South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), law enforcement officers from around the state will participating in the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign from now until the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

This national campaign is used to keep intoxicated drivers off of our roadways and to help reduce the risks of drunk driving accidents in Boca Raton and elsewhere. Officers will be joining thousands of agencies across the country to bust these careless drivers, according to the Florida Department of Safety and Motor Vehicles.

"Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but also the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant," said FHP Director, Colonel David Brierton.

Our Boca Raton personal injury attorneys ask that all motorists be safe on our busy roadways during the upcoming holiday weekend. Labor Day weekend is officially recognized from September 2nd through midnight on September 5th. For the last six years, this holiday period has experienced a near 15 percent increase in the number of traffic fatalities compared to other similar holiday periods.

Throughout this enforcement effort, all uniformed Florida Highway Patrol officers will be patrolling the state's roadways for careless drivers. Participating personnel will even include workers who are normally assigned to administrative duties. Part of the increased effort is used solely to deter traffic violations. The increase in patrol will also be used to help stranded motorists if their car happens to break down.

According to National Safety Council, approximately 400 people will die in traffic accidents in the United States over the Labor Day weekend. Another 39,000 people are expected to be injured and will require medical attention because of these incidents.

Nearly 2 million Floridians are expected to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend. Now add the number of visiting tourists and we're sure to have some congested and chaotic roadways.

Because the Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest and one of the deadliest times on our roads, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local enforcement officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.

Follow these safety tips to help you avoid a drunk driving accident:

-Before you go out and consume any amount of alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver that agrees to remain sober throughout the night.

-Call a cab, get a hotel room or stay at a friend's house if you don't have a designated driver and you've consumed any amount of alcohol. Even the smallest amounts can affect you ability to react and your judgment.

-Don't let your friends drive drunk. Take their keys and discuss with them a safe way to get home.

-If you're hosting a party and serving alcohol, make sure that everyone knows to find a responsible ride home before beginning the party. Offer non-alcohol beverages to the designated drivers.

-Dial*FHP (*347) to report an aggressive or a drunk driver. You can also use this number if you're in need of roadside assistance.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Please adjust your driving habits to accommodate our busy roadways and keep an eye out for drunk drivers.

Continue reading "Intoxicated Drivers Targeted by Officers to Reduce Risks of Drunk Driving Car Accidents during Labor Day Weekend" »

Two women recently pled guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child after leaving a child in a car seat in a day care van last summer. The two former workers of a child day care center in Delray Beach were sentenced to 10 years of probation even though they both faced 30 years behind bars if they were convicted of injuring a child in Delray Beach, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The 2-year-old child was left in a day care van in the summer heat for about seven hours. The parents of the little girl say that the punishment wasn't nearly enough for the crime they committed.

Our Fort Lauderdale child injury attorneys understand the dangers that children face during the summertime. During summers in Florida, temperatures in vehicle can quickly reach 140 degrees even if someone leaves a window cracked. A child that is left in a vehicle faces an extremely high risk for hyperthermia because their little bodies can't handle the rapid spike in temperature.

In the state of Florida, it's illegal to leave a child that is under the age of 6 in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes. Parents are urged to completely avoid leaving their child in a vehicle for any amount of time.

A number of children were removed from the van during the time that the 2-year-old was left behind back in August of last year. The driver signed the day care's transportation log and turned it in to the center.

The director of the day care signed off on the log without every checking the vehicle to confirm that all of the children had made it out safely. The director also signed off on 2 attendance logs and a log that said the little girl was served lunch that day.

Florida state law says that two employees have to visually inspect a day care center van whenever a child enters or exits a vehicle. They're also required to keep a log of all passengers.

Later on in the day, when the van was used to transport children home, one of the passengers noticed the child's body still sitting in the safety seat. Emergency responders pronounced the little girl dead at the scene.

The cause of death was reported as systemic hyperthermia from being left in a sweltering hot vehicle.

