South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent tractor-trailer accident in Boca Raton shut down two lanes of Interstate 95 between Glades Road and Palmetto Road. Boca Raton firefighters responded to the accident and determined that the accident was the result of leaking fuel tank from the tractor-trailer's saddle tank.

According to CBS12, emergency response teams including the DOT. were there to clean up the spilled fuel with a special absorbent. They also removed the rest of the fuel from the truck's saddle tank by pump to help ensure no more spillage. About 100 gallons of fuel were removed from that saddle tank. Cleanup took about two hours. FHP is investigating the accident.

Our West Palm Beach trucking accident attorneys understand that the risks motorists face when traveling around large tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles. Because of their large size and heavy weight, they can inflict serious damage and injury on passenger vehicles and occupants. Motorists are urged to travel with extreme caution. This is especially important to remember during the holiday and the tourist season. Florida's roads are expected to be packed with out-of-state drivers who are unfamiliar with the area. These conditions greatly increase your risks of being involved in an accident.

It's estimated that there are nearly 20 million trucks on our roadways. Nearly 15 percent of these trucks include tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, big rigs and semis. Approximately 98 percent of the accidents that involve one of these massive vehicles result in at least one fatality. Americans dish out more than $20 billion each year for fatal tractor-trailer accidents. More than $13 billion is associated with the loss of quality of life. There are 2.3 deaths and more than 60 injures for every 100 million miles traveled on our country's roadways.

It is estimated that semis, big rigs, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers are involved in more 500,000 accidents every year. These accidents result in about 5,000 fatalities.

To help prevent these accidents, a number of transportation officials, departments and organizations stay on top of the industry to help ensure that these large vehicles are traveling safely. These organizations include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

"We are sending a strong message that companies will face serious consequences when they do not make safety a top priority," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Safe driving tips for motorists from the FMCSA:

-Never cut in front of a large truck. Heavy trucks take longer to stop than a small passenger vehicle. Cutting in front of one of these vehicles puts you at a serious risk for a rear-end accident.

-Always wear a seat belt. It has been proven in numerous studies that seat belts are one of the best forms of protection in any type of accident.

-Be aware of blind spots. Blind spots, or "no-zones," on a truck are much larger than the blind spots that you and I have to deal with. Always make sure that you can see a truck driver. If you can't see them, they can't see you.

-Put away all distractions. You must be fully focused when driving near one of these vehicles. Pay attention to their signals and their maneuvers to avoid a serious accident.

-Never get between a truck and a curb when making a turn. Large trucks take turns much differently than passenger vehicles. Never turn on the inside of a truck and a curb. You could get stuck in a tight squeeze and potentially in an accident.

Continue reading "Fuel Leakage Causes Trucking Accident in Boca Raton on I-95" »

A recent bicycle accident in West Palm Beach seriously injured a 55-year-old rider. The accident happened on Military Trail when the bicyclist was struck by a van, according to The Palm Beach Post News.

The Traffic Homicide Unit of the sheriff's office reports that the bicyclist was thrown from his bike during the accident and was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.

Our Boca Raton bicycle accident attorneys understand Florida is the deadliest state in the nation when it comes to bicycle accidents. And Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties report more fatal accidents that any other area in the state. As we head into the holiday season and we start to see more tourists on our roadways, we can expect these horrible accidents to increase. We ask all bicyclists and motorists to travel cautiously and compassionately to help save lives.

"Florida needs to add bicycle awareness to its Florida drivers license exam," said Miriam Gallet, of the North Florida Bicycle Club.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 700 bicyclists killed 2008. Nearly 55,000 additional riders were injured during this time. One in every six fatal bicycle accidents happened in Florida that year, where we lost nearly 150 bicyclists. The only other state to report more than 100 bicyclist deaths during this time was California, which saw about 109 fatalities result from bicycle accidents.

With the inflation in gas prices, bicyclists aren't only using this form of transportation to get out and to get some exercise, but to also save money at the pump. Many residents use bicycles as their main form of transportation in the area. Bicycling is much more inexpensive than driving to and from work and school every day, but the risks are very real. We would like to remind cyclists to use extreme caution when opting to ride a bicycle through town.

"I think it is a fact that more people are out riding year round," said Beau Cautens, shop mechanic at Paradise Bicycles in Cape Coral, "and because more people are riding year round, there is going to be more accidents."

