries in the event of a collision.

Children under the age should be in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car. Infants should be in rear-facing seats while older children and toddlers can be facing forward, but must be in child safety seats designed for their age group. Most experts agree that until age two, children should be in rear-facing seats. Once children are between 40 and 65 pounds, they can be placed in child safety seats with harness and buckles.

Children under four-feet nine inches in height or under 8 years old should be placed in booster seats. This is because in the event of a Florida truck accident or car accident, the seatbelt can cut into a child’s neck, causing serious and potentially life-threatening injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children should always be in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old. Younger children are much safer in the back, even when they no longer need a child safety seat. The back seat provides more cushioning and more protection in the event of an accident. Children who are in the back seat will suffer fewer injuries from the windshield. As well, airbags, which are now standard in most cars, can be dangerous to children when deployed. The airbags inflate very suddenly and because children are not as tall as adults, children tend to be pushed into the airbag with great force. This can and does cause injuries.

According to federal statistics, the widespread use of child safety seats does seem to have an impact on child safety in car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4% of the nation’s fatal car accidents resulted in the deaths of minors 14 years of age and under. This is 3% lower than the number of childhood deaths in car accidents in 2008. This is despite the fact that the amount of miles traveled by Americans in cars actually increased in 2009. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 179,000 children sustained injuries in 2009 car accidents.

Child safety seat use does seem to be closer to universal – but booster seats are a different problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 96% of children between the ages of 1 and 3 were placed in child seats and 89% of children under 13 years of age used child restraints appropriate for their age. 41% of children between the ages of 4 to 7 use booster seats. Child safety advocates would like to see that number increase in order to help safeguard children. The message is clear: In Florida car accidents, age-appropriate safety seats and restrains can save lives and can help prevent injuries.

Florida car accidents involving pedestrians seem to be deadlier than the national average. Since it has been discovered that Florida has a disproportionate number of pedestrian accidents, many proposals have been put forward to help reduce these accidents and to make roadways safer for both motorists and pedestrians. According to experts, many initiatives have worked across the state in reducing Florida pedestrian accidents and can be used more broadly to reduce accidents even more:

1) Improved crosswalk striping and markings. Crosswalk markings are important for both motorists and pedestrians. For pedestrians, good markings clearly indicate where to cross. For motorists, crosswalk makings clearly indicate where they should stop to allow pedestrians to pass.

2) Improve crosswalk and intersection placement and design. More crosswalks mean that pedestrians have more “legal” and safe places to cross. It is important for planners to be especially alert when new buildings are created near busy roads. Wherever people work and pursue recreation, there is a need for crosswalks to help pedestrians get around. As well, it is important that crosswalks are well-designed so that motorists can clearly see pedestrians approaching the crosswalk in time to yield.

3) Overhead lighting. Lighting above crosswalks improves visibility and gives motorists another cue that a crosswalk is present, helping to prevent Florida pedestrian accidents.

4) Install pedestrian refuges on busy roads and highways. Pedestrian refuges are raised medians, which separate pedestrians from the flow of traffic, thereby ensuring that pedestrians are not sharing the same surface as high-speed traffic. This helps prevent Florida car accidents involving pedestrians by ensuing that cars cannot enter the pedestrian area and pedestrians cannot err into traffic.

5) Installing HAWK system. HAWK systems are crossing signals which are activated by pedestrians. Although they are expensive -- $120 000 – they ensure that more crosswalks with traffic lights can be added in areas with lower pedestrian traffic (which might not warrant permanent traffic lights).

6) Education campaigns. Educational campaigns by police and other agencies as well as increased enforcement in areas known for high rates of Florida bicycle accidents, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents have helped to reduce accidents in higher-risk areas.

According to new statistics, Florida streets and the nations streets may be becoming safer in some ways – despite the continued presence of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents and despite the fact that there are more drivers on the road than ever before. According to new statistics, there are five times as many motorists in the US as there were six decades ago. However, 2009 saw fewer deaths than there have been since the 1950s.

Experts agree that there has been a change. About 14 years ago, many people did not wear seat belts – a factor that helps to prevent many Florida brain injuries and fatalities in Florida car accidents. As well, two decades ago, cars were made with fewer safety features for passenger safety, experts note. Even in cases where a vehicle was not damaged, fatalities could result.

Today, car manufacturers are paying more attention to passenger safety. Features such as anti-lock brakes, skid control, brake force inhibitors, electronic brake distribution, airbags, and other safety features protect passengers in a collision and offer the driver more control of the vehicle in an accident, helping to prevent some Florida car accidents. Features such as airbags can help prevent Florida brain injuries and fatalities, even in a more serious accident. With safety standards and rating widely published, and with more consumer awareness about car safety, car manufacturers are in fact competing with each other to introduce more safety features.

It’s not just car manufacturers who are trying to prevent Florida car accidents. In the past twenty years, laws regarding drunk driving accidents, DUI, speeding, and other violations have become more stringent. As well, Florida has hired more officers over the years in order to enforce traffic laws more fully.

The focus on safety appears to be paying off. Fatal Florida car accidents have decreased almost 30% since 2005. The number of fatal Florida drunk driving accidents has also decreased 15% between 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Florida traffic deaths dropped for the fourth consecutive year. While there are still many preventable Florida traffic accidents and personal injuries, the statistics suggest some movement in the right direction.

Beach driving is a Florida tradition – but one that can easily lead to Florida car accidents and serious injuries. Beach driving involves the practice of driving on packed beach sand, often on public beaches with plenty of beachgoers. The result, not surprisingly, can lead to Florida pedestrian accidents and serious injuries.

The practice is long-lived. As early as the first Ford models, drivers were using hard-packed sand at Florida’s beaches to drive. In the 1930s, even races were held on Florida’s beaches, a practice that was not stopped until 1960. Not surprisingly, numerous Florida personal injuries resulted in lawsuits over the practice. Environmentalists have also filed lawsuits against beach drivers, hoping to preserve sea turtles. Homeowners with waterfront properties have also tried to take beach drivers to court, hoping to preserve their beachfront properties.

Today, many beaches prohibit beach driving, however the practice is not officially illegal on all of Florida’s beaches. As well, the results of lawsuits have been mixed. This year, a judge ruled against a New Smyrna Beach, deciding that beach driving did not infringe on the homeowner’s property rights. Softer sand and environmental changes have also meant that in some Florida areas, beach driving has simply become unfeasible.

New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach still permit beach driving, but St. Augustine beach has banned the practice following a tragic accident ten years ago. Volusia County also still permits beach driving, but has posted signage advising drivers to stick to the 10 mph speed limit at all times.

Beach drivers interested in taking their cars onto a beach would do well to travel during less busy days at the beach. Busy beach days mean lots of children playing on the beach – and young children may simply not be aware of the dangers of playing near a car. Obeying the speed limit and driving with extra caution are also important to prevent a tragedy.

Parents with young children might want to check beach driving regulations before heading to a beach. Beaches that do not permit beach driving are often safer for very young children, who are more likely to be injured by a car on a beach.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of intentional Florida car accidents is on the rise as more people try to commit insurance fraud. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported earlier this year that intentional Florida car accidents jumped to 1, 999, an increase of 58%, in 2009. In Tampa, Florida, alone, staged Florida car accidents quadrupled, up to 487 incidents.

In the past, South Florida cities such as Miami tended to have the highest rates of accidental car accidents in Florida, but now Tampa appears to be in the lead as fraudsters target that area. In many fraud cases, motorists deliberately get into single-vehicle crashes in order to make fake medical claims. However, in other cases, motorists intentionally bump into another vehicle in order to make claims against the other driver’s insurance company. In these cases, the targeted driver is falsely accused of causing the accident and faces increased insurance premiums through no fault of their own. In some cases, these staged Florida car accidents can even cause real injuries to the targeted driver.

Staged car accidents and insurance fraud are a serious problem in Florida. According to the insurance industry, staged accidents cost the industry between $4.8 billion to $6.8 billion in losses in 2007 alone. These industry losses affect everyone, as they translated into higher premiums for all Florida drivers. Currently, the industry is trying to target suspected cases of insurance fraud. They are also trying to target doctors who handle high numbers of fraudulent claims.

In a review of twelve no-fault states, Florida had the highest rate for personal injury insurance fraud. Between 2008 and 2009, the number of suspected fraudulent claims increased by 15% in Florida. In many cases, insurance companies are investigating suspicious claims by hiring private investigators and other professionals. Unfortunately, this also raises the cost of insurance and can slow processing of legitimate claims.

According to many experts, a shaky economy in the state may be contributing to insurance fraud as well. In May, Florida’s unemployment rate (11.7%) was higher than the national average (9.7%). Desperation may push some to insurance fraud, experts claim, especially since Florida unemployment is the worst it has been in some years.

Miami Dade County is one of the busiest counties in Florida, home to major cities such as Miami, Coral Gables, Homestead, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, North Miami, South Miami, Pinecrest, and others. Over the years, new rules and increasing efforts by the Florida Highway Patrol and other agencies have resulted in fewer accidents in the county.

In 2000, Miami Dade County saw 51, 132 car accidents. By 2001, the car accident rate increased to 54, 519 before starting to decline. In 2002 and 2003, respectively, the area saw 49, 922 and 45, 731 Florida car accidents. In 2005, however, there were 48,537 car accidents in Miami Dade County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Miami Dade County in 2005 (the last year for which statistics are available) saw:

1) A disproportionate number of accidents in the city of Miami. Of the total 48, 537 car accidents in Miami Dade County, 10,814 of them were Miami car accidents.

2) A significant number of accidents were Miami drunk driving accidents. About 4.63% of Miami car accidents involved alcohol. 501 car accidents in Miami in 2005 were attributed to DUI. In Miami Dade County, 2,117 accidents were alcohol-related. 74 of these drunk driving accidents resulted in fatalities. 1,635 injuries were also attributed to drunk driving in Miami Dade County in 2005.

3) Miami Dade county car accidents claimed 336 lives in 2005. They also caused 37,879 injuries.

4) In addition to Florida car accidents, Miami Dade County also saw 45 fatal Florida motorcycle accidents and 8 fatal Florida bicycle accidents in 2005. That year also resulted in 444 injuries from Florida bicycle accidents and 1, 484 injuries from Florida pedestrian accidents. 81 Miami Dade County pedestrian accidents proved fatal in 2005.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol 2004 Florida car accident statistics, which are the latest year for which the statistics are available, Florida saw a high number of accidents in 2004:

1) There were 252,902 Florida accidents involving cars in 2004. In fact, Florida saw an average of 691 car accidents a day in 2004.

2) Some drivers had multiple accidents. In total, 376,111 drivers were involved in Florida car accidents.

3) There were 2,936 fatal Florida car accidents in 2004. 3,257 drivers lost their lives in these accidents. There were also 142,388 car accidents causing bodily injury. In these crashes, 227,192 Florida drivers sustained a personal injury of some kind.

4) In 2004, 23,000 Florida car accidents were found to be Florida drunk driving accidents. These accidents claimed 1, 093 lives and injured 17,580 passengers and motorists.

5) There were 8,084 Florida pedestrian accidents in 2004. These accidents caused 7, 551 personal injuries and 504 fatalities.

6) There were 5,203 bicycle accidents involving cars in 2004. 119 of these crashes were fatal. 4,820 bicyclists were injured in Florida bicycle accidents in 2004.

7) There were 7,367 Florida motorcycle accidents in 2004, resulting in 388 fatalities. In 6,558 of these accidents, serious injuries were sustained.

Many fatal Florida truck accidents and car accidents take place on highways. The high speed allowed on highways combined with occasional driver error and high traffic often results in dangerous conditions that lead to serious accidents. After the fourth of July weekend in 2007, for example, the Florida Highway Patrol reported 31 people were killed on Florida highways. There are many that such accidents on the highways can be avoided:

1) Wear a seatbelt. According to the FHP, in about 67% of fatal Florida highway car accidents, seatbelts were not worn. Wearing a seat belt is the law in Florida. You can receive a fine and ticket for failing to wear your seatbelt. Even more seriously, you could lose your life or sustain a serious injury in an accident if you fail to wear your seat belt. Many Florida brain injury patients and spinal cord patients sustained their injuries because they were in a car accident and were not wearing a seat belt at the time.

2) Do not drive under the influence. Florida drunk driving accidents claim many lives. Driving with an excessive blood alcohol limit in Florida can mean license suspension, fines, and even jail time. It can also cost lives. If you have had one or more drinks, avoid driving.

3) Do not drive while tired. Fatigued Florida drivers are an especial danger on Florida highways, since highway driving involves higher speeds and therefore faster response times. A small error caused by fatigue on a Florida highway can easily lead to a fatal car accident.

4) Obey posted speed limits and other signage. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to lose control of your vehicle. As well, when you speed on Florida highways, you often do not leave yourself enough time to respond to a potential hazard, increasing the likelihood of a car accident. Road signs are there to protect you – obey them.

5) Avoid distractions when driving. Texting, talking on your cell phone, or being distracted in any way behind the wheel is as dangerous as drunk driving – and may contribute to just as many accidents. Before getting in your car, turn off your mobile devices and prepare to give your full attention to driving. Distracted driving is especially dangerous on Florida’s highways, where you may have only seconds to react to prevent an accident.

Many things can affect your visibility on the road, and all these factors can increase your risk of a car accident. Keep in mind that these factors can affect your ability to drive safely:

1) Excessive light. Street lights, headlights, the sun, and glare can all affect your ability to see correctly. Too much light is blinding and in Florida there are many bright days where visibility on the roads is affected. There are many ways that you can ensure a safe drive, even when the light is too bright. Using a sun visor and sunglasses can help, especially on bright days and at sunrise and sundown. Following other cars at a safe distance helps to ensure you are not blinded by their headlights. If you are being blinded by high beams from oncoming traffic, look at the white lines on the side or right of the road until the car passes.

2) Inadequate light. Many Florida truck accidents and car accidents in rural areas are caused at least in part by inadequate light. Poor streetlight placement and dark nights can make it hard to see, even when you use your headlights. In these situations, it is best to use your headlights and to reduce speed to get home safely.

3) Poor weather. Florida fog, rain, wind, and storms can create poor visibility conditions that lead to Florida car accidents and traffic accidents of all types. If possible, avoid driving in bad weather. If you must drive or are caught in bad weather, slow down, turn your headlights on so that other cars can see you, and use your windshield wipers to keep your view as clear as possible. In foggy conditions, use low-beam headlights to light your way. If the weather suddenly becomes so bad that you cannot see the road in front of you, pull over and wait a few minutes (leaving your blinkers on) until the weather improves.

4) Roadway obstructions. Florida construction, hills, and winding roads can affect your ability to see what is coming up, making it harder to anticipate hazards and avoid them. Even trucks can be a problem if they block your view of the road. In these conditions, slow down and try to scan ahead as much as possible. Use signage in construction areas to guide you and to help you avoid a Florida pedestrian accident.

Florida streets and highways have become busier than ever over the past generation, and experts agree that increased traffic also means an increase in the number of Florida truck accidents, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents. In fact, some research suggests that nationally the number of registered vehicles has tripled while the number of licensed drivers has doubled over the last three decades. The increased traffic means more people sharing the road, which means more congestion and more risk.

While many Florida drivers are safe and do their best to avoid Florida pedestrian accidents and other traffic accidents, not all drivers are skilled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration polls drivers annually about their driving behaviors. Drivers in a recent survey admitted to the following risky behaviors in the week before taking the survey:

*26% failed to stop entirely at a stop sign
*23% drove at least 10 mph over the posted speed limit at least once on a highway
*8% drove after drinking

Breaking such bad habits can help prevent many Florida driving accidents, since these bad habits contribute to far too many accidents each year. Florida drunk driving accidents, for example, claim lives all year long, but preventing these accidents is so simple. There are many ways that you can break bad driving habits and make the roads safer for everyone:

1) Take responsibility for your driving. Many people assume that others are bad drivers and research has shown that most drivers overestimate their driving ability. Even if you believe that other drivers are responsible for bad habits, do admit your own bad habits and take charge.

2) Learn what your own bad habits are. Do others point out driving mistakes you are making? Have you received a ticket for a traffic violation lately? No one likes to hear criticism of their driving skills, but take a deep breath and consider the areas where your driving could use some work.

3) Get regular upgrades of your driving skills. Even if you drive every day, you can help break bad habits and help avoid accidents by improving your driving skills periodically. Taking a refresher course, racing course, or defensive driving course can help you brush up on your skills and can help you develop better habits – good habits that can help prevent a Florida accident some day. If you drive as part of your job, your employer may even be willing to cover part of the costs of your training.

A few basic errors by Florida drivers result in a disproportionate number of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. Among the riskiest behaviors are:

1) Speeding. About two out of three polled drivers admit to speeding on occasion. However, even going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit can put you at an increased risk of car accidents, especially in bad weather or with poor road conditions. Many Florida car accidents are caused by people simply driving too quickly for Florida conditions. About one third of all fatal car accidents are caused at least in part by speeding. Speeding can increase your risk of an accident up to sixfold, but usually only saves a few minutes of time.

2) Not giving right of way. Florida drivers are busy drivers, and even courteous drivers sometimes fail to follow right-of-way rules. About 40% of all car accidents and Florida truck accidents take place at intersections, meaning that right of way rules played at least a part in the collision.

4) Tailgating. Not giving other vehicles enough room can increase the risk of collisions. Following too closely is especially dangerous around large commercial trucks. Many Florida trucking accidents each year, for rexample, are caused by passenger vehicles following trucks too closely. Trucks take longer to stop than passenger vehicles, so give them more room. As well, in poor conditions, all vehicles take longer to stop, so it pays to give additional room.

5) Distracted driving. Drivers often feel that they can multi-task while they drive, but this is not the case. Research has concluded that distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Whether you are talking on the phone, applying cosmetics, changing CDs, texting, eating, or fixing your hair, your eyes and mind are not on the road – which is where they should be.

6) Drunk driving. Unfortunately, even with extensive education campaigns, Florida drunk driving accidents are all too common. Even one drink can put some people beyond the legal blood alcohol limit. Drinking coffee or sipping water will not sober you up – only time can do that. If you have been drinking, it’s simple: don’t get behind the wheel.

Distracted driving has been in the news. Most Florida drivers know that distracted driving can help increase the risk of Florida car accidents. However, many drivers may not realize just how significant a risk distracted driving really is. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a sturdy in 2006, in which they studies motorists using 100 cameras for more than one year. The cameras were used to capture all types of motorist behaviors in an effort to determine what activities impacted driving ability.

Researchers found that drivers were sleepy and were eating, applying cosmetics, drinking, smoking, reading, and using mobile devices while driving. Researchers also concluded that in about 65% of close calls and in about 80% of all car accidents, distracting behaviors such as these played a key role. The study found that sleepiness increased the risk of a car accident by a minimum of fourfold. Researchers concluded that women were more likely to be in car accidents caused by distracted driving.

The 2006 study concluded that cell phones, cosmetics, and mobile devices posed a special risk in cars. Drivers who were dialing a number on their mobile devices increased their risk of a car accident 2.8 times when compared with non-distracted drivers. Female drivers applying cosmetics were 3.1 times more likely to be in a car accident than non-distracted drivers.

Eating and drinking can also be major distractions when it comes to driving. According to the study, motorists who ate on the road had 1.6 to 1 odds of being in a car accident. While drinking alone was not associated with a higher risk of collision (provided that the drink was not alcoholic), the major risk with drinking is spilling one’s drink and being distracted by it. Researchers found that dropping an object (such as a drink) and trying to recover it increased the risk of a close call or car accident nine fold. It proved one of the most dangerous activities to do while driving.

Although the study found that smoking was not necessarily a distraction, researches found that anything which removed motorists’ eyes from the road for two seconds or more increased risk of a collision or near miss. The implication for Florida motorists is clear: To prevent Florida car accidents and the injuries caused by collisions, motorists’ eyes must remain on the road. Any activity that removes the eyes from the road for even two seconds can cause a serious accident.

Many Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities are caused by accidents on our roads. To help prevent these devastating collisions, drivers must start to look beyond just gadgets as a distraction. Any activity that removes your eyes from the road can cause a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident.

Driver training and licensing are meant to ensure that all new Florida drivers have the basic skills needed to safely operate a car. Despite this, young drivers and new drivers do have a higher accident rate. Partly, this is because even the most advanced Florida driving schools and training classes simply cannot cover all the possible elements of driving safely. Most schools do not carefully instruct drivers about driving in bad weather, night driving, and other necessary driving skills. There is simply no time. As well, even the best Florida driving instruction classes do not make up for practice, which is really what is needed to improve your driving skills.

If you are a new driver – whether you are 16 or 60 – you can help prevent Florida car accidents by exercising some additional precautions for the first 3-6 months after you get your license:

1) Get additional training. The driver’s training you take to obtain your license is usually very rudimentary. Additional training with a qualified instructor can help you hone your skills and can help you stay more confident behind the wheel. Defensive training, additional in-car sessions, and even racing schools are excellent investments that can help you avoid accidents and injuries.

2) Drive with an experienced driver. Driving occasionally with a good driver can help ensure that you don’t develop bad habits early on. A good driver can notice and help gently correct and problems you are having.

3) Avoid night driving until your driving skills improve. Night driving means lower visibility as well as more intoxicated drivers on the road. Since your driving skills and defensive driving skills are only developing, it is too easy to get involved in a Florida drunk driving accident because of someone else’s negligence. If you need to drive at night, at least get some in-car night driving training with a qualified instructor first.

4) Do not drink and drive. Even small amounts of alcohol (amounts that keep you below the legal limit) can make you drowsy and can affect your driving skills. Do not add to Florida drunk driving statistics – do not have any alcohol while driving. As well, take another look at the over-the-counter medications and prescription medications you take. Do any of them make you drowsy? If so, talk to your doctor about getting different medication, since these substances can also increase your risk for accidents.

5) Do not take on passengers until you improve your skills. Passengers are a distraction, even when they don’t mean to distract. The more passengers you take on, the greater your risk of being in a Florida pedestrian accident or traffic accident. Wait until you hone your skills first.

For many Florida teens, a driver’s license is a rite of passage. Even with graduated licensing, getting a Florida driving license involves getting a permit and getting basic training behind the wheel. While teens have to pass a road test to get their driver’s license, most newly-licensed teens do not have the extensive experience needed to stay truly safe on the roads. As well, many teen drivers may be at risk because they are easily swayed by peer pressure and because some teens overestimate their driving skills.

Although teens account for only 7% of all drivers, nearly 14% of fatal car accidents involve teen drivers. Male teens under 24 years of age have a an auto-related death rate that is 2.5 times the national average. For teens ages 15-19, car accidents are the leading cause of death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4, 877 teens were killed in 2000 alone as a result of preventable car accidents. Many more sustained serious injuries as a result of accidents. According to the NHTSA, 36% of teens involved in car accidents in 2000 were drinking and 58% were speeding when a collision took place. In addition to causing injuries to teen drivers, car accidents involving teen drivers also cause serious injuries to innocent motorists and bystanders. Many Florida head injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries are caused by teen drivers each year.

Researcher Dr. Dennis Doverspike has studied teen drivers and risk-taking attitudes among teens at the University of Akron and has concluded that it can take years for driving skills to develop and most teens simply do not have those years of on-the-road experience it takes for driving to become automatic. As well, Dr. Doverspike notes that no states require teens to demonstrate a proficiency in high-speed traffic or different weather conditions before getting a license.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many accidents involving teen drivers occur when a driver has been drinking, during recreational driving, after dark, and when there are multiple passengers in the car. However, according to the NHSTA, when parents become more involved, teen car accident risks can dip. There are many things that the NHSTA reports parents can do to help keep teen drivers safe:

1) Insist on seat belt use. According to the most recent statistics, up to 50% of teens who were killed in car accidents in previous years were not wearing their seat belt at the time of impact. Many Florida spinal cord injuries and brain injuries could be prevented each year as well if everyone wore a seat belt every time they stepped into a car.

2) Get familiar with your teen’s driving habits. Drive with your teen. Does he or she drive aggressively, use a cell phone while driving, or exhibit other bad habits? Consider your own habits – are you a good role model for your teen when it comes to driving? If your teen is making dangerous mistakes, consider additional training and classes to boost your teen’s driving skills.

3) Discourage your teen from taking the car on the weekend and at night. This is when car accidents are most likely to happen. At the very least, ensure that your teen gets some training with a professional instructor specifically addressing high-traffic driving and night driving.

4) Have your teen pay their own car insurance. Since any infraction can increase premiums, this can be a nice motivator for your teen to keep their records clean.

5) Restrict the number of friends your teen can have in the car at one time. Teen drivers are more likely to crash if they have multiple passengers.

While most Florida car accidents take place on the roads, the simple act of filling up your car or stopping at a gas station also has its hazards. Some serious Florida burn injuries take place at gas pumps. In many cases, gas station accidents are entirely preventable, simply by:

1) Obeying gas station signs. Most gas stations have signs clearly indicating no smoking and no cell phone use at the pumps. It is vital to follow these directions, since most gas stations have seen plenty of gas spilled and gas is highly flammable. Just having a lit cigarette near the fumes and spilled gas can lead to tragedy.

2) Being careful when pulling into and out of gas stations. At certain times of day, there are bottlenecks and busy periods at most gas stations. Cars may jockey for space at the pumps and some motorists are more aggressive than others when trying to get gas. Slow down and stay alert. Some Florida car accidents take place each year at gas stations, and Florida pedestrian accidents are also likely at a station where motorists are zipping to and from their cars.

3) Keeping your face away when pouring gas. Whether pumping gas at a pump or pouring gas into a container, keep your face well away. Gas in the eye area stings and burns as well. If you get gas in your eye, rinse your eyes very well with water. Your eyes may sting for a few hours. If your eyes do not get better, see a physician.

4) Using extra caution when pouring gas into gas cans. It is easy to spill gas in this way and get gas in your eyes. Always fill gas cans on the ground (never in a car or truck bed) and wear protective goggles or eye wear if possible to prevent contact with your eyes. If you need to fill a container with gas, make sure that it is a container designed for storing gasoline and is in good condition. An incorrect container can cause gas spills, which can lead to burns.

5) Avoiding stepping in and out of your car while you pump has. The simple static this causes can cause a fire and burn injuries. Gasoline has a flash point of only -40 F, making it very flammable.

6) Washing your hands thoroughly after pouring or pumping gasoline. If you rub your eyes without washing your hands first, you could irritate the eye area. As well, you don’t want to grab a sandwich and end up eating gasoline with your snack.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are two deaths each day across the country in work zones. At this time of year, construction sites and road work zones are more prevalent as the nice weather permits building work which cannot always be completed in the winter. However, drivers out for summer errands are not always cautious about slowing down or staying well out of the way of crews and workers, and this can and does cause many Florida truck accidents and car accidents each summer. According to experts, there are several things that drivers can do to make roadways safer for everyone:

1) Stay alert to construction work and road work signs. In most areas, signage is posted well ahead. Stay alert to these signs and pay attention to the new speed limits, hazards, and lane changes in the area. Being prepared can ensure that you can ease into the new driving situation carefully.

2) Stay alert for others in the construction area. Work areas have a way of pushing everyone together – pedestrians, motorists, city workers, trucks, and bicyclists. You need to be cautious about these other individuals sharing the road with you. Each year, serious Florida bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents occur at work sites. Make sure to stay alert and be prepared for the fact that some pedestrian and bicyclists may not be obeying the rules.

3) Always obey the posted speed limits in work zones and construction areas. Many Florida construction site accidents occur when motorists surpass safe speed limits. While it may be frustrating to have to slow down if you are in a hurry, there are workers working only a few feet away from you. When you speed, you increase the chances that you will hit and injure one of these workers.

4) Maintain a larger distance between you and the car in front of you. Construction vehicles may be pulling in and out of the work zone, and this can cause sudden stoppages in traffic. A larger distance gives you more space to stop safely, without rear-ending the car in front of you.

5) Use extra caution around the flag person. The flag person or flagger is standing in the road area and you need to obey their signage. However, do not just go because a flag person waves you on. Check traffic first to make sure it is safe to do so. Each year, accidents are caused by a small mistake or miscommunication between a flagger and motorist.