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, there are usually two different scenarios in which a parent or a guardian leaves a child in a vehicle. One is with the intention of quickly returning or two, forgetting that the child is even in the car.

Here are some tips to help you prevent leaving a child in the vehicle:

-You should always turn around and visually check your back seat before exiting whenever you have a child that uses a car seat.

-You should always ask that day care centers and caregivers call you if you child isn't dropped off on time.

-You should avoid distractions such as cell phones and text messages while you're in your vehicle.

-You should always put an important item in the back seat of your vehicle, like a briefcase of a purse, so that you're required to open the back door before you can leave your vehicle.

-You should never leave a small child unattended in a vehicle, not matter how short of a time period it may be.

-If you notice that your child is missing, always check your car first.

-Try to use pay-at-the-pump services when getting gas for your vehicle.

Jan Null from the Department of Geosciences of San Francisco State University says that approximately 40 children have died each year since 1998 from hyperthermia after being left in a vehicle.

Continue reading "Two Day Care Employees Sentenced with 10 Years of Probation after Guilty Plea for Charges of Child Abuse in Delray Beach" »

In Boca Raton, there are three lanes that head eastbound on Yamato Road where it crosses over St. Andrews Boulevard, but there's no right-turn lane for anyone. Motorist's requests and suggestions have gone ignored by local officials, who have yet to make a turn lane; much of the traffic there is turning to head to Town Center at Boca Raton.

The state says that there's way to much traffic going straight through that intersection to make a turn-only lane. In addition to the backed up traffic, motorists say the congestion is increasing their risks of a car accident in Boca Raton at that intersection. State analysis reports that approximately 38,000 drivers pass through that intersection on Yamato Road every single day, according to the Sun Sentinel.

"There are many locations throughout the city where we could use a right-turn lane to assist in the movement of traffic," said John Reilly, analyst for Boca Raton's transportation. "We will continue to monitor this intersection and as dollars become available will consider the installation of a new right-turn lane."

Our Boca car accident attorneys understand that transportation officials see many problem areas along our roadways, but neglect to do anything to fix them. It's an unfortunate fact that Florida roads were not built to withstand the number of motorists that are traveling on them. Because of their deteriorating condition and their lack of effective design, motorists are at an extremely high risk for an accident in specific areas of the city.

The city has agreed that a turn lane at that intersection would in fact help to decrease the congestion, but the city does not own the land and doesn't have the proper funding to create that sort of lane.

Another common concern of motorists involves a traffic light located in Pompano Beach at Northeast 10th Street and Northeast Fifth Avenue. Motorists complain that it turns red immediately after it recognizes that no car is waiting to cross over Fifth Avenue. Motorists report that Northeast 10th Street is in fact busier than Northeast Fifth Avenue and that the signals should be programmed to favor traffic on the busiest street.

Engineers in the county have looked into and studied that intersection and have found motorists to be correct regarding the flow of traffic. Because of the concerns, they have adjusted the signals to favor the traffic on 10th Street.

Lastly, a number of drivers have been voicing their concerns about those exiting northbound on Florida's Turnpike at Sunrise Boulevard. Drivers who are playing the toll by cash must exit through the right lanes. Motorists who are coming off of the southbound turnpike don't pay a toll and exit on the far left lane. The problem with this is that a number of the northbound drivers that wish to head east on Sunrise are forced to cross over a number of lanes of traffic. A number of accidents have already occurred because of this scenario.

Turnpike officials say that they're already aware of the problem. They say that the same thing is going on at the Commercial Boulevard exit. They report that there is about $63 million set aside to fix the Sunrise Boulevard interchange, but officials have pushed improvements aside until 2022 because of a dip in toll revenues.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand that there are any number of problem areas on both coasts of South Flordia. If you experience a car accident, it is critical for you to contact an experienced attorney that can help you to gain the compensation you deserve. Oftentimes the design of a road and the city's failure to fix this can result in serious injury or death and an attorney can help you to fight against the officials that have been ignoring motorists' concerns.