Many blame the growth and the popularity of Florida for the number of fatal bicycling accidents we see each year. In 1950 there were less than 3 million residents. Today there are approximately 19 million.

"Florida has developed faster than any other state in the nation," says Louis Malenfant, president of the Center for Education and Research in Safety.

Many of our roadways were designed to handle heavy-flowing and speedy traffic. Officials around the state are working on better roadways for bicyclists, but change comes slowly.

Please do your part and help keep our cycling friends safe.

Continue reading "West Palm Beach Bicycle Accident Injures 55-Year-Old Rider" »

A 26-year-old driver is facing charges of DUI manslaughter after a fatal car accident in Palm Beach County. The male driver was heading south on Bercasa Way near Palmetto Park Road when he reportedly pulled into a lane of oncoming traffic and struck a motorcycle head on. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and was killed, according to Boca News Now.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys have handled too many of these horrific accidents. We tend to see an increase in these fatal accidents during the end of the year and the holiday season. Drivers forget to make responsible decisions and jump behind the wheel after drinking a few too many. Or they are in a hurry. Or distracted. These decisions oftentimes take the lives of innocent motorists. Luckily, these types of accidents are preventable with a little common sense and responsibility. As 2011 draws to an end, our message to all drivers is to please act responsibly behind the wheel.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were more than 14,000 violations handed out by the Boca Raton City Police in 2010. More than 150 were criminal violations, nearly 9,500 were non-criminal moving violations and more than 4,900 were non-moving violations. Of these violations, more than 100 were handed out for driving under the influence. A majority of these violations could have been avoided if motorists made a more conscious effort to be safe on our roadways. The violations included DUI, reckless driving, fleeing, following too closely, failing to yield and speeding.

Although 2010 statistics illustrate that the state of Florida had its lowest mileage death rate ever, we still saw nearly 2,500 traffic accident-related fatalities on our roadways. Nearly 200,000 people were injured on our roadways during the year. Nearly 400 motorcyclists were killed in 2010 in Florida as well. Nearly 150 teens were killed on our roadways during this time.

Even with the "safest roads ever," Florida witnessed nearly 650 accidents every single day.

"We continue every day to make our roadways a safer place for residents and visitors," said DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones.

Drunk driving is a problem that greatly affects drivers -- and teens are not immune. This young age group reports more fatal alcohol-related accident than any other age group.

We typically see an increase in the number of fatal alcohol-related accidents on our roadways during the holiday season. This is a time when residents get some time off of work and when family and friends gather. We all get to enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. With many of these gatherings, drivers forget the dangers of drinking and driving and jump in the driver's seat after drinking too much. This is when innocent motorists are injured or killed. It is our responsibility to make the right decisions and to keep an eye on our loved ones to make sure we all make it to ring in the New Year. No one's life should end because of a driver's bad decision.

Continue reading "Driver Hit with DUI Manslaughter after Fatal Car Accident in Palm Beach County" »

In the late 1960s, the federal government released the Alcohol and Highway Safety Report. This was the first study that collected and reported data on the dangers of drunk driving-related car accidents in Boca Raton and elsewhere. One of the main publishers of the report, William Haddon, was former director of the National Highway Safety Bureau and president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A year later, Haddon published an article in Popular Science that outlined some of the background on how the report was put together.

Haddon said there were about 56,000 deaths annually because of traffic accidents that involved a drunk driver back then. There were about 800,000 total accidents resulting from drunk driving during the same time. He classified many of the intoxicated drivers as average people; students, mothers, fathers, hard workers, social drinkers and teenagers.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand what a groundbreaking report this was. This was one of the first major projects used to educate the public about just how dangerous and common this behavior was. Back then, the drunk-driving blood-alcohol limit was 0.15 in many states. The blood alcohol concentration today is much lower at 0.08. Still we're seeing far too many drunk driving-related accidents. With the holiday season approaching, we urge residents to be careful and sober on our roadways as this is a time when we typically see an increase in the number of alcohol-related car accidents on our roadways.

Drunk-driving arrests peaked at just under 2 million in 1983. In 1996, there were about 1.5 million drunk-driving arrests in the country, but alcohol-related accidents were still way too high. Many believe this decline was a result of the legal drinking-age increase. In 1984, the legal drinking age was pushed from 18 to 21 in 1984.

Drunk-driving statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

-Approximately 11,000 people were killed on our roadways in 2010 because of drunk-driving accidents. This was the third highest cause for traffic-related deaths in the U.S.

