Florida Accident Attorney Blog

Another Halloween is upon us. South Florida's kids will take to the streets in droves dressed as ghosts, ghouls, witches, vampires, zombies, and other scary beings. We'll probably see a few fairy princesses and cowboys, too. Going door-to-door to Trick or Treat is a cherished childhood tradition. Kids enjoy scaring each other -- and the adults who go along with the gag and pretend to be scared.

However, as child safety advocates point out, the real scares on Halloween night don't come from the goofy costumes. They come from the increased risk of pedestrian traffic accidents.

A Plantation, Florida car accident injury lawyer will tell you -- the combination of children, in dark costumes, dashing across the street at night increases the risk for serious or fatal pedestrian traffic accidents. In addition, adults who are out drinking and partying on Halloween night add a potentially deadly factor to the already dangerous mix of kids out in the streets after dark. The chance of Florida drunk driving crashes increases on holidays where parties are thrown, alcohol is consumed, and people who shouldn't get behind the wheel and drive.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) posted an article on the risks for children who go out after dark to celebrate Halloween and engage in trick or treating. MADD quotes a frightening statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

[O]n Halloween night in 2009, 48 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.

MADD reminds drivers to be extra careful of children in the street on Halloween night. Parents are also urged to accompany children (particularly young ones), to give children flashlights to carry, and to put reflective tape on treat buckets and costumes. In addition, MADD makes recommendations for adults to host safe parties (see link below) and reminds people never to serve minors alcohol, on Halloween or any other night.

In addition, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) posts Halloween safety tips on the Florida DHSMV website (link below). FHP reminds motorists to be extra cautious to avoid pedestrian traffic accidents, stating that Florida neighborhoods that might not normally see a lot of pedestrian foot traffic may see more on Halloween night. In addition, the FHP reminds drivers to go SLOW and watch for children darting in and out of parked cars along the street.

As Broward County, Florida pedestrian accident attorneys AND parents ourselves -- we know that Halloween is a special time for children. Adults -- both drivers and parents -- are cautioned not to let their guard down, despite the festivity of the costumes and candy. It's an extra hazardous time to be driving and walking during Trick or Treat on Florida streets and roads. Please drive safe and keep your children safe this Halloween.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

Lee County, Florida Pedestrians at Greater Risk of Injury and Death in Traffic Accidents than in Other Communities (June 27, 2011)

Sources:

Ghosts and goblins are not the scariest part of Halloween
MADD Oct. 28, 2011

Florida Halloween Safety Tips
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

MADD Safe Party Guide

Florida is among states observing National School Bus Safety Week, which takes place Oct. 17 - 21, 2011. As an experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident injury lawyer knows -- children are at increased risk of being injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes that occur around school buses and in school zones. Youth are particularly vulnerable getting on and off the school bus, as well as walking to and from school.

The "Stop on Red, Kids Ahead" public awareness campaign is a joint effort of the Florida Departments of Education, Transportation, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLDHSMV) reports that every year, drivers in Fla. illegally pass school buses some two million times. The Fla. agency website states that…

Drivers who improperly pass a stopped school bus commit a moving violation subject to citation and will be required to complete a basic Driver Improvement Course upon conviction.

A few seconds of inconvenience is a small price to pay to avoid injuring or killing a child in a Florida pedestrian accident. Some confusion exists surrounding Florida traffic law and school buses. A school bus whose yellow lights are flashing indicates that it is preparing to stop. The red lights begin flashing when the bus comes to a stop, at which point the bus safety arms and STOP sign are extended.

Florida law requires that all cars and trucks behind the schoolbus must come to a complete stop, regardless of which lane the other motor vehicles are in. Oncoming traffic must also stop. This holds true for two-lane and multi-lane paved roadways in Florida. The only time oncoming traffic may proceed with caution is on Florida roadways with a raised or unpaved barrier or median in the middle of the road, at least five feet in width, separating the lanes of traffic. Even so, oncoming drivers are cautioned to proceed very carefully, given children getting on and off school buses may be rushing to cross the street.