Continue reading "Motorists Voice Concerns of Traffic-Related Problems that are increasing their Risks of a Car Accident in Boca Raton" »

South Florida has been ranked the most dangerous area to drive in the United States. According to CNBC, a recent study looked at the number of fatal car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other large cities in the area. The study examined cities across the country that had a population of more than 150,000 -- totaling fatal car accidents to determine which were the most dangerous. The study took the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to draw conclusions.

Our Palm Beach car accident attorneys were not surprised to learn a third of the cities are in Florida. Reasons South Florids is so dangerous include the presence of senior citizens, spring breakers, tourists and foreign visitors on our roadways.

The 15 most dangerous cities to drive in the United States:

-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 74 traffic fatalities and a population of nearly 552,000.

-Birmingham, Alabama: 31 traffic fatalities and a population of nearly 229,000.

-Tulsa, Oklahoma: 54 traffic deaths and a population of nearly 386,000.

-St. Petersburg, Florida: 35 traffic deaths and a population of more than 245,000.

-Jacksonville, Florida: 116 traffic fatalities and a populations of nearly 808,000.

-Lubbock, Texas: 33 traffic deaths and a total population of about 220,500.

-Memphis, Tennessee: 101 traffic deaths and a population of nearly 700,000.

-Jackson, Mississippi: 27 traffic deaths and a population of about 174,000.

-Chattanooga, Tennessee: 28 traffic fatalities and a population of about 180,000.

-Salt Lake City, Utah: 30 traffic deaths and a population of more than 181,600.

-San Bernardino, California: 38 traffic fatalities and a population of more than 198,500.

-Little Rock, Arkansas: 34 traffic fatalities and a population of about 189,500.

-Augusta-Richmond Co., Georgia: 38 deaths and a population of more than 194,000.

-Orlando, Florida: 46 traffic accident fatalities and a population of more than 230,000.

-Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 41 traffic deaths and a population of more than 183,000.

According to 2007 statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were nearly 367,000 drivers that were involved in traffic accidents in the state of Florida. Our state had a death rate of 1.57 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Throughout that year, we lost more than 3,000 people in about 2,950 fatal motor-vehicle accidents. More than 212,000 people were injured in a traffic accident that year. There were more than 8,000 pedestrian accidents, nearly 5,000 bicycle accidents and more than 9,500 motorcycle accident during that year as well. There were an estimated 700 car accidents each day on our Florida roadways in 2007.

With a little bit of help from everyone we can make traveling on our Florida roadways a little bit safer.

Continue reading "Fatal Car Accidents in South Florida Land the State on a Third of the Most Dangerous Driving List" »

According to Safe Kids USA, August is Back to School Safety Month, so the final blog of our three part "Back to School Safety" series will zero in on playground safety, backpack safety, and warnings signs of a bully looming over your child at recess or during free time at school.

Previous topics we have included in our series are teen and motorist driving safely tips and school bus safety.Naples personal injury attorneys know that school can be a dangerous place for young children, especially if they are left unsupervised. Parents trust teachers, nurses, teaching aides and other professionals in the education industry to keep their children safe while under their watch.

School-related child injuries in Fort Myers and elsewhere occur far too often in varying degrees of severity. In fact, the National School Nurse Partnership Inc. reports that roughly 3.7 million children are injured nationally at school each year.

A fourth of injured children at school are considered severe cases and one in fourteen are in need of medical attention. Many playground injuries go unreported. However, it is estimated that 1 million playground injuries occur each year of which more than 10 percent require a trip to a hospital emergency room.

Approximately 15-20 children die each year from a playground incident.Injuries at school can be caused by something as simple as overloading a child's backpack to falling off the monkey bars to being hit by a bully on the playground. The National Safety Council offers the following tips to parents and children to help reduce injuries than can occur at school.