According to Allstate, May, June, July, and August are the deadliest months for teen drivers, with the majority of teen car accidents taking place during these months. Each year, according to statistics, about 5,000 teen drivers die on the roads. In addition, many more Florida young drivers are seriously hurt or cause serious Florida pedestrian accidents or bicycle accidents on the roads. Even with graduated licensing programs, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims can reduce car accidents by 20-50%, teens are still at risk for motor vehicle accidents, especially at this time of year.

According to experts, there are many things that parents can do to help their children drive safely this summer:

1) Remind your child to use a seat belt each time they drive. Many Florida brain injuries sustained in car accidents take place because a passenger or driver failed to wear a seat belt. It takes only a few seconds to buckle up, but it can prevent your teen from flying through a windshield in the event of an accident.

2) Give your child license to call you at any time for a ride with no questions asked – and stick to it. Make sure that your teen never drives drunk. Underage Florida drunk driving accidents claim far too many lives each year. Many teens fear the repercussions if their parents find out that they have been drinking or doing drugs, which is why a “no questions, no punishment” rule is important.

3) Tell your teen driver about the dangers of speeding. Speeding reduces response times and increases the odds of fatalities in the event of a collision. Speeding also makes it more likely that minor traffic mistakes end up becoming serious accidents.

4) Enforce a no-distraction rule. Distracted driving causes many Florida car accidents involving young drivers. Young drivers, especially, need to focus on the road as they perfect their driving skills. You may want to institute a no-passenger ban until your teen has honed their driving skills. Also, make sure that your teen does not talk or text on a cell phone when driving. Consider calling them up when you know they will be driving. If they pick up, set an appropriate punishment.

There are many Florida laws which govern drinking and driving as well as drinking in the state. Despite the laws, however, Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents continue to be caused by alcohol. In 2008, Florida saw 1,041 drunk driving fatalities, making it the third state in the nation for the total number of DUI fatalities. If you have been injured in a Florida drunk driving accident, you will want to be aware of these laws:

1) Florida laws regarding legal age to consume, buy, or possess alcohol: In Florida, you must be at least 21 years of age to buy, drink, or possess alcohol. A first conviction for underage drinking or possession can lead to a $500 fine and 60 days incarceration while a second offence can result in a year of incarceration and a $1000 fine. It is also illegal to sell, give, or serve alcohol to minors. If someone serves a minor in a bar and that minor then causes a car accident, the establishment serving the alcohol can be held partly liable for the accident under Florida’s dram shop laws.

2) Florida laws regarding open containers of alcohol in cars: Unless open containers of alcohol are stored in a locked trunk or other secured area, they are not permitted in motor vehicles in Florida. Open containers include not only cups and alcohol but also any bottle, flask, or can that has been opened and contains any amount of alcohol.

3) Florida DUI laws: Florida motorists are not allowed to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or higher. Drivers who are 21 years of age or younger are not allowed to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .02 percent or higher. Drivers over the age of 21 who violate this law may face up to six months in jail, a $1000 fine, and suspension of their license for a year. Drivers under the age of 21 who drive under the influence have their license suspended for six months. A second offense results in a one year license suspension.

4) Florida licensing laws: Section 562.12 of the Florida Statutes requires all establishments selling alcohol beverages to be licensed. This includes convenience stores, bars, restaurants, and retail stores. Establishments can lose their licenses for selling alcohol to minors.

In Florida, as in most of the country, teens need to be 16 years old and properly licensed to operate a motor vehicle. Despite this, some parents allow their underage and unlicensed children to drive a car. In some cases, children simply take their parents’ car without permission. Unfortunately, some driving video games give children the impression that they can drive. If these underage drivers cause a traffic accident, the resulting legal actions can be quite complex because in many cases it is the parents who are held liable for their children’s behavior.

While there are not very many Florida car accidents caused by underage drivers, underage driving is a concern. Unlicensed minors do not have the training or knowledge to operate a car and are therefore far more likely to cause car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other traffic problems. In most cases, children under the age of 16 who are caught by police behind the wheel of a car are not driving correctly, which is how they are noticed in the first place. In many instances, these children have already caused some property damage or an accident before they are pulled over.

FL Statute 322.35 clearly states that no person can allow their ward or child under the age of 18 to drive their car if the minor is not authorized to do so. The driver's manual for Florida indicates that allowing an unlicensed person to drive your car can result in a fine or even jail time.

In many cases, Florida underage drivers face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine on the first offence because the incident is often classified as a second-degree misdemeanor. Second offenses are often given a $1000 fine and a year in jail while third offenses are usually classified as a third-degree felony, which can carry a $5000 fine and up to five years of jail time. If an underage driver causes an accident that results in a brain injury or other serious brain injury, usually the parents of the driver face legal action as the victims of the accident try to recover the costs of lost income and medical bills. The owner of the car or the child’s parents may also face jail time and fines, even if no lawsuit is filed.

In many accidents involving underage drivers, speed and carelessness are a contributing factor. In some cases, the untrained and unlicensed drivers simply do not know the rules of the road and therefore cannot adhere to them. In other cases, underage drivers cannot reach the floor pedals or correctly see in the mirrors because they are too young and too small to drive a car. In some cases, fatal Florida car accidents have been caused by drivers who were ten years old or younger.

If you have sustained an injury as a result of a Florida car accident caused by an underage driver, you will need a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. Such cases are challenging. Underage drivers obviously have no insurance and the insurance provider for the car’s owner is typically reluctant to pay any claims on the incident because no underage driver was supposed to be driving the vehicle. In many cases, parents of the driver will not admit to allowing their underage driver to take the car. It takes a good Florida attorney and a team of investigators, in many cases, to determine a pattern of negligence that allowed the driver to get behind the wheel of the car.

Most Florida parents are happy when their teens eventually get their license. While most parents of course worry about Florida car accident statistics and hope that their child is never in a serious car crash, most parents do not worry about the liability and the legal risks they take on when their teen gets behind the wheel. However, it is true: parents can be held partly responsible for any accident their underage teen driver causes. There are many ways that parents can face a lawsuit:

1) By signing a driver’s license application for your minor driver. In most cases, your signature means that you are liable for the negligent driving – and the accidents it causes – of your teen driver. This liability lasts until the teen’s eighteenth birthday. Some insurance policies cover this liability, but you need to speak to your insurance provider to determine whether your policy covers it. The only way to avoid this liability is to withdraw your support via the Florida department of motor vehicles. You can also wait until your child is 18 before allowing them a license. Otherwise, you are partly liable if your teen is one of the hundreds each year that causes a Florida drunk driving accident or a pedestrian accident.

2) By being the registered owner of the vehicle your teen drives. Many parents buy their teen’s first car or have at least partial ownership. Sometimes, this is done as a gift or to keep insurance costs down. Either way, if your teen driver is under eighteen and you are listed as the owner of their vehicle, you may be held partly liable if your teen’s negligence leads to a car accident in Florida. Even if you are not officially the owner of the car but helped to pay for the car, you could be held liable. If you should have known that your teen was unqualified to drive (because of a drinking problem or a tendency to speed) you might also be liable for considerable punitive damages.

3) By being aware of your teen’s problems. If you knew that your teen driver had an alcohol problem, drug problem, or other behavioral problem that could make them dangerous behind the wheel, you could be held partly liable for gross negligence if you did not take enough steps to prevent your child from endangering others by driving. This type of supervision liability is not usually covered by car insurance or homeowner’s insurance and the punitive damages that can result if you are found liable can be substantial.

4) By not having enough insurance. Florida drivers with teenage drivers in their house need an excellent car insurance policy and an umbrella coverage on top of that. Look for a policy with plenty of liability coverage. If your insurance does not cover a car accident your teen has caused, you could find your personal assets in threatened. A serious Florida car accident, however, can easily cause millions of dollars in damages, so you need to ensure that your insurance can cover these costs so that your assets stay safe.

Although the legal drinking age in the US is 21, many teenagers do drink. In some cases, teens ask older adults to buy alcohol for them or rely on fake ID in order to procure drinks. When teens become licensed to drive, underage drinking becomes even more of a problem. Each year, underage Florida drinkers cause some of Florida’s drunk driving accidents. These accidents lead to spinal cord injuries, fatalities, brain injuries, and other life-altering injuries.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident involving an underage drinker, there may be several people who are liable for the accident. The insurance company of the driver will generally cover part of your medical costs, lost income, and other expenses associated with your accident. However, in cases where an underage person has been granted access to alcohol and has then caused an accident because of drunk driving, other parties may be held liable as well.

Florida’s dram shop law, sometimes called the drunk driving law, allows victims who have been injured in a drunk driving accident to pursue legal action against the licensed companies who have knowingly served alcohol to a minor. Victims can pursue hotels, bars, restaurants – or anyone who serves alcohol to minors. If a bar or other licensed venue overlooks an obviously fake ID or fails to ID a young driver, that licensed venue may be held party liable if the patron then gets into an accident after leaving the establishment.

As well, parents of Florida teens who cause drunk driving accidents by serving alcohol to their teens may also be held partly liable. If parents serve alcohol to their teens, they may be held partly liable if their teens drive drunk. Even if parents keep alcohol in an open place and know their teens may be drinking, they may be held liable. As well, anyone hosting a party or event can be held partly liable if they serve alcohol to a minor who then causes a drunk driving accident after leaving the event.

The one exception to Florida’s drunk driving or dram shop law is liquor stores. Since liquor stores sell alcohol in closed containers, they do not face the same responsibilities and are not held by the same strict liability limitations as licensed establishments or party hosts. In most cases, although liquor stores are supposed to ask for ID and are supposed to refuse to sell alcohol to minors, they will not be held liable if a minor purchases alcohol and then causes a car accident after drinking that alcohol.

If you have sustained a serious injury in Florida that has been caused by a drunk teen driver, you need to hire a good Florida personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, in these cases, proving and establishing liability is challenging. Attorneys usually rely on video camera surveillance and bar transaction records to prove that a minor was served alcohol. Proving that a minor was served alcohol at a private party is even more challenging, which why attorneys often hire Florida private investigators to get to the bottom of these cases.

While many young Florida drivers are responsible and safe drivers, young drivers as a whole are more likely to make specific types of driving mistakes which can and do contribute to Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents:

1) Speeding. Car accidents involving young Florida drivers often include speeding. In 2005, a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that teen drivers tend to drive 1.3 mph than drivers of other age groups. Younger drivers sometimes feel invincible or lack the experience to keep track of their speed. As well, many drivers do not yet have the driving skills to deal with sudden obstacles at high speeds, making them more likely to be in a collision when they do exceed the speed limit.

2) Distracted driving. A 2007 survey by State Farm Insurance found that half of teen drivers admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving. A 2006 Virginia Tech survey found that distracted driving contributed to nearly 80% of traffic accidents. Other studies have concluded that texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.

3) Timid driving. While some young Florida drivers speed, others feel uncertain behind the wheel and drive too slowly or uncertainty. This, too, can lead to a car accident or bicycle accident. Going too slowly on exit ramps or highways or hesitating when changing lanes can slow down traffic and cause dangerous bottlenecks.

4) Risk-taking. Teen drivers will sometimes take risks – such as failing to slow down in bad weather or failing to check blind spots. Such risk-taking leads to Florida pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and other types of accidents. Studies conducted by Cornell and Stanford researchers have found that teen minds seem more predisposed to risk-taking and impulsive action.

5) Brining too many passengers. Your drivers will sometimes fill their cars to excess, something that the NIH has concluded can increase risk-taking and aggressive driving. The NIH has found that both male and female teen drivers are more likely to tailgate and speed when male passengers drive in the front seat. A 2000 Johns Hopkins University study found that 16-year-old drivers faced double the risk of a fatal car accident when driving with passengers. When the same drivers had three or more passengers, their risk of being in a fatal car accident tripled.

6) Drunk driving. Numerous studies have suggested that teens drink. Drinking and driving not only leads to poor motor skills, distraction, and accidents, but it can also cause teens to make poor choices behind the wheel. For example, studies have shown that teens who drink and drive are less likely to wear seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 74% of 15- to 20-year-olds killed in drunk driving accidents in 2003 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of their accident. When Florida teens do not wear their seat belts, any car accident is more likely to result in Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries.

The country as a whole has a graying population, but Florida is a popular retirement destination, which means that the state has an even larger proportion of elderly drivers. This has created some challenges on the roads, but Florida has implemented many strategies in recent years to help drivers of all ages drive safely with fewer car accidents:

1) Mandatory eye testing. In 2004, Florida created a mandatory vision screening program for elderly drivers. The program required drivers over the age of 80 to submit to mandatory eye testing and to pass basic vision testing in order to continue driving. According to a study published by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Florida law reduced fatal car accidents involving elderly drivers by 17%.

2) Improved road visibility. Since 1991, Florida has introduced a number of innovations to improve visibility on the roads. For example, state highway pavement stripes have been increased in size from 4 inches wide to 6 inches wide. Where middle-of-the-road reflective pavement markings were once 80 feet apart, they are now 40 feet apart. Florida has also increased more “advance” street signs (to give drivers more time to prepare for a turn) and has made street name signs larger.

3) More visible crosswalks. Since research has suggested that Florida pedestrian accidents are more common in cities with high percentages of elderly drivers, Florida has placed more “refuge islands” in the center of roadways and has included more high-visibility crosswalks to keep pedestrians safer and more visible.

4) Florida has created its own GrandDriver program. Based on the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators GrandDriver program, the Florida GrandDriver helps to educate and support elderly drivers who need to make adjustments to the way that they drive. The Florida GrandDriver program works with social workers, health care professionals, and senior organizations to raise awareness about the issues surrounding elderly driving decisions. The program also helps seniors find alternative means of transportation and helps them to make decisions about safe driving.

5) Improved public transit. Many cities across Florida have been offering public and alternative transportation to elderly drivers who can no longer drive safely and who need to give up their keys. Most cities offer easy-to-use public transit systems, senior discounts, and other incentives for the elderly.

A recent study released by researchers found that parents have a blind spot when it comes to their teen’s sexuality. That is, most parents are in deep denial about their teen’s activities, claiming that while other teens may be sexually active, their own children would never do that sort of thing. It would be interesting if researchers did some studies about the blind spots parents have when it comes to their teens’ driving. Researcher might reveal that parents might also be in denial about:

1) Teen driving ability. Driving ability among young drivers varies widely. While no one wants to think of their teen as a bad driver, the fact is that even after passing state licensing training and testing, some teen drivers are timid or distracted on the roads, making them a danger. The good news is that if parents notice poor driving skills early, extra training can quickly and easily help resolve the problem. Even additional practice can help make teens stronger drivers.

2) Teen susceptibility to peer pressure. Even when teens know the rules, friends may pressure them to bend or break the rules. In a car, this can be dangerous. Peer pressure can encourage a teen driver to text while driving, to drink and drive, or to speed and race – all dangerous activities that can easily lead to an accident, even if they don’t become habits. Parents who suspect that their teen is susceptible to peer pressure should have a “no friends or passengers in the car” rule in place for teen drivers.

3) Bad teen driving habits. Bad driving habits get created early. A teen can even learn bad habits from friends, driving instructors, or parents. However, following too closely, texting while driving, and other bad habits can easily cause an accident. The more a young driver indulges in bad habits, the higher the car collision risk. If you notice your teen driver developing bad habits, it may be time for additional training. If caught early, bad habits are easy to break.

4) Teen speeding. Some young drivers speed because of peer pressure while others simply do not see anything wrong with going fast. Other teens get into trouble because they have not learned to keep an eye on the odometer. In any event, young drivers may not have the defensive driving skills to avoid a collision while speeding. Worse, it can be hard for parents to tell if their teens frequently exceed posted speed limits – in most cases, speeding leaves no clues until it causes an accident.

5) Teen drinking. Most parents do not want to believe that their teens drink – and teens go to great lengths to hide their underage drinking. However, statistics show that teens drink heavily. According to statistics gathered by We Don't Serve Teens: A National Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking, 24% of high school seniors and 16% of sophomores report binge drinking. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that about 5,000 children under the age of 21 die annually due to underage drinking. According to FirstEagle.com, 70% of all teenaged children drink alcohol and about 60% of teen car accident fatalities are related to alcohol consumption. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four high school students admit to drinking alcohol and nearly three million Americans between the ages of 12 and 20 have an alcohol problem. The reality is that teens do drink – parents need to have a “call anytime, no questions asked” policy in place to ensure that teens do not get behind the wheel after drinking.

When driving around, we rarely consider thunderstorms as a risk factor for car accidents, but accidents do occur when summer thunderstorms roll in. Each year, about 212 people are killed in thunderstorms and many more suffer from serious injuries. Some of these injuries are a result of direct lighting strikes or flooding, but some are attributed to car accidents related to the storms.

One of the biggest problems with thunderstorms is that they can very quickly affect your visibility. When a thunderstorm comes, it can quickly create dark skies, so it is important to turn on your headlights at the first sign of darkness. However, blinding rain can be an even bigger problem. Many drivers do not pull over in heavy rain, but very heavy rain can make it impossible for you to see pedestrians, bicyclists, and even other cars – making the possibility of a pedestrian accident or car accident far more likely.

Another major risk factor with storms is lighting. Although your car is actually one of the safer places for you to be in the event of a thunderstorm, a strike of lighting may still strike your car. If it does, you will likely remain safe but you could temporarily lose control of your car, putting you at risk of an accident. You do not even have to be that close for lighting to strike; lighting can strike up to 10 miles from a rainfall area.

Flash flooding is another major risk during a thunderstorm. Heavy rains can cause dry creeks or rivers to suddenly overflow or can cause flooding on roads when sewers cannot handle the excess water. This can cause your brakes to malfunction or can cause your car to hydroplane. Flash floods can also cause mudslides and other serious hazards for the driver.

Distraction is another concern for drivers during a thunderstorm. Drivers may be anxious about the storm and may end up watching the skies more than the roads, which can lead to truck accidents, car accidents, and other types of collisions. The more severe the weather, the more likely drivers are to focus on the weather rather than on adjusting their driving for the weather conditions.

String winds can cause power lines, trees, and branches to suddenly fall into the road, creating multiple car collisions, damage to cars, and sudden obstacles. Drivers need to slow down and be prepared for the unexpected in a storm. If a storm has hurricane-strength winds, the car itself may be buffeted about or simply swept up in the storm.

Thunderstorms can also cause poor road conditions, which can be a danger to drivers. Excessive water can make the roads slippery. In some cases, thunderstorms come with hail or freezing rain, which can make the streets even more icy and treacherous.

The best solution during a thunderstorm is to monitor weather conditions carefully. If possible, avoid driving during or just before a thunderstorm, so that you are not trapped in your car during extreme weather. Before driving anywhere this summer, make sure that you have a roadside emergency kit in your car in case you are trapped in your car. If you must travel in bad weather or if you get caught in bad weather, listen to your car radio for weather updates. Try to pull over or stop over somewhere if the reports seem ominous. If the weather gets worse, pull over to the side of the road and seek shelter rather than attempting to drive through the storm.

In the summer, more animals tend to be killed on or near roads. As we develop land in what was once wildlife areas, more and more animals are displaced and are forced into areas that are shared with people. Unfortunately, animals do tend to panic around cars and run into traffic when scared, often causing car accidents. A larger animal can cause serous damage to your car in a collision and can even cause serious injuries such as head injuries, amputations, or spinal cord injuries. A smaller animal can cause multiple-car accidents and serious injuries as drivers swerve to avoid the animal. To avoid animal and car collisions, drivers need to:

1) Watch for signs indicating wildlife crossings. In many areas, road signs indicate locations where wild animals are most likely to appear. Slowing down in these areas is important, since speeding ensures you won’t be able to stop in time if you do see an animal on the road.

2) Use extra caution when driving near wooded areas and fields – even when no signs are present. Just because there are no signs indicating a wildlife or animal crossing, that does not mean that there is no chance of animals on the road. Any field or wooded area likely has a number of animals living there, so unless there is a tall fence around the area, scan the wooded area, field, or side of the road to anticipate any animals.

3) Keep an eye out at the car behind them. Keep an eye on your rear-view mirrors and get a sense of how close the car behind you is. If an animal darts out in front of you, this is vital information to know, as it will tell you whether you have enough space to stop suddenly. Since cars generally do stop suddenly to avoid animals, it is a good idea to stay well clear of other cars on the road – leave yourself enough space to stop suddenly if the car in front of you brake without warning.

4) Remember to look for pets. In residential areas, pets and raccoons are abundant in summer. Many people allow their pets to roam in the warmer months, and these animals may simply dart out between parked cars. Worse, small children will sometimes run out after a beloved pet. Slow down in residential areas and scan the sides of the road, especially in areas where parked cars mean reduced visibility.

5) Avoid driving late at night and early in the morning. Nocturnal animals and in fact most animals tend to be most active at these times, when human activity is minimal and when the temperature is cooler. If you must drive early in the morning or late at night, slow down and use extra caution. Adjust your driving to make up for your own fatigue and for the darkness.

In the summer, many families are more on the road than ever. Parents drive their children to summer camp, summer school, the mall, and summer sports activities. Plus, many families go out on family outings more often during the summer, take road trips, and visit friends. While the beautiful weather can make a drive more pleasant, all the added traffic on the roads is anything but safe. To get to your summer activities safely, make sure that you:

1) Don’t overbook yourself. Driving too much, too often can lead to driver fatigue, which is as risky as drunk driving, according to many experts. Share the responsibilities with a spouse or teenager or help your children find alternative ways to get to summer activities.

2) Rely on carpooling. Carpooling is a great way to prevent overbooking yourself and is much kinder on the environment. If your children have regular activities, you can probably make a carpool arrangement with other parents.

3) Get organized before you leave. Bring water, snacks, and entertainment in the car. Have a map (if you need one) ready. A few minutes of organization can help ensure a smooth car ride – whether you’re going to the cottage, summer camp, or on a summer trip.

4) Turn off distractions. Turn off your cell phone, mobile device, and any other distractions. If you are driving with children, have your children bring earphones so that they can listen to music or movies without distracting you. If you are traveling with a pet, keep the pet in a cage or small kennel to prevent the animal from getting into trouble – and distracting you from your driving.

5) Bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. Summer sun can be as much of a driving hazard as winter rain and snow. Sun can wreak havoc with your visibility and sunglasses as well as a hat can help you cut glare – especially if you also use your sun visor. As well, sunscreen can help prevent a painful burn, which could make driving uncomfortable. Bringing a bottle of water on trips is also a good idea, since dehydration can make you feel dizzy and sleepy, not alert and fit to drive.

6) Stop to look at sights. If you are taking a summer drive or want to take in a view, pull over first. During summer, there are more pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists on the road, making pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and bicycle accidents that much more likely. Driving while trying to look at a nice view increases the chances that you will be in an accident, so schedule frequent stops for breaks and for enjoyment.

During the summer, there are two additional hazards in the roads: more vehicles on the roads and more pedestrians. This creates the risk of car accidents and pedestrian accidents. Quite simply, once the weather gets nice, many people take the opportunity to go for a drive. Teens out of school for the summer take to the streets in their cars and many children are ferried to and from summer activities by busy parents. At the same time, children and entire families enjoy the beautiful weather on foot or bicycle, bicycling along streets or talking long, leisurely walks. Even with more vehicles and pedestrians, you can stay safe this summer. Start by:

1) Accounting for sun driving conditions. In the summer, you need to be aware of some weather conditions. For example, bright sunlight and glare can distract you and can blind you to obstacles on the road. Keep a spare set of sunglasses or clip-ons (if you wear glasses) in your glove compartment for bright days and make sure to use your visors as needed.

2) Keeping your cool. Warm weather can be its own distraction, and can even make you sleepy, which is a danger when you are driving. Getting dehydrated or overly warm can also cause heatstroke or sunstroke, two conditions which can leave you unable to drive and can even cause dizzy spells or fainting. When driving, use air conditioner or keep windows open. Use a cover, if you need it, to keep your steering wheel cool (so that you can grip it firmly and maintain good control of your vehicle). Finally, always have water on hand and keep yourself well hydrated by taking sips when you are pulled over.

3) Taking note of high-risk areas along your regular routes. Camp areas and parks with street parking can be dangerous areas, since children can dart out suddenly from these spots. Swimming pools and crossing areas for walking and biking trails are also spots where there are more pedestrians. Stay extra alert in these areas – young pedestrians may not look first before darting across a street. You can often prevent a bicycle accident or another collision just by knowing where to look twice.

4) Staying focused. Talking on your cell phone or texting while driving are very dangerous activities at any time of year. In the summer, however, when more children or pedestrians are around, distracted driving can even more easily become deadly.

5) Avoid drinking. By now, just about everyone knows that drunk driving accidents cause senseless deaths and injuries each year. However, people continue to drive drunk, and summer holidays are a time when many drunk driving accidents happen. There are more temptations in the summer – outdoor events with beer tents or barbeques where drinks are served. As well, hot weather and dehydration can mean that even one alcoholic drink makes you woozy and unfocused. It’s best to have a simple rule year-round when it comes to alcohol: don’t drive, even on just one drink.

Fatigued drivers are dangerous drivers. Drivers who are very tired have the same response rates as intoxicated drivers who cause drunk driving accidents. It is the responsibility of all driver to ensure that they are well-rested and alert. Simply drinking coffee will not help. Drivers need to be proactive in preventing accidents caused by fatigued driving.

Long trips are dangerous for driver fatigue, as they require long hours as well as many hours of concentrating on the road. To prevent fatigue on long trips, drivers need to plan ahead. Drivers need to allow themselves plenty of time to arrive at their destination. Drivers should also plan their breaks before they leave the house. Using the Internet, drivers should make a plan to stop at least every two hours and should locate rest stops on their route at which to take breaks. Planning breaks is as important as planning your trip, as it ensures that you will get regular breaks.

If you are going on a very long, overnight trip, you will need to do additional planning. Book a hotel or motel room so that you can get a good night’s rest. At the very least, identify motels where you might stay and determine check-in times. You will want to stop at a hotel or motel while you can still check in. For a very long trip, try to get a second driver if at all possible. An alternative driver will allow you to take more frequent breaks, which can prevent highway hypnosis and the fatigue caused simply by concentrating on driving for hours at a time. As well, traveling with a companion is simply more fun.

Another way drivers can prevent fatigued driving accidents is to simply change their own attitudes. Most drivers get into car accidents or caused fatigue-related pedestrian accidents because they simply do not stop driving when they become tired. They press on, believing that they can make it to their destination or the next rest stop. Unfortunately, this belief often leads to accidents. The best thing that drivers can do is notice signs of fatigue and pull over for a rest as soon as they notice these signs.

Trips in the early morning and late at night are especially risky. Since most people sleep during the late night and early morning, drivers are more likely to be fatigued and sleepy at these times, even with a nap or a sleep. Try to avoid driving late at night and early in the morning. If you do need to drive at these times, give yourself extra time to get to your destination. Also, avoid smoking, since it can affect night vision.

There are many environmental and secondary factors which can help prevent driver fatigue. For example, what you eat and drink before driving can affect your fatigue levels. Heavy, fatty, and sugary foods can make you feel more tired, which is why it is better to drink plenty of water and healthy meals before driving. Also, alcohol should be avoided entirely before driving. Even if you stay below the blood alcohol limit, even one drink of alcohol can make you sleepy and can make you a danger on the road. Another tip for drivers is to create alertness through environment. Using your air conditioner and bringing your seat to an upright position can help you stay more alert.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 100 000 reported car accidents involve driver fatigue or driver fatigue, and the NHTSA warns that many more unreported crashes and near-collisions may be caused by tired drivers behind the wheel. Fatigue-related car accidents result in 71, 000 personal injuries, 1,500 deaths, and $12.5 billion in damages each year, according to the NHTSA. Tired drivers are a common problem, and the problem is costing lives.

Farmers Insurance has reported that over 10% of drivers have fallen asleep while driving while another 20% of drivers polled admitted to dozing briefly while driving. Men between ages 55 to 64 are most likely to fall asleep at the wheel. The problem is compounded by the fact that it is hard to determine whether fatigue has caused an accident. Breathalyzer tests can determine whether an accident is a drunk driving accident, but no similar test exists for sleepy driving. After an accident, the signs of driver fatigue may be hard to detect and prove.