-Estimates conclude that U.S. drivers got behind the wheel about more than 110 million times in 2010.

-Self-reported incidents of drunk driving have decreased by about 30 percent in recent years.

-Approximately 5 percent of adults reported to have engaged in binge drinking at least four times a month. These incidents accounted for nearly 60 percent of all reported alcohol-related episodes.

-Male drivers between the ages of 20 and 35 account for only 11 percent of the country's population, but accounted for more than 30 percent of reported drunk driving episodes.

-The Midwest region of the country accounted for more drunk-driving incidents than any other region in the U.S. This area calculated about 650 incidents per 1,000 people. The country's average is about 480 per 1,000. North Dakota is the state with the most frequent reporting of these types of accidents with 988 episodes per 1,000.

Many researchers believe that these statistics are even higher as they think that many episodes are never reported. We urge all drivers to travel sober throughout the year.

Continue reading "Holiday Season Brings Out Alcohol-Impaired Drivers and Increased Risks of Fatal Car Accidents in Boca Raton" »

This year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced that it would be partnering with schools across the state to help with a number of White Out events. These events ask that students, parents, teachers and safe-driving advocates wear a white shirt for the day to help raise awareness about teen driving.

Car accidents in Boca Raton and elsewhere are the number one killer of teens in the country. The White Out campaign is part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which is under way this week. This campaign started in 2007 and has been taking place during the third week of October ever since.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand how beneficial these types of campaigns are as we continue to see far too many fatal traffic accidents involving teen drivers. Parents are urged to keep safe driving habits as a frequent topic of conversation in the household long after your teen driver gets his or her unrestricted license. Teen drivers who experience more involvement from parents experience less risks for car accidents.

"With increased education and parental support, we can work together to save lives by reducing the number of crashes that involve teens," said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones.

According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teens are most likely to be involved in an accident within the first 30 days of unrestricted driving than during any other time. AAA gathered research by installing cameras into the cars of teenage drivers in North Carolina. The footage concluded that there were three common causes resulting in accidents in which teens were at least partially at fault -- driver inattention, failure to yield and speeding. These three causes accounted for about 70 percent of accidents.

Researchers also concluded that as teenage drivers gained more experience behind the wheel, the number of accidents in which speed was a factor reduced gradually.

"We know that young drivers' crash rates decrease quickly as they gain experience," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger.

Accidents were most common when drivers were making left-hand turns. Teen drivers who had parents who were active in their driving career were less likely to be involved in an accident. For this reason, parents are urged to hop in the car with their teen drivers to make sure that they're driving safely and making smart decisions.

Teen drivers are more likely to engage in driver distractions, including the use of cell phones and text-messaging devices and engaging in banter with other passengers, than any other age group of drivers. These habits are dangerous and greatly increase a driver's risk for a potentially fatal accident.

For National Teen Driver Safety Week and for long after your teenagers receive their unrestricted license, we're urging parents to stay active in their career behind the wheel. Make sure they're making safe and cautious decisions, abiding by all road signs and devices, and that they understand the dangers and risks of poor decisions behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Teen Car Accidents in Boca Raton and Elsewhere Analyzed: Parent Involvement a Lifesaver" »

Halloween is right around the corner and our Boca Raton child injury attorneys and the Boca Raton Police Services Department are here to share some important tips with you and your little trick-or-treater to help reduce the risks of accidents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you child is about four times more likely to be injured on Halloween night than during any other holiday night of the year. Children can be involved in traffic-related pedestrian accidents in Boca Raton, they can be abducted by strangers, they can consume dangerous candy that has been tampered with, or they can be injured by trip and fall hazards.

"Kids can be safe trick or treating this season by following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines," said Dr. Andre Creese, of the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.

Boca Raton Police Services Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer these safety tips:

Trick-or-Treating:

-Wear brightly-colored clothing, wear reflective tape or carry a flashlight to help make sure motorists see you.

-Plan a route. Chose a trick-or-treating path that is away from busy traffic and that has sidewalks and crosswalks

-Only approach houses that are well-lit.

-Never enter a stranger's house. Accept all candy at the door.

-Make sure that all costumes are equipped with comfortable shoes. Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent a trip and fall hazard.

-Make sure everyone's fed before heading out to prevent snacking on candy before it's been examined by an adult.

-Consider using face makeup instead of a mask. Masks obstruct your line of vision.