Backpack Safety Tips:

• Choose a backpack that fits comfortably and is ergonomically designed.


• Use multiple compartments to distribute the weight more evenly.


• Choose your books wisely to avoid overloading. If multiple assignments are due, prioritize to eliminate bringing every book from your locker home with you.


• Wear the backpack with both straps to avoid strain on your shoulder or lower back. Using one strap can affect posture and cause the body to twist and overcompensate when carrying a heavy load.


• Place reflective stickers on the backpack to become more visible at dusk.

• Do not allow children to play on playground surfaces with concrete, grass or dirt surfaces. Wood chips, pea gravel, sand, mulch, rubber mats or shredded tire materials make the surface softer and can cushion a fall.


• Replace any wood or metal seats on swings with a softer material like rubber.


• Make sure there is plenty of space around a swinging area. Don't walk in front, behind or under a swing in motion.


• Slides should contain handrails and steps with good traction.


• Don't send your children to school with clothing that contains drawstrings as cords get caught and is a severe strangulation hazard.


• Avoid seesaws unless they are spring-loaded. Older seesaws require a tire or stopper under the seat to avoid hitting the ground too hard.


• Be careful when you climb. Anything with horizontal steps or that requires climbing while your feet are off the ground is considered a fall hazard.

Parents probably should be more concerned if, at some point, they don't fear their child is being bullied at school. Parents are advised to look for the following warning signs to detect if your child has been physically, verbally, emotionally or sexually bullied at school:

• Cuts, bruises or scratches on the child's arms, legs or face.


• Fear of going back to school.


• Refrains from wanting to do homework.


• Makes excuses that they don't feel well, like a headache and stomach ache, to avoid going to school.


• Notice disturbed sleep patterns or frequent nightmares.A child may fear talking about being bullied at school but looking the other way or choosing to do nothing could put your child in more danger.

Parents should praise their child if they have the courage to speak about it and tell them what to do if the situation arises in the future. If you suspect your child is being bullied, try to ask them non-direct questions and show support by being sympathetic. Report the incident to school authorities immediately.

Continue reading "Child Injuries at School a Concern for Naples Parents as New School Year Approaches" »

School bus safety should be on the mind of every parent as children head back to school to embark on another year of learning.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school transportation-related crashes kill an average of 19 school-age children each year in our country, which is why it is the second topic in our "Back to School Safety" series.

Slashed budgets and school cutbacks in your area could put children at risk this school year if school districts attempt to save money by hiring inexperienced bus drivers at less money, cramming more kids on fewer buses, or omit patrolling school drop off zones like in the past. Parents may not know what to do when a school bus accident in Naples, or Boca Raton injures your child on their way to school.

School systems have a responsibility to keep your child safe en route to school, at school drop off zones, or on school grounds. If your child has been injured in a bus accident, contact a Boca Raton child injury lawyer to discuss how to protect your family from the financial burden as your child recovers from their injuries.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles reported that roughly 970,000 students rode to school on approximately 19,453 school buses in 2002. From 1998-2002, there were a total of 6 deaths and 56 injuries needing medical attention which occurred as a result of a school bus-related crash.

In examining crash data from 1998-2002, 40 percent of fatalities occurred in front impact crashes compared to 15 percent of deaths were caused by a rear-end impact crash. During this time period, bus drivers cited for violations were most cited for improper backing and failure to make a turn correctly.

First Student , the leading student transportation service provider, has partnered with the National Safety Council to provide parents with school bus safety tips with regard to getting on the bus, appropriate behavior while riding the bus and things to remember when your child exits the bus.

Parents should teach their children the following bus etiquette:

• Alert the bus driver if you have dropped something near the bus rather than try to pick it up.
• Always stay in front of the bus, never walk behind.
• Take three giant steps away from the curb when you are waiting to be picked up.
• Hold the handrail when you enter and exit the bus to avoid a slip or fall.-Never put backpacks or duffel bags in the middle of the aisle. Tripping hazards are a high risk when aisles are blocked.
• Keep hands, arms, and head inside the bus at all times. Always remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
• Always wait for a signal from the driver before you cross the street at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
• The size of the wheels coupled with the slightest motion can trap or crush a child so keep away from bus wheels at all times.