According to Farmers Insurance, part of the problem seems to be driver under-education as well as driver recklessness. According to a Farmers Insurance survey, 41.2% of drivers claim they have continued to drive even while feeling drowsy. In the survey, 59% of drivers claimed that they turned on the air conditioning or opened a window when sleepy to waken themselves. Another 57.7% of drivers listened to music to stay awake, while 46.3% stopped to drink or eat to revive themselves. 42.3% of drivers surveyed said they used caffeine to try to stay awake. The problem is that while drivers may think that such activities are helping them stay safe on the road, according to American Institute of Chartered Personal Casualty such tactics not been proven to prevent sleep or drowsing off.

Experts agree that the only proven way to deal with drowsiness is to pull over and stop driving. Letting someone else take over the driving (assuming they are more rested) is one solution. If there is no one else in the car, it is a good idea to pull over and take a 20-minute nap. However, after napping it is important not to keep driving. After a nap, experts advise that drivers drive to the nearest spot – such as a friend’s home or a motel – for a proper sleep. When drivers are so tired that they are unsafe behind the wheel, proper rest is the only safe antidote.

In some cases, drivers are tired because they have an underlying condition or are not getting enough rest at night. A doctor’s visit and more sleep can often help cure these problems. Drivers who are routinely tired behind the wheel should also speak to their pharmacists – a bevy of over the counter and prescription medications can create drowsiness and sleepiness. It is essential to never drive after taking such medication.

In some cases, drivers become fatigued after driving for long distances. On long road trips, it is essential to stop every night for a good rest. As well, it is important to plan ahead. Driver need to rest well every two hours on the road. In many cases, it is safer to have two or more drivers per car, so that drivers can take shifts. On long trips, it is also best to plan to drive during daylight hours. Late nights and early mornings are when most fatigue-related car accidents take place.

Collisions are not the only type of car accident which can cause injuries to children. In the summer, a car does not have to be in motion for a child to be seriously injured or killed. Each year, children die after being left in a hot car. In fact, since 1998, 454 children in the US have been killed after being left in a hot car. In some cases, children were left for only a short period of time while in other cases, children were left on relatively mild days.

The truth is that children should never be left alone in a car, especially in the summer. Parking in the shade, cracking open the window, or only leaving the child alone for a minute are not adequate excuses. Even in all these cases, children can be seriously injured, dehydrated, or even killed due to suffocation and hyperthermia. On a summer day, temperatures in a car can reach 120 to 140 degrees within minutes. Temperatures can soar that high even with a window rolled down a bit and even on a mild day. Temperatures of 120 to 140 degrees can easily lead to fever, seizures, heat stroke, severe dehydration, and death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety a locked car’s interior can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in three minutes and can reach 125 degrees in six minutes.

There are many ways to prevent these types of tragedies. The best solution is to simply take your child with you whenever you step out of the car, for even a moment. Many parents find it helpful to remove their child from the car first, whenever they step out of the car. This helps prevent any possible oversights. Pinning a reminder to the dashboard can also help. Parents, babysitters, child car providers, and day care workers should also communicate well about expectations regarding child safety and car safety. Proper communication can also help prevent the type of accident which occurs when a child is left in a hot car because one caregiver believes the child is with another caregiver.

While in many cases, misunderstandings between caretakers or a caregiver’s absentmindedness lead to a child being left behind in a car, some children suffocate in a hot car because they inadvertently climb into a car or car trunk without anyone realizing the danger. It is important to keep car doors and trunks securely closed at all times and to hide car keys in a safe location to prevent this sort of tragedy. Many newer models of cars have a trunk release mechanism to prevent children from being locked in the truck of a car. If your car does not have a trunk release mechanism, you can have one installed.

In addition to getting trapped inside cars, burn injuries are another common cause of car-related injury among children during the summer months. In hot weather, the plastic and metal on and in a car can get heated to very high temperatures. When a child’s small hands come into contact with these hot surfaces, burn injuries can happen. While these injuries are relatively minor in most cases, they can cause tears. Supervising children around cars and cooling down a car with air conditioning before allowing a child into the car can help. Some parents also put soft covers over handles and other exposed areas in the car in order to protect children’s hands.

Pedestrian accidents involving children are another common type of car-related injury involving children at this time of year. As more children are home from school, more children are outside, playing. Drivers, not used to additional children on the road, may be unprepared when children dart out between cars or when children play on streets. Careful supervision can help ensure that your children do not play where drivers drive. Also, children need to be reminded at the start of the summer about proper car safety and road safety.

Car accidents involving trains represent a huge mismatch in strength. While a car weighs only about 3000 pounds, a train usually weighs many hundreds of tons. Clearly, in a collision between the two, car passengers and drivers usually fare poorly. The sheer size and force of a train usually means that when a train accident occurs involving a car and train, fatalities and serious injuries are the most likely result.

Although car accidents are more common than car-truck accidents, drivers of passenger vehicles are 20 times more likely to die as a result of a train accident than a collision with another vehicle. The sheer size and force of trains simply makes them more deadly. Some trains weigh over 3, 000 tons while even an average smaller train will weigh 200 tons. The size of the train also makes collision avoidance difficult. A train going at a speed of 55 miles per hour will typically take a minimum of one mile to stop. When a car appears on the tracks, a train often cannot stop in time.

The US Department of Transportation reports that there are 5,800 train collisions involving cars each year. These accidents result in 2,300 serious injuries and about 600 fatalities each year. Most of the fatal accidents – more than half – take place at railway crossings that have no safety devices or that have too few such devices. This means that in more than 50% of cases, the railway company is at least partially liable for the accident by not taking correct safety measures. It also means, tragically, that more than 50% of these fatal accidents are quite preventable.

In about 75% of daylight train-car accidents, the accidents occur when the train strikes the car. In 50% of nighttime fatal incidents, the car collides with the train. In many accidents, train speed was a factor in collisions. Trains are supposed to slow down when making turns or when crossing intersections, but some train conductors speed through, increasing the odds of an accident.

There are several things drivers can do to help prevent train accidents involving cars. If you are a driver or pedestrian, report unsafe railway crossings. By federal law, railways are required to use flaggers and other safety devices to alert motorists and pedestrians of oncoming trains. If you notice an intersection without these features, write to your city hall or newspaper asking for changes. You could save a life. Also report unsafe track maintenance. Keep in mind that holes or damage around the tracks can cause a pedestrian, bicyclist, or even car to become stuck when trying to cross the tracks.

Of course, pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers need to use extra caution when driving through train tracks. Even when no lights are on, it makes sense to stop and look. If you see a train or train lights, wait to see whether the train is approaching. The lights or safety markers may not be working. Ensure that all is safe before attempting to cross the tracks.

Car accidents involving a bus are unique in many ways. Part of the uniqueness comes from the size and scope of a bus. Most buses move slowly and may make frequent stops. This can make accidents more likely in some cases. As well, the sheer size and power of a bus can cause serious damage in an accident. If a bus rear-ends a car, for example, the passengers in the car will likely sustain serious injuries.

Part of the challenge involving car and bus accidents is that passengers of buses usually do not wear seat belts. Passengers inside a bus usually do not have the option of wearing a seat belt, whether the bus is a school bus, tour bus, or public transit. In an accident involving a car, the bus driver may slam the breaks, swerve, or otherwise react, and this can cause passengers to be thrown from their seats. Passengers of buses are therefore vulnerable to brain injuries, broken bones, cuts and bruises, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries. Some of these passengers may seek legal action after a bus accident due to these injuries.

As well, part of the challenge involving car and bus accidents is that buses are often governed by specific regulations. In most cases, since buses are owned by the city public transit system or a private tour company, the accident must be thoroughly reported, even in the case of a minor fender bender. In most cases, a police report is filed and an investigation takes place, since buses are responsible for carrying passengers.

If you have been in an accident with a bus, you will of course need to call for help first, if anyone has been injured. Next, you will want to exchange information with the bus driver. In addition to the bus driver’s name, you will want the bus number, license plate, and any identifying information (such as a VIN number for the bus). If a tire defect or other mechanical defect has caused the accident, you will need to be clear as to exactly which bus was involved. You will also want to get the exact details – including name and contact information – concerning the carrier company or parent company responsible for the bus.

Due to the special challenges involving car and bus accidents, you will want to speak to a Florida personal injury attorney after an accidents involving a bus. Car accidents involving buses are complicated and can quickly become difficult. If a bus passenger was injured, for example, you may be considered as a liable party. If you have been injured in the accident, recovering a claim may be difficult in the case of a powerful tour company or public transit system. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help with these issues and can offer other legal guidance after the accident.

While all car accidents are devastating and have the potential to cause fatalities and injuries, perhaps no accidents are as tragic as those involving drunk driving accidents and children. Drunk driving accidents are completely preventable – all it takes to stop these accidents is for a driver to take an alternative route home rather than driving drunk. When drunk driving claim the lives of young children, it can seem devastating that one driver’s mistakes have cost a young person their future.

If you have children, you will of course want to ensure that they are never victimized by a drunk driver. While you cannot guarantee that your children will never be affected by a drunk driver, there are things you can do to cut the risk dramatically:

1) Have a “no questions asked” phone option for your children. Make sure that your children know that they can always phone you for a ride instead of getting in a car with a drunk driver or an unsafe driver. Teach your children that if they say they need a ride “no questions asked” you will be there and there will be no negative consequences for them – even if they have been drinking. Then, stick to your word. If they take advantage of your offer, praise them for their decision to ask for a ride.

2) Make it easy for children to call you or get help when they need it. This is one area where cell phones and mobile devices really come in handy – they allow your children to reach you anywhere. Also, make sure that your children have at least a few numbers to call for a “no questions asked” ride, so that if you are not available they can still get home safely. Another option is to have an area in your home for “cab money” – if your children need to take a cab home, they can access the money easily to pay the cab driver.

3) Make sure children understand what drunk driving is. Some children may not readily understand what drunk driving is. Explain that they should never drive with someone who has even had one drink. Discuss situations which they may face which may be challenging (for example, a situation in which someone in authority insists on driving them somewhere after drinking) and discuss what they can do in these situations.

4) Never drink and drive yourself. Children will notice when you do and will be less inclined to listen to what you say if your actions contradict your words. Set a good example and your children will be more likely to follow in your footsteps.

5) Show by your actions that you do not support drunk driving. When you have friends over, start serving non-alcoholic drinks early in the night, call cabs for anyone who has been drinking, and refuse to let drunk friends drive. This will show your children what to do when they are around people who have been drinking and will teach them habits that will keep them safe.

In car accidents, insurance companies are sometimes described as the enemy. Some patients, after sustaining a serious injury in a car accident, are upset to find that insurance companies refuse to pay out claims or offer very low claims which do not cover all the costs of injury-related costs. Some patients complain of insensitive insurance company representatives who pressure them into signing documents right in a hospital. Since insurance premiums are so high and since patients usually pay in a significant amount of money to their insurance companies, they are often irate when faced with challenges to their claims.

While many savvy patients eventually hire Florida personal injury attorneys in order to better manage their relationships with insurance companies after a car accident, insurance companies are not necessarily the bad guys. Insurance companies are in business, and good business sense simply means paying out the least amount that is considered fair in any car accident. Car accidents occur every few seconds in this country and if every burn injury patient, spinal cord injury patient and injury patient were automatically recovering the largest possible insurance claim amount, insurance premiums would be much higher and insurance company profit margins would be much smaller. It makes financial sense to an insurance company to offer the smaller fair claim amount in any given situation and keep premium costs competitive.

As well, much of the disagreement between insurance customers and insurance companies comes down to differing definitions. For a patient who has been in a car accident and has sustained a burn injury or other devastating injury, a “fair” claim amount is one that covers all possible medical costs and covers the best quality medical care. For an insurance company, however, in many cases a fair claim amount is one that matches a patient’s level of insurance coverage and one that covers only basic medical needs. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help insurance companies and car accident victims reach a claim or settlement amount which is mutually satisfactory to both parties.

Insurance companies also sometimes use what are seen as aggressive methods because insurance fraud is a serious problem across the industry. A few car accident patients who exaggerate their injuries cost insurance companies millions of dollars and insurance companies must then pass on these losses to customers in the form of higher premiums. The very real threat of insurance fraud also makes insurance companies automatically suspicious of many claims, which pushes insurance companies to carefully review, and in some cases investigate, insurance claims.

Of course, some insurance companies are not very reputable or ethical in their dealings. While many insurance companies do their best to maintain good profits for shareholders while also offering fair compensation to car accident victims, some companies do use unethical practices. Some companies make low-ball offers to car accident victims, knowing that the claim amounts will not cover even basic medical care. Some companies refuse claims without adequate reasons while some will pressure patients into signing away their rights to fairer settlements.

In most cases, however, insurance companies are not the bad guys. It is important to keep in mind, on the other hand, that insurance companies do not necessarily have your best interests in heart, either. Insurance companies are businesses and their main allegiance is to shareholders, who demand the highest profit margins possible. For this reason, it is important to consult with a qualified Florida personal injury attorney soon after your car accident. A good attorney can look after your best interests and your rights, ensuring that you get the best possible care and all the resources you qualify for under the law.

In many cases, if you sustain an injury in a car accident, you will make an insurance claim in order to recover medical costs as well as any damage to your car. In almost all cases, the insurance company will offer you a certain amount in exchange for your losses and injuries. In many cases, accident victims are eager to sign on the dotted line because car accidents and injuries can cause severe financial pressure. Patients face sudden medical bills, loss of income, car repair costs, and many other costs as well after an accident.

However, signing and accepting the first offer can cost you more in the long run.

Insurance companies are, above all, businesses. Their main interest is in making money, not in protecting your best interests. If an insurance company can offer you a smaller claim, this is infinitely better, from the company’s business perspective, than offering a larger claim. Many insurance companies offer claims based on formulas. These formulas may be outdated or may take into consideration only some of the costs of your injury.

When you accept an initial offer from an insurance company, you often lose the right to pursue further claims for more money if it transpires that the claim money does not pay for all the costs associated with your injury. You will be left to pay the added costs out of your own pocket, and these costs can end up costing you many thousands of dollars or even more. These costs can cause a significant financial burden for you.

Unfortunately, this unfortunate position is one in which many patients find themselves. After accepting an initial claim amount from an insurance provider, patients find that they need to find significantly larger amounts from their own savings in order to pay for the medical costs and related costs. For example, burn injury patients may be compensation for initial hospital stays but may not be compensated for cosmetic surgery, even though that surgery may be important in order to allow the patient to return to regular activities. In the case of a spinal cord injury, a patient may be compensated for initial recovery, medical, and rehabilitation costs, but may not be compensated for the cost of making a home accessible, to cite another example. In this instance, a patient may need to pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in order to enjoy a safe home.

The problems that patients encounter vary, but there are some things that patients can do to avoid financial problems due to their injury. One of the best solutions is to hire a personal injury attorney immediately after your car accident. A good Florida personal injury attorney is invaluable because he or she will review your insurance claim offer and advise you of your rights. Your attorney can also help you understand the possible long-term costs of your injury and can help negotiate with an insurance carrier on your behalf.

A car accident can cause serious injuries such as burn injuries or other painful conditions. While these injuries can cause severe pain and also upheaval in your personal life, most injuries will also place tremendous pressure on your finances. Unless you are independently wealthy or have substantial assets, you may worry about the costs of your medical treatment. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury or other permanent injury, you may worry about not being able to return to work. In addition, you may have to spend a great deal of money to renovate your home in order to make it accessible for you.

In many cases, insurance is designed to help you deal with the financial pressures of a car accident. Drivers are required to have a minimal amount of insurance and many drivers choose additional coverage as well, paying premiums faithfully. When a driver is injured, therefore, they assume that everything is taken care of and the insurance company that has been so handsomely paid will offer compensation for lost income and all medical costs.

Unfortunately, this does not often happen. Insurance companies generally have a formula for determining claim amounts, and in many cases this formula results in offers that will not pay for all the costs of your accident. If you have sustained a serious or permanent injury, in particular, the amount your insurance company offers will generally only pay for initial treatment and lost income. Quite simple, insurance companies are businesses and if they paid out the full claim amounts everyone is entitled to and covered all costs for all patients, they would make much smaller profits.

The financial pressures of serious personal injury as well as the financial pressures insurance companies face to offer you small insurance amounts is a great reason why you should call a Florida personal injury attorney immediately after your car accident. A good attorney can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, can accurately calculate how much your injury will cost you, and can aggressively pursue the full amount you are entitled to.

Even if you are able to secure a settlement, however, keep in mind that the period from your car accident to your actual payment can be long. Insurance companies will often resist attempts to pay out larger amounts and your case may go to court. Personal injury cases sometimes take years to work their way through the court system. During this time, you will still have to make payments on your home, car, and other financial obligations.

It can be challenging to wait. Some patients are able to work out repayment plans with hospitals and medical facilities. In some cases, hospitals are willing to wait for payment if they know a patient will likely receive a settlement. Some patients borrow money in order to survive financially until a settlement is reached in their case. Whatever your financial situation, getting a fair settlement for your case can improve your financial outlook after a car accident, and that means hiring a qualified attorney. As well, discussing your financial pressures with your attorney and developing a financial plan can help you survive financially until your case is settled.

If you have sustained a brain injury, burn injury, amputation, or other serious injury after a car accident, you may have contacted a Florida personal injury attorney in order to pursue a personal injury claim. However, even while filing a claim can be a positive first step, there are still certain challenges you may need to face while you recover and while you pursue your claim:

1) Emotional upheaval. After a car accident, you may feel anxious, upset, fearful, and even angry. Emotional upset after a car accident is quite normal, but it can get in the way, since you will need to focus on getting better and making sound decisions. If you find that your emotions are upsetting, last more than a few weeks, or get in the way of you making sound decisions, consider seeking therapy.

2) Complications associated with the recovery process. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury or another serious injury, you will of course hope that the recovery process is full and quick. However, in some cases, recovery is complicated by underlying conditions, infection, and other problems. The more serious the injury, in general, the greater the risk of possible complications. Delays in the recovery process can be terribly frustrating and can also increase medical costs.

3) Legal issues. Ideally, you would be able to make a fair claim for an amount to cover your injuries and receive this amount from insurance companies. In reality, however, this does not always happen. You may need to seek legal help from a Florida personal injury attorney to cover your full medical costs or you may need to seek help if you have been accused of causing the accident that has injured you. Legal issues can be very stressful, especially since many patients are not well-versed in legal terms and legal matters, making legal problems seem very intimidating. Working closely with a good Florida personal injury attorney can give you the legal help and support you need.

4) Financial problems. After a car accident, you may be unable to work, which can affect your income. Even if your workplace offers paid leave, your recovery may take longer than leave is offered, leaving you with no income. As well, your accident may leave you with substantial medical bills. A good Florida attorney is important to secure a fair settlement which will compensate you for your financial losses after your accident.

5) Investigations. After your car accident, your attorney may launch an investigation into your accident. Insurance companies may also launch their own investigations to determine the extent of your injuries. Some investigators for insurance companies may place you under surveillance or may questions friends and neighbors. For many people, these tactics are disturbing and troubling. A good attorney, however, can ensure that a thorough investigation reveals the true nature of the accident, which can help you in negotiations with the insurance provider.

If you have been in a car accident that has resulted in a fatality or a personal injury, one of the first calls you should make after your accident is to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. Many patients and car accident victims hesitate to make this call, incorrectly assuming that attorneys are expensive or unnecessary. In fact, attorneys offer many invaluable services, including:

1) Investigations. Most attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts as well as private investigators. They can examine all the possible contributing factors that lead to an accident. This is often the only accurate way to determine what has caused an accident. Determining accident cause is crucial, as some insurance providers may deny claims in some accidents, alleging that an accident victim caused a collision. If this is inaccurate, an attorney can find evidence to prove the true cause of the accident.

2) Evaluation of injuries. After an accident, filing an insurance claim involves placing a dollar value on the medical costs and income loss of any injury caused by an accident. This process, however, can be very challenging and often involves projecting or estimating reasonable expected costs. For example, a patient who has suffered a burn injury may need to file an insurance claim while still in the hospital. This means that the patient will need to predict the total costs of the medical care, rehabilitation, time away from work, and related costs of the injury. Good Florida personal injury attorneys have extensive experience evaluating injuries and their costs and can help you determine the value of your injuries fairly and accurately.

3) Negotiations. Personal injury attorneys can negotiate with insurance providers on your behalf. This is vital, because without attorney negotiations, insurance providers may try to offer a settlement amount which is well below what your medical costs and recovery costs will be. This can put you in debt or make it difficult for you to get the medical care you need to recover. With an attorney’s help, you will have a much better chance of getting a fair sum promptly.

4) Making safety changes. Even if you have never been in a car accident, you have likely felt the impact personal injury attorneys have on the car industry. When patients driving the same car are injured due to tire defects or other mechanical failures, attorneys pursue the manufacturers and retailers responsible and ensure that changes are made to the safety of the products. Often, legal actions started by attorneys result in unsafe cars being recalled or fixed by manufacturers who are pressured to make changes to improve safety.

5) Protecting your rights. It is easy to lose some of your rights after a car accident. Insurance companies may pressure you to sign agreements stating that an accident was your fault or agreements that lock you into low-ball settlement offers that do not cover your medical expenses. As well, many states have statutes of limitations, requiring you to file certain documents and claims by specific dates. Attorneys can advise you of your rights and options and can ensure that you do not sign away any rights.

6) Offering advice. Good Florida personal injury attorneys have dealt with many people who have sustained serious injuries in car accidents. They can often provide advice about specialists, hospitals, and resources that you can use on your road to recovery. Attorneys can also provide legal advice, of course, but they provide other types of advice. If you do secure a settlement, attorneys can tell you where you can visit for financial advice to protect your settlement money. If you are waiting for a settlement, attorneys can often provide advice about how to keep your finances current while you wait.

Car accidents are caused by many factors. Drunk driving, distracted driving, tire defects, product defects in the car’s mechanisms, the weather, and many other factors can lead to a collision. StudyAn Insurance company in the UK has carried out a survey which suggests an unusual cause of car accidents: love. According to the survey, about 2.5 million car collisions in the UK occur due to romantic arguments that fuel road rage.

The StudyAn Insurance company examined the driving habits of 1183 drivers and found that 19% of the drivers drove erratically after an argument with their romantic partners or spouses. Another 36% were unable to concentrate on the road as effectively after a romantic argument. Honey Langcaster-James, a psychologist discussing the survey in the media noted that it can take one hour for emotions to settle down after an intense argument with one’s partner. Obviously, getting behind the wheel during this time can pose dangers.

Of course, currently drivers who are in a car accident are not asked whether they have just had an argument with their partner, so it is difficult to say precisely what percentage of car crashes in the US can be attributable to romance-related road rage. However, driving experts have known for some time that strong emotions and upset can impact driving ability and concentration. Since we tend to invest a lot of emotion into arguments with a romantic partner, it is logical that these arguments would lead to especially intense emotional upset.

If you consider the last time you had a spat with a partner, you probably remember how terrible it felt. Intense upset can make us cry, tremble, and even get physically ill. During a heated argument and during intense emotions, our blood pressure temporarily increases. This can have a significant physical result. Emotional upset can make up hyperventilate and even lose consciousness. It makes it difficult to focus or articulate. It makes us ill in some cases. Obviously, driving in this state can be very dangerous.

In the StudyAn Insurance company survey, one out of 12 drivers surveyed admitted to having a car accident following a lover’s quarrel. One in three admitted to driving off after an argument. The survey found that drivers driving soon after an argument with a loved one were more likely to experience road rage. They were also more likely to speed, cut other motorists off, tailgate, and even steal parking spaces.

Psychologist Langcaster-James notes that drivers who are upset or angry following an emotional outburst – such as the outburst caused by an argument with a loved one – may need to release tension. In some cases, they may subconsciously choose to speed in order to achieve this. She also notes that drivers who are emotionally upset are very distracted and are therefore unable to safely focus on driving.

The media has been reporting heavily on driver distraction, amid growing debates about mobile device use by drivers. Many states have moved to ban hand-held cell phones and texting while driving and mounting social pressure has meant that drivers are becoming more aware about the dangers of using mobile devices while driving. The US National Safety Council has stated that drivers using cell phones may contribute to one-quarter of all car accidents. Distracted driving has been linked to bus accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and truck accidents as well.

However, according to U.S. Highway Safety Research Center, while about 80% of accidents are caused at least in part by driver distraction, mobile devices are in fact not the only cause of distraction. Other distractions that can cause traffic accidents include:

1) Distractions outside the vehicle. According to the U.S. Highway Safety Research Center, nearly one–third of accidents are attributable at least in part to drivers being distracted by something outside the car. These outside distractions can include other drivers, pedestrians, roadside accidents, billboards, animals on the road, and other objects that enter a driver’s field of vision and distract him or her.

2) Adjusting car instruments. Changing a CD, fiddling with an iPod, adjusting wipers, and otherwise making adjustments to the vehicle while driving contribute to at least 14% of accidents, according to the U.S. Highway Safety Research Center. All of these actions distract the driver and usually require the driver to remove their eyes from the road.

3) Animated conversations. Talking with others distracts a driver. Many drivers instinctively remove their eyes from the road to look at the person they are conversing to. Even drivers who are disciplined enough not to do this, however, may be distracted by the content of the conversation and not focusing on the road. In fact, critics of hand-held cell phone bans often point out that the danger with cell pones is not the devices themselves but rather the types of conversations people are having. Someone having a heated argument with a spouse on a hands-free cell phone is just as likely to be distracted as someone who is having a regular discussion on a hand-held cell phone.

4) Moving objects in the car. A bottle or something rattling about on the floor of the car is distracting to a driver, who may turn about instinctively to search for the source of the noise, taking their eyes off the road. A dropped object on the floor of the car can also be distracting and even dangerous if it becomes wedged under the gas or brake pedals. There’s another reason to pick up loose objects in the car and toss them in the trunk: any objects not secured can become airborne during an accident and can lead to serious head and brain injuries. Any pets in a car can also obviously be distracting and dangerous. Pets should always be secured in a kennel or cage when traveling.

5) Drinking or eating. Any personal activities such as eating, drinking, or applying makeup require you to take your eyes off the road. As well, accidents can occur if you spill something on yourself and instinctively react to that. With makeup, you can easily get some product in your eye and become temporarily blinded. Pull over to drink and eat and wait until your car is stopped to adjust makeup.

Researchers at General Motors Research Israel and Professor Shai Avidan of Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Engineering have been working to develop a rapid alarm system that could warn drivers of an impending car accident. If they are successful, they will develop a device that gives drivers advance notice of conditions that are leading to a car accident. The researchers hope that the alarm system will allow drivers the time to brace for a collision or take evasive last-moment maneuvers to avoid an accident.

Research has shown that drivers need only half of a second notice to prevent an accident. This is all the time needed for most drivers to swerve out of the way or slam on the brakes. Unfortunately, however, not all drivers perceive a danger in time to prevent a pedestrian accident or car accident. Researchers hope that the alarm system will provide this window of opportunity and therefore prevent more accidents.

In addition to preventing fatal car accidents, the alarm system might also help prevent some serious injuries. Passengers in a car heading for an accident could, even if unable to prevent the accident, brace for the collision and therefore protect their heads and vital organs, possibly preventing serious brain injuries and other injuries.

Avidan and other researchers are using advanced algorithms to develop the alarm systems, which would make use of cameras mounted on the cars. The cameras would capture road data while the algorithms would allow the vehicle’s system to effectively “detect” dangerous conditions that pose a risk of accidents. This system, researchers believe, would give drivers advance notice of possible risks, allowing them to drive more defensively or at least act quickly to minimize injuries.

Researchers, however, face a number of challenges with the alarm system. The alarm system, for example, must be able to differentiate people and actual threats on the road from other objects which might produce a “false alarm.” Since accidents occur in a moment, the system must also be very fast in order to alert driver of possible danger in time.

One part of the equation which might help make the system more effective is the camera. As computer vision technology and smart camera technology become more advanced, it is easier for cameras to capture and relay information more rapidly and more accuracy. Professor Avidan has already been part of the research team behind the development of the MobilEye smart camera system. The camera tracks and detects cameras in real time.