-Don't walk through people's yards. Be respectful.

Halloween at Home:

-Before trick-or-treaters come knocking, make sure that sidewalks, driveways and front porches have been cleared of trip and fall hazards.

-Make sure all of your exterior house lights are on and working.

-Restrain all pets. Children are oftentimes intimidated by animals.

-Never leave candles or lit jack-o-lanterns unattended.

-Consider handing out healthy treats or non-food items like spider rings, toothbrushes, bubbles, etc.

-Make sure all wet surfaces are wiped up and yard debris is clear from walkways.

-Examine all candy before handing it over to children. Be sure to remove all items that have been opened or look like they've been tampered with.

Halloween on the Roadway:

-Never drink and drive.

-Be extremely cautious for little one roaming through residential areas.

-When dropping off children, do it so that they can exit the vehicle on the side away from passing vehicles.

-Avoid late-night driving.

-Be super careful when pulling into or backing out of your driveway. Children are oftentimes overlooked in the dangerous scenarios.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween and ask that you follow these simple safety tips to help prevent any real scares this year.

Continue reading "Boca Raton Child Injury Risks Skyrocket Halloween Night" »

In the news recently is a story about a non-profit organization that is trying to eradicate the epidemic of distracted driving. This group's mission is to create awareness about the dangers of texting while driving through personal stories of tragedy. Fueled by a man who lost his mother and sister in two separate fatal distracted-driving accidents in Florida, The Association for Responsible Texting was established to improve roadway safety by eliminating texting behaviors by the age group most at risk of an accident -- teenage drivers.

Naples car accident attorneys know that it may take valiant efforts to curb poor driving habits by individuals in our state since we can't rely on Florida lawmakers to get it done. Florida remains one of the few states that have neglected to address distracted driving or to pass laws opposing texting while driving.

The Sun Sentinel reports that the focus of the organization is to speak to schools and communities about the severe consequences that can result from an inattentive driver. Tragedy and personal experiences have driven this family to volunteer their time at community events.

The biggest challenge faced is changing the attitudes of drivers who think it is safe to text and drive despite what recent studies have shown. The goal for the Association for Responsible Texting is to get everyone to stop driving distracted in Florida and throughout the country, and to encourage all drivers to place a "No Texting" magnetic decal on their vehicle to help create awareness.

Graphic videos and heart-wrenching stories are posted on the No Texting While Driving website to convey personal messages from family members who have been directly affected by a distracted driver. Visitors to the website are urged to watch the videos, read the stories, post their own messages, and take the "No Texting While Driving" pledge.

Motorists can help create awareness by purchasing a magnetic decal to be placed in a visible location on their vehicle. The "No Texting While Driving" decal is 5 inches in diameter, UV protected, and can be placed on the bumper or inside window for clear visibility.

Though there is currently no national law that prevents us from texting while we drive, there could be soon. Up until now, some state lawmakers have been vigilant in their effort to ban texting and eliminate distractions in order to keep roadways safer. Florida legislatures must get with the program or risk losing more and more lives as a result of senseless acts by people who are behind the wheel and texting. This statewide problem isn't going away on its own so it will take a dominant force to change unsafe driving behaviors. We urge you to join us in creating a better awareness among young drivers especially about the dangers of distracted driving.

Continue reading "Nonprofit Targets Texters Who Create a Risk of Distracted Driving Accidents in Boca Raton, Statewide" »

A recent child pedestrian accident in Boca Raton could have turned fatal, but instead is one of the most miraculous stories of the year for our area.
Sun Sentinel reports that a man was dropping off his 6-year-old grandson at Verde Elementary School when the boy tripped and fell getting out of the vehicle and was hit by an approaching car. The driver of the second vehicle didn't realize what had happened but heard people screaming and horns honking so she stopped immediately. The child's leg had become trapped underneath the vehicle with no leverage to get it out or bend the leg. The grandfather, police and several bystanders lifted the car and pulled the boy out safely. The dashboard camera on the police cruiser captured the events of the rescue on video.

Our Delray Beach injury lawyers know the outcome of this accident could have been far worse. In many cases, a child who is struck by a car incurs severe head injuries, fractures and chest or abdominal injuries among other things. WPBF reports the boy is awake and talking with family members. He was being treated at Delray Medical Center for road rash and a slightly punctured lung, and also underwent surgery to have his ear reattached. The driver who hit the boy is suffering from emotional shock but will not be charged. Police officials state she had a clean driving record prior to the accident.