Other topics in our three-part series of blogs about back to school tips include teen driver and motorist safety tips and preventing child injuries at school and on the playground.

Continue reading "Safety Can Reduce Child Injuries Related to Naples School Bus Accidents" »

Students will be headed back to school in the next few weeks, so parents should talk to their kids about school safety in order to keep them safe throughout the school year. The National Safety Council and First Student have teamed up to provide safety tips for motorists, parents, teens and children that we will break into a three part "Back to School Safety" series.

Topics in the series will include motorist/teen driving safety, traveling to school by foot, bicycle, or bus safety, and tips to remember on the playground. The first topic in our series is teen driving and tips for motorists as students head back to school.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys know it may take some getting used to after a long summer of no children parading the streets in your neighborhood but be prepared to start seeing buses, pedestrians and bicyclists in the weeks ahead. Teen drivers can help avoid a car accident in Naples, Boca Raton or elsewhere if they keep their focus on the road rather than what is going on inside their car.

Driver distraction, speeding, driving intoxicated and driver inexperience all attribute to car crashes being the number one cause of death for teens. Strong Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs have been effective in lowering teen driving crashes and fatalities by as much as 40 percent.

Parents can also play an effective role in their teen's safety by setting a good example and getting involved in their teen's early driving experiences.

Create your own GDL program within your home by:

• Setting a cut-off time for your teen to drive at night at 10 p.m. Statistics show that the hours before midnight is the most dangerous time of the day for fatal teen crashes.
• Enforce a zero-tolerance policy in your household by never allowing your teen to drive under the influence. Alcohol is a factor in almost a third of teen crashes involving a driver between the ages of 15-20. -
• Ban your teen from using their cell phone while driving. Teens are avid texters, which is why this age group is most at risk for driver inattention accidents.
• If you feel your teen is not ready to drive on their own, extend the practice period before they go get their full license. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Studies have shown that one passenger in the vehicle increases the risk of a teen car crash by 48 percent. Restrict your teen to no passengers during the first 12 months of receiving their full license.All motorists are urged to keep a watchful eye for school buses, child pedestrians and young bicyclists once the school year starts.

Child pedestrians ages 4 to 7 years-old are most at risk of being involved in a bus-related crash due to a vehicle passing illegally or a bus being in motion. Motorists should be alert for children around school buses, keep more than 10 feet away from a stopped school bus, and never pass a stationary bus with flashing yellow or red lights.

Child pedestrians and bicyclists are the most unpredictable and hardest to see. Motorists should always keep a watchful eye for pedestrians and bicyclists at crosswalks, in school zones, near playgrounds and residential neighborhoods.

Reduce speed, make eye contact, and never allow distractions to take attention away from the road in areas where you can expect young children to be commuting to school.Motorists who use extra caution throughout the school year can help keep roadways safer. Help save a life this school year by practicing safe behavior every time you get behind the wheel.

Continue reading ""Back to School Safety" Series Provides Tips to Help Reduce Teen Car Accidents in Fort Myers, Boca Raton, Elsewhere" »

Not much thought is given to the dangers of driving a vehicle once it has been involved in a Boca Raton car accident. Most people are just happy the vehicle kept them safe.

But motorists involved in an accident may be at the mercy of insurance companies determining where to take their vehicle for repair. And not all repair shops are reputable, which can put drivers and passengers at risk if the car is not repaired correctly. A faulty repair can lead to problems throughout the lifetime of owning the vehicle following an accident, not to mention make it difficult to sell when the time comes to get rid of the vehicle.