Many communities across the US are cracking down on unsafe driving with red light and traffic enforcement cameras. These cameras work in a very simple way: municipalities contract with a camera provider – Reflex is a popular provider – who installs and maintains the cameras. The cameras are installed at specific intersections, sometimes because certain roads are known for poor safety records.

The cameras work automatically, capturing everyone who runs a red light, speeds, or commits other common traffic violations within the camera’s view. When the camera detects someone running a red light, the system prints off a ticket and automatically mails it to the owner of the vehicle. The vehicle owner can then pay for the ticket.

Today’s traffic enforcement cameras are very sophisticated, capturing and confirming traffic violations in real-time. They are also smaller and less noticeable than cameras of years past. As well, today’s cameras can be designed to capture and ticket for a variety of traffic violations, including illegal turns, speeding, red light running, and even illegal parking in bus lanes. Some cameras are even designed to capture traffic violations at railway stops.

Municipalities and camera manufacturers claim that traffic enforcement cameras reduce the risk of traffic accidents and pedestrian accidents by enforcing traffic rules. Since many car accidents and truck accidents are caused by traffic violations such as speeding, these advocates argue, red light cameras reduce the risk of such accidents by giving drivers a strong economic motive to obey the law.

Critics of the traffic enforcement cameras, however, argue that camera technology can still mistakes. Indeed, a number of fined drivers have successfully argued the invalidity of their camera-issued tickets in court. Some critics of the cameras also argue that the cameras are little more than a cash-grab by communities, as communities profit from the paid tickets generated by the cameras.

Some traffic enforcement camera companies are creating safety programs as well as creating traffic camera systems. These broader safety programs aim to raise awareness about the dangers of traffic violations and improve driver education about accident prevention. Only time will really tell whether these programs have a long-term impact on reducing car accidents on our roads.

Car accidents cause many injuries and damages. Some – such as car damage or burn injuries – leave obvious clues. However, some are often overlooked:

1) Cosmetic surgery. Many accidents resulting from car accidents require cosmetic surgery. For example, burn injuries may result in extensive scarring that can only be fixed with multiple skin grafts. Brain injuries may require surgeries and other treatments that result in scarring and may require hair transplants or other non-essential treatments to hide scarring after the fact. It is important to seek insurance coverage for these procedures through a qualified attorney since most medical coverage does not cover these treatments. However, these cosmetic treatments may be vital to making a full emotional and physical recovery.

2) Slowly diagnosed problems. Some injuries sustained in a car accident only manifest symptoms slowly. For example, a patient who has sustained a brain injury in a car accident may not develop symptoms for hours after the accident. Someone who has sustained whiplash in an accident may also be slow to show symptoms. Whiplash is also difficult to diagnose with x-rays and other traditional diagnostic tools, making it harder to pinpoint.

3) Rehabilitation costs. Many types of car accidents require rehabilitation for extensive periods of time. Someone who has sustained a spinal cord injury, for example, may require years of rehabilitation to walk again. Someone who has sustained a serious burn injury may need months or years or rehabilitation and physiotherapy to regain full mobility. Some insurance providers underestimate the amount of rehabilitation needed for full recovery, which is why it is often very useful for patients to work with a good Florida personal injury attorney who can calculate the rehabilitation costs accurately.

4) Property damages. Most insurance providers will recompense an accident victim for the cost of the car damaged in a collision, but most people keep valuables in their car. Property damage may include digital cameras, mobile devices, clothing, work-related equipment, and even jewelry left in the car at the time of an accident.

5) Income loss. In addition to the initial time lost at work after an injury, many car accident victims need to lose additional time at work and therefore additional income for doctor’s appointments, appointments with an attorney, and other accident-related tasks. As well, some victims are not able to return to work until they have dealt with depression or other debilitation conditions after an accident.

SUV rollovers, truck rollovers, and bus rollovers are quite common due to the low center gravity on these larger vehicles. However, even traditional sedans and passenger vehicles can be subject to rollovers in extreme conditions. Stopping a car suddenly, for example, or going over an incline can cause a rollover. Surviving a car rollover involves minimizing possible head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other possible serious injuries while increasing your chances of survival. To do this:

1) Brace your body by placing your legs against the sheet metal behind the pedals of your vehicle. Press hard with your muscles, extending your legs as far as possible while pressing your back far into the seat. Tensing your body into the seat will help protect you for the impact. If you have time, grab the wheel tightly while pushing out with your arms. Keep your elbows tucked close to your body, and secure your neck and head by pushing it very far into the head rest. Your body is safest when it is pushed far into the seats.

2) If after the rollover your engine continues to run and your car has landed upright, try to move your car out of the way of traffic and call for assistance. This will be most common with passenger car. SUVs and buses are more likely to land on their roof, due to their low center of gravity.

3) If after the rollover your car is on its roof, turn off your engine. Many newer cars automatically stop fuel flow. Use your feet and hands to position yourself against the roof of your car before slowly removing your seat belt. You will have to be cautious about any airbags which may have deployed during the accident.

4) If your doors are in working condition, carefully exit the vehicle. If you cannot open your door, try crawling through a window. Try rolling down your window and if you cannot do so, break the glass on the passenger window and crawl through. Avoid trying to break the windshield glass. It is often too thick and secure to break by yourself. Once you are free of the vehicle, run away as quickly as you can. In the event of a fuel leak, the car could explode, leading to fatalities and burn injuries. Try to get everyone away from the car as well.

Of course, safety seat belts can help prevent fatalities. In rollovers, occupants who are without seat belts are often thrown from the vehicle, where they can sustain fatalities or serious injuries. Passengers who do wear seatbelts at the time of a rollover are most likely to sustain injuries to the arms and the head. Most head injuries occur when the passengers hit roof supports, which is why tensing the muscles against the car is so important. Injuries to the arms most often occur when the passengers’ arms are thrown out of the window by the force of the rollover. This too can be prevented by tensing the body against the car and pushing the body as far back into the seat as possible.

As the warm weather gets here, many more animals are to be expected on the roads. Larger animals may be emerging from hibernation, and small animals may be getting ready to start families, pushing them further and further onto roadways and into human areas to look for food and territory. Unfortunately, larger animals can cause serious damage to cars. They may also cause car accidents. Each year, many people are killed or sustain personal injuries in accidents with larger animals or are injured or killed when trying to swerve to avoid hitting small animals.

Since animals tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, it is a good idea to avoid driving at these times, especially if you are sleepy. If you need to drive, make sure that you use your high beam headlights in order to see as far as possible in suburban and rural areas. Often, animals are not clearly visible in the dark unless your headlights happen to hit their eyes, which are often luminescent. If you’re driving with someone, consider having one person stay on the lookout to alert you to any possible animals approaching the roadway. This can leave you free to focus on driving. If you are driving alone, slow down, especially when approaching wooded areas.

If you see a large animal, such as a deer, in your headlights, blow your horn with one long blast and brake firmly. The horn blast may frighten the deer or larger animal and cause it to run away. Avoid swerving, as you may hit the animal as it is trying to escape. If it is safe for you to do so, consider braking and honking until the animal leaves the road area. Be sure to stay alert as sometimes a larger animal is followed by its offspring.

If you see a small animal in the roadway, follow the same procedure. Brake firmly while blowing your horn. Avoid slamming on your brakes or swerving. Try to keep alert to any drivers or other cars around you. Stopping suddenly in a rural area with no other cars is much safer than trying to do the same thing on a busy suburban stretch with cars behind you.

If you do hit an animal, do not touch the animal. Move your car off the road, set hazard lights on, and call the police or local animal authorities. If you have hit a smaller animal and it is alive, you may want to contact a wilderness or animal shelter or veterinarian for assistance. If you have hit a small animal and have killed it, you may wish to call animal control. If it is someone’s pet, you may wish to pull your car off to the side of the road and visit nearby houses to identify its owner.

Your car’s brakes are one of the most basic ways of preventing an accident. Brakes allow you to stop suddenly in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian or an obstacle, and they can help you stop safely at intersections in order to prevent collisions and pedestrian accidents. When your brakes fail, therefore, it can be a terrifying moment. However, even if your brakes fail you can often help prevent an accident if you:

1) Pump your brakes. Pump your brakes vigorously, as this may build up pressure in the braking system which may allow your car to stop or even slow down. As you do this, you may wish to flash your lights or beep the horn to indicate that you are in distress and to alert other drivers as well as pedestrians that there is a problem.

2) Steer your car normally. Be careful not to overcorrect as you drive. It is common to panic when your brakes fail. If you have to turn, especially, you may panic. However, you can often turn even at a higher speed quite safely. Steer evenly, even if the rear of your car slips a little. You should still be able to make a safe turn.

3) Try shifting your car into a low gear. Gradually shift your car into the lowest gear possible. In some cases, this may allow the transmission and the engine to slow down your car.

4) Very slowly engage the emergency brake. Avoid engaging the brake too quickly, as this can cause your car to spin around as the rear wheels lock. Use a gentle, constant pressure. In many vehicles, the emergency brake is operated on a cable that will still work when other components of the braking system have failed. If you use the emergency brake in conjunction with a lower gear you may eventually be able to stop your vehicle.

5) If you need to stop suddenly and your brakes have failed, try engaging the emergency brake hard while also turning your wheel a quarter turn in whatever direction is safer. This maneuver will make your car spin but if you are heading downhill this maneuver may make you up hill, allowing your vehicle to stop safely.

6) Use a soft surface to stop. If you have a road all to yourself, you can move your car back and forth across the road. Swiping soft surfaces, rocks, or even guard rails on either side can reduce your speed, although you should only attempt this at slower speeds.

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Spinal cord injuries are a common result of car accidents and they can be among the most painful and devastating personal injuries caused by car accidents. Spinal cord injuries often leave victims unable to walk and unable to resume normal activities. They often require years of treatment and rehabilitation as well as getting used to life anew. Many injuries prove to be permanent, although new research and treatment is offering more options and fuller healing than ever before.

The spinal cord is a complex system of nerves, bones, and cartilage. A part of the nervous system and the largest nerve in the body, the spinal cord affects virtually every part of the body, which is why an acute spinal cord injury can affect many parts of the body. A healthy spinal cord has nerve fibers which carry messages all over the body from the brain. This is what allows us to move, walk, and feel sensory input from our body.

While a spinal cord injury can occur from illness, many such injuries are the result of car accidents, truck accidents, and other accidents. Usually, in these accidents, the spinal cord is pinched by the backbone as bones are crushed or ground together in a collision or accident. As a result, the spinal cord sustains injury and becomes swollen or bruised. In some cases, an accident is severe enough to tear or damage the nerve fibers or spinal cord directly. In either case, after an injury, all the spinal cord nerves below the damaged area cannot communicate effectively with the body. This can affect sensory perception, movement, and can cause paralysis. Usually, the nerves above the injury continue to function normally.

Since the spinal cord is so complex, the actual effects of an acute spinal cord injury can vary widely. The potential for recovery can also vary widely. Some patients never walk again while others regain their former lives after much work, treatment, and rehabilitation. Usually after an injury, a doctor can help determine the extent of the injury by determining mobility and by taking X-rays. A doctor usually takes a “pin prick” test to determine how much sensory acuity a patient has lost.

If you have been in a car accident and have sustained a serious personal injury such as a spinal cord injury, you will need to build a support team around yourself to heal more fully. There are many support groups for spinal cord patients and their families. These can be powerful resources for learning more about your injury and learning to cope with your injury. Working with qualified professionals and health care providers can also help you get the care you need.

As well, it is often important to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can investigate the accident that caused your illness. He or she can also protect your rights and ensure that you have access to all the resources you have access to under the law. An attorney can also ensure that you have the financial resources to seek the best possible medical help. In some cases, this can help you recover more fully.

If you have been accused of drunk driving or causing a car accident by driving drunk, you may be deeply frightened and upset. No one likes to be accused of something they did not do and DUI convictions can carry serious consequences, including fines, penalties, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. If you feel you have been accused unfairly, there are many things you can do:

1) Contact an attorney. Your first step should be to contact a qualified Florida attorney who can represent you and offer you advice about your situation. A good attorney can help represent you in court and can offer you information about your legal rights.

2) Have your sobriety tests investigated. In many states, field sobriety tests and mandatory. If you have taken such a test, you may want to have the results investigated. Studies have repeatedly shown that these tests have a high rate of error. As well, field sobriety tests rely very heavily on the experience and ability of the person administration the tests. If the tests are administered incorrectly, they will not yield accurate results. A good Florida attorney can investigate your field sobriety test for accuracy.

3) Have your blood alcohol screening tests investigated. Blood alcohol screening tests test blood alcohol levels (BACs) and these tests are generally mandatory. Although more accurate than field sobriety tests, blood alcohol screening tests have their own challenges. If the tests are not correctly maintained, administered, or calibrated, blood alcohol screening tests can also yield inaccurate results. Some drivers have been charged and even convicted of driving under the influence based on blood alcohol screening tests that were inaccurate, so it is a good idea to double-check these tests. A good attorney can check the accuracy of your blood alcohol screening tests.

4) Check your legal rights at the time of arrest. An officer cannot arrest you for DUI if you have been driving erratically or for other reasons. Field sobriety tests or BAC tests are usually used to determine probable cause. Go over the sequence of actions leading up to your arrest with an attorney. Your attorney can help you determine whether your rights were persevered at the time of arrest.

5) Move to protect your driving privileges. Speak with your attorney about preserving your driving privileges. You generally have only a short period of time to protect these rights and you will want to do so, especially if the case against you has no cause.

You probably don’t think of yourself as a “brand” but in some ways your reputation or your “brand” affect quite a great deal in your life. For example, if you have the reputation of being an excellent employee at work, that is part of your brand and it may help you land a promotion. You also likely have a brand online, based in part on your social networking activities and any websites you have.

If you have been in a car accident and are seeking legal action or a personal injury settlement after the accident, your brand may be very important. Your brand can help your attorney establish you as a reliable and honest person who has been injured in an accident. Your brand as an honest, responsible person can also make any testimony you give in a court carry more weight. In fact, your personal brand becomes very important in a personal injury case and you will want to take steps to protect that brand. There are many ways to do this:

1) Avoid social networking after your accident. If you have filed a claim after your accident, be careful about social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Several claimants have had problems in recent years due to their online activities. Always assume that all attorneys and members of the court can see your online pages. If you present yourself as a hard-working person who is distressed at not being able to work but your social networking sites show someone who loves to party and hates their job, this can make your case more challenging. Similarly, if you are injured but your Facebook page shows you at a party, this can affect your case.

2) Check friend social networking sites. Even if you are careful about social networking or have stopped your online activities entirely during your case, keep in mind that your contacts and friends may still have contact about you on their pages. You cannot control what others say about you on their pages, but do check the websites and social networking sites of friends and contacts. Where possible, ask friends and contacts to remove and content that can make you appear in a less-than-flattering light.

3) Speak to your attorney about any problems that may affect your brand or case. If you have been convicted of drunk driving in the past, or have other things in your history or current situation that can affect your case, talk to your Florida personal injury attorney. He or she can offer advice and help.

4) Consider your brand closely. Now that you understand how branding works, consider your brand carefully. When taking photos of your injury, for example, consider the background of your photo. Try to keep it as neutral as possible. Consider that even something very innocuous – such as a beer can in the background – can subtly affect your case.

Fatalities caused by car accidents sometimes lead to wrongful death lawsuits. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you may wonder whether you have a legal case for a wrongful death suit. This can be a very difficult decision, and unfortunately must often be made at a very emotional and challenging time. If you have lost a family member in a car accident, you may wish to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. An attorney can provide you with an overview of your rights and can offer advice based on your specific situations. Generally, however, you may have a wrongful death suit if:

1) The car accident lead directly to the death and was caused by someone’s actions. If a driver was driving drunk, ran a red light, or did something which caused the accident which directly caused the death, you may have a lawsuit. Your attorney, however, will have to prove that the driver’s actions lead to the accident.

2) The car accident lead directly to the death and was caused by negligence or by someone’s failure to act. If a driver fails to yield to a right of way, for example, or fails to check a blind spot and this leads to an accident that directly causes a death, this can often be used to initiate a wrongful death suit. However, negligence can be difficult to prove. It often takes a good attorney and a team of investigators to prove negligence.

3) The death affects you financially in a significant way. This is often the most difficult part of a wrongful death suit for a grieving family. Each fatality leads to severe loss, but wrongful death suits must place a financial value on the loss, and this can be very difficult. Often, wrongfully death claims can only be filed by immediate family and usually are only successful when the loved one contributed significantly to a household income. Fatalities of elderly persons and children often yield a smaller “value” in strictly financial terms than someone who was working at the time of the accident. In addition to the earning potential of the person who has passed away, funeral expenses, medical bills, and pain and suffering are also considered.

No money replaces a loved one, but wrongful death suits are often important in cases where a family suffers a financial loss as well as a personal loss. These cases are meant to help surviving family members. For example, if a main breadwinner is killed in an accident, a wrongful death suit can ensure that the surviving family has the financial resources to survive financially until new earning arrangements can be made. If parents are killed, surviving children can sue to ensure that they have the financial resources to grow and develop without want or poverty.

In addition to providing financial support to a grieving family, wrongful death suits often bring a sense of closure and hold someone who is negligent accountable for the personal injuries and losses caused by the accident. In some cases, such a lawsuit can also be effective if another personal injury case is not possible to recover for medical bills. If you are uncertain about your legal options, speak to a Florida personal injury attorney.

If you have been injured in a car on work hours, you may have a worker’s compensation claim. Many employers rely on employee driving skills to get work tasks done. Some employers even make company cars available for employees. Some employers also ask employees to use their own vehicles to complete company tasks. What happens when an employee is injured on the job while in a vehicle?

If you have sustained an injury as the result of a car accident involving a company vehicle, you will likely have access to a worker’s compensation. You may also want to contact a good Florida personal injury attorney to see whether you should file a legal claim. A good attorney can investigate the causes of an accident. If improper maintenance of the vehicle by your employer caused the accident, you may be eligible for additional money in a settlement.

If your employer has asked you to use your own car for a work-related task and you are in an accident while on your way to perform that task or returning from that task, you will need to speak to a good personal injury attorney. It will be more difficult in some ways for you to file a worker’s compensation claim in this case, since the vehicle is not used exclusively to work and since you cannot claim the employer was negligent in taking care of the vehicle. As well, insurance providers for your employer may argue that your claim is not valid because you were not in the place of work at the time of the injury. A good attorney can apprise you of your rights and can ensure that you receive any compensation you are entitled to.

If you are working and are in a car accident that causes personal injury or property damage to someone else, you will need a good attorney. Part of any resulting legal action may include an attempt to assign liability. You want an attorney to represent you to ensure that you do not end up being blamed for an accident which was not fully your fault.

Keep in mind that many things may have caused the accident, including driver errors, mechanical problems with the vehicle, road conditions, and other contributing factors. A good attorney can ensure a thorough investigation gets you the answers you need. After such an accident, you may also be temporarily unable to work. Again, a good lawyer can ensure that you are compensated for your lost income. Car accidents involving work-related tasks are often complication and may result in finger-pointing. However, working with a professional attorney ensures that your rights are safeguarded.

Any seasonal changes can result in more car accidents. There are many reasons for this:

1) Seasonal maintenance. Most cars require at least some maintenance after a long winter, but many drivers fail to do this. If it has been a while since your car has a tune up, now is the time to take your car to a mechanic and ensure that your vehicle is safe for the warmer months.

2) Changing weather conditions. Warmer weather can make it harder to concentrate and warmer weather also often brings rains, which can make winter roads slippery. Slow down and acclimatize yourself to changes in weather before charging ahead.

3) Different sun situations. The sun tends to be brighter at this time of year, and also produces more of a glare. You may find, for example, that the sun is right in your eyes when you drive home at this time of year. Blinding sun, however, can make it hard to see. Make sure you use your visor and carry a pair of sunglasses in your car for those bright days. As well, keep your windshield clean so that the glare is easier to handle.

4) Roadwork in the warmer weather. Warmer weather usually means construction work on the roads as well as the obvious signs of winter weather wear. It’s time to make sure you listen to weather reports before you leave the house and plan your route accordingly. Try to maintain your patience and drive extra cautiously around road work.

5) More pedestrians. Warm weather and spring usually means more strollers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, which can increase the chances of a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident. Continue to watch for pedestrians and bicycles. Consider glancing over maps for your most-frequented routes. Are there trails nearby or schools? Use extra caution around bicycle lanes, places where walking trails cross the road, and other dangerous areas.

6) New distractions. Each season has its distractions. In the winter, it’s holiday lights. In the fall, it’s beautiful leaves. In spring, flowers, gardens, and spring events can all pose a distraction on the road. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers, however. Keep your eyes on the road and your mind on the driving. If you are unable to do so, pull over.

Car accidents, truck accidents, and bus accidents often result in spinal cord injuries because the victim is trapped in an enclosed space while the vehicle is in a rapid motion. Even with a seatbelt, the head and neck area can be thrown forward and backward rapidly and the sheer impact of a vehicle colliding with a solid surface or another vehicle can cause permanent injury to the spinal cord.

Spinal cords injuries are an especially devastating injury. Often, they result not only in severe pain but in permanent loss of mobility. This can be overwhelming as it can affect a person’s career, social life, hobbies, income, and everyday life. Even every day tasks such as bathing can become very difficult for a spinal cord injury patient. In many cases, a long rehabilitation is needed as the patient strives to learn to live again with different abilities.

While in the past, many spinal cord patients had to rely mostly on simply re-learning to live life differently, treatment options are being developed at a rapid pace today. Many experimental treatments are now in clinical trial phases or will soon be in trail phases. Some of these treatments involve stem cells or other therapies and some are reportedly very promising. Often, patients are very eager to take part in clinical trials because they see these as a possible solution for their problem. However, patients who are considering clinical trials need to carefully consider their decisions.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury and are considering taking part in a trial for experimental treatments, carefully consider your limits and your goals. Many patients consider experimental treatments to be a solution, but this is not always the case. Experimental treatments are just that – experimental. This is no guarantee that they will work and most come with risks as well. In addition, most clinical trials have random blind testing, which means that some participants in clinical trials experience experimental treatments and some do not, to account for the placebo effects. Taking part in clinical trials, therefore, is no guarantee that you will be getting experimental treatments at all.

Keep in mind, too, that experimental treatments usually have a cost associated with them. You might need to travel to take part in a trial or you may need to answer extensive questions or undergo extensive tests. Consider what you are willing to do to get experimental treatments and what your goals are. Do you hope for a cure? Do you wish to help with research so that other patients may benefit? Would you be upset to learn that you were getting a placebo drug or treatment? Are your expectations of experimental treatments reasonable?

Keep in mind, too, that the dynamics with clinical trials are very different than the dynamics with traditional treatment. You may ask your doctor as many questions as you wish about your treatment, but in a clinical trial researchers are usually very closed-mouthed about the treatment and what exactly is going on. You may need to accept many question marks and unknowns in your treatment. This means that you will need to be emotionally very strong to take part in experimental treatments. You may need the support of family and friends and even a professional counselor while undergoing experimental treatments. In fact, you may wish to discuss your decision with a therapist or counselor as well as your family before you decide on experimental treatments. This can help you decide whether experimental treatments are right for you.

Car accidents frequently cause many serious personal injuries, but of these one of the most painful and difficult is often the burn injury. Burn injuries in a car accident often tend to be severe, because when these injuries do occur they tend to be caused by a high-temperature fuel-fed fire which can cause very serious injury. Burn injuries sustained in a car accident can sometimes cover a large part of the victim’s body.

When a car accident patient arrives in the emergency room with a burn injury, doctors and burn specialists will try to determine how deep and pervasive the injury is. Usually, when a burn covers a larger area, the center of the burned area will sustain the most damage and have the deepest burn. Burn specialists in the hospital will very quickly have to evaluate the severity and depth of the burn in order to determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Hospitals will need to determine whether a burn is affecting any internal organs or a patient’s airway. When a patient has experienced damage to the pulmonary system as a result of their burn and has heat exposure damage as well as smoke inhalation, the burn may prove fatal. However, there are several types of burns, each with their own challenges to physicians:

1) A superficial burn occurs when a burn causes injury to only the top layer of skin. This is the most mild form of burn and it can occur even with a sunburn. Usually, this type of burn injury takes about a week to heal and there is usually minimal or no scarring at all. This type of burn usually heals quite well because only the top, thin layer of skin is affected and the body usually replaces this layer regularly anyway.

2) A partial thickness or dermal injury occurs when burn damage penetrates to the second layer of skin, which is called the dermis. This type of burn injury usually requires scarring. More severe burn injuries affecting the dermis may require skin grafts.

3) A full thickness injury occurs when a burn injury affects the subcutaneous tissue or third layer of the skin. This burn injury is more severe because this layer includes fat. In this injury, three layers of skin are damaged, along with sweat glands, hair follicles, and areas where new skin cells are made. For this reason, these burns will not heal on their own without severe scarring. These burns can be quite painful and usually require extensive care as well as skin grafts. Complications such as infections are more common with these burns.

4) A full thickness burn with injury to the underlying muscle occurs when burns injure the muscle and tissues under the skin layer. These types of burn injuries can penetrate very deep and affect ligaments and even organs. For this reason, they can often pose a threat to a patient’s life. They usually require critical care, surgical procedures, rehabilitation, and repeat plastic surgeries during the recovery process. These injuries are most likely to result on complications, loss of mobility, and chronic pain.

Neck injuries are one of the most common and challenging personal injuries to result from car accidents. Car accident survivors are very susceptible to neck injuries because those passengers wearing seatbelts have their bodies secured. In a collision, the head and neck are in violent motion while the body is restrained. Even where an airbag is present, the head can be pushed forward into the airbag with great force, making passengers vulnerable to neck injury.

The neck is a crucial and complex part of the body. Doctors and surgeons have limited access to much of the neck area, so many neck injuries tend to be permanent or complex. As well, since the neck area is constantly moving and supporting the head, any injury to this area can be extremely severe. In the most extreme injuries, neck injuries lead to fatalities. Survivors of such injuries often have severe, permanent injuries.

The most common types of neck injuries arising from car accidents include:

1) Pinched nerves. Nerves can become pinched due to broken bones or ruptured disks. When damage to the nerves occurs, the result is usually extreme pain. Also, many nerves in the neck area tend to be linked to the spinal cord and arms. This means that patients with pinched nerves sometimes find that an arm is in extreme pain or experiences numbness or weakness due to a neck injury. Pinched nerves also inhibit mobility due to the pain they cause.

2) Neck sprain. Ligaments connect the bones in the neck. When these ligaments tear, stretch, or otherwise are damaged, the result is a neck sprain. Neck sprains result in severe pain as well as stiffness in the neck area which can extend into the back as well.

3) Herniated discs in the neck. The vertebrae in the neck are protected by soft tissue, which also protects the discs in the neck. When the tissue is damaged or torn, part of the disc the tissue is meant to protect protrudes into the spinal column, putting pressure on muscles and nerves. A herniated disc results in extreme pain. Most people with a herniated disc experience stiffness and difficulty with regular motion.

Of all the possible personal injuries it is possible to sustain in a car accident, the possibility of a broken bone may initially not seem so bad. After all, many car accidents cause permanent injuries such as brain injuries or even fatalities. However, broken bones can be serious. In some cases, they can lead to a permanent lack of mobility or even death.

Bone fractures and broken bones are among the most common injuries experienced by car accident victims. In a car collision, passengers of a car can be thrown about quite violently inside the interior of the car. If the passenger comes into contact with a solid surface – such as a dashboard, this impact can cause a bone to break. As well, if part of the car is crushed in a trucking accident or serious car accident, a passenger may fracture a bone if part of their body becomes trapped in the crushed part of the vehicle, where a great deal of force is exerted.

The most common types of bone fractures experienced in car accidents include:

1) Broken necks. The neck is vulnerable in a car accident because the head is often whipped around by the impact of the collision. While other parts of the body may be protected if a passenger is wearing a seat belt, the head can still move more. Air bags can help reduce the risk, but the force of having one’s head whipped around can cause a broken neck. This sort of broken bone is the most serious. It can cause fatalities or permanent injury and paralysis. If the head is thrown about, brain injury as well as neck injury can also result.