School buses in the U.S. transport more than 25 million students. Sadly, an annual 15 traffic accident fatalities occur at school bus stops every year in this country. The School Bus Safety Week campaign seeks to remind drivers in Florida and across the country to be aware of their surroundings, to stop for stopped school buses in accordance with traffic law, and to use extra care when driving near a school bus.

Florida Highway Patrol reports that each time a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus, they risk a student pedestrian traffic accident injury or fatality. A disturbing article in the Florida Times Union revealed that Fla. schoolbus drivers surveyed report that a great number of Florida motorists routinely pass their stopped school buses in spite of the law -- and the risk to our state's children and youth. Law enforcement will be monitoring traffic around school buses to stop drivers who are breaking the law and putting our children's lives and well being at risk.

Related Florida Injury Attorney article:

Fort Myers Teen Pedestrian Accident Raises Questions about Florida School Drop Off Safety (Sept. 24, 2011)

Sources:

Florida School Bus Safety: website and video

Florida motorists disregarding school bus safety laws
State survey gauges illegal passing as students board and step off
Florida Times Union via Jacksonville.com Oct. 17, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

NHTSA Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe! – Traffic Safety Campaign (for parents)

As experienced Miami pedestrian accident injury lawyers, we're all too aware that speed is a deadly factor in a large percentage of fatal Florida traffic accidents. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004 - 2008 reported that of the 2,978 traffic fatalities in Florida in 2008, speeding was a factor in 553 of those Fla. roadway deaths.

However a new report issued by the AAA Foundation found that driving at relatively slow speeds in urban areas with heavy foot traffic -- such as Miami, Florida -- can also can serious bodily injuries and prove fatal when pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles in traffic accidents.

The report, titled Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death (see link to PDF below), showed that pedestrian accident injury and death rates go up when slower driving speeds increase even incrementally. A spokesperson for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety told the media that, "The death rate more than doubles for pedestrians when speed increases from 25 to 35 m.p.h…." Other study data reveals how the seriousness of pedestrian traffic accident injuries as well as the risk of death increases with the offending driver's speed:

Results show that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, 75% at 39 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70‐year‐old pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30‐year‐old pedestrian struck at 35 mph.

The study authors say that nationally, pedestrian traffic accident deaths have declined in recent years. This is also true in Florida, where pedestrian traffic fatalities numbered at 490 in 2008, representing a five-year low. Yet as a state and a country, we still have far to go to make our streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

One important takeaway message from the report is that even slower speeds are deadly when pedestrians are struck by cars, light trucks, SUVs, and vans on our city streets and roadways. The injury and death risk also goes up for elderly pedestrians -- always a concern in Florida given our large population of senior citizens. See link below to full report and study recommendations.

Related Florida Accident Attorney Articles:

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks (May 25, 2011)

Florida Pedestrian Killed in Miami Traffic Accident : Bus Driver Faces Charges (Feb. 12, 2011)

Sources:

Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death (PDF)
AAA Foundation Report Sept. 2011

In Crashes, Low Driving Speed Can Cause Serious Injury and Death to Pedestrians, Report Finds
Forbes.com Sept. 30, 2011

News media covering traffic accidents with injuries in Ft Myers, Florida report that a high school student was hospitalized this month after being struck by a sewerage truck near the school.

The Fort Myers pedestrian accident reportedly occurred on Sept. 23, when a 15-year-old male student attempted to cross Plantation Road to get to his ride waiting across the street. The teen was reportedly struck by a septic truck and was hospitalized for his injuries. The student was reported to be in fair condition following the pedestrian and commercial truck accident. Since the traffic accident, news sources report that parents are expressing concern about the safety of student drop-off and pick up areas surrounding the high school.