Insurance Agencies often have a preferred contractor list that they offer to clients in order to skip some of the red tape and speed up the claims process. The Sun Sentinel reports that some preferred contractors cut corners like any other repair shop so they aren't always the best option.

For example, a woman who took her car in for repair following a car accident needed her hood replaced which was paid for by the insurer. When she picked up the vehicle after the repair the car was returned to her with paint chipped and rusted on the edge of the hood. She had to get permission from the insurer to take the vehicle to another repair shop for proper repair which took months to complete.

Our Fort Myers accident lawyers want to remind motorists that you do have options so get several quotes before you rush to the first repair shop following an accident. Policyholders are not required to use preferred contractors but insurers claim there are benefits to using them.

Rather than being forced to get several estimates before approval, using a preferred repair shop means the work can start immediately following submission of a claim. Overcharging for services is a legitimate concern for consumers when it comes to car repair so by using a preferred contractor, insurance companies have already made negotiations and assured that the price of repair is not over-inflated.

Quotes from different repair shops can range by hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars so accident victims who don't pick a preferred contractor may end up paying out of pocket or forced to shop around until a claim is approved for the price that is quoted.

Preferred contractors are supposed to guarantee the work they do on vehicles but it doesn't necessarily mean the work will be done correctly. Vehicles involved in accidents often have long-term effects which can put the safety of drivers and passengers at risk if a second accident were to occur.

Edmunds offers the following tips for choosing a reputable repair shop:

• Word of mouth is often the best proponent of quality work. Ask friends or family if they know of a good repair shop.


• Location. Location. Location. Similar to purchasing a home, location can determine if price gouging will be an issue. High end shops in ritzy neighborhoods might charge for all the gray areas where a smaller shop with less employees can charge you for the black and white on what the parts and labor really should cost.


• Don't stop at one estimate. Going to only one repair shop gives you nothing to compare to and no way of knowing if you are being taken advantage of. The lowest or highest estimate isn't always the best so it may be viable to go somewhere in between.


• Inquire about warranty guarantees, fire and theft insurance, whether new or used parts are used for repair or any other questions that you feel are important before you commit to the repair.


• Go with your gut, it is usually correct. For example, if shop is clean, it probably means that the mechanics pay attention to detail which is better for both you and your car.

Continue reading "Faulty Repairs to Your Vehicle Can Put Motorists in Danger of a Boca Raton Car Accident" »

Pedestrian activity is at a higher rate in Florida than other states not only because we have many tourist attractions that draw outsiders to visit, but also because we have plenty of warm sunshine throughout the year which makes Florida an attractive state to escape to.

It comes as no surprise to Boca Raton pedestrian accident attorneys that Florida ranks pretty high among states for the most pedestrian fatalities each year. Florida ranked second in 2009, only behind California.

The compelling truth is that considering the number of tourists, older adult population and youth we have, which are generally more at risk, it is no wonder that pedestrian accidents in Fort Myers, Boca Raton, Naples and elsewhere register at such a high number compared to other states. Pedestrians are at risk when motorists drive distracted or speed so if you are involved in an accident consult a personal injury attorney so you can be aware of your rights immediately.

The statewide Pedestrian Crash Statistics composed of data gathered from 2005-2009 were put together for the Florida Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The report broke down the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities by district; in our case our general area falls under Districts 1 and 4. The report looked at some crash characteristics which include site location, age, gender, race, intoxication levels, and lighting to name a few.
The report published the following results:

• The rate of pedestrian fatalities in Florida was double the national rate in 2009 and consistently higher over the course of the five years studied.


• District 1 had the highest percentage of fatal pedestrian crashes from 2005-2009 than any other district at 10 percent.


• Almost 15,000 pedestrian accidents were not located at intersections, compared to 12,869 that did occur at an intersection.


• A high percentage of accidents in six of seven districts were on undivided multiple lane roadways which did not contain a median. The only exception was District 4 where accountability was almost symmetrical at 48 percent of accidents occurred with no median and 50 percent occurred on roadways with a median.