2) Broken jawbones. Again, because the head is not as secured as the rest of the body, bones in the head area are especially vulnerable in a car accident. Passengers in the front seat are especially vulnerable, since the passenger can be forcefully pushed against the hard dashboard surface in an accident, especially in cases where the airbag fails to inflate.

3) Broken limbs. Broken limbs are among the most common broken bones in an accident. This is because arms can be in motion while a car is in motion. If someone is doing something with their hands, their hands may fly up in an accident and a fracture can take place. If a passenger has their arm outside of a window at the time of impact, amputation or fracture are very likely. As well, passengers tend to instructively throw their arms in front of their faces at the moment of impact. While this protects the head, it can also lead to broken bones along the arm area. Broken legs are also quite common for passengers in the front seat because legs are under the dashboard, which is a very vulnerable area in a car accident, especially in some smaller economy cars.

In the most severe cases, broken bones can kill and paralyze. However, even car accident survivors who sustain only a broken arm or leg may experience severe discomfort and lost income due to their injury.

Knees are a major part of our mobility, yet they are one of the most common areas of the body to sustain personal injury in a car accident. This is because in a collision, passengers and drivers are often thrown forward, crashing knees against the dashboard or the seat in front of them. Knee injuries are often very painful and require extensive treatment. The most common knee injuries sustained in car accidents include:

1) The ACL tear. The ACL is the ligament holding the knee joint in place. It is located closest to the joint. This type of personal injury requires a long recovery time and long-term pain. Some patients do not initially know they have sustained a knee injury when they have an ACL tear, because this injury does not present a lot of initial pain. The ACL tear is one of the more severe knee injuries one can sustain in a car accident.

2) The PCL tear. The PCL ligament is located towards the back of the knee. The PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) helps to maintain a knee’s stability and when injured in an accident the result is swelling and pain. Patients with this type of injury require long-term treatment and may have trouble walking for an extended period of time.

3) Torn meniscus. This injury essentially refers to a torn cartilage. Cartilage is a softer type of substance which is linked to the ligaments and helps to prevent friction in the knee joint. When the cartilage tears in an accident, patients may not be able to move easily, their knee joint may pop or snap, and they may suffer from pain.

4) The MCL (medial collateral ligament) tear – The MCL ligament helps promote the flexibility of the knee. When it is torn or damaged in an accident, a patient may feel a great deal of pain. A patient with a torn MCL will also generally have trouble walking and trouble with everyday activities.

Knee injuries are a difficult personal injury to experience because patients with these types of injuries often have trouble with basic mobility for extended periods of time. In car accidents, as well, it is common for multiple ligaments to tear, and this of course delays the recovery proves. Many patients who have sustained knee injuries in a car accident require multiple surgeries and physiotherapy.

Car accidents often result in spinal cord injuries. Pedestrian accidents and other accidents also often result in this injury, which can affect your mobility and therefore your ability to drive. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, you will want to take these steps before getting back behind the wheel:

1) Have a professional evaluate your ability to drive. There are driving instructors, doctors, and occupational therapists who can evaluate your vision, strength, movement, and reaction time to determine whether you can safely drive after your accident. These professionals may give you the go-ahead to drive or may suggest specific therapies or other suggestions to make you capable of driving.

2) Learn to drive a vehicle with the equipment you need. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, you may need special adaptive equipment in a car to drive safely again. You will need to train yourself to drive in this type of equipped vehicle. Rehabilitation centers offer special rehabilitation classes that can teach you this skill.

3) Get your car ready. After a spinal cord injury, you may need to equip your car with special equipment that will make it easier for you to reach controls, get in and out of the car, see the road, and buckle up. Your car may be specially adapted or you may want to buy a car with lowered floors, higher roof, and other special features. Your specific injuries will determine what changes – if any – you need to make. Speak with your doctor and physical therapist about the changes you will need to make. However, make as few changes as you need to. It will be easier to adapt to a car with fewer alterations.

4) Get your licensing ready. If you have sustained a serious spinal cord injury, you may need a note from your doctor or retesting. You may also need license plates that allow you to park in special blue zones to make it easier for you to get to your destination.

5) Get your insurance ready. As a result of your injury, your insurance coverage may have changed. You may need to pay different premiums. You may also need more coverage, as your car may cost more to replace with the new adaptive equipment.

After a car accident that has resulted in personal injury or damage to property, you will need to deal with car insurance. While you may be considering the other driver’s car insurance, remember to also look at your insurance provider. Your insurance carrier may also provide coverage that is important to you. Here are the types of coverage which can be important after an accident:

1) Medical Coverage. If you have this coverage, the medical bills of yourself and some of your passengers may be covered. This is very important if you have sustained head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or other injuries as a result of the crash. This coverage is often for $1,000 to $2,000. However, you may be covered for a different amount, depending on your coverage.

2) Property damage. If you have this type of insurance, your insurance company will pay for repairs to your car, as long as your car can still be repaired. Some insurance providers also offer a rental car while your car is in the shop.

3) Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Underinsured Motorist Coverage. If you are in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or very little insurance, having this type of coverage is important. It ensures that you are covered for a specific amount for your injury and property damage.

4) Health Coverage. In addition to your car insurance, do not forget to take a look at your health insurance. You may be able to use this insurance to pay for medical costs. If you do not have health coverage or do not have adequate health coverage, you will want to hire a good Florida personal injury attorney if you have sustained an injury. Your attorney can seek out a settlement for you in the event that someone’s negligence or recklessness has caused the crash. Your attorney can also send a “letter of protection” to doctors and clinics, assuring them that medical costs will be paid after your settlement. This letter will ensure your credit rating does not suffer.

5) Compensation for Lost Wages, Pain and Suffering, Medical Bills, Mental Anguish, Disfiguring Scars and Permanent Physical Injury. Most insurance companies cover for these losses. If you have sustained a serious injury, such as a burn injury or spinal cord injury, you will want to seek compensation for these items. However, you will need to ensure that these losses are well documented. Visiting a doctor regularly and keeping evidence of your injuries in the form of photos and journals can be useful.

The National Safety Council reports that in any given year, one in eight drivers will be in a car accident and will need to file an insurance claim. Over the course of fifteen years, the average driver is very likely to be in a car accident. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, the average driver has a 99.3% chance of being in an accident during a fifteen year period.

Many drivers feel that they are adequately covered by the car insurance that they spend considerable amounts of money on, but this is not always the case. Not every driver on the road is adequately insured, so you may have a hard time making a claim against another driver. Even your own insurance company can beset you with questions and forms to ensure that you are honest in your claim. Here are some tips for making your claim process easier:

1) Have the right insurance. Go over your insurance regularly and know what is covered and what is not covered. Make sure that you have adequate insurance in the event that you are in an accident.

2) If you are in an accident, start gathering information as soon as you can. Always exchange insurance information, names, license plate numbers, contact information, and more. Take photos at the scene if at all possible, and keep a journal of any personal injuries or expenses you incur as a result of the accident.

3) Contact your insurance company right away. File a claim as soon as you can after an accident. Cooperate with the insurance provider and keep lines of communication open so that you understand how your claim is progressing. If you need help filling out forms, ask for it. Insurance forms are sometimes rather complex.

4) Hire a good Florida personal injury attorney if an accident has resulted in a serious personal injury or a fatality. You will likely need some legal advice and help. If you have been the victim of a loss or injury, you will need a good negotiator on your side to ensure that you get all the resources you need to handle your injury. Many insurance carriers only recompense you for immediate medical costs and income loss, but your injury may cost you a great deal over time. A good attorney can determine the total costs of your injury and negotiate to ensure that as much of these costs are covered as possible.

Highway departments across North America have been using an optical illusion to help prevent speeding and the accidents that it can cause. Optical speed bars use painted dividing bars to trick drivers into slowing down. Designers of the bars use specific distance between dividing bars to make drivers slow down. Designers slowly make the distance of stripes smaller over a specific distance. This makes drivers instinctively slow down, according to research.

Across North America, optical speed bars are used on construction zones and other areas where slow speed is vital for safety. The bars work by making drivers more conscious of their speed, even if the drivers do not glance at their speedometer. The way the brain processes the bars makes the driver think they are going faster than they actually are, which actually encourages the driver to drive slower than they intend to.

The optical speed bars work by making drivers feel that the painted yellow highway dividers are whooshing past at a faster rate. This illusion seems to work at slowing drivers down, according to research studies. Researchers have found that on highways, in rural areas, and around construction sites, optical speed bars do seem to reduce driver speed.

One study at the University of Kansas found that drivers reduced speeds by up to 29.8% when driving by optical speed bars. Researchers found that optical speed bars yield the most significant results on the morning drive 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. This may be because drivers are more tired and more receptive to the illusion at this time. Further, studies have found that drivers maintained a lower speed even after leaving optical speed bar areas.

Some municipalities are adding optical speed bars to areas where a high incident rate has occurred. Others are adding them on curved roads or high speed limit areas, where driving conditions are more dangerous. They are also very common in construction areas, where despite posted speed limits, some drivers tend to drive too fast for safety. Hopefully, these optical illusions will help prevent accidents and the personal injuries they cause. Currently, there is no research as to whether these bars prevent pedestrian accidents or bicycle accidents, but slowing down drivers is of course key to preventing most types of accidents involving vehicles.

According to many experts, the most common driving mistakes which cause car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and personal injuries are in fact habits. Drivers learn a few mistakes and after a while do not even notice that they make these mistakes behind the wheel. Check to see whether you are guilty of any of these bad habits:

1) Bad mirror adjustments. Most drivers position their side mirrors so that they can see part of their own car and some of the area behind their vehicle. It is actually far more effective to position your mirrors so that you can’t see your car at all. You don’t need to see your car door and by angling a little wider you will decrease your blind spots.

2) Not idling. We all know that idling is bad, but turbochargers require some idling to ensure that oil can flow through them correctly and protect the metal. Idling for a few seconds after starting the car and after each drive can extend the life of your turbocharger.

3) Using the brakes too often. Constantly pressing down the brakes confuses drivers behind you and wears down your brakes. If you are heavy on brakes because you are a nervous driver, consider additional training or racing classes to get more comfortable behind the wheel.

4) Not using headlights correctly. At night, make sure you have your night lights on, not your daytime lights. You need the extra light to ensure that drivers can see you. At the same time, don’t drive around with high beams on unless you actually need them. Head beams can blind oncoming drivers and cause accidents. Keep in mind, too, that in some weather conditions – such as rain and fog – high beams can actually decrease your visibility.

5) Not speeding up in the passing lane. If you’re going to pass a car, you will need to enter the passing lane. Once there, though, you will need to speed up a little bit in order to pass the vehicles you wish to pass. Puttering along in this lane can cause other drivers to tailgate or drive aggressively. If you don’t want to speed up, do not pass.

6) Incorrect turning. When turning, make sure you put on your signal and make a turn in your own lane. Do not drift into another lane or change direction. This sort of incorrect turn could lead to an accident.

Some national research studies have found that drivers who text and drive are 23 times as likely to be in a car accident. With studies like these and safety experts increasingly speaking out against distracted drivers, many legislators are taking note. Chuck Schumer, a Democratic Senator, introduced a bill which would require states to ban texting while driving in order to qualify for federal highway funds. Senator Jay Rockefeller has introduced a bill which would offer grants to states which did ban texting and driving.

Even President Barack Obama has aimed to reduce texting and driving. During a conference about distracted driving last fall, he signed an executive order which bans federal employees from texting while driving. While that takes care of some government employees, however, in many states, drivers can legally text and drive. This is despite the fact that research has shown that texting and driving can lead to serious car accidents and personal injuries.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has stated that texting and driving bans should apply not only to car drivers but also to bus drivers and truck drivers, who can cause serious bus accidents and trucking accidents by texting while driving. LaHood noted that for texting and driving bans for bus and truck drivers to be effective, they would need to work across state lines, since these drivers tend to drive across states often.

However, the government may need to face the fact that legislation alone might not work. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study which concluded that texting while driving and cell phone use actually slightly increased after these activities were banned among younger drivers. Although Phoenix banned texting and driving, a Reuters study in that city found that three out of four teens polled admitted to texting while driving. Clearly, any legislation will need to be followed up with enforcement and penalties. Most teens do not see texting while driving as something bad or wrong. Yet, many do see texting as a vital activity.

Legislators may need to ensure that penalties for texting while driving are high, in order to discourage drivers from texting while driving. Studies of teen habits also suggest that enforcement may be an issue. Unfortunately, many police agencies note that catching drivers who break such legislation is difficult. Most texters keep mobile devices on their laps or out of the way of windows, so that it is hard for officers to see texting on the roads. In addition to legislation, other types of initiatives may be important to stop texting and driving.

This week, The Oprah Winfrey Show has broadcast a show about distracted driving, taking an aim at texting and driving specifically. Advocates are cheering the move, saying that the talk show host has such a key influence on people that more drivers may sit up and notice that texting while driving is dangerous. The show is asking people to take a pledge not to text or talk on their cell phones while driving. More importantly, say advocates, Oprah Winfrey’s considerable influence may make texting and driving seem socially unacceptable. The show even features t-shirts which feature the slogan “Don’t Tempt F8, That Txt Can W8.”

The show on distracted driving takes aim at distracted driving specifically caused by mobile devices – Winfrey addresses emailing, texting, and cell phone use behind the wheel. During the show, Winfrey speaks with several guests who have lost loved ones due to a distracted move. The guests offer a face to the losses associated with distracted driving.

Winfrey backs up her claims in the show with specific facts. She notes that 71% of drivers between 18 and 49 years of age admit to talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. She notes that such behaviors cause 6000 deaths and half a million personal injuries each year – statistics she notes will increase unless people put away mobile devices when getting into their cars. At one point, an expert notes that drivers who are talking on a cell phone are four times more likely to be in an accident than non-distracted drivers – the same accident rate as drunk drivers. Drivers who text while driving are eight times more likely to be in a car accident than non-distracted drivers, according to the show.

Winfrey calls distracted driving a “deadly habit” and notes that her interest in the issue increased when she read a number of articles in the newspaper about distracted drivers who caused serious car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bus accidents, and trucking accidents. Winfrey praises Utah’s tough distracted driving laws at one point during her show and interviews Reggie Shaw, a young man who killed two people a few years ago when he was texting and driving. Shaw admitted to texting and driving frequently while behind the wheel and notes that many of his friends do the same thing. The families of his two victims -- Keith O'Dell and Jim Furfaro – worked to change distracted driving laws in Utah and Reggie himself has spoken out against distracted driving.

At one point during the show, Oprah Winfrey speaks to a specialist who notes that distracted driving is dangerous because the brain cannot process texts or cell phone calls as well as the information being seen visually through a windshield. Distracted drivers see only part of the information before them. Their brains effectively don’t notice some items on the street in front of them – such as other cars or pedestrians – since their brains are too busy processing incoming information from a mobile device.

The show even showed what happens during texting and driving. The show invited three guests to take part in a driving test. Each driver felt confident about their abilities to drive and text at the same time. After taking a driving test while texting, all three guests could see that they could not drive safely. This allowed Oprah Winfrey to note one of the key problems with texting and driving: many people genuinely believe that they can do both but in fact no one can do both successfully.

According to a UK research study conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and the RAC Foundation, texting is as deadly as drunk driving, and the startling results are just as applicable in the US as in the UK. The study had 17-24 year old drivers read, write, and ignore text messages while driving a driving simulator. Researchers concluded that the response times of test subjects decreased by 35% when distracted by a cell phone or mobile device. In comparison, response times decreased 12% when test subjects were drinking to the legal level allowed for their blood alcohol limit. Test subjects who were driving under the influence of marijuana had response times slowed 21%

The study found that distracted driving affected more than just response times. Test subjects distracted by a mobile device also had steering control reduced by 91%. As a result, many test subjects had trouble remaining in their lane while texting. Researchers also found that drivers distracted by texting followed too close behind the car in front of them, further increasing the risk of an accident.

Interestingly, all the test subjects in the study believed that they could text quickly and effectively, even while driving. All were experienced with texting. Despite this, it took them three times longer to compose and send a text message while driving. Researchers found that texters who think they are distracted for only a few seconds while driving in fact underestimate the amount of time it takes them to compose a text message on the road. In fact, researchers found that drivers sending just one text message were distracted for over half a mile or one full mile on the highway.

If this study is worrying on its own, research in the US is even more troubling. Accroding to US researchers, teens often text while driving, even though they know it is dangerous. Most teens polled also admit to breaking current text bans while driving and claim they would continue texting and driving, even if federal legislation makes it illegal to text message while driving in any state. Many teens claim that they are too dependent on text messaging to give it up, even while driving.

Police agencies also note that catching people who are texting while driving is difficult. The California Highway Patrol, for example, has issued 163,000 tickets since 2008 to people who are talking on cell phones while driving. However, only 1,400 texting tickets have been issued. Considering there are 23 million drivers in the state, this means that many people are texting, driving – and getting away with it. Police note that cell phones are easier to spot since drivers hold the devices up to their ears. Drivers often hold devices behind the dash or on their laps when texting, making texting drivers hard to spot. Currently, 20 states ban texting and driving. Nine states ban texting and driving only for young drivers.

No experts claim that text messaging while driving is not dangerous. However, getting drivers to listen is another matter. Police agencies believe that passing new laws alone won’t help. Like many experts, they believe that a change of perspective needs to happen. Drivers need to start seeing texting as dangerous and socially unacceptable.

When a car accident takes place, the risk of secondary car accidents increases. These types of accidents occur when distracted drivers collide with cars that have been in an accident. These accidents can also take place when cars collide because drivers are too busy looking at the accident to focus on the road. While many secondary accidents are fender-benders, they can still lead to serious injuries, including broken bones and head injuries.

A campaign in Florida known as the Move it…Yes You Can Campaign aims to reduce the number of secondary accidents. This campaign specifically aims to convince drivers who have been in an accident to move the vehicle. About half of traffic congestion is due to car accidents and Florida state laws in fact require drivers who are involved in minor accidents with no injuries to make reasonable efforts to move their vehicles so that the cars involved in an accident will not cause other accidents or traffic congestion.

Many drivers are not aware of this law and are in fact reluctant to move their vehicles. Some drivers assume that moving their vehicles will remove evidence of negligence or will create legal problems. The Move it…Yes You Can Campaign hopes to raise education and awareness about Florida’s laws regarding this important issue.

If you have been in an accident where injuries or serious damage has occurred, you should not move your vehicle and you should encourage other drivers not to move their vehicles. Where serious injuries – such as head injuries, burn injuries, or spinal cord injuries – have taken place, investigators will be examining evidence and charges as well as legal suits may take place. In these cases, it is best not to move your car. Remain in place until emergency personnel arrive.

Luckily, most accidents are minor fender benders with no injuries. If you have been in such a minor accident in which all passengers and drivers are uninjured, move your car off the road and wait until the other driver moves his or her car off the road to exchange information and to resolve the situation. This simple action can help prevent further accidents and injuries.

The campaign to prevent drunk driving accidents has been ongoing for decades and today many people have gotten the message that driving under the influence is morally wrong. Even though DUI accidents still occur far more than they should, most drivers are at least aware that drinking and driving are wrong and risky. Yet, some experts claim that driving while texting is even more dangerous and more pervasive.

Legislators have already considered banning texting and driving – or any mobile device use while driving -- in many jurisdictions. In 2008 alone, the Florida Highway Patrol found that 1 400 personal injuries and 15 deaths were the result of driver distraction. Currently, the Florida Highway Patrol does not keep records of specific distractions. However, in the future officers hope to accumulate records on the number of driver distraction accidents caused specifically by texting or mobile phone use.

However, studies have already shown that texting and cell phone use while driving is dangerous. According to the National Safety Council, 80% of all car accidents are due to driver inattention. Other studies have found that texting while driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence – drivers distracted by texting are four times more likely to get into a serious car collision. This is the same risk factor as driving under the influence.

Unfortunately, drivers do not seem to be getting the message about driving while using mobile devices. According to the American Automobile Association, 46% of teen drivers text while driving. While there is a social stigma to drinking and driving, a similar social stigma does not appear to exist for texting and driving. This casual attitude about using cell phones while driving, warn experts, may make texting more dangerous than drinking and driving, simply because more drivers are liable to text and drive or to see nothing wrong with texting and driving.

Representative Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, has filed a bill which would ban texting while driving. The bill, which will be under review in the 2010 legislative session, is supported by cell phone companies. The main problem, legislators note, is that it may be difficult to enforce such a new law. Some members of the US Senate may begin denying funding for federal roads in states where texting is legal on roads.

Part of the problem with texting is that it violates a fundamental rule of the road: keep your eyes and focus on the road. Drivers who text remove their eyes from the road for seconds or minutes while typing or sending text messages. This is enough time to cause a serious pedestrian accident, collision, or fatality. Even talking on a cell phone removes focus from the road and can result in an accident.

A recent cold snap in Florida and across much the Eastern US this past week has worried many people. Parts of West Palm Beach, Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale set near-record lows on overnight forecasts and many tourists and residents were shivering during the day in 27-degree wind chill. Parts of Virginia and Kentucky saw snow.

Unfortunately, such conditions create severe problems for drivers. Even if Florida does not see snow, most drivers in the state may not be ready to drive in icy temperatures. This can cause a spike in car accidents in the upcoming few days. Parts of New York and Vermont have already reported increased car accident rates and personal injury rates.

Florida drivers may not be prepared for driving in icy temperatures. When driving on cold roads, it is important to slow down. Even if roadways look clear and no snow or ice is visible, it is important to keep in mind that even tiny amounts of water on the roads can freeze in icy conditions.

Unfortunately, many Florida drivers do not have winter tires – required by drivers in snowier states. Winter tires provide extra grip and some even have metal studs to better grip the roadway through ice and snow. If your car is not equipped with snow tires, slow down and use extra caution. If ice is reported on the roads, you may be safer staying inside rather than driving. Summer tires simply do not grip the icy roads very well, and this will cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

Drivers may also want to keep in mind that icy conditions can cause other problems as well. Any water on a windshield can turn to ice and can impede visibility. If precipitation is mixed with icy temperatures, blowing snow and ice can hamper visibility even further. If you must drive, get windshield wiper fluid designed for cold temperatures. Before driving, make sure that you scrape off any ice or snow on your vehicle. Do not use regular windshield fluid, as it may freeze on your windshield, making visibility difficult. Make sure that your windshield wipers work well – these are a vital tool for keeping your visibility good in the cold.

Cold temperatures outside and a warm car interior often mean foggy windshields and windows as condensation accumulates on the inside of your car. If this happens to you, use your defrost to remove the fog that might be hampering your visibility. If you do not have this feature, use a chalkboard eraser to wipe down the inside windows – pull over to do this, however. Avoid using your sleeve or clothes to wipe away fog – this usually results in streaks and dirty glass that makes it hard to see.

Many people enjoy staying in touch with social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other sites. However, if you have been in a car accident and have sustained personal injuries, you may want to reevaluate how you update your sites. Investors and insurance carriers look at social networking sites when evaluating claims. The wrong message on your sites may affect your claim and your chance at a fair settlement.

You may have already read it in the news: people being accused of insurance fraud or having benefits cancelled due to Facebook or other social sites. Even if you think you are immune because you would never try to defraud an insurance provider, your social networking activities may affect your ability to make a claim.

After a car accident in which you have sustained a brain injury, broken bone, burn injury, spinal cord injury, or other serious ailment, you will need to make a claim with an insurance provider in order to be compensated for your medical and related costs. It is also a good idea to hire a good Florida personal injury attorney, who can protect your interests and your rights in a claim.

The insurance provider will evaluate your claim and your claims of injury. Today, many insurance providers use investigators to evaluate claims in order to reduce the instances of fraud. As well, in jury trials, attorneys use investigators to evaluate plaintiff’s cases. In both cases, investigators are increasingly turning to social networking sites to gather information.

Even seemingly innocent pictures and posts can get you into trouble. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury and post on your blog or Twitter page that you have gone shopping, for example, investigators may question this and note that you seem to be performing every day activities perfectly well. If you post pictures of yourself and friends having fun and smiling, this can also be used by investigators as evidence that your injuries are not so severe. This can affect your ability to get a fair settlement.

If you have a blog or if you take part in any social networking sites, you will want to speak with your Florida personal injury attorney about your online activities. Your attorney can advise you about which things you can or cannot post about. Your attorney may also recommend that you briefly stop online social networking in order to increase the chances that you will get the help you are entitled to under the law.

Highway Patrol authorities across the country are setting up roadway checks and adding extra troopers on highways and roadways to keep drunk driving accidents to a minimum on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, authorities have good reason to be concerned. In most areas of the country, the rate of car accidents and truck accidents increases at this time of year.

Many people attend New Year’s Eve festivities where alcohol is served and some revellers decide to drive while intoxicated. A shortage of cabs, night driving after New Year’s Eve parties, and more drivers on the road than usual compound the problem. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is organizing a national campaign. The campaign, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” will continue until Jan. 3.The campaign will see participating police authorities organize checkpoints for sobriety, seat belt use, and traffic infractions on New Year’s Eve. The campaign will also raise awareness and inform drivers about alternatives to drunk driving.

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or higher. There are many campaigns in place to help drivers avoid driving under the influence. Some cities organize free public transportation for New Year’s Eve. Some bars offer free breathalyser tests and some advocacy groups even hand out free breathalyser test key chains, which allow drivers to test sobriety before getting in a car. Despite all these measures, unfortunately, some people continue to drink and drive.

As a result, many authorities and cities are getting tough on drunk drivers. In some areas, drivers caught at checkpoints with an illegal blood alcohol level will face a minimum five hours in jail, possible addition charges, fines, and other penalties.

If you are attending New Year’s Eve festivities, designate a driver, make plans to stay overnight or find an alternative form of transportation. It is a good idea to have at least three possible ways of getting home, just in case one travel option does not work well after New Year’s. Having more options ensures that you are not tempted to get behind the wheel after drinking.

Older drivers may suffer from conditions and illnesses which make driving a challenge. Since there are more elderly drivers on the roads, however – one estimate from the AAA suggests that by 2024, one quarter of all drivers will be over 65 – manufacturers are creating devices and car options that make mobility easier for elderly drivers. Some of these devices help elderly drivers drive safely and can even help prevent car accidents:

1) Larger wheels and simplified ignition systems. Thicker wheels are easier to grip – even for drivers with arthritis or other conditions – and allow elderly drivers to retain better control of their vehicles. This can be crucial if a driver needs to act quickly to avoid a car or pedestrian accident. Simplified ignitions that do not require a twist motion are also good options for drivers with limited mobility.

2) Power features. Although not marketed specifically at elderly drivers, power features – such as keyless entry, power locks, and power windows – are great for older drivers with limited mobility.

3) High seats. Higher seats make it much easier for elderly drivers to climb in and out of a vehicle. These seats also prevent elderly drivers from having to lift themselves out of a seat. Higher seats also offer seniors a better view of the road. Look for cars that have adjustable seats that come to mid-thigh when standing for best comfort and car control.

4) Good doors. Four-door cars with easy to open doors are important, as they make getting in and out of a car simpler. Older drivers should look for doors that open easily without a struggle. As well, low door thresholds are useful for climbing in and out of a car.

5) Visible controls and good sub visors. Many seniors begin experiencing some vision problems, and visible controls in the car with large, contrasting text are important. Visible controls allow drivers to see fuel levels, audio controls, and other areas of the dash easily without removing focus form the road. As well, extended and flexible sun visors which reduce glare are also important in allowing drivers to see the road clearly.

Sometimes, it appears that driver attitudes cause driving accidents. While many drivers take their driving privileges seriously and work to be safe drivers, others seem nonchalant about their driving, and this attitude can cause fatal car and pedestrian accidents. Some poor driver attitudes include:

1) Seeing driving as a right. Many drivers see driving as a right, because they see driving as freedom or as the only way to get to work. However, driving is a privilege that must be earned and respected. Not respecting your privilege could cause you to mistakes that make you lose your license.

2) Being casual about the physical logistics of driving. Not adjusting a car seat or driving with your hands at the bottom of the wheel can affect your driving ability. In a car accident, such sloppiness can affect how much you are able to control your car. It is important to ensure that you are ready to drive and that your vehicle is correctly adjusted for your size. Adjust all mirrors to give you maximum visibility and drive with your hands at the nine and three o’clock positions for maximum control of the wheel.

