South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

One would think with the aging population that resides in Florida, state authorities would jump at the opportunity to offer residents enrollment in the Yellow Dot car program. USA Today reports on the free and simple program that could help save lives in the critical minutes following a car crash.

It is important that first responders know as much information as possible about the victim, including pre-existing health conditions or allergies to medications, so that they can treat the victim accordingly. Elderly drivers often can't answer questions or give pertinent information to the rescue worker, which can slow the response time and sometimes cost victims their lives. Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand the advantages to the Yellow Dot program and hope that Florida jumps on the bandwagon of the eight states that are already participating.

Car accidents in Fort Myers and throughout the state occur daily, many of them resulting in death. The Yellow Dot Car program is simple and easy. Once participants sign up for the program, they are issued a yellow dot emblem to place on the rear window of their registered vehicle. Following a car accident, the first responder checks the rear window for the yellow dot and corresponding yellow folder found in the glove compartment. The yellow folder contains information which includes:

-A personal photo for identification purposes.

-Updated medical information, which includes pre-existing health conditions.

-Current medications prescribed by a physician.

-Allergies related to medications.

-Emergency and hospital preferences.

-Contact phone number for doctors and family members.

The first responder can then treat the crash victim accordingly, even if he or she is unstable or unable to communicate.

Counties throughout the United States are slowly adopting the Yellow Dot program which began in Connecticut in 2002. Our neighboring state Alabama joined in 2009 and has taken full advantage by getting 30,000 to 40,000 citizens to endorse the program. The program will be functioning in 27 counties by this month.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Governors Highway Safety Association are both advocates for the Yellow Dot car program, knowing that the response time in treating severe injuries is critical to saving lives in the "golden hour," or first 60 minutes, following the crash.

"It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes," says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans."

If you have specific health needs, keep a medical record in your vehicle for "just in case" situations where someone may need to treat your injuries quickly. It never hurts to be prepared, and it could save your life.

Continue reading "Older Adults Involved in Fort Myers Car Accidents Could Benefit from Yellow Dot Car Program" »

Florida is one of the few states that has yet to enact a ban on texting while driving. The state is making strides, however, to attempt to curb the dangerous driving habit.

The Florida House and Senate have recently voted to approve House Bill 689 to help reduce risks of distracted driving car accident in Naples and elsewhere in Florida, according to WCTV.

"We've been battling the texting while driving issue in this state for years, and up until now we have done very little to reduce the danger to drivers on the road. Under this legislation, all new drivers and students in driver improvement classes will undergo a thorough education on the real risks associated with texting while driving. Education is not the end of the road, but it certainly is the beginning," said Rep. Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach), sponsor of the bill.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys urge drivers to avoid distracted driving habits as full attention should be placed on the roadway when operating a motor vehicle. Driving while distracted greatly increases your risks of being involved in an accident that causes serious injury -- or death.

House Bill 689, or the Driver Improvement Schools and Education Programs Bill, aims to reduce the number of accidents related to texting while driving. The bill aims to educate drivers about the dangers and consequences of the distracting habit.

Distracted driving affects drivers of all types. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 20 percent of injury crashes reported distractions at the time of the accident in 2009. About 5,500 people were killed, and an additional 448,000 injured, in these accidents. People who use hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle are four times more likely to get into an accident serious enough to cause injury. The use of a cell phone, hands-free or not, gives a driver the same reaction time as a driver who is legally drunk, according to Distraction.gov.

"Secondary enforcement bans don't work," said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "It needs to be a primary ban for it to be effective."

Nearly every state bans teens from texting while driving and statistics are expected to reflect the bans. A California study found that a ban in that state reduced texting while driving by 70 percent.

There are three main types of distraction: visual, manual and cognitive. What's most alarming is that texting involves all three, and drivers are actively participating in the act while operating a motor vehicle.

Continue reading "Florida Still Lacks Laws to Reduce Distracted Driving Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere" »

Taking a cruise across the ocean may be a dream vacation for some, but for others, it can become a dangerous nightmare.

Many people have "disappeared" and been injured in other South Florida cruise ship accidents on these tropical vacations, like George Smith IV. The family of the missing man sued the Royal Caribbean. The ship the couple traveled on doesn't have a safe history rap as the Crown Princess tilted sharply on one of its first voyages at sea. The rocky ship ride injured dozens as it caught on fire and destroyed numerous decks and balconies.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers urge passengers and crew members to travel safely and enjoy their time at sea, but also ask that you take the proper precautions to protect yourself on the ships armed with potential dangers.

George Smith was aboard a cruise ship in 2005 celebrating his honeymoon when he vanished somewhere between Greece and Turkey. His body has still not been found.