• Every district reported that the majority of pedestrian crashes happened during daylight hours.


• 84 percent of pedestrian crashes reported no intoxication as a cause compared to 5 percent of crashes that reported alcohol or drugs as a factor in the accident.


• The ethnicity most at risk in each district was White, followed by African American and Hispanic.


• The highest percentage of victims in all seven districts were male.


• Every age group is at risk of a fatal pedestrian accident according to the report.

Some areas of Florida are taking action in hopes of reducing pedestrian accidents in areas that have a lot of foot traffic.

Pedestrians in Fort Myers Beach are being protected by the installation of ground-level pedestrian signs placed in the middle of the street. Wink News Now reports that locals are willing to pay out of pocket to purchase more signs to place along busy roadways in order to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents. The bright red caution signs cost about $400 a piece but have shown positive results since placing them on Estero Boulevard.

Continue reading "Undivided Roadways and Non-intersections a High Risk for Pedestrians in Fort Myers Accidents" »

The southbound lanes of U.S. 41 in South Fort Myers were recently shut down after a seven-car pileup. The San Carlos Park car accident happened during the morning rush hour near the entrance to a mobile home park between Sanibel Boulevard and San Carlos Boulevard, according to naplesnews.com.

The southbound lanes of U.S. 41 were shut down about an hour at that location as traffic was rerouted onto Sanibel Boulevard and back onto the highway at San Carlos Boulevard.

Our Naples car accident attorneys understand that when the traffic increases over the summer months, the number of car accidents does as well. This is a time when many residents and tourists venture out on exciting summer vacations and when teens hit the road to enjoy their time away from school. Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution and focus to help avoid a potentially deadly accident on our South Florida roadways.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also understands the dangers that motorists face during the summer months and are urging all drivers to pay strict attention to road safety, regardless of how long or how short the trip.

The NHTSA urges you to consider the following as you head out this summer:

-Distracted Driving: Even though there is no law in Florida to regulate the usage of handheld devices by drivers, you are still urged to put down the cell phone while driving. Talking or texting on cell phones are just two of the most dangerous driver distractions that claimed nearly 6,000 lives in the United States in 2008. If you must make a phone call, simply pull off the road to a safe location and make the call while you're stopped. Parents of teen drivers should remind their teens that talking or texting behind the wheel is not worth losing a life.

-Tire Inflation: Hot weather combined with underinflated tires or worn out tread can turn catastrophic in a second. These consequences can be deadly when vehicles are loaded with family members or loved ones. Motorists should make sure that tires are properly inflated. Motorists are urged to check with tire's manufacturer of their vehicle's owner's manual for recommendations on how often your tires should be changed.

-Talk with Your Teen: 100 of the deadliest days for teens on our roadways are during the summer. More teens die from May through August than during any other similar time period throughout the entire year. You are urged to talk to your teen about the responsibility that comes with driving and the consequences of neglecting this responsibility. Set ground rules to help keep them safe, including a curfew, a distraction regulation and a passenger limit.

We want everyone to enjoy their summer vacations, but we want to ask that you do it responsibly. Be safe on our roadways, abide by all traffic laws and drive with extreme caution.

Continue reading "Seven-Car Accident in San Carlos Park Shuts Down US 41" »

Starting on August 22, motorists will be required to slow their speed in front of Seminole Ridge High School twice a day. County workers are to install flashing lights on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in front of the high school before the doors open for the school year. The warning lights will drop the previously 45 mph speed zone to a new 20 mph school speed limit zone, according to The Palm Beach Post.

These reduced speed limit zones are placed in front of schools and are activated as students arrive each morning and depart each afternoon to reduce the the student's risk of becoming involved in a pedestrian accident in Boca Raton or elsewhere.