Fort Myers pedestrian accident lawyers may advise Lee County, Fla. families when a loved one has been injured or killed in a South Florida pedestrian traffic accident. An experienced Ft. Myers car accident injury attorney has knowledge regarding state traffic laws and liability, including those related to accidents occurring in school zones.

The media reports that in Fort Myers, deputies control traffic on school property, but not on Plantation Road where the student was struck by a commercial truck. The student was reportedly attempting to cross the street in a crosswalk.

Pedestrian and school safety advocates in Florida and around the U.S. warn that school zones are dangerous for students of all ages, particularly to younger children. The dangers are many -- school buses, parents' motor vehicles , and older students' cars coming and going; students hurrying to cross streets to meet friends and get to class; and everyone in a rush to get somewhere on time. The pedestrian safety advocates at WalkingInfo.org (see link below) report that the greatest number of student pedestrian traffic accidents occur when students attempt to cross the street. The organization recommends that,

Schools should develop "Safe Routes to School" walking and bicycle plans to serve all residences within the walking attendance boundary and work with local agencies to identify and correct traffic problem areas while developing these plans. These "Safe Route to School" walking and bicycling plans help to identify where traffic control (signs, traffic signals, crosswalks, adult guards, etc.) should be placed around the school and along school routes. Marked crosswalks can help guide children to the best routes to school with these plans.

In addition, school pedestrian safety advocates recommend proper signage in and around school property warning motor vehicles of student drop off hours; highly visible posted speed limits; and clearly marked areas for parents to know the proper places to drop off and pick up their youngsters.

Pedestrian safety advocates also recommend that law enforcement review the condition of sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic control devices prior to the start of the school year, to make sure everything is in repair and working properly. Schools are advised to work with parents and local law enforcement to make school zones safe for students of all ages and avoid motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.

Sources:

Problematic pick-up, drop-off at high school
NBC-2.com Sept. 23, 2011

Walkinfo.org : School Zone Improvements

Related Web Resources:

Florida Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

The 2011 Florida Statutes, Motor Vehicles, State Uniform Traffic Control:
316.130 Pedestrians; traffic regulations

According to Fort Lauderdale, Florida news reports, a man has been killed at a railroad crossing south of Broward Boulevard.

The fatal pedestrian accident reportedly involved a freight train and a man on foot near Southwest 2nd Street in Ft. Lauderdale. Florida East Coast Railway crossings in the vicinity were closed while the accident was being investigated. No further information was available about this fatal pedestrian accident.

Railroad crossings can be hazardous sites for both pedestrians and motor vehicles. Pedestrians who walk along railroad tracks are at risk of being struck: The Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis reports 48 "trespasser casualties" (fatalities and injuries) in Florida for 2010 -- up from 27 trespasser casualties in 2009. (The data excludes highway / rail crossings.)

Other types of Florida train and pedestrian accidents include rail yard workers and other rail employees who are struck by trains, as well as passengers getting on and off of commuter and passenger trains at railway stops and in train stations.

The railroad industry has safety measures in place to warn both pedestrians and motor vehicles of approaching trains. These include the use of train whistles, horns, and bells; flashing lights, and gates which are lowered as the train approaches. When automobile drivers attempt to race through closing railroad crossing gates -- or go around them -- the results can be catastrophic.

Families may consult Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers when an accident between a pedestrian and a car, truck, train or bus occurs, to help determine liability. An experienced Florida accident injury attorney knows the laws and how they relate to liability when pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles or trains or buses take place.

Pedestrian and Railroad Crossing Safety
In 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA), which contains 10 safety initiatives related to grade crossing safety and trespass prevention. A related report by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) shows examples of other pedestrian safety measures in place at some railroad crossings and train stops.

These safety measures include fencing along platform edges (to discourage "fence jumping" shortcuts), plantings, and other barriers; brightly colored paint (that may be seen by the visually impaired); and grading that differentiates the railroad tracks from places that are designated for pedestrian crossing. Some passenger station platforms include display signs that indicate when other trains are coming. Other signage may warn pedestrians, indicate where they should walk, and remind them to be on the lookout for moving trains. The FRA points out the importance of brightly colored, well maintained safety signage to help guide and educate passengers and pedestrians.