3) Assuming that driving does not require all our attention. While most drivers are initially cautious, as they become used to driving they start doing many things while operating a vehicle: applying makeup, talking on a phone, texting, reading, and eating. Any activity other than driving does not belong in the car. If you need to do something else besides drive, pull over. Driver distraction is a major cause of car accidents and truck accidents.

4) Being casual about physical condition. If you feel poorly or are taking certain medications that make you feel groggy or sleepy, stay off the roads. Read your medication descriptions to ensure that you are safe to be on the roads. If you are tired, hungry, angry, distracted, in pain or otherwise not in good physical condition, you pose a danger to other drivers. You could cause a car accident.

5) Being casual about doing pre-drive checks. Most driver education programs teach students that they need to check a car before each drive. After most of us have been driving a while, though, we stop doing this simple check. Unfortunately, this can mean that we miss mechanical problems that could be a serious hazard.

Diabetes is a very treatable condition and many people who have this illness are able to drive successfully and safely. However, if you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may tell you to stay off the roads until your condition is under control. This is because diabetes can make your blood sugar levels too low or too high. This can cause many serious symptoms, including seizures, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, blurry vision, and even loss of consciousness. Obviously, all these symptoms can be very dangerous when you are driving a car.

In a few cases, diabetes may cause complications or permanent problems that prevent a patient from driving. Some diabetes patients, for example, experience nerve damage to the hands or feet or lose their eyesight. In cases where diabetes complications are severe, a doctor may recommend a suspension of driving privileges.

It is important to communicate openly with your doctor about your diabetes. Ask how diabetes may affect your driving and report any new symptoms promptly. Your doctor may ask you to check your glucose levels before driving. If your blood sugar levels are too low, you may have a hard time controlling your car and driving safely. Your doctor can help you understand how to test your glucose levels and can help you manage your diabetes so that your levels remain relatively stable.

With time, you will learn to manage your diabetes and you will be able to recognize signs of a low blood sugar. If you have trouble recognizing the signs of low blood sugar, you might seek out glycemic awareness training, which will help you detect and manage changes in your blood sugar.

It is a good idea to keep snacks and sources of glucose with you in your car at all times. You will also want to buy a blood glucose meter for your car. Keep both items in your glove compartment. When you feel that your blood glucose level is low, pull over and test your levels. You may need to rest and eat a snack before retesting. If your blood glucose level increases after 15 minutes, eat a snack containing protein. Once you feel better and your glucose levels are stabilized, continue driving. Avoid driving on a low glucose level to get home – you could be in an accident and sustain injuries while driving with low glucose levels. Due to your diabetes, you may have a harder time recovering from some types of personal injuries.

If you are anxious about driving with your diabetes, you may want to consult with a driving rehabilitation specialist. You can work with your doctor and your driving rehabilitation specialist to ensure that your condition does not affect your driving. Your driving rehabilitation specialist can check your driving skills and can work with you to ensure that your diabetes does not affect your driving.

When a stroke takes place, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, damaging brain cells and in some cases, causing brain damage. Strokes vary widely in severity, as does the rate of recovery. After a stroke, some patients are not able to see, move, or think clearly or easily. Other patients recover fully. Some patients experience partial paralysis that is permanent or temporary.

It can be hard to accept that our ability to drive changes after a stroke, but a stroke can affect a person’s ability to drive, sometimes permanently. After a stroke, patients may have a hard time applying the brake or gas or may struggle to turn the wheel. Some patients may become confused while driving and may become frustrated, especially if patients have a hard time thinking clearly. Some patients have difficulty remaining in their lane or even understanding traffic signs.

Many patients are able to recover almost fully from a stroke and are therefore able to drive again. However, this depends on how much damage a stroke has caused. It can take some time to evaluate how extensive the damage from a stroke, which is why it is important to work with your doctor and to avoid driving until you are sure you can do so safely. Keep in mind that you may be at risk for another stroke. If you have a stroke while driving, you may lose control of your car and cause a serious car accident or pedestrian accident. For this reason, it is vital to avoid driving until your doctor says you may drive safely.

The warning signs of stroke include vision difficulties, sudden weakness or numbness (especially along one side of your body), sudden confusion, sudden difficulty speaking, sudden loss of balance, sudden difficulty with movement, dizziness, severe headache. If you experience these symptoms suddenly, get medical help immediately. If you are driving when you experience these symptoms, pull over your vehicle and get emergency help immediately. The sooner you get help after a stroke the more likely you are to recover fully.

If you have had a stroke and are worried about your driving, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you see a driving rehabilitation specialist. A driving rehabilitation specialist can evaluate your driving skills and can help you develop a method of regaining any skills you have lost. In addition, the driving rehabilitation specialist can guide you through driving rehabilitation and can help you find devices and tools for your car that can make it easier for you to drive after a stroke.

Keep in mind that you need to be honest with your doctors and driving rehabilitation specialists. If you have worrisome symptoms, you need report them, even if you fear your license will be taken away from you. There are many options available to help you retain your independence. If there is any chance that you may recover your driving skills, a driving rehabilitation specialist will help you regain these skills. If your driving skills cannot be recovered, your doctor and driving rehabilitation specialist can help you find alternatives that allow you to keep your independence. However, if you have been told to stay off roads, it is essential that you follow this advice.

Some experts warn that we are too soft on drunk driving that causes car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and serious injuries as well as fatalities. About half of all drunk driving cases are reduced or dropped entirely, studies have found. This trend worries experts, who claim that a lax attitude about drunk driving sends the wrong message and does nothing to discourage drivers from driving under the influence.

Experts also point to statistics which show that drunk drivers are often repeat offenders. Someone caught driving drunk today has a one in ten chance of getting another DUI charge, according to some studies. Experts worry that people who are not charged with DUIs or have charges reduced or dropped may adopt a more casual attitude about drunk driving. Such drivers may worry less about drunk driving, knowing that they are not a convicted drunken driver. Some drivers may feel or expect that charges will always be lax.

A report by the Daytona Beach News-Journal found that DUI defendants with private attorneys generally are able to avoid a DUI conviction. Virtually all defendants with private attorneys who had a first DUI charge were able to avoid conviction. The study found that between 1991 and 2008, 15,240 single DUI charges were recorded. Of these, 64% of defendants with a private attorney had their charges dropped or reduced. Only 30% of defendants with public defenders had their DUI charges dropped or reduced. Experts note that the disparity may be because private attorneys have more time to focus on flaws in a case and are able to devote more attention to cases on behalf of their clients.

To some, however, the disparity suggests an inequality in the justice system. Worse, some experts claim that such a system is putting dangerous drivers back on the roads without teaching these drivers the importance of driving sober. A study of 12,712 defendants who had their single-DUI cases reduced found that 1,222 were rearrested for driving drunk. Groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) say that such statistics show that reduced or dropped DUI charges only give drunk drivers a second chance to cause drunk driving accidents and fatalities.

Prosecutors of DUI cases are far less likely to pursue DUI convictions if a defendant doesn’t look intoxicated on arrest videos or if there are flaws on an arrest report. The chances of winning a case in these cases is much smaller, so sometimes attorneys decide to allow the defendant agree to a lesser charge. Prosecutors also note that defendants are becoming more savvy about DUI arrests. Some refuse the breathalyzer or sobriety tests. While this deprives them of their license for 90 days or longer, it also deprives prosecutors of important evidence.

Many drivers are also willing to work harder to avoid DUI convictions. More people rely heavily on cars, so a DUI conviction can create problems if someone has to drive to work. As well, employees may become disqualified for some jobs involving driving if they have a DUI conviction. This often compels defendants to spend considerable amounts of money on a defense attorney. Groups such as MADD argue that people who are clearly impaired when driving should be convicted and attorneys should ensure that no deals are available for such drivers.

Unfortunately, New Year’s Eve results in many car accidents. Many people stay up late to attend events and parties. Returning home after midnight, many drivers are fatigued and unable to control their cars correctly. As well, drinking is still a key part of many New Year’s Eve festivities, so drunk driving accidents peak at this time of year. Traveling late at night and poor weather conditions can contribute to accidents on this night of the year.

Many drivers are on the roads on New Year’s Eve, and the extra traffic as well as extra risks can mean more accidents. Taxis and other forms of transportation may be hard to find on New Year’s Eve, compounding the problem. There are many ways to stay safe on the biggest night of the year, but you will want to start planning early.

Consider making your plans now. Determine now where you will be on New Year’s Eve, when the festivities will be finished, and how you will get home. Go online or call your local city information number to find out about New Year’s events and transportation options. Many cities now offer alcohol-free festivities which allow you to enjoy yourself while worrying less about drunk driving after the event. Many cities also offer free transportation from New Year’s Eve festivities via bus or shuttle. Find out whether these transportation options are a possibility for you. If they are, print off an information sheet about them and tuck the sheets into your purse or pocket. This way, you won’t be wondering on New Year’s Eve where to catch the free bus.

Taxi companies are often overwhelmed on New Year’s Eve, so now is a good time to call your local taxi company. Some companies allow you to book in advance for New Year’s Eve, so that there is a taxi waiting for you to be there. Otherwise, your taxi company may be able to give you some good tips on catching a cab.

If you will need to get home after a New Year’s Eve event, have at least three methods of transportation that you can take. Think now about all the ways you can get home. It is important to have alternatives because your first choice of transportation may not be available on New Year’s Eve. You may plan to be a designated driver, for example, but you may be tempted to drink – or the person you may have designated as a driver might drink. Taxis might not be dependable, so find at least three ways of getting home. That way, if one mode of transportation does not work out, you can still get home safely.

If you will be attending a New Year’s Eve event far from home, make provisional plans to stay over somewhere. The longer your trip home, the more at risk you are for a car accident. As well, if you are far from home, you may have a harder time finding alternative forms of transportation. Consider arranging a hotel room – some hotels offer discount rates for New Year’s – or arrange to stay with a friend.

Aggressive drivers are a major danger on the road. They are distracting and take driver attention from the road. They also tend to speed and drive aggressively when enraged, sometimes causing car accidents that result in fatalities or serious personal injuries. In the worse cases, aggressive drivers assault other drivers or even use their vehicles as a weapon, causing car and pedestrian accidents.

According to the NHTSA, aggressive drivers are usually higher risk drivers. Research suggests that they may take out their anger on just about anyone and may not need to be provoked to fly into a rage. Aggressive drivers usually feel safe acting out while driving, some experts have suggested, because cars offer a degree of anonymity and safety. Researchers have found that aggressive drivers tend not to consider or be concerned about the drivers around them and for this reason they take risks when driving. Aggressive drivers tend to tailgate, speed, run traffic lights and stop signs, pass on the right, make unsafe lane changes, weave in and out of lanes, yell, flash their lights, make facial and hand gestures, and honk aggressively.

If you notice a driver behaving in this way, you may be able to avoid an accident and avoid the personal injuries such an accident may cause. Here are some of NHTSA’s tips for dealing with an aggressive driver:

1) Do not allow an aggressive driver to affect your own driving. Try to remain calm and never speed up to keep up with a speeding driver. Continue to drive calmly, ignoring the aggressive driver as much as you can. Follow the rules of the road, especially if the aggressive driver is not. Make sure your seat belt is fastened, as this will help prevent a brain injury or spinal cord injury in the event of a collision. Prepare for defensive driving to avoid a collision.

2) Try to get out of the aggressive driver’s way. Drop back, take a different route and generally attempt to stay out of the way.

3) Take note of the aggressive driver’s details. Note mentally what he or she looks like and try to remember the license plate number or the make of the car. If you have a passenger with you, have your passenger write down this information. If the aggressive driver attempts to harm you or ram your car with his or her vehicle, you will have the information you need to report him or her.

4) Do not engage an aggressive driver. Never return gestures, honk, or yell at an aggressive driver. Experts even recommend avoiding eye contact. Any sign of aggression on your part can enrage an aggressive driver further and could make you a target.

In the United States, someone is killed in a car accident every ten seconds, on average. This is a staggering number, especially when one considers that many such fatalities are entirely preventable. Learn these top causes of accidents to prevent accidents and the personal injuries they cause:

1) Multitasking. Changing the radio station or the CD in your car is a distraction that can cause accidents. As well, reading, applying make-up, or drinking and eating while driving can increase your risk of a car accident. Make a passenger responsible for your music or create mixed tapes that you enjoy and that you will not need to change. For longer trips, use an iPod or similar device with hours of music or wait until a rest stop to change your CD. Wait until you are parked to read, apply makeup, or drink or eat. Drinking and eating are especially hard habits to break, unfortunately, because so many people rely on drive-through fast food restaurants. However, while you are trying not to spill something into your lap, you could cause an accident.

2) Drinking and substance abuse. 2006 alone saw 14,000 fatalities and many more injuries as a result of drunk driving accidents in the United States. Researchers have also found that drunk driving accidents are more likely to cause serious injuries and deaths when compared to accidents involving sober drivers. This may be caused in part by an inebriated driver’s inability to take defensive measures when a collision becomes unavoidable. As well, many drunk drivers speed because they are unable to focus on their driving and notice when they exceed the speed limit.

3) Cell phones. According to a study by Harvard University, call phone users caused millions of personal injuries and 200 fatalities in car accidents. Researchers found that drivers using a cell phone are four times more likely to cause an accident. Blue tooth technology and hands-free cell phones are not an ideal solution, either, since they do not prevent drivers from focusing on a conversation instead of the road. Many collisions could be prevented if drivers waiting until they were parked before making a call or sending a text. While many people have been at least informed that they should not drink and drive, many people do not consider driving a problem when they have been using drugs. Many people are also in accidents caused by over-the-counter medications or prescription medications. Anything that causes you to feel potentially groggy, disoriented, or dizzy can cause a serious car accident.

4) Speeding. Speeding makes it much harder to respond quickly to avoid an accident and when speeding your car takes much longer to stop. These two factors mean that when you are speeding, your chances of being in a car accident increase significantly, especially if you are in a residential area. You simply cannot drive defensively or well if you are speeding and therefore unable to control your vehicle well. You simply cannot drive defensively or well if you are speeding and therefore unable to control your vehicle well.

5) Other car accidents. Rubbernecking to see an accident causes more accidents, which is why so many car accidents happen near other accident sites. Urban areas, where traffic is more congested, especially tend to have these sorts of clusters of accidents. It is important to focus on the road when driving by an accident. Move with the flow of traffic unless officers instruct you otherwise.

Edmunds, one of the leading companies in evaluating cars, offers a number of less-often-hear tips to avoid car accidents:

1) Keep your eyes moving. Scanning the road well ahead of you allows you to anticipate any possible problems and allows you to react more quickly in an accident. Scanning the road a few cars ahead allows you to avoid sudden rear-end collisions with the car in front of you.

2) Stay away from the left lane on multilane routes. Statistically, more highway accidents occur in the left lane. The “fast lane,” as it is often called, has fewer escape options than the right or middle lanes, so that if you need to get out of the way quickly to avoid an accident you might be stuck. You are also more likely to get a speeding ticket in the left lane, where highway patrol officers tend to check first.

3) Take a look at the shape of cars around you. If a car is in bad shape or has obvious problems, such as body damage, that could indicate a driver who pays as little attention to the road as he or she does to his car. Give yourself extra room. Also, be on the alert for drivers who are drifting in a lane. These drivers might be exhausted, talking on a cell phone, or drunk. They are more likely to cause accidents because they are not paying attention to their driving for some reason. Stay well back of such cars.

4) Get a good grip on the wheel. Hold your steering wheel at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock, as this will give you the best control of your steering wheel if you need to make a sudden maneuver to avoid a collision. As well, make sure that your seat is correctly adjusted to give you good control of the wheel. A good rule of thumb is to have the seat adjusted so that when you sit back in the seat with your arm extended, your wrist first perfectly on the top of the wheel.

5) Get to know and care for your car. Know how long it takes you to stop in various conditions and how much grip your tires have. Get to know how quickly your car accelerates and responds and whether it leans in any particular direction. Knowing such little details can help you respond more appropriately to avoid a car accident and personal injury. Once you get to know your car, you’ll also become better at evaluating when you car needs maintenance. You might notice, for example, that your car’s tires don’t have great grip, you might want to invest in a better set of tires to keep safe.

Airbags are safety devices which are designed to help prevent personal injuries during a car accident, but in rare cases, these devices can actually cause injuries in a collision. Airbags work by inflating quickly in an impact, which creates a cushion for the driver’s head or passenger’s head. The head of the driver or passenger hits the soft surface of the inflated airbag instead of the dashboard, reducing the risk of brain injuries.

Unfortunately, airbags must inflate very quickly in order to be effective. In rare cases, the force with which airbags inflate can cause injuries. In rarer cases, airbag defects can cause more serious injuries. In most cases, these injuries are simply abrasions or small cuts. However, the NHTSA reports that over 260 people have died since 1990 due to airbag injuries. This number is very small when compared to the number of fatalities caused by car accidents and other types of accidents. However, it is worth noting that many of these deaths were preventable.

According to the NHTSA, passengers accounted for about 65% of airbag-related deaths in car accidents. Over 90% of these passenger deaths involved infants and children. Most of these child passengers were incorrectly positioned in the vehicle, either without safety restraints or in rear-facing restraints. When the airbags deployed in an accident, these children had their heads right at the level of the airbag, so that the airbag slammed into their heads while inflating, causing fatal injuries. According to the NHTSA data, about 75% of victims were female and over 80% of those who died were not correctly restrained with safety belts. Older vehicles seem to have a higher rate of airbag-related injuries, too – over 90% of airbag-related deaths occurred in vehicles made before 1998.

These statistics point again to the importance of correctly positioning children in a vehicle. Car accidents are still a major cause of injuries to minors and children, and these injuries can be further prevented with correct use of safety restraints. In all vehicles, the safest place for young children to be is the back seat. Younger children should be placed in an age-appropriate child seat. Older children should be buckled in with a seat belt. In a car accident, these simple precautions can save a child’s life.

Manufacturers are taking the initiative in reducing airbag-related deaths as well. Newer airbag designs make airbags inflate with less force, which may reduce injuries and deaths associated with these devices. As well, the federal government created new guidelines in 1997 to ensure that frontal airbags inflate with lower power levels. Studies have shown that newer airbags are far less likely to cause injuries when compared to airbags made before 1998. Consumers with older vehicles may want to check their airbags and get them checked by a qualified mechanic. Look for any recalls on the airbags or consider getting the airbags replaced with a newer and safer design.

Most airbag-related injuries which do occur involve front airbags. Side airbags are smaller and use less force when inflating. In fact, so far only one serious injury has been reported from a side-impact airbag. It is important to keep in mind when considering any vehicles that airbags are a safety feature that usually prevent serious injury. Customers should not avoid airbags entirely, as these can save lives. However, parents need to be aware of injuries that airbags can cause to children and owners of older vehicles may wish to have their airbags inspected for safety to keep injury risk to a minimum.

One place where many people hope to save money is with their car insurance. However, lowering your car insurance coverage in order to save a few dollars may be more expensive than you think. Being underinsured is a major risk factor, as it means that you may have to pay for damages and other costs out of pocket. Also, being underinsured and taken to court can raise your premiums in the future. If you're underinsured, other drivers may start legal action in order to recover injuries from you if you do not have adequate insurance. You can avoid all of these problems in many cases by having the right insurance.

Of course, finding the correct amount of insurance for your vehicle is somewhat challenging. There are many insurance options, and not all customers understand all the options available to them. Florida state laws dictate that all drivers must carry a minimum amount of insurance. However, this minimum amount may not always fully protect you if you are in an accident causing personal injury.

There are two types of car insurance, the most basic level. Collision insurance covers damages, personal injury, and loss caused by a car accident. Comprehensive coverage covers damage, theft, and other issues not related to an accident. You'll likely need both types of insurance.

It is a good idea to review your insurance needs at least every six months or so. As your vehicle’s value changes over time, you want to make sure that you're not paying too much for your vehicle insurance, while you also want to make sure you are not underinsured. For example, if your vehicle is only worth $5,000, you want to make sure that your collision and comprehensive coverage each cover you for $5,000. If you are paying $10,000 in coverage, and your car is totalled, you will only get $5,000 back. You are paying for the extra $5,000 but may not see that coverage if your car is damaged.

If you have considerable assets, you may want to consider taking out additional coverage above and beyond the value of your car. This helps protect your assets in the event that you're in a car accident that causes personal injuries and results in multiple claimants seeking legal action against you. You have two options to protect yourself from such an event. You can seek a higher policy limit that applies specifically to liability. You can also seek out an umbrella insurance policy that covers you for car accidents as well as other liability claims. This can help protect you in case you are taken to court over a car accident.

Many people travel during the holidays to visit friends and family. Whether you are traveling by air plane, car, or bus, extra travelers and extra traffic at this time of year can mean a larger risk of travel-related accidents. Avoid holiday travel accidents with the following tips:

1) Decide which mode of transport is safer for you. If you will be drinking or will be rushed or stressed while traveling, have someone else get you home – take a bus, plane, train, or taxi. Similarly, if you will need to travel over long distances or in poor weather, it may be safer to leave the driving to professionals or it may be best to take a plane to avoid the bad roads. Anticipate the issues that will arise in your travels and choose the appropriate method of transportation.

2) If you are traveling by plane, take steps to avoid aviation accidents. Take a larger commercial airline, which is less likely to experience accidents than a smaller, chartered flight in a small aircraft. Carefully listen to the flight attendants at the start of your trip, when important safety information is imparted. If something goes wrong during your flight, having this information fresh in your mind can ensure that you get out of the aircraft quickly and safely.

3) If you are traveling by bus, take steps to avoid bus accidents. Travel when road conditions are good and note the presence of any emergency exits. Travel with a trusted bus line.

4) Travel only when well-rested. Being tired and sleeping during your bus, train, or plane ride slows your response time in an emergency. Of course, if you are driving you need to be very well rested and you need to take breaks while driving to ensure that you do not nod off at the wheel.

5) Give yourself plenty of time to travel. If you are driving, keep in mind that speeding is a major cause of accidents. Plan on giving yourself an extra hour or two when driving, more in bad weather. Check weather forecasts and road conditions before taking off, so that you know what to expect.

6) Do not remain distracted while traveling. Distractions such as mp3 players and cell phones can mean that you miss important safety announcements on planes, buses, and trains. In a car, any distractions – even short ones – can lead to an accident and fatalities. Focus in your travel and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation and fun at your destination.

Florida drivers are lucky. In addition to beautiful weather and lots of natural beauty, drivers from Florida do not usually need to worry about heavy snow and ice when driving. However, during the fall and winter many Florida residents leave the state to visit friends and family in other, colder climates. In some parts of the country, snow has already arrived. Florida drivers can be less used to winter weather driving and in bad weather, this lack of experience can mean car collisions, pedestrian accidents, and personal injury. Here’s how to drive safely when you are out of state and dealing with winter weather:

1) Take winter weather training courses where possible. If you have a long trip in winter weather ahead of you and you have never driven in the winter before, a refresher course is a good idea. An experienced driver trainer can show you how to deal with white-out conditions, black ice, and other serious dangers.

2) Get good tires. If you will be driving in areas where there is a lot of snow and ice, consider studded tires. Studded tires offer much better traction on snow and even ice and can help prevent you from slipping. Even if you will be driving in somewhat snowy conditions, get winter tires that offer much better traction than all-season or regular summer tires. Winter tires will help you brake and maintain control of your car.

3) Use an all-wheel-drive vehicle where possible. If you are renting or you have multiple cars and therefore have a choice, drive an All-wheel car in winter weather. This sort of car can help you get out of snowy, slippery areas more effectively and can reduce your chances of getting stuck in the snow.

4) Keep a winter kit in your car. Your car kit should include a shovel (for digging out your car), a bag of new kitty litter (for providing traction on ice), snow salt (for melting snow and ice around your tires), jumper cables (in case your car stalls), and an emergency kit that includes first aid, blankets, water, warm clothes, and flares or flashlights in case you get stuck or are in a car accident. You may also want to have an emergency tow kit in your car. These kits can help you get out of a ditch or icy spot without the aid of a tow truck. They are often sold in auto supply stores.

5) Check the weather often. If you need to go out of state on a business trip or a family trip, check the weather leading up to your car trip. If the weather is very bad, consider delaying or postponing your trip. In the event that this is not possible, give yourself lots of extra time. The best tip for winter driving is to slow down so that you can stop on time if you have to.

Holiday driving can be stressful. In addition to carrying gifts and trying to get home in time for the holidays, driving home at this time of year can also mean bad weather and heavy traffic. Here’s how to stay safe this holiday season:

1) Plan ahead. Since holiday travel is already stressful, do not make things more stressful with bad planning. As soon as you know you will need to drive somewhere for the holidays, create a checklist of things you will need to bring and things you need to do (such as fill up on gas) before you go. Check off this last the day before your trip and ensure that as many items as possible are packed into the car the day before. This will decrease the amount of last-minute worry and rushing that can leave you tired and distracted behind the wheel.

2) Have a passenger in charge of the cell phone. If you are driving with someone else, have the other person be responsible for the cell phone, leaving you free to focus on the road. If you are driving by yourself, turn off the cell phone. If you need to make a call, pull over first.

3) Check weather and road conditions before you go. You can get detailed road and weather reports the day of your trip by checking online. This information is vital, since it can let you know whether you need to leave early in order to arrive on time.

4) Wear your seatbelts at all times. Seat belts can save your life in an accident and can prevent serious brain injuries and spinal cord injuries in the event of a serious accident. Refuse to drive unless everyone in the car is wearing a seatbelt.

5) Do not drive tired or while feeling stress. If you are tired or feel emotional, you may not be able to react correctly or quickly to prevent an accident. Get some rest, put off your plans, or find someone else to drive.

6) Have a map handy. Make sure that you know where you are going so that you do not get into an accident while trying to peer at a map over the steering wheel. Plan your route and print off as map that a passenger can read for you. Alternatively, use a GPS device with voice features to verbally guide you to your destination.

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Driving around to look at holiday lights and decorations is a holiday tradition for many families. Many people enjoy driving out during an evening to look at the magnificent displays homeowners and businesses create. Dark roads and distractions, however, can mean pedestrian accidents and car accidents, however. Avoid fender benders and personal injuries with these tips:

1) Designate a driver. If you want to drive out to look at lights, make sure that the driver is not looking at lights. The driver should focus on driving only, to ensure that no accidents or fender benders take place.

2) Consider driving somewhere and walking about. Many small communities create elaborate displays that can be enjoyed on foot and some communities even offer carolers and hot beverages for pedestrians. Parking your car and looking at neighborhoods on foot can be a safer way to enjoy the lights, as long as you remain on sidewalks and avoid walking out on the road.

3) Go during established times. Many communities now have established times for viewing lights. Check your local community newspaper or call neighborhood associations in your location to inquire. Going to view lights at designated times is a great idea, as there are usually extra safety precautions in place at this time. As well, everyone in a community has their decorations up and their lights on during these times, so you can enjoy the full impact of displays.

4) Take two drivers who can take turns looking at lights. If possible, designate two or more drivers. This will ensure that each driver has a chance to drive (with all their focus on driving) and also has a chance to enjoy the lights.

During the weeks leading up to the holiday season, parking spots are at a premium, leading to frayed tempers and harsh words in many cases. Unfortunately, lack of parking and heavy store traffic can also mean more fender benders and pedestrian accidents in the parking lot of your favorite shops. At this time of year, you need to exercise more caution when parking and pulling out of parking spaces. Here’s how:

1) Check out the parking lot as you walk to your car. Look for obvious possible dangers, such as parents with small children on the loose and nearby cars. This will help you anticipate things you need to watch for as you back out. You might also want to park further away from the store rather than getting the nearest parking spot. There is far less traffic in remote areas of parking lots, making it easier to back out of your spot.

2) Check your blind spots. When pulling out of a parking spot, always check all your mirrors and blind spots. Keep in mind that many parents are out and about with children, who can dash behind your car very suddenly. Use extra caution, especially if a parking lot is busy.

3) Drive slowly. Driving slowly and being alert can help prevent an accident. Driving slowly when backing out of parking spaces and driving out of parking lots is especially important when the weather is bad or when the day is dark. Slowing down gives you time to react appropriately to prevent an accident.