His parents and widow reached an amended settlement with Royal Carribean just weeks before the scheduled trial. The settlement awarded the passenger's family with more than $1.3 million, which is said to be close to his projected lifetime earning capacity.

While taking a trip across the ocean, the last thing you want to think about is injury. But the fact is, a number of things can go wrong on a cruise ship. Luckily, the International Maritime Organizations (IMO) stepped in to help and placed regulations for fire protection on cruise ships in 2002, according to IMO. These new rules encourage safe technological advances in fire detection and extinctions.

Your personal health and safety can be drastically affected on large ships as well. The biggest on-board concern affecting personal health is norovirus. This illness is easily transmitted from person to personal among close living quarters as it travels through shaking hands, sharing utensils, food distribution or not washing your hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 23 million Americans contract the norovirus every year. The best way to reduce your risks of contracting the norovirus is to always wash your hands with soap and warm water after you use the bathroom, before you eat and when you've returned from a shore excursion.

Not everyone on your ship might be vacationing like you. Millions of cruisers are exposed to potential terrorist threats. Because of these types of security threats, the U.S. and the United Nations have put strict maritime security laws into effect to help protect cruise ship guests. The IMO introduced the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) to help protect passengers.

"These regulations established international security regulations that require all ships, port facilities and governments to have formal security plans, screening measures, access control, waterside security and communications between ships and ports," according to the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL).

Today, passenger ships are subject to a seemingly endless array of regulations and standards that try to safely cover every aspect of ship construction and operation to help preserve the safety and health of passengers. Incidents over the years have continued to influence improvements in cruise ship safety requirements. Sometimes, there just aren't enough inspections and regulations to prevent an accident from causing injury.

Continue reading "Vacationers Face Cruise Ship Accidents While Traveling at Sea" »

Florida always has great weather, which serves as an excellent reason to relax by the swimming pool. With the summer months quickly approaching, more and more residents and tourists will be enjoying the Sunshine State out on the pool deck.

To help increase pool safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign released new 2011 TV and radio public service announcement to share a number of water safety tips that could help decrease the risks of a swimming pool accident in Fort Myers and elsewhere.

"As the summer swimming season approaches, our message to parents and caregivers is simple: stay safe in and around pools and spas by practicing as many safety steps as possible. This includes staying close to children at all times, knowing water safety skills like CPR, and ensuring anti-entrapment drain covers are installed in all pools and spas," said Inez Tenenbaum, Chairwoman of the CPSC.

Our Naples swimming pool accident attorneys urge all Floridians and tourists to be safe around pools when enjoying the outdoors and all that Mother Nature has to offer. As pool-related injuries continue to rise, everyone is urged to take the necessary precautions to preserve the safety of you, your family and your friends.

In the first few months of this year, there were 37 drownings and another 38 near-drownings reported across the U.S., according to the CPSC.

The PSAs have been released nationally to urge families to inspect their pool and spa areas and to adopt as many safety steps as possible to help eliminate causes of injury or death.

This Pool Safely campaign is the first attempt by the federal government at a national public-education effort to help reduce drownings and near-drownings.

"So many of the drowning and near-drowning incidents that happen every year are preventable and every drowning and near-drowning is a terrible tragedy," Tenenbaum said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,400 people died from unintentional drowning in the United States in 2007. Drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.

Continue reading "CPSC Releases 2011 PSAs to Help Decrease Risks of Swimming Pool Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere" »

An extreme car stunt gone wrong left two dead and four injured in a South Florida car accident. All of the passengers were residents of Naples, according to Mail Online.

The driver, and father of four, was attempting a donut move as he turned into a farm's unpaved loading dock lot near the Collier/Lee County line in his pickup truck when he lost control of his vehicle. The driver and a backseat driver was thrown from the vehicle as the pickup truck toppled on over to its side, according to the Sun Sentinel. As the vehicle landed on its side, both of those who were ejected were pinned under the overturned vehicle. Both were pronounced dead on scene.

Two of the female passengers suffered serious injuries and are now listed as being in critical condition. The other two passengers are suffering minor injuries.

Survivors of the accident told the Florida Highway Patrol investigators that the truck began to rotate clockwise and then flipped over as the driver pulled the donut.

Police are looking into whether alcohol was involved in that accident. The FHP also reports that none of the vehicle's occupants were wear a seat belt at the time of the incident.

In 2009, the United States experienced nearly 34,000 fatalities from traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The same year, Florida contributed nearly 3,000 traffic-related fatalities to the national number.

Continue reading "Car Stunt Leaves Two Dead and Four Injured in Naples" »

A public service announcement competition just concluded as winners were announced last week. Participants were asked to create PSAs to warn drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). The "On the Road, Off the Phone" PSA contest was sponsored by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The NSC and FocusDriven asked amateur filmmakers around the country to make short videos illustrating the dangers of cell phone use while driving to help decrease risks of a distracted driving accident in Naples and elsewhere.