We posted a "Back to School Safety" series on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog recently to alert parents, caregivers, babysitters and others about the dangers of school drop-off zones, school bus accidents and playground injuries while children are on school property. These areas can be a danger to children if they are unaware of safety precautions when they are around large buses and passing traffic.

The Transport Roads & Traffic Authority suggests a 'drop off and pick up' initiative in school zones for school districts to utilize that can help keep children safe. The initiative designates a safe no-parking area that is supervised by an adult who assists children getting into and out of a car and safely to the school building.

The advantages of the program include:

-Designates a specific area for kids to be dropped off and picked up rather than finding a random parking spot somewhere in the vicinity of the school zone area where there is rapid movement and cars coming and going frequently.

-Eases traffic congestion around the school by keeping cars from parking illegally.

-Parents or caregivers don't have to leave small children alone in a vehicle while walking their sibling or other child to the building or classroom.

-Encourages safe passenger behaviors by parents and children, as well as road safety precautions.

Continue reading "Boca Raton 1st-Grader Saved in Pedestrian Accident at School Drop-Off Area" »

As the heart of boat season gets underway in Florida, our Fort Myers boat accident attorneys want to remind boat enthusiasts to keep safety in mind while sharing waterways with other users. The more populated the waters get with untrained operators, the higher the risk of negligent behaviors that could lead to fatal boating accidents in Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Lake Worth and Naples.

A miraculous story recently reported by ABC News reminds us of how family bonding on a fishing expedition can turn fatal with little or no warning. Eight family members recently went out on a boat in the Florida Keys for a weekend of fishing. They pushed away from land early Saturday and at around noon the family suddenly experienced gusts of wind up to 40 mph, in addition to waves as high as 10 feet. The rough waters and treacherous wind caused the boat to overturn, throwing all eight family members into the water.

A 4-year-old grabbed on to a water cooler, which helped her survive. Three male family members were able to tread water near the capsized boat while three female family members grabbed onto the cooler with the young child and floated away. After almost 20 hours of treading water, a commercial boater found the men Sunday morning. Coast Guard rescuers were able to locate the women and child soon after. The eighth member of the family, an 80-year-old mother and grandmother, did not survive. The seven survivors were taken to Fisherman Community Hospital to be treated for jellyfish stings and hypothermia.

Boaters experiencing these kinds of treacherous conditions not only fear drowning but are also subject to death from hypothermia. Even though the air is warm, the water can be quite frigid in some areas. Boatsafe.com reports that boaters are at risk of hypothermia when the water reaches the following temperatures (Fahrenheit):

-If water is 32.5 degrees, exhaustion or unconsciousness can be reached in less than 15 minutes.

-If water temperature is 40 to 50 degrees, unconsciousness is reached between 30 to 60 minutes. Victims can typically survive anywhere from one to three hours in these conditions.

-Expected survival time is two to 40 hours when water temperature is 60 to 70 degrees. In these conditions, exhaustion or unconsciousness occurs somewhere between two to seven hours.

The warmer the water temperature the more chance for survival, but other factors that can help determine how long a hypothermia victim will survive are body size, body fat and the amount of movement while in the water. The rate at which your body cools down is 25 time faster in cold water than in air.

Passengers thrown to the water in a boating accident should try to huddle together to preserve body temperature and avoid hypothermia. Wearing a life jacket will not only help prevent drowning but it also can free up your arms and legs to form a fetal position to protects areas of your body most susceptible to heat loss like your groin, back of knees or armpits.

If you plan to go out on a boat, reduce the risk of serious injury or death by checking for ideal boating conditions, especially if you are an inexperienced boat operator. Be responsible and always use caution around other boaters.

Continue reading "South Florida Boating Accidents Pose Risk of Hypothermia for Victims in Boca Raton, Elsewhere" »

A feature of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles could help to make sure your family is notified in a timely manner in the event of a serious car accident in Boca Raton or elsewhere. Motorists are now able to register the names and numbers of emergency contacts with the Department.

To promote ongoing awareness of the program, Governor Rick Scott held a statewide Register Your Emergency Contact Information Week. During this time, residents were urged to visit the DHSMV to register vital contact information that can be used in the event of an accident. The DHSMV teamed up with the Division of Emergency Management to help to get all Florida residents on board with the new program. Residents are still able to register this information with the Department.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand how important this type of information can be. Unfortunately, there are many times when family members are not notified in a timely manner after a serious car accident because the information cannot be retrieved from the victim. With this information on file with the Department, officials can contact your loved ones more quickly.