4) Consider using a device that offers car rear-view functioning. Some GPS devices offer car rear-view functions which allow you to see everything behind your car, thanks to a tiny camera. These devices are extremely handy in helping you spot small objects – including carts and small children – that might be in your blind spots.

5) Be responsible as a pedestrian. If you are walking to and from your car to get into a store, remember to stay in pedestrian-designated areas and make sure that cars see you. Make eye contact with drivers and avoid dashing out in front of cars without looking.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranks thanksgiving as one of the most dangerous times for car accidents. Many people make long-distance trips during this holiday and traffic is heavy, leading to accidents. As well, drinking at holiday events and dinners leads to many drunk driving accidents during the Thanksgiving weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some motorists try to drive rather than taking a plane in order to save money. However, when they rush from dinner to car to drive home, they often speed to get home or to dinner on time. Late dinners (with drinks) can also cause driver drowsiness, which can lead to accidents.

Thanksgiving usually falls near the weekend, and according to researchers this makes the holiday especially problematic in terms of car accidents and drunk driving. Memorial Day and Labor Day, two other holidays which fall near the weekend, also suffer from the same problem: traffic congestion and days of heavy dinners and events that include alcohol. Since people do not need to return to work immediately after a long weekend, experts note, some people are more inclined to imbibe. When people get into a car after drinking, tragedy results.

Holiday traffic can also lead to accidents. Researchers at York University in Toronto found that drivers confined in cars in heavy traffic have elevated levels of stress, which can lead to aggressive driving. When drivers drink before driving, their inhibitions are lowered and they may make poorer decisions when stressed. They may be more inclined, for example, to drive aggressively in order to try to beat traffic.

New Year’s Eve is also a holiday which results in many drunk driving convictions and many accidents. In fact, researchers evaluated New Year’s as the sixth deadliest holiday of the year. Revellers often drink champagne or other alcoholic beverages in order to celebrate. A limited number of taxis at the end of the night may tempt some people to drive home drunk.

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s tends to be the deadliest, as there are several holidays and social events grouped together. In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) estimates that each year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, more than 1,000 people die from drunk driving accidents alone. Many more thousands suffer head injuries, broken limbs, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, amputations, and other serious injury. Many more thousands are in car accidents caused by factors other than drinking.

Obviously, drivers will want to be extra careful at this time of year. Developing a plan for drinking and getting home safely is a must. Always wearing a seat belt helps prevent brain injuries in an accident. It is also important to turn mobile devices and other distractions off while driving. The more you focus on getting to your destination safely, the more likely you are to arrive at 2010 safe and healthy.

It’s no secret that the holidays mean more stress. As the holidays approach, many of us are working longer hours to keep up with increased demand during the holidays. In addition, there are parties to attend, family functions to plan, gifts to buy, cards to send, and homes to decorate. There are also more people on the roads, creating traffic that just feeds our stress. Extra stress can mean mistakes while driving and that can lead to car accidents and serious personal injuries. Stay safe this holiday season, wherever you have to drive, with these tips:

1) Keep stress levels at bay. Emotions can be a major distraction while driving. If you are worried or angry, you are probably thinking about the situation that is upsetting you and not about your driving. If you feel lots of stress, you may be prone to road rage or driving aggressively. Avoid driving when you are upset. Set aside some time in your schedule to relax. Even fifteen minutes a day relaxing and resting can help you feel calmer and more able to focus.

2) Organize your schedule. If you are disorganized, you may be tempted to rush from one errand to the next, and you may be tempted to speed in order to get your schedule under control. A much better strategy to prevent car accidents and personal injury is to organize your schedule before you step into your car. List all the things you need to do and want to do. Group activities by location and try to do related activities together. For example, you might be able to pick up decorations, cards, gifts, and stamps in one shopping trip to the mall, saving you lots of extra driving. Look for ways to organize your schedule be leveraging. Many businesses, for example, offer delivery services at this time of year and may be able to bring your tree, groceries, and other needs to you. This can save you plenty of time and can result in a far less stressful holiday.

3) Get plenty of rest. Rest and sleep are vital during the holidays, but they are often the first things we cut from our schedules. Get at least eight hours of sleep a day and try to maintain regular sleeping habits. Driver fatigue is a major cause of car accidents, bus accidents, and trucking accidents. All drivers can make the roads safer by staying alert and well-rested.

4) Do not drink and drive. Unfortunately, when we are stressed out, holiday drinks seem far more appealing. Avoid drinking to excess because you are stressed and keep a bit of extra money in your wallet at all times for a taxi in case you do indulge.

5) Do not multitask. When there is so much to do, it is tempting to try to do more than one thing at a time. It is tempting to make a quick phone call to the babysitter as you drive home or send a quick text message while driving around, but any distraction while driving can cause a serious accident. Wait until you are parked or pulled over on the side of the road to use mobile devices. When driving, focus on driving only.

6) Wear your seat belt. Keep in mind that other drivers are experiencing holiday stress as well. Even if you are being careful yourself, other drivers may be taking needless risks. For this reason, it is vital to always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are one of the most effective ways to prevent spinal cord injuries and brain injuries in the event of a car accident. Seat belts can also save your life, so buckle up.

Researchers at the University of California Irvine have been studying bad driving and have found that genetics may play a role in poor driving performance. According to researchers, drivers with one specific gene variant fared 20% worse on driving tests than drivers without the gene variant. Worse, researchers found that about 30% of drivers in the US may have the gene variant that has been linked to poor driving performance.

According to one of the researchers, Dr. Steven Cramer subjects who have the gene variant showed less recall of driving instruction and made more driving mistakes than subjects without the variant. The research team examined 29 drivers, asking each driver to drive 15 laps on a track using a simulator. All subjects were asked to repeat the driving exercise a week later. 22 people tested did not have the gene variant and seven of the subjects did have the variant.

The research found that those with the variant consistently did worse on the driving test, even with practice. According to the scientists, the gene impacts brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that has been linked to memory performance.

Researchers will need to run tests with larger test groups to determine whether the test results hold out with larger test samples. Cramer and his team are also excited about the possibility of studying the variant in terms of car accidents. The researchers would be interested in exploring whether the rate of car accidents and pedestrian accidents is higher among drivers with the gene variant.

Whether you have the gene variant or not, however, experts agree that a genetic factor is not usually the be-all or end-all of driving skills. Like many skills, good driving can be taught. Genetics is no excuse for poor or reckless driving. If you are worried about your driving skills, seek the help of a qualified instructor who can help you brush up on your skill level.

Driving around Halloween time is not just about watching for parents and children going door to door to trick or treat. This time of year has several risks that you need to be aware of if you wish to avoid car crashes and the personal injuries they cause:

1) Leaves. Wet, fallen leaves can cause a slick road surface, which can make it harder to brake quickly. Give yourself extra time to stop. Also, have your car tuned up and checked up to ensure that it is in good mechanical order.

2) It’s not just Halloween. Many drivers use extra caution on October 31, but Halloween parties and festive events happen several days before Halloween as well as on Halloween evening. Any Halloween event can mean more pedestrians, more children – and more risk of a pedestrian accident. Keep aware of any Halloween events in your area and use extra caution in general at this time of year.

3) Children running in between parked cars. A child running into the street suddenly is every parent’s worst nightmare. It is also the nightmare of every driver. To help prevent an accident, scan sidewalks and the areas between cars to stay alert for any children who might dash out into the street.

4) More parked cars. Around Halloween, more parties and events can mean more parked cars on streets as revellers look for parking spots close to their destinations. This can make it hard to notice children in between the cars. Slow down and watch carefully.

5) Poor lighting. Some homeowners drape their outdoor lighting for a “spooky” effect. Unfortunately, this can create a problem for both pedestrians and drivers who need to deal with worse lighting. Ensure that your own house lights are bright. If you are driving in a poorly-lit area, use your high beams to see correctly.

6) Distractions on the road. Gorgeous Halloween decorations can be distracting, but in the time it takes to stare at a beautifully decorated home, you could be in a collision. Consider taking a walk to enjoy all the decorations in your community so that you won’t be distracted when you drive by them.

7) Late road work. Many municipalities launch road projects and construction projects in the autumn, hoping to have these activities completed by winter. Road work can make driving even trickier, so slow down and watch for signs.

If your teen driver has recently become licensed, Halloween may represent the biggest challenge your driver has experienced yet. It may be a good idea to sit down with your teen and discuss some rules of Halloween driving. Here are some tips on how to do that:

1) Encourage your teen to stay alert and slow down. Children can appear out of nowhere on the road during Halloween. Not all children wait for crosswalks or lights, especially if they are trick or treating or are running between Halloween parties. Your teen will only have time to stop in time if he or she stays alert and watches for children. Encourage your teen driver to drive through residential areas more slowly at this time of year and ensure that your teen is not texting, using their cell phone or otherwise distracted while driving.

2) Consider a no-Halloween driving rule. If your teen has just gotten their license, consider limiting driving to only daylight hours or consider banning your teen for driving on Halloween, just until he or she gains more confidence behind the wheel.

3) Make sure that your teen driver knows to be cautious in the days leading up to Halloween can also be dangerous. Many teens know to be extra-cautious on Halloween night, but excited children dashing into the street do not just happen on Halloween night. In fact, on Halloween itself, children are often supervised. However, children may be in costume – and less closely supervised – when heading home from school in costume or when attending Halloween parties. These situations make pedestrian accidents even more likely because drivers are just not as prepared.

4) Ensure your teen has the experience and the training to drive safe. A refresher course or defensive driving classes can be especially useful for your teen at this time of year, as they can help your teen avoid collisions and accidents. If your teen was licensed and trained in the summer, consider additional training to help your teen adjust to bad weather conditions.

5) Consider having an adult drive with your teen. This can be handy on Halloween, when extra distractions (such as decorated houses and extra pedestrians) can be a problem.

6) If your teen is going to Halloween parties, discuss your no-fault drunk driving rules. There should be one drunk driving rule in your home: never do it. However, if your teen is going to Halloween parties, it is a good idea to remind your teen not to drink and drive. Make sure that your teen has cab fare to get home or knows that he or she can call you at any time for a ride without having to face punishment or penalties.

When many drivers are pulled over for speeding, they are surprised to find that they were speeding. While in some cases drivers are simply embarrassed to be caught speeding, in other cases drivers are genuinely caught unaware, since their speed increased gradually while they were not paying attention. Experts agree that speeding – whether intentional or not – can cause serious car accidents that can result in serious personal injuries, such as head trauma, burn injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries. As a result, every driver should take care to avoid speeding for any reason. Here’s how:

1) Stay alert to what is happening with your car. Get into the habit of glancing at your dashboard from time to time. Good drivers do this, because they know it is the only way to ensure that the car is working well and that things are going well. Looking at the numbers on your dashboard ensures that you notice your speed and adjust it accordingly.

2) Avoid highway hypnosis. Highway hypnosis occurs when you drive on a freeway or highway for an extended period of time and essentially stop focusing on your driving due to fatigue and repetitive motions and scenery. If you must drive for extended periods of time, get plenty of rest, take frequent breaks and consciously stay alert and focused on your driving.

3) Use cruise control correctly. Cruise control features are useful as they allow you to set a specific speed and remain at that speed without you having to adjust the gas pedal. On the highway, cruise control keeps your speed constant and ensures that you do not begin to creep over the speed limit. Always use cruise control only with highway driving. Most other types of driving require you to adjust your speed regularly.

4) Avoid distractions in the car. Using your mobile device, changing your music selections, eating, and other distractions do not allow you to notice many things, including how fast you are really going.

5) Avoid speeding on purpose. Avoid speeding when you are relatively sure you will not get caught. It’s a dangerous habit and it gets your body used to a faster speed, so that you lose the instinct for what the regular speed limit feels like. If you speed from time to time, you are more likely to speed in areas where you will be caught, so obey speed limits at all times.

6) Notice road signs. Speed limits change, so make sure that you obey and notice all traffic and road signs. It is your responsibility as a driver.

7) Never drink and drive. Alcohol leads to drunk driving accidents and even a few drinks can lower your inhibitions and can make you less liable to notice when you are speeding.

Few car devices or safety accessories are as vital as the humble seat belt. Although decidedly low-tech, the seat belt has saved countless lives and has prevented many injuries. Seat belts keep you in place after a car collision, and therefore prevent you from being tossed around in the car or being ejected through the windshield. In this way, seat belts can help prevent brain injuries, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, and other serious harm. Everyone should wear a seat belt in the car, each time you step into a car.

Seat belts have been around for a long time. Manufacturer Volvo created and used seat belts as early as 1849, although many historians credit the first true seat belts to be the invention of George Cayley in the late nineteenth century.

Seat belts came to the US in 1885. In February of that year, the first US patent for a car seat belt was awarded to Edward J. Claghorn. Claghorn’s seat belt was United States Patent #312,085 and was described as “a Safety-Belt for tourists.” The patent describes this early US seat belt as a safety device that used hooks and other attachments to secure a “person to a fixed object.”

Early seat belts were not very similar to the design of seat belts today. It was not until Swedish inventor Nils Bohlin came up with the idea and design of the three-point seat belt that seat belts became similar to what we are familiar with today. By 1959, Bohlin – who worked for the manufacturer Volvo – had created the lap-and-shoulder three-point seat belt with which we are familiar. This seat belt became standard in Volvo cars by 1959. Bohlin received U.S. Patent 3,043,625 for his seat belt, which was called a CIR-Griswold restraint by some. However, although Bohlin is often credited with developing the first CIR-Griswold restraint, a form of the first three-point restraint was first patented by American inventors Hugh De Haven and Roger W. Griswold.

Over time, seat belts became standard devices in cars around the world. American company Ford began offering the seat belt as an option as early as 1955. The American car company Nash began offering the device as an option in 1949. Swedish car maker Saab made seatbelts standard in 1958 and when the device was featured at car shows by Saab, many other car companies began offering seat belts as a standard safety device in their models as well.

Although seat belts were found in many cars by the 1960s, laws did not reflect the importance of the device. Australia’s state Victoria became the first place in the world to pass a law making seat belts mandatory. The law required front-seat passengers and drivers to wear a seat belt while in the car. The law was passed in 1970. In the US in 1986, both the Senate and the House voted to make seat belts mandatory for all passengers and drivers at all times.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The leaves are often beautiful and abundant and for many families, there is a tradition of the fall drive in order to enjoy the beautiful trees. Unfortunately, driving while looking at trees can result in car accidents and resulting personal injuries. Here are some tips on enjoying the fall leaves while staying safe:

1) Consider parking first and then walking. There are many areas – such as parks and country lanes – where you can park your car and walk. This can be a wonderful way to enjoy the weather as well as the autumn. Taking a stroll lets everyone enjoy the leaves and even gives you the chance to pick some fallen leaves to take home for craft projects.

2) Arrange a car ride with two drivers. If you need to drive to look at leaves (because you live in an urban area, for example), consider designating two drivers. One person can drive while everyone else watches the scenery. After some time, the drivers can switch so that the other driver can enjoy the scenery, too. This ensures that each driver can watch the road and still enjoy the drive.

3) Minimize other distractions. Fall leaves and unfamiliar country roads are distracting enough. Put away cell phones, mobile devices, loud music, and other distractions so that you can focus on the drive.

4) Go to an area without too many pedestrians. Plan your drive in advance and consider traffic when you plan. Look for areas with lots of trees but minimal pedestrian traffic and car traffic. This will help reduce the possibility of pedestrian accidents and car collisions.

5) Slow down. Slowing down not only ensures that everyone can enjoy the scenery, but it also gives you more time to stop in case you need to.

6) Ensure that everyone in the car wears a seat belt. A safety belt is a must, even if you want extra movement to look at leaves. A seat belt prevents you from flying through the windshield and sustaining serious spinal cord injuries or brain injuries. In an accident, a seat belt can save your life.

Autumn is a gorgeous time of year, but it is also a time when car accidents can be especially dangerous. Slippery road conditions and changing weather conditions can make things more risky for drivers. It’s a good idea to have your car checked and maintained at this time of year to ensure safe driving through the New Year. Here are some things you will want to check:

1) Fluids and oil. You will want to ensure that you have antifreeze and fresh oil in your car to ensure that your car is working at its peak. Have a qualified mechanic check all your fluids to ensure that your car functions correctly. Also, make sure that you are topped up on windshield fluid. Rain and other fall weather conditions can wreak havoc with your windshield and visibility, so having good wipers and wiper fluid is important.

2) Mechanical soundness. Make sure that all major systems are working well. If you have any leaks, knocks, or strange sounds, now is the time to have them checked out, before your car causes a car accident and personal injury.

3) Brakes. Fall often means slippery streets, as leaves and other debris mix with the rain during the season. You need to ensure that your brakes work perfectly, so that you can stop to avoid a collision or a pedestrian accident if you need to.

4) Mirrors and windows. During the autumn, days become shorter and evenings are often darker. Small cracks and flaws in your windows can make it harder to see and poor mirror placement can cause an accident. Make sure that you enjoy the most visibility possible.

5) Tires. Make sure that your tires have good treads to deal with the increasingly slippery roads of the fall. If your tires are looking worn-down, replace them. If you will be driving in an area with snow, switch to winter tires that provide you with extra traction. Make sure that your tires are correctly aligned and have good air pressure, as well, as this can affect the overall handling of your vehicle.

Could your car be making you sick? Most drivers only consider personal injuries when they are in a car accident that causes a brain injury, burn injury, or other serious personal injury. However, there are chemicals in your car which can be making you ill even before you turn on the engine.

Cars are made from metals, plastics, glass, and upholstery. Unfortunately, some of the products used in making cars contain toxic chemicals. In fact, the “new car smell” is created by chemicals which include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), known to be toxic. Even if you don’t drive a new car, there are chemicals in your car.

For example, most cars contain at least three types of bromine. Bromine is a naturally occurring element that is combined with other chemicals and added to the plastics in a car. It is used because when combined with other chemicals, bromine is a fire retardant. When the plastics in your car are heated they can release bromine chemicals into your air. Long-term exposure to bromine has been shown to cause behavioural problems, fertility problems, thyroid ailments, and memory loss.

Another common chemical found in many cars is chlorine. Chlorine is used in cars to make a plastic known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride). When your car is cool or very warm, PVC plastic releases substances known as phthalates, which have been linked to fertility problems, liver damage, red blood cell damage and other problems. While chlorine is a common substance and is considered safe in small amounts, its use as part of PVC plastics is troubling. PVCs have received much attention for their detrimental health effects in recent years.

Many cars also contain lead, which most people now know is very hazardous. Lead is added to many plastics in a car and when these plastics become heated, the lead is present in the interior of the car. Lead has been linked to childhood behavioural and development problems as well as brain damage, reproductive problems, and damage to the nerves, kidneys, and blood.

In addition to these chemicals, many cars also contain mercury, arsenic, chromium and other potentially harmful chemicals. Since many of these chemicals are released by having the plastics in the car heated, you can reduce your exposure to these chemicals by leaving windows in your car open for ventilation where possible. Keeping your car cabin cool is also helpful. Asking manufacturers and independent companies about ratings and chemical compositions can help, as well. There are many online listings that rate cars according to their chemical components.

Most drivers take driving instruction in order to get their licenses and then never take additional training. Most experts lament this practice, since most drivers could benefit from additional professional instructions. Experts agree that additional training can help drivers avoid common bad habits and can help drivers gain more confidence and skill behind the wheel. This can help drivers avoid car accidents and the personal injuries that they can cause.

While many adult drivers are reluctant to head back to classes in order to hone their driving skills, a number of high-end driving schools promise to teach some very cool racing skills. Both adults and teens might be intrigued to try this type of school, and the good news is that racing classes can help improve driving skills overall.

The BMW Performance Driving School in South Carolina is one popular high-end driving school. The school takes drivers on a demanding two-mile course. While the main aim is to teach skills that are used on the racing track, instructors at the school admit that the skills translate to the road as well. The course includes real-life challenges such as skids (accomplished with a skid pad on the track) and walls of water. The school offers one to three day programs as well as one and two day programs designed especially for teens. The school is open to anyone (not just people who own BMWs).

For all terrain and four-wheeler vehicles, the Land Rover Experience Driving Schools are held around the country and offer skills for drivers who like these sorts of vehicles. In addition to instruction held on a challenging obstacle course, students can take advantage of accommodations which are part of some class packages. The school teaches both on-road and off-road driving skills.

The Audi Sportscar Experience is another racing school with a difference. Held at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, these classes cover accident evasion, braking, steering, and control. There are different full day programs as well as a luxury program that includes a private reception, dinner at luxury local restaurants, and executive accommodations.

At race tracks across the country, you can learn NASCAR-style racing in stock cars via the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Hundreds of thousands of people take part each year and learn the basics of racing, which translate into safer road travel as well. Programs include between 8 and 80 laps for the learner as well as qualifying runs.

Once a car accident occurs, law enforcement authorities arrive on the scene and start to gather evidence for their investigation. Over days or weeks, these authorities put together a version of what has occurred to cause the accident. If someone has hired attorneys, attorneys will usually hire their own private investigators to investigate the causes of an accident. Both law enforcement and investigators will usually look to the same sources to find answers:

1) Witnesses. Anyone who saw the accident occurred may be interviewed about what they saw. Witnesses may include emergency response personnel called to the scene of an accident to tend to personal injuries, passers-by, drivers in other vehicles on the scene, and anyone else who may have seen the accident.

2) Investigating weather and road conditions. Investigators will usually look at weather reports in the area, reports of city work and construction work ordered for the area, and witness reports of weather and road conditions in the area that may have contributed to the accident.

3) Expert witnesses. Expert witnesses may not have been at the scene of an accident, but have specialized knowledge which is admissible in court about factors that affected an accident. For example, a mechanic may be interviewed to explain about the specific flaws in a car model, if a products liability issue may be part of the accident investigation.

4) Medical records. Medical records can help determine whether a driver’s medical condition contributed to an accident. A victim’s medical records from the emergency room and subsequent doctor’s visits can help investigators gauge the seriousness of the injuries and how they might have been sustained in the accident.

5) Background checks. Investigators will often run background checks to check the employment and driving history of a driver or victim. If a driver has previous drunk driving convictions and shows signs of being intoxicated, for example, this can be an important clue for investigators.

6) Mechanical investigations. Investigators will often have a vehicle carefully tested to see how it responds in normal driving conditions. This can help determine whether a product defect has contributed to an accident. A mechanic can also investigate the types of damages a car has sustained to determine what must have happened during the crash to cause the specific type of damage. This can help determine what occurred during an accident.

7) Accident reconstruction. Investigators have access to accident reconstruction software, which allows investigators to create an accurate step-by-step video of what happened during an accident. This can help investigators prove what occurred and what led to the accident.

When most drivers think of drunk driving accidents, they think of car accidents caused by alcohol consumption. While it is true that drunk driving accidents cause fatalities and serious personal injuries – including permanent spinal cord injuries and brain injuries – drivers can be driving under the influence of many substances, not just alcohol. Even if you don’t drink and drive, other things you consume can affect your driving ability. For instance, many drivers overlook the effects of prescription and over the counter drugs on their ability to drive a car.

All medications have side effects, and some medications have side effects that are serious enough to seriously impair your ability as a driver. Some powerful painkillers, for example, may make you feel groggy or may slow your response times. Some medications can cause dizziness, confusion, and vision problems, which can affect a person’s ability to drive a vehicle. In addition, some medications can interact with other medications to produce unwanted side effects. In rarer cases, bad allergic reactions to medications can cause unwanted and dangerous side effects.

Driving while using prescription drugs can have serious consequences. If the medications cause vision problems, slow response times, and fatigue, it is possible that a driver will lose control of the vehicle or fail to act quickly enough to prevent an accident. Accidents caused by drivers driving under the influence of medication can cause serious property damage as well as fatalities, brain injuries, burn injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries.

If you are taking a new medication, it is important to speak to your pharmacist and doctor about the medication. Ask about any expected side effects and any possible interactions with other medications and over the counter medications you are taking. Also, ask about any possible allergic reactions. Read labels carefully. If a drug advises you not to drive or not operate heavy machinery, you should not drive a vehicle while taking the medication.

If you drive under the influence of medications that can affect your ability to drive, you ma be held liable in the event of an accident. Such accidents may also spark investigations of prescribing doctors and drug manufacturers. In some cases, medical malpractice suits can arise if a physician negligently prescribes a medication. In some cases, drug companies are held partly liable if their product contributes to an accident and it is found that the drug did not have adequate testing or labelling to help customers recognize the dangers of the medication.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was on medication, you need to consult a qualified Florida attorney. A Florida personal injury attorney can investigate the causes of the crash and can help protect you legally so that you have access to all the medical resources available to you under the law.

Driving while tired can cause as many dangerous situations as drunk driving accidents. Driving drunk is considered a danger because drivers lose inhibitions and have slower reaction times. Drivers who do not get adequate sleep are just as dangerous and for the same reasons. Drivers who get too little sleep have slow response times and are liable to make more mistakes. In addition, drivers who have had no sleep or too little sleep can literally fall asleep behind the wheel and plow into another vehicle or pedestrian.

Research by AAA Mid-Atlantic, an advocacy group by drivers, has found that 33% of all drivers admit they have drowsed or fallen asleep behind the wheel. Researchers have found that 1500 people die in the US each year due to car accident caused by sleepy drivers. Sleepy drivers also caused many serious personal injuries, including brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other permanent disabilities.

The message is clear: if you are tired, do not get behind the wheel of a car. Take a taxi or take a short nap, but avoid driving. Driving on highways while tired can be especially deadly, since highway hypnosis can set in with monotonous landscapes and few turns. Driving anywhere while drowsy is a bad idea.

Some drivers try to compensate for drowsiness by playing loud music or by using caffeine. Most experts note that such tactics do not work. If you are already alert, fresh cold air or loud music can help you feel more alert, but it will not wake you up if you are sleepy. Caffeine and energy risks are also a risk because their effects eventually wear off, leaving you more tired. If you have had no sleep at all, extra caffeine may not even be enough to keep you awake.

There is no alternative to good sleep. If you know you need to go somewhere, take a power nap first and ensure you get a good night’s rest. If you are driving a long distance, take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and to get some rest. If you get tired or drowsy while driving, pull over and take a nap (leave your flashers on) or find a motel and get a few hours of sleep before continuing on your journey. It is better to arrive late and safe than not to arrive at all.

Drowsy drivers are linked to 1500 fatal car accidents each year. Research has shown that drowsy driving accidents and drunk driving accidents are similar. Drivers who do not get enough sleep often have the same slow response times and make mistakes, just like drivers driving under the influence. To avoid car accidents and pedestrian accidents caused by drowsiness, get a good night’s rest. Here’s how:

1) Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about your current medications and conditions. Some may cause you to feel drowsy while others may interfere with your ability to sleep. Get advice from medical professionals on ways to minimize these effects.

2) Set up a good place to sleep. Your sleeping area should be well-ventilated, dark, quiet, and not too noisy. Leave the window open if you live in a quiet area to enjoy some fresh air. If your air quality is poor, consider an air purifier. Use a humidifier if your bedroom tends to be dry. Experiment with furnishings and bed linens until you find a restful environment. Ban the TV from the bedroom. Research has shown that falling asleep with a TV on results in a less restful sleep.

3) Set up a regular schedule. You will have an easier time waking up if you go to sleep and wake up at the same time each night. Your body will get used to your schedule and naturally fall asleep at your bed time, resulting in a better, longer sleep.

4) Have a night time ritual. A relaxing ritual lets you fall asleep more easily and lets you enjoy a relaxing sleep. An hour or two before sleep, stop any loud noises in your home (such as a TV or radio) and stop and hectic activity. Change into comfortable clothing and consider drinking a warm, soothing beverage, such as chamomile tea or warm milk. Relax quietly in a darkened room until you feel drowsy enough to sleep.

5) Get more shut eye by going to bed earlier. Going to bed earlier has been proven in many research studies to result in a better sleep. Many people find they are more rested by retiring well before midnight. Experiment with different bed times until you find one that suits you.

6) If you are getting many hours of sleep but are still tired, visit your doctor. You may have a condition that is preventing you from enjoying a restful sleep. Similarly, if you are having trouble getting to sleep, your doctor may be able to help.