"Your phone can wait. But will you do the same?" wrote the winner of the contest. "Everyone knows about texting and driving, but many people fail to see the dangers of talking while driving." The winning PSA was titled "Your Phone Can Wait." The video was filmed and produced in Tennessee.

Our Boca Raton personal injury attorneys note that Florida is one of the few remaining states that have no law against texting while driving. More and more drivers are putting more lives at risk by doing so. It is only with education and awareness that we can decrease this activity and increase safety on our roadways.

The NSC and FocusDriven reportedly awarded the Tennessee video with the winning title because the creator accurately described and displayed cognitive distraction and inattention blindness, a phenomenon where a driver on a cell phone looks at, but doesn't not see, roughly half of their driving environment.

The first place winner of the contest received $2,000, second place got $1,000 and third place won $500. The winning videos can be watched on the NSC website.

Focus Driven offers you with these common uses of cell phone use to avoid:

-Surfing the web on your phone.

-Using email services.

-Dialing phone numbers.

-Using social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

-Plugging your phone into a car charger.

-Playing a video game.

-Downloading or using other apps.

FocusDriven continues to push for a total ban on cell phone use by drivers. You are urged to help join the fight by implementing and supporting:

-Public Education.

-Corporate Cell Phone Bans.

-Distracted driving legislation.

-High-visibility enforcement.

-Safe driving technology.

It is estimated, by the NSC, that cell phone use is a factor in one-fourth of all accidents on our roadways. In 2009, accidents that reportedly involved a distracted driver killed nearly 5,500 people and injured an additional 448,000.

Continue reading "PSA Competition Winners Announced -- Contest Aimed to Decrease Risks of Distracted Driving Accidents in Boca Raton and Elsewhere" »

A car traveling against traffic caused an early morning car accident in Boca Raton that killed one and left one suffering from minor injuries, according The Palm Beach Post.

A Coconut Creek motorcyclist was headed northbound on State Road 7 at roughly 3 a.m. when a car approached him headed southbound in the northbound lanes, according to a report released by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

Our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers would like to remind visitors that May is National Motorcycle Safety Month and to be extra cautious and aware of the increasing number of motorcyclists on our roadways.

Both vehicles swerved to avoid a collision with one another, but they swerved in the same direction. The motorcycle slammed into the front passenger door of the vehicle. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and was pronounced dead on the scene, according to ABC 25.

Investigators have concluded that the driver of the passenger vehicle was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the accident.

The National Safety Council (NSC) announced that May will be used to encourage motorists to safely share the road with motorcyclists and urge them to practice extra caution when these two-wheeled vehicles are nearby. Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to accidents than any other driver. Many accidents happen because of their small size. Motorcycles are often hidden in the blind spots of vehicles. It is important for motorists to always check, and double check, for the presence of motorcyclists before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.

Motorcyclist fatalities increased more that 130 percent between 1998 and 2008, according to the NSC. It has been estimated that the mileage death rate for motorcyclists in 2007 was more than 35 percent higher than that of passenger-vehicle occupants.

"Throughout spring and summer the number of motorcyclists on the road will increase. It is important for both motorists and motorcyclists to be aware of one another," said David Teater, NSC senior director of Transportation Initiatives. "To better defend themselves, motorcyclists should follow the rules of the roadway and wear protective gear, including a Department of Transportation compliant helmet."

In 2009, nearly 4,600 fatalities resulted from accidents involving motorcycles. In addition, more than 84,000 were injured. Last year, Florida experienced nearly 550 motorcycle rider fatalities -- more than anywhere else in the United States.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers short instructional videos to motorists to offer tips to help keep them safe on our roadways.

Continue reading "Motorcyclist Killed in Wrong Way DUI Accident in Boca Raton" »

The U.S. Department of Transportation released a preliminary report that stated traffic fatalities dropped 3 percent in 2010 when compared to 2009 statistics. Though this may be good news to some, our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers feel it is not substantial enough knowing over 6,000 Floridians lose their lives each year in fatal motor vehicle crashes.

The continued recovery of the economy will play a significant role in the number of traffic fatalities as we move forward in the coming months. Despite the overall decrease for 2010, the last 6 months of the year actually showed an increase in traffic fatalities by almost 2% when compared to July through December of 2009. As unemployment rates decline, and motorists take to the roadways more often, we will likely see an increase in car accidents in Naples, Fort Myers and elsewhere throughout the state.