"As we celebrate Register Your Emergency Contact Information Week this first week of October, please register and encourage your friends and family members to do so, too," said Julie L. Jones, the Executive Director for the DHSMV.

There have already been more than 5 million people register their emergency contact information with the Department. The new program hopes to obtain this important information from Florida's 15.5 million licensed drivers.

Once you've registered with the program, residents with either an identification card or a driver's license will be able to submit two contacts to the Department to notify in the event of an emergency, such as a traffic accident. Don't worry! The information is only to be used by law enforcement offices in the event of an accident.

Bryan W. Koon, the Florida Division of Emergency Management Director, says that the program is 100 percent voluntary but he still urges residents to get registered as this information can help to ensure that you're connected with your loved ones in a timely manner.

Singing up only takes a minute. You can do it from any computer. Just visit the DHSMV's website. If you don't have access to a computer, you can still register at any Florida driver's license office or county tax collector office. This program is completely free!

The program was started after a motorcycle accident that killed Tiffiany Olson in December of 2005. In this case, officials were unable to notify her mother in a timely manner. They were unable to retrieve emergency contact information from Tiffiany. Tiffiany's mother, Christine Olson, brought the idea of the program to Rep. Bill Galvano and the idea took off.

Continue reading "New Program to Register Emergency Contacts before a Car Accident in Boca Raton or Elsewhere" »

A recent press release from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles informed news readers that fatal car accidents in Florida have seen a recent drop. This drop in accidents concludes that 2010 recorded the fewest fatal traffic accidents ever in the state. Unfortunately, Florida is still ranked as the deadliest state in the country for motor-vehicle accidents.

Another interesting characteristic of this release is that pedestrian accidents were not included in the number of traffic accident-related deaths. As we've recently reported, Florida currently holds four out of the five top spots for dangerous areas in the U.S. for pedestrians. So while this press release may shine some hopeful light on Florida's roadways, there is still cause for concern and action.

"The report shows that as a state we are moving toward our vision of a safer Florida as crashes continue to drop," said DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand that this report grants credit to enforcement agencies. Director Jones pours compliments on the local and state law enforcement agencies, safety advocates and lawmakers for a job well done for reducing the number of roadway accidents and fatalities. While we are thankful that the number of traffic-related deaths has indeed decreased, we're still worried by the fact that Florida continues to rank as the most dangerous place to drive in the country.

Positive trends that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pointed out in its recent release:

-The number of fatalities experienced per 100 million miles traveled, or the State Mileage Death Rate, has witnessed a decrease and now total about 1.25 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This 2010 statistics is the lowest record ever in the books.

-There has been a near 31 percent decrease in the number of roadway fatalities from 2005 to 2010.

-Accident fatalities dropped from 2009 to 2010 by nearly 5 percent, or from approximately 2,500 fatalities to just over 2,440.

-Motorcyclists experienced a decrease of nearly 5 percent in the number of traffic fatalities, from roughly 400 to approximately 380.

-The number of bicyclist fatalities dropped by nearly 25 percent from 2009 to 2010.

-Teen car accidents decreased by nearly 6 percent.

Nowhere in these findings did the press release address the number of pedestrian fatalities. According to 13 News, there was a spike in the number of pedestrian fatalities from 2009 to 2010. No word of that was leaked in this release.

Florida most dangerous counties and the number of 2010 traffic accidents:

-Miami-Date: 43,260 accidents.

-Broward: 26,233 accidents:

-Hillsborough: 17,480 accidents.

-Orange: 17,090 accidents.

-Pinellas: 13,450 accidents:

Miami-Dade was obviously the county that experienced the most traffic-related fatalities in 2010. Nearly 250 people died on the county's roadways during that time.

While officials would like to pat themselves on the back for decreased numbers of car accidents, the cold, hard facts still state that Florida roadways are some of the most dangerous in the country.

Continue reading "Press Release Highlights Deceiving Statistics of Car Accidents in Florida" »

As we recently reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released a press release stating that Florida has in fact experienced a decrease in the number of roadway fatalities.

Unfortunately, we pointed out that in these statistics pedestrian accidents and certain other fatalities were not noted.

The Sun Sentinel reports that the number of fatal pedestrian accidents in Florida has increased by nearly 4 percent from 2009 to 2010. There were nearly 500 pedestrian fatalities in the state during 2010 alone.