Our Boca Raton personal injury attorneys understand that many school zones require reduced speed limits as some are located in areas with a heavy and speedy traffic flow. Many motorists will fly through these areas with no concern for school starting or ending. We need to take all of the precautionary measures to help keep our young students safe this upcoming school year.

"We had a lot of issues with speeders. We've had some close calls," West Boca Principal Mark Stenner said. "We are hopeful this is going to slow things down a bit."

This new speed zone comes after residents throughout the area voiced their concerns to their elected officials. A number of schools throughout the area are now being regulated with the new flashing lights and reduced speed zones after communities joined together to rally against the unsafe roadways.

"It's about the safety of our children," said Burdick, a former School Board member elected to the County Commission in November.

According to Indian Trail Improvement District Board member Ralph Bair, that stretch of road has a history of near-accidents involving students and motor vehicles.

Late last year, a 17-year-old student was struck and injured by one of the school's buses just north of the school as he was crossing Seminole Pratt and Whitney Road. After that incident, friends, family, parents, and elected officials like school board member Marcia Andrews, marched along the road with signs demanding a new speed zone.

"It's certainly better than what we had before," Andrews said of the new speed zone and lights. "We have to make sure we keep it safe for all our students. There is no price tag on a person's life."

Earlier this year, county commissioners asked engineers to study the roads around high schools in the county to see if any others were in need of speed zones, said Deputy County Engineer Tanya McConnell.

The only other high schools that have warranted speed zones for the upcoming year are West Boca Raton High School and John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres.

Seminole Ridge High School is also looking into extending the sidewalk on the east side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road another 2 miles north to Orange Boulevard to make it safer for students. As of now, the sidewalks only extend only about a third of a mile north of the school to a nearby shopping center.

"There's no place for kids to walk and when it is wet they walk on the road," Bair said.

Continue reading "Local School Revamps School Zone to Help Prevent Pedestrian Accidents in West Palm" »

There's one thing residents can agree one when it comes to red-light cameras: they're costing drivers a lot of money. More than 20,000 red-light tickets have been issued in Palm Beach County alone over the last 18 months. These tickets have totaled more than $3 million dollars in fines and have done nothing to decrease the number of accidents, according to News Channel 6.

As we previously reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, drivers in Boca Raton that are busted by these cameras running a red light will be fined $158. These fines are a small price to pay, in the eyes of local government, to help prevent car accident in Boca Raton.

The problem is officials aren't seeing much of a reduction in accidents. The good news is that these violations do not include points on a person's driver's license. The fines from these tickets are distributed like this - with the city getting $75, the state getting $67.20 and the county receiving $15.80.

Our Naples car accident attorneys recognize that the installation of these cameras is seemingly inevitable as they're popping up at more and more intersections across Florida. Many claim their main focus is to prevent intersection car accidents. Florida statistics aren't showing that they're doing their job as intersection accident statistics remain constant.

West Palm Beach reported a 33 percent and a 36 percent decline in intersection accidents at two of the four red light intersections. Officials took last year's accident statistics and compared them to this year's totals to reach these conclusions.

However, there was no change in the number of accidents at the corner of Australian and 25th. What's even more alarming is that officers saw accidents increase by 100 percent at the corner of Parker and Summit.

"In my opinion, they're going to cause more rear end collisions," said Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie. She voted against the cameras and lost.

A national study concludes that the number of accidents have reduced since cameras were installed at some intersections, yet a 2008 Florida study shows they don't.

"There's a lot of different factors involved when you're looking at those sorts of things," said West Palm Beach Assistant Police Chief Dennis Crispo. "If we can save one life, I think we're doing a great job," he said.

Cameras were installed in Juno Beach back in December and officers report that they have yet to see a drop in the number of collisions.

"I'd say it's very early on in the program and I think you need to give it more time," said Lt. David Gregg of the Juno Beach Police Department.

All of the departments with intersection cameras say that they've seen more people slowing down and not crossing over the white line.

"In some cases there may be a safety benefit but the jury's still out," said Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie.

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