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Florida's unemployment rate is currently at 11.1% which is higher than the national rate of 9.2% and significantly higher than most states throughout the country. Given the high rate of unemployment, it is really no surprise that our region had a decrease in traffic fatalities in 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The NHTSA reported a 3 percent decrease for the Southeast Region even though our region, which consists of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, still accounted for the most traffic fatalities of any region in the U.S for 2010.

The federal government claims the overall decrease in traffic fatalities is in large part due to their attention focused on vehicle safety, drunk driving, distracted driving, and seat belt use. With programs like "Click It Or Ticket", "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" and the development of Distraction.gov, a website designed to bring awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the government feels like we are headed in the right direction.

"The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be."

The reality is, no amount of government attention changes the control we have as drivers to display safer driving habits. We have every opportunity to be safer drivers by not driving under the influence, not getting distracted, and not showing aggression on roadways when we get annoyed with other drivers. Choosing to be a safer driver is the best way to keep everyone free from danger on Florida roadways.

Continue reading "Risk of Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale likely to Increase even as Record Low Fatalities Reported" »

With an ever increasing number of people living well into their 80's and 90's these days, we can expect that the number of Fort Lauderdalecar accidents involving elderly drivers is going to increase the next few years.

Boca Raton injury lawyers frequently help elderly victims and know that senior citizens are the age group most at risk of being in a car crash. In 2009, Florida reported 447 older adult fatalities in car crashes.

Driving is a senior citizen's freedom. Many older adults see their driving skills fade with age, just like the rest of their body. An example, Orlando Sentinel recently reported about an 82-year-old Boca Raton woman who tried to make a U-turn from a left turn lane on Yamato Road. She sped up during the turn causing her to go on the opposite shoulder, lose control, and eventually head airborne across a canal. The senior citizen hit the bank on the other side and landed in the water. The elderly driver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2009, almost 5,300 deaths and another 187,000 injuries resulted in traffic crashes with an older adult ages 65 and older. It was also reported for 2009 that 71 percent of these crashes occurred on weekdays, 81 percent occurred during the day, and 69 percent involved other vehicles.

Florida has a particular concern for the safety of older adults because so many flock to the state to live either full time or during the winter months. The NHTSA reports a substantial number of deaths in the older population in our state when they hit age 70. Florida led the nation in deaths for 70-74 year-olds (113), the 75-79 age group (72), 80-84 year-old age group (82) and seniors 85+ (63) who were involved in fatal crashes.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has a helpful website dedicated to senior drivers. Older adults and their families can visit the site to get helpful information about:

-Health & Fitness which includes information about exercising, medications, sleep, and vision.

-Driving tips which include adjusting mirrors, head rests, or using unfamiliar cars.

-Basic driving skills needed which includes driving in heavy traffic and watching out for pedestrians or bicyclists.

-Travel tips including information about rest stops, maps, and being prepared for when something goes wrong.

-Emergency situations and what to do if you crash, including emergency phone numbers in Florida.

Continue reading "Senior citizens at high risk of car accidents in Boca Raton" »

The Sun Sentinel reports the man who killed a Plantation woman in a drunk driving accident finally pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges recently. Boca Raton personal injury lawyers continue to see far too many accidents caused by drunk driving.

Drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers, Naples and Boca Raton continue to be a leading cause of death on our South Florida roadways. Driving under the influence continues to be a public health threat that takes so many lives in senseless tragedies each and every day.

The Examiner reports that the drunk driver was driving the wrong way on I-95 when he hit an SUV head-on. Three of the five passengers in the SUV were thrown from the car. The drunk driver killed one woman and two other passengers were seriously injured in the crash. Awaiting trial in November, the drunk driver fled to Central America after escaping from house arrest by cutting off his ankle monitor.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported a minimum of 770 DUI fatalities each year in Florida from 2005 to 2009. In 2009, Florida (30) was just under the national average (32) in percentage of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities with a BAC of .08 or higher when compared to total fatalities in all crashes.

When compared to the best state, Florida was almost double in the percentage of DUI fatalities for 2009. Florida reported that 21% of alcohol impaired fatalities in 2009 were when the driver was tested with a BAC of .15 or higher.

WPBF reports the drunk driver in this case was tested and recorded to have a BAC level of .14 at the time of the accident, almost double the legal limit in our state. He has pleaded guilty to one charge of DUI manslaughter and six other DUI counts related to property damage and injuries to other passengers. He faces a minimum of four years in prison and will be sentenced in July.

If you plan to attend a party or gathering that involves alcohol, adhere to the following safety tips:
-Always designate a driver who promises not to drink.

-Drink plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the evening. They will make you feel full and give you less opportunity to consume alcohol.

-Give your keys to a friend so that there is no temptation to drive home later.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident in Boca Raton, Naples or Fort Myers, contact the Hollander Law Firm. To make a free appointment to discuss your rights, call 1-888-751-7770 today.