Now that school is opening and children are heading back to classes, drivers need to be extra cautious. Twice a day, children walk to and from school and to and from school buses to be taken to and from school. Pedestrian accidents can happen when children run out into the street or exit a school bus unsafely. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents involving children are more likely to result in fatalities or serious personal injuries, since children are much smaller and therefore less able to survive the impact of a vehicle. Now is a good time to review some driving tips for back to school:

1) Know your school bus safety. If you are driving and you see a stopped school bus in front of you with lights flashing and/or the stop arm extended, you are required to stop. If you drive up to an intersection and there is a school bus there that is stopped and has its lights flashing and its stop sign extended, you are required to stop. In both instances, you need to stop a minimum of ten feet away from the school bus and you must wait until the school bus withdraws its stop sign and turns its lights off before proceeding. Failure to do so will result in a fine and possible suspension of your license.

2) Get familiar with schools and school times on your route. If you commute to work, note where schools are located on your route. Then, find out when school lunch breaks are and when schools open and end. This will give you a sense of when the area will be congested with traffic and pedestrian traffic. You might want to find an alternative route to work if you will need to drive through a busy school zone every day.

3) Get your car inspected. You need to be able stop quickly if a child runs out in front of your car. Make sure that your car is in good mechanical condition and will respond correctly.

4) If you do drive through a busy school zone, use extra caution. Keep in mind that children may run out without using crosswalks or may be hidden between cars. Also, keep in mind that although pedestrian traffic will be heaviest closest to a school, children may be walking a few blocks away.

5) Be wary of street parking in school areas. If street parking is allowed near a school, children can easily hide between cars and jump out into traffic while playing. Keep a close eye out for children between cars. Keep in mind, too, that busy parents dropping off their children may be pulling in and out of street parking spots quickly in a school zone, sometimes without looking carefully.

Many parents drop their children off at school, and this can cause congestion and dangerous conditions in the school zone area. If you need to drop your child off at school on a regular basis, consider these tips to prevent pedestrian accidents and car collisions:

1) Arrange a car pool or walking group. If you live close to school, arrange to have two adults walk a group of children to school each day. The parents can stop off at each child’s home and walk the children to school. If you have to drive, arrange a car pool. Both solutions will free up more of your time and reduce congestion in front of the school.

2) Do not drive tired, stressed, or rushed. School zones are filled with children running into the road, cars pulling in and out of school parking spots, and other hazards. If you are tired, in a rush, or stressed, you may make a mistake that causes an accident. School zone driving requires all your attention. If you cannot safely drive your child, take them to school in a cab or find another way to school.

3) Park a little away from the school and walk your child to school. It takes a little extra time, but it allows you to spend some time with your child and allows you to avoid the hectic and dangerous traffic near the school. The extra bit of exercise will also get your child’s day started on the right foot.

4) Leave early. If you need to get to work after dropping your child off at school, leave early and drop your child off at school early. Make sure your school has a safe waiting area or supervised playground for children before the bell rings. Many accidents and personal injuries can be prevented in the early morning hours if only parents gave themselves more time.

5) Pay attention to school bus zones and traffic signals. If a sign says no idling or parking, obey the sign. Never try to park in a school bus parking zone – even for a minute – and never try to pass a school bus that is loading children on or off. Not only will this result in fines, but it is extremely dangerous.

Sleepy drivers are a major cause of car accidents, killing roughly 1500 Americans a year. Sleepy drivers are liable to fall asleep behind the wheel, make mistakes, or react too slowly to prevent a car accident. Many drivers, unfortunately, assume that if they have had a full night of sleep, they are not dangerous behind the wheel. This is not true. Many factors can create a sleepy driver and can cause a car accident:

1) Medications. Some medications make you groggy or drowsy. Each time you are given new medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about the ways the medication may affect your driving skills. Check your over the counter medication, too. If a medication makes you drowsy, do not drive while taking it.

2) Medical conditions. Some medical conditions can make you drowsy or can slow your response times. For example, some brain injuries can cause you to drowse off easily and some neurological conditions can cause you to be groggier than usual. If you have been diagnosed with a new condition, ask your doctor how it will affect your daily tasks, including driving.

3) Poor sleep. Even if you have a full eight hours of sleep, you may not be adequately rested to drive. If you have woken up frequently, had terrible dreams, or slept in a new environment, you may be tired all day. If you are drowsy or tired, you should not drive.

4) Too little sleep. If you have slept less than your usual amount, you may feel fine but your body may still compensate by allowing you to fall into micro sleeps – small bursts of sleep or sleepiness that last only seconds. These few micro seconds may be enough to cause a serious accident.

5) Tiredness. Some days we all wake up feeling tired for no reason. You may be getting a cold, you may have gotten a poor sleep. There may be no reason for your tiredness, but your fatigue could still cause an accident.

6) Alcohol. Alcohol has a soporific effect on most people. In fact, you are more likely to feel drowsy before you feel inebriated. Many drunk driving accidents are caused by inebriated drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel. Don’t become one of them.

7) Highway hypnosis. If you have been driving on the highway for some time, you may start to feel drowsy simply from the monotony of driving. Stop at a rest stop, take a different route or do something to wake yourself.

8) Too much driving. Even if you are awake and refreshed when you start driving, if you drive long enough you will eventually get tired. If this happens, do not continue driving. Find a motel and sleep before continuing.

If you have a teen driver, you will want to create a driver contract that both you and your teen sign. This contract should outline all your responsibilities, all your teen’s driving duties, and the punishment if one of you breaks the contract. A contract helps put in writing what you need your teen to do to remain safe. Having everything in writing also helps to reinforce the importance of safe driving. In your contract, you will want to include:

1) No distraction rules. You will want to include rules about cell phone and other device distractions. You might want to limit the number of passengers or you might want to ensure that your teen is not playing music above a certain volume (so that he or she can hear auditory traffic cues).

2) No dangerous driving rules. You may want to include rules about tailgating, road rage, cutting people off, no signaling, and other dangerous behaviors. You may need to promise your teen that you will not engage in these rules, either, and stick to that promise.

3) No drinking and driving rules. Both you and your teen should sign a contract that ensures neither of you will drink or drive or use dangerous substances and drive. Drinking and driving accidents remain a leading cause of fatalities across all age groups.

4) Rules about dangerous situations. If your teen is drunk, make sure that you stipulate in your contract that he or she can contact you at any time and you will not be angry. Outline in your contract what your teen should do in various dangerous situations on the road and each time in the contract reiterate that you will not be angry. Ensure that your teen driver can call you if something bad does happen.

5) Rules about accidents. Make sure your teen knows what to do if they are in a pedestrian accident or car collision. Outline everything in the contract so that your teen will know what steps to take.

If you have a teen driver in your home, he or she may be excited about driving to school during the school year. While a teen driving to school can reduce your own errands in the morning, morning traffic and an inexperienced driver can mean car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and injuries. Here’s how to ensure your teen gets to class safe:

1) Arrange a safe parking spot. Ensure that your teen has their own parking spot near the school. Find a spot that is easy for your teen to back into, given their driving level. Having a parking spot ready ensures that your teen isn’t driving around and around, looking for a parking spot and not focusing on the road.

2) Decide on a route and practice. Have your teen select a route to school and take the car out together on a typical morning to ensure that the route is not too busy. Avoid routes that have heavy traffic, school zones, and other hazards. Time the route and decide when your teen will need to leave to get to schools safely.

3) Get the car checked out. Ensure that the car is safe to drive and will not experience mechanical failure en route to school. Mechanical failure can lead to accidents, especially with a less experienced driver behind the wheel.

4) Limit passengers and errands. It may be tempting to have your teen drop off younger children at school. And your teen may be pressured to give friends a ride to school. At the start, though, limit other passengers. They are a major distraction. In early morning traffic, especially, that can be dangerous.

5) Develop a no-cell phone rule. Ensure that your teens are not texting or calling while driving. This is a major cause of accidents and many teens may not appreciate the dangers of texting and driving.

If your teen is sixteen years old this year, he or she will likely be looking forward to getting his or her driving license this year. Many parents are excited for their children when their children get a license, but young drivers do have a high accident rate. Here’s how to ensure that your driver is safe behind the wheel:

1) Start training early. Even before your child reaches driving age, get your child a booklet or text book about driving. Go through the book together and learn the rules of the road. Help your child test themselves about road signs and rules. By the time your child has to apply for a license, he or she will have the basic knowledge on hand.

2) Help your child find good role models. Find a good driver in your family who is willing to take your child out once a week on a drive to explain the basic rules of the road. Make sure your child knows some good drivers and has a chance to emulate them.

3) Set rules – and follow them yourself. Many teen accidents causing personal injuries are caused by driver inattention. Make sure your teen is not texting or talking on a cell phone while driving and limit night driving and the number of passengers in your teen’s car until your teen has more experience behind the wheel. Your rules, though, will have more weight if you avoid distractions behind the wheel yourself.

4) Budget for extra driving instruction. Most driving instruction provides a minimum amount of behind the wheel instruction. Put aside extra money so your teen can get extra in-car lessons and possibly a defensive driving course. This will build your driver’s skill level and help them prevent accidents.

5) Make driving a privilege. You known your child. If your teen takes big risks on a skateboard or bike, those same risks on the road can kill. Have your child wait until he or she is mature enough to drive before getting a license.

Young drivers today usually take some form of basic driving education before getting their license. However, some experts suggest that teen drivers could benefit from more classes and especially more practical experience. These experts note that additional, practical training can dramatically reduce car accidents involving new drivers and can help prevent resulting personal injuries, such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. For your teen’s next birthday or holiday, consider giving the gift of these classes:

1) Defensive Driving Classes. Defensive driving classes go beyond basic driver’s education and teach drivers how to actually react in collisions and how to avoid accidents. These classes can help save your teen’s life. In many states, they can also help reduce the cost of your teen’s car insurance.

2) Additional In-Car Classes. In many states and in many driver education programs, young drivers are given classroom training as well as behind-the-wheel training. The problem is that in many cases, in-car training comprises only a few hours – 10 hours or less in many cases. In addition, many classes have several students in a car at the same time during in-car training, so teens don’t get personalized one-on-one in-car training. Additional in-car training for your teen can help give your teen more practice behind the wheel as well as more personalized instruction from a qualified teacher.

3) Accident Classes or Seminars. Local chapters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as well as some police authorities organize seminars or workshops about car accidents. Often, these workshops warn teens against dangerous driving behaviors – such as drinking and driving or texting while driving. These seminars often include graphic reminders of what can happen when drivers take risks on the road. These workshops and presentations can be an effective way to show your teen why safety is important. In many cases, you can arrange for your teen’s school to offer these instructional programs for free.

4) CPR Classes. CPR or first-aid classes are useful for your teen, whether your teen is interested in becoming a lifeguard or a babysitter. CPR training is useful for anyone, but it can be especially useful if your teen is in an accident. If your teen is in an accident and has CPR training he or she can help people at the scene and can help treat some personal injuries on the scene until paramedics arrive.

5) Racing Classes. Many teens love the idea of racing cars and would welcome racing classes. Racing classes are also an effective way to teach your teen additional driving skills.

Soon, Florida students across the state will be headed back to classes. From children entering kindergarten for the first time to college seniors almost ready to join the work force, Florida is full of students. Many students get dropped off at school or walk to school. In the autumn months, this can mean an increase in pedestrian accidents and other accidents involving children and cars. Here’s how you can keep your child safe:

1) If you have a young child, now is the time to relearn pedestrian safety. If your child is in the early grades or is joining a new school in a new area, now is the time to take strolls to and from school. This is a great way to teach your child the basics of safety and also gives you a chance to notice any potential problems. If you notice a busy intersection or other troubling aspect of the walk, for example, you might want to arrange a buddy system for your child or make arrangements to walk your child yourself each day.

2) If you will be driving your child to school, look for a good route. Take a few different routes to your child’s school and find one that will be quietest and safest, with fewest traffic snafus. Time yourself and add a few minutes so that you know when you have to leave in the mornings.

3) Get your car tuned up. If you are driving your child to school, you want to make sure that your car is in great condition. This is actually a great time for everyone to get a basic tune up. Being able to stop quickly and having a car that handles well is essential during the school year, when children are on the streets and roads before and after school.

4) Don’t assume older children know everything there is to know about road safety. Even if your children are older, it might be a good idea to go over some basic rules about getting to and from school. You might want to go over stranger rules or rules regarding taking bicycles to school.

5) If your older child will be driving to school, go over some ground rules. If you have a teen who will be driving to school for the first time, work together to find a non-congested route to school. Make sure your teen won’t be talking on a cell phone or texting while driving – that type of distraction in rush hour traffic can be fatal.

6) Make arrangements for walking. If your child will be walking to school, consider setting up a group of children who can walk together or a group of adults or children who can walk together to ensure that everyone gets to school safe.

Due to the statistics available about car accidents and young drivers, many car rental companies refuse to rent vehicles to drivers under the age of twenty-five. Other car rental companies substantially increase the fees and costs for young drivers. If you are under twenty-five and need to rent a car, therefore, your first aim should be to find a rental agency offering good prices and terms for younger drivers.

Since statistics do bear out rental agency concerns about younger drivers, you will of course want to take every precaution while on the road. You can do this in a number of ways:

1) Leave your cell phone or mobile device turned off in the car. Studies have proven that distraction caused by cell phones and mobile devices is a major source of accidents. A cell phone is handy in an emergency, but keep the device off until you are parked. Even if you usually talk and drive, keep in mind that you are less familiar with a rental car than your usual vehicle and you cannot afford to be distracted.

2) Take is easy. When you first get your rental car, take it along some quieter streets and familiarize yourself with the vehicle. The car may have slightly different steering, mirrors, and dash than you are familiar with, so get to know the car before you take it into more challenging driving situations.

3) Wear your seatbelt. It’s the easiest way to prevent serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries and other personal injuries associated with car accidents.

4) Avoid speeding at all costs. Speeding has been shown to contribute to most car accidents. Not only will staying within speed limits keep you safer, but it will also help you avoid the hassle of a speeding ticket.

5) Stay alert. Driving in an unfamiliar car is challenging enough, so keep aware and alert. Keep an eye on other drivers and try to anticipate their moves. Keep your eyes on the road and the road signs, especially if you are driving in an area you don’t know well.

Few things are as tragic as childhood injuries caused by car accidents. Children are often passengers in vehicles and when cars collide, children are far more likely to be seriously injured in the ensuing accident. Due to their smaller body size, children are more likely than adults to sustain life-threatening or fatal injuries.

Children who are in car accidents can sustain many serious injuries, including head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, burn injuries, and other injuries. Since children are smaller, some injuries may affect them more. For example, in the event of a fire after a car accident, it is easier for a child to sustain serious burn injuries over a larger part of their body, simply because their body surface is so much smaller. In the event that children are thrown in a car during a collision, their smaller body weight may cause them to be thrown around the interior of a vehicle much more than an adult. One reason children may deserve a larger compensation, therefore, is because their injuries are more likely to be severe.

Another reason why children may deserve a larger compensation after a car accident is because their injuries are more likely to be long-lasting. Since children are still growing, they may experience some complications from some car-related injuries. For example, a severe burn injury may affect the way a child’s muscles or tissue grows and develops. Since the tissue is still growing, this can affect how effectively the burned area recovers after an accident.

Some experts also argue that children deserve more compensation after a car accident injury because more than one person is affected by the injury. When an adult is injured, he or she may lose wages because he or she is seeking medical care. While a child with similar injuries also loses school time, the guardians of the child must lose wages and work time as they travel to and fro with the child to seek medical care. A larger compensation amount can help defray this additional cost.

Some people argue that children should receive more compensation after a car accident injury because children may suffer more after an injury. While adults may rationalize or explain away some of the fears and anxiety after an accident, children lack the emotional maturity to find reasons for an accident. They are also less likely to withstand pain easily.

Children may also deserve a larger compensation from a car accident because a car accident and permanent injury may affect their ability to earn a wage. An adult who has sustained injuries in an accident may find their ability to earn a wage stymied temporarily or permanently, but children have not had a chance to find jobs or a career. It is difficult to estimate how much a child may have earned had he or she not been in an accident. Some experts argue that children should receive larger settlements because the compensation should compensate for a lifetime of possible wage earnings.

As mobile devices become more popular and as more people send regular texts using these devices, the role of texting while driving becomes an important issue. Many drivers today steer with their knees while typing, try texting with one hand, or text while stopped at red lights. According to experts, no matter how drivers text, texting behind the wheel is a major distraction that can lead to car accidents and the resultant personal injuries and fatalities.

While any driver distraction can lead to car accidents, there is some evidence that texting is especially dangerous on the road. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted a study into the subject and found that drivers who text have a 23 times greater than collision risk than drivers who are not texting. The study was the first comprehensive study of the role of texting on the roads. The study was also the first research initiative that tested texting in real-world driving scenarios, which gave researchers a more precise view of the true impact of texting.

Although many drivers are aware that texting may not be a safe behaviour, many drivers continue to text behind the wheel. Despite the dangers, texting while driving seems common. A Harris Interactive/Intel survey found that 28% of adults report that they text and drive. Another and 8% of drivers admitted that they text and drive regularly or often.

Some experts claim that only a federal ban on texting and stiff fines would compel drivers to give up their mobile devices. It seems that we are simply too reliant on mobile devices, even sacrificing safety and common sense to stay in touch. Rep. Doug Holder of Sarasota has been trying to pass a bill that would make it illegal to send texts or read a mobile device while driving. His efforts have spanned three years but no such bill has yet been passed.

If the cell phone debate is any indication, however, texting will likely not be banned soon. A 1997 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that drivers using cell phones had a quadrupled chance of being in a collision than drivers not using cell phones. A 2003 study out of Harvard concluded that cell phones were responsible for 636,000 car accidents, 2,600 car fatalities, 330 000 personal injuries, and $43 billion in costs. Despite these long-term studies, cell phones are not banned in most states – most drivers can talk and drive. There is no federal ban on cell phones behind the wheel.

Many drivers who cause injuries or property damage while texting are given minimal penalties. Some are charged with careless driving, which carries only small penalties and no criminal charges. So far, only fourteen states have made it illegal to send texts while driving. Florida is not one of the fourteen.

A new statute in Florida may soon see frequent-collision drivers headed back to school. Under the new rules, any driver who is in three accidents in a period of three years will need to pass driving school before being allowed to drive again. The driver with three or more crashes will need to take on-road training and will need to pass the driving test, much like a new driver.

The new statute aims to reduce the number of car accidents and serious injuries resulting from car accidents. Some areas of Florida – notably Miami, Hillsborough county, Pinellas county, and Jacksonville – have very high car accident rates. The accidents in these areas cause many fatalities as well as serious burn injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and other serious injuries.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, crowded roads and rapid population growth may be contributing to the number of collisions. However, a number of drivers who seem to be in repeat crashes may also be contributing to the accident rates. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, over 3 200 Florida motorists sustain three or more accidents in a three year term. Many experts believe that a motorist with so many accidents may be unsafe and should be re-evaluated for safety and training.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the majority of repeat accident drivers are not senior citizens or teens. Most have been behind the wheel for 15 years or so and have become over–confident while also developing some bad habits. The new law, which will be in place by January 1, aims to help drivers deal with these habits.

So far, it is unknown whether drivers who are instructed to get mandatory training after three accidents will seek exemption. However, most experts agree that extra training and evaluation is a good idea for many drivers who have been in a car accident. Training helps to target those bad habits that can lead to accidents and can make a driver feel more comfortable behind the wheel again after an accident.

Product defects affect just about every industry, but it is especially troubling if your car is recalled as unsafe. A car with a design flaw can be a major danger on the road and can cause serious personal injury or even death in a car accident. Unfortunately, car recalls are widespread and studies suggest that some motorists are not paying as much attention to recalls as they should.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that many motorists and car owners do not keep up to date with car recalls. Some people do not even check recall information when buying a used car. Part of the problem is that it is up to the driver to get repairs completed, and too many drivers simply ignore recalls.

Despite better manufacturing processes, car recalls are still very frequent and very pervasive. In 2008, several models of Ford Motor, Mercury, and Lincoln calls were recalled after a flawed cruise control switch was found to be a hazard. The switch was found to cause fires even when the car was parked and turned off. The recall became one of the largest issued, at about $12 million. The NHTSA has reported that 5 million of the recalled cars are still not repaired and remain on the roads, prompting the NHTSA to make repeated appeals to customers of these cars to seek repairs.

One reason why so many drivers ignore recalls is that we are inundated with them each day. Recalls are issued all the time, and some involve minor issues such as window wipers while others involve life-threatening issues such as the faulty cruise control in the Ford cars. Drivers who have new cars are contacted about recalls but may ignore them. Drivers who own used cars need to do their own research and often fail to do so. The NHTSA has a site (www.nhtsa.gov) listing all recalls. It is a good site to bookmark.

According to the NHSTA only about 30% of recalled child safety seats are repaired or returned, and only 50% of recalled tires are returned or repaired. On general car safety recalls, only 70% of cars are returned or repaired. This means that a significant number of drivers continue to drive with cars, child safety seats, or tires that are known to be unsafe.

In 2008, car makers recalled 14.5 million cars. In 2006, only 11.2 million cars were recalled. While this is still lower than the record set in 2004 (when 30.8 million cars were recalled), the fact is that with so many cars recalled, the numbers of unsafe cars on the road is unacceptably high. Experts at the NHSTA worry that customers are ignoring recalls without fully understanding how these recalls could affect them, their passengers, and others on the road.

A new study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that almost 65% of near car collisions and 80% of all car accidents occur because motorists are eating or drinking. According to the study, food and drink are a major distraction for drivers and drivers who are focused on eating or drinking have slower response times and are less able to react quickly to sudden changes in road conditions or to dangers on the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study has found that some foods are worse than others when it comes to driving. Coffee seems to be the worst danger for drivers. The liquid is hot and can easily spill on a driver, even when secured with a lid. A sudden burn injury behind the wheel – even a minor one – can cause a driver to swerve, drive erratically, and take their eyes off the road. A driver who has spilled coffee on themselves is rarely ever thinking about their driving, and that’s a key danger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study.

After coffee, the other major dangers behind the wheel include, in order: soup, tacos, chili dogs, hamburgers, ribs and wings, fried chicken, jelly doughnuts, soda and chocolate. Soup is similar to coffee in that it can easily spill and burn a driver, distracting the driver from the road. Chili dogs, hamburgers, ribs and wings, fried chicken, and jelly doughnuts are all potentially messy foods that can spill or drip, distracting the driver from the road. As well, many of these foods require more than one hand to eat. For example, driver might be tempted to take both hands off the wheel to dip wings or chicken in sauce. Most of these foods are also quite greasy or messy and can cause the driver to have a poor grip of the wheel.

One of the most troubling aspects of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study is that so many people eat and drive. Drive-thrus are designed to allow people to eat on the road and most drivers who get take-out at a drive-thru eat in their car while driving. On longer trips, many people eat while driving to save time. As many of us get busier, having a snack or a coffee on the road has become quite common. In fact, according to an ExxonMobil Corporation study, over 70% of drivers eat while driving while 83% of drivers admit to drinking beverages on the road.

There are currently no laws against eating or drinking non-alcoholic products while driving, but as a result of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, some communities may want to rethink their legislation. From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, it would appear that forbidding drivers to eat or drink while driving can save lives and can prevent many personal injuries.

Until laws are put in place, it is evident from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study what drivers must do. If you are hungry or thirsty, pull over before eating or drinking anything. If you go through a drive-thru, wait until you get home to eat and drink your purchases, or eat them in the parking lot of the restaurant. The extra few minutes you might save by eating on the go are not worth the risk.

Alcohol is a major cause of many car accidents, trucking accidents, and motorcycle accidents. In many fatal accidents, alcohol is a factor. Although drunk driving is fully preventable and although the media and many organizations have been teaching about the dangers of drunk driving for years, there are still some people who decide to drive under the influence. There are many ways you can prevent the personal injuries and fatalities that drunk driving causes:

1) Plan ahead. If you know you may be drinking alcohol, designate a sober driver and give that person the keys. Or, plan to take a taxi and bring taxi fare as well as the number of a taxi service. Many people drink and drive simply because they don’t make arrangements for getting home safely.

2) If you have been drinking and don’t have a designated driver, use an alternative means of transportation. Not everyone plans ahead or knows ahead of time when alcohol will be served at an event. If you go out not expecting to drink but find that you do drink, have a plan in place. Have a sober friend you can call, or know how to use mass transit. Always keep a taxi company’s number in your wallet so that you can call for a cab.

3) If you see someone who is about to drive drunk, stop them. Take away their keys or offer to get them home safely using the type of safe transportation you are taking home.

4) If you see someone driving erratically and think that the person may be drunk, call the authorities. A drunk driver on the road is an emergency and should be treated as such. Do not approach the person yourself but do call for help so that the person can be removed from the road before an accident occurs.

5) Don’t assume you can drive. If you have been drinking and have only had a small amount of alcohol, don’t assume that you are sober enough to drive. Many people make this mistake and drive drunk inadvertently, thinking they are fine. If you have any alcohol, take an alternative means of transportation. At the very least, take a breathalyzer – available now at many bars and clubs – to determine whether you are safe to drive.

In the summer, many people take advantage of the beautiful weather to head outside. As well, children are usually home from school and may be playing outside. For drivers, the summer presents new challenges since more pedestrians can mean more car accidents involving pedestrians. These accidents are often especially because they involve children. As well, car-pedestrian accidents are often devastating, leading to fatalities, brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. This summer, here are ways to prevent these accidents:

1) Keep an extra eye out for pedestrians. There are more pedestrians around, so do scan sidewalks and pedestrian walkways as well as the roads as you drive. This can help you spot pedestrians before they try to cross the street.

2) On your usual route, note parks and exits from walking and biking trails. Pedestrians might be coming out of these areas and trying to cross the street. Some may be wearing headphones or talking on the phone, distracting them from traffic.

3) Use extra caution in parking lots. Parking lots are a common site for accidents, and even at the relatively low speeds usual in parking lots, pedestrian-car collisions often prove fatal to pedestrians. Be especially careful to check blind spots for children.

4) Don’t ignore school zones and school bus zones just because it’s summer. In the summer, summer school is still in session and school bus zones are sometimes still in use for camps. As well, school bus zones are often residential areas where children might be playing outside. Even though school is out, school zones still deserve some extra caution.

5) Don’t expect pedestrians to follow road rules. Many pedestrian-car collisions happen because a motorist expected a pedestrian to behave one way and the pedestrian did something unexpected. While pedestrians are expected to follow some rules of the road – such as cross on green lights and cross the street at crosswalks – not all pedestrians follow these rules.

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Although not as common as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, whiplash and brain injuries, burn injuries are a serious injury associated with car accidents. Usually, burn accidents take place in serious car collisions, when fuel spills as a result of the crash and is lit. Burn injuries are often devastating, because they affect a person’s appearance and can even burn and injure tissues and muscles, causing severe pain. Getting help for a burn injury quickly after a car accident can help minimize the impact of a burn and can facilitate healing. After a car accident, if a victim has sustained a burn injury, this is what you should do:

1) Examine the burn site for red skin. If there are no blisters but the victim is in pain and has red skin, the burn is likely a superficial or first-degree burn.

2) Examine the skin for signs of wetness and blistering. If these symptoms are present and the victim is in severe pain, it is possible that the victim has a partial-thickness or second-degree burn.

3) Examine the skin for signs of charring or greyish color. The victim may feel a dull pain or even no pain at all if nerve endings have been severely damaged. In this event, the victim has likely suffered a full-thickness burn, which is also known as a third-degree burn.

4) Evaluate the extent of the burn injuries. Over how much of the patient’s body surface is the burn? The victim’s palm surface is usually seen as 1% of the body surface area, so compare the burned area to the victim’s palm. When calling emergency personnel for help, it is useful to be able to explain what type of burn the victim likely has and the extent of the burn. This can help emergency medical personnel evaluate whether to send a burn unit.

5) If in doubt, contact emergency medical personnel. Even if you think a victim has suffered only a first-degree or superficial burn, keep in mind that sometimes the blisters associated with partial-thickness burns or second-degree burns do not develop for a day or 24 hours, so err on the side of caution. Also, call emergency personnel if there is a burn on the victim’s armpits, hands, face, neck, feet, groin, or buttocks. Burns in these areas can be serious.