Our Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand that much more needs to be done to keep travelers safe on our roadways. Florida is still plagued with distracted, drunk and speedy drivers. While there may have been a decrease in come categories of traffic accidents, there has in fact been a significant increase in many others. This is no time to let our guard down. Safe and alert driving habits are more important now than ever.

According to USA TODAY, Florida was ranked as the deadliest state in the country for pedestrians and bicyclists. Four out of the top 10 most dangerous metro areas were in Florida. Our state has unfortunately been in the top three for this danger list every single year since 2001.

"We're trying to figure out root causes and how we can fix it," says Marianne Trussell, chief safety officer for Florida's Department of Transportation.

Many experts believe that the number of these roadway fatalities is so high because of the rapid development of the state. Florida has grown more than any other state in the country, from just under 3 million in 1950 to nearly 19 million in 2010.

Others believe that the number of fatalities has to do with the number of tourists that our state sees every year. In 2009, there were more than 80 million tourists who visited Florida.

Lastly, some even blame our beautiful weather. Since we've got rays of sunshine all year long, many set out to enjoy some fun in the sun. People are more likely to travel and to get outside when the weather allows. In Florida, that's year round.

2009-2010 Florida Highway Patrol Statistics:

-Speeding citations: Approximately 322,000.

-DUI arrests: Nearly 10,000.

-Drug-related arrests: More than 4,000.

-Seat belt citations: Nearly 140,500.

-Total Statewide roadway fatalities: More than 2,500.

-Alcohol-related roadway fatalities: More than 1,000

-Motorcyclist fatalities: More than 400.

-Pedestrian deaths: Nearly 500.

-Bicyclist fatalities: Nearly 100.

-Accident investigations: More than 217,000.

-Patrol vehicle mileage: More than 36,000,000.

-Commercial vehicle citations: Nearly 563,000.

-License revocation (DUI): More than 45,000.

-License revocation (habitual offender): Nearly 21,000.

-Fatality rate (fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled): 1.30.

As you can see from the numbers listed above, our roadways are anything but safe. Drivers are urged to be on their best behavior on our roadways to help reduce the risks of an accident with a careless driver.

Continue reading "Traffic Fatalities in Florida Still High Despite Recent Report" »

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently launched the third-annual "Heads-Up Driving Week" to help reduce the risks of distracted driving-related car accidents in Boca Raton and elsewhere. This week-long campaign is taking place from October 2nd through the 8th. During this time, AAA is asking that all drivers make a pledge to eliminate distractions while behind the wheel while on our roadways.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys understand that multi-tasking has almost become second-nature to all of us as we have busy days and many obligations to fulfill. But driving is no time to engage in any other activities other than focusing on safely making it to your destination. Event organizers ask that you to pledge to drive distraction-free for just one week. We hope that you can spread the word and can get your friends and family members to join the movement and potentially remain on board for a lifetime.

Quick distracted driving facts:

-There are approximately 8,000 accidents that occur every day because of distracted drivers.

-About a million people have died because of car accidents over the last 25 years. There were nearly 34,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2009. This high number of fatal accidents is believed to be a result of increased distractions for drivers.

-Approximately 5,500 lives were lost on U.S. roadways in 2009 because of traffic accidents that reported the involvement of a distracted driver.

-Studies have concluded that drivers spend at least half of their time behind the wheel engaging in distractions.

-Drivers who use a cell phone are four times more likely to be involved in a motor-vehicle accident.

-Distractions can include rubbernecking, playing with the radio, smoking, applying makeup, talking on a phone, eating, texting or engaging in activities with passengers.

-Passengers were the number one reported cause of distraction-related car accidents in the U.S.

According to a recent survey, nearly 95 percent of drivers reported that they viewed text messaging and emailing while driving as an unacceptable and dangerous behavior. Nearly 90 percent of those who were surveyed said that they support laws to govern this type of behavior. Ironically, more than a third of drivers still engage in these types of activities. This is the "do as I say, not as I do" behavior. We as drivers need to look inward at our own driving habits and make changes before we can expect others to change.

We would like to invite you to take the "Heads-Up Driving Week" challenge and pledge to put away all distractions while driving. This is a week-long pledge that could potentially change your driving habits and help to induce change in others. No life is worth a text message or a phone call. Keep your eyes and mind on the road at all times to help save a life.

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