The organization also advocates for public outreach and education to help keep pedestrians and motor vehicle occupants safe at railroad crossings. No further information was available regarding the circumstances surrounding today's fatal pedestrian accident at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida train crossing.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks May 25, 2011

Sources:

15 Fort Lauderdale intersections reopened after fatality on railroad tracks closed streets for two hours
SunSentinel.com Aug. 2, 2011

Federal Railroad Administration: Office of Safety Analysis

Pedestrian Crossing Safety at or Near Passenger Stations (PDF)
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Dec. 2010

Related Web Resources:

Florida East Coast Railway

Federal Railroad Administration: Railroad Safety

A Lee County, Fla. news source reports something that experienced Fort Myers car accident injury lawyers know to be true: that when it comes to serious and fatal pedestrian traffic accidents, Florida is the most dangerous state in the nation.

The North Fort Myers Neighbor reported on data released by Transportation for America. The organization looks at pedestrian traffic accident patterns nationwide, examining factors such as highway and road design, and when and where auto crashes involving pedestrian injuries and deaths take place.

The four deadliest metro areas in the country are all, in fact, major Florida destinations. They are Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami, Florida. The results were published in the study entitled Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods). Here in Lee County, Florida, the pedestrian fatality rate is more than twice the national average and greater than in the rest of Florida. Looking at the years 2000 through 2009, the study found that the Lee County pedestrian fatality rate was 3.4 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people, compared with 1.6 per 100K nationwide and 3.0 for Florida overall.

The study cites poor street design as a major factor that compromises pedestrian safety -- including in South Florida. Most pedestrian deaths occur on roads designed to move volumes of speeding traffic -- not for people traveling on foot. These roads, by and large, lack sidewalks, crosswalks, or traffic signals that provide some protection for pedestrians. The people most likely to be killed in pedestrian and car crashes in Florida are children, senior citizens, and minority groups. Hispanics have a pedestrian death rate that is 37% higher than that of non-Hispanic whites, and African Americans have a death rate that is 48% higher than for non-Hispanic whites.

Earlier this year, USA Today reported that Florida is the deadliest state in the nation for both pedestrians and bicyclists. Florida's year-round sunny weather, and increase in population, mean more and more people are walking and biking in Florida -- and at risk of being hurt or killed in auto crashes. USA Today reports that Florida's population has exploded in the last half century, from 2.8 million people in 1950 to 18.5 million people today. This increased population poses more challenges for highway and street designers to safely accommodate more pedestrians and bicyclists.

Driver and pedestrian behavior also play a factor in pedestrian traffic accidents in Florida. This includes drivers who are not aware of pedestrians because of speeding, distracted driving, and drunk driving -- as well as pedestrians who walk at night, wearing dark clothing, and cross the street not in crosswalks. A spokesperson for a Florida Bicycle Association told USA Today, "There really needs to be a statewide safety awareness program. I see a lot done on drunk driving, seat belts, even child safety seats, but you don't see anything on pedestrian safety and bike safety." There were 466 pedestrian traffic crash fatalities in Florida in the year 2009.

Related Florida Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyer article:

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks May 25, 2011

Sources:

Florida ranked most dangerous state for pedestrians
North Fort Myers Neighbor May 31, 2011

Fla. deadliest state for walkers, cyclists
USAToday.com Feb. 28, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Transportation for America: Dangerous by Design

Florida Bicycle Association

Continue reading "Lee County, Florida Pedestrians at Greater Risk of Injury and Death in Traffic Accidents than in Other Communities" »

If you live, work, or vacation in Fort Lauderdale or Miami, Florida, you'd better be sure to look both ways before you cross the street -- and walk on the sidewalks, not on the roadside.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale topped a list of U.S. cities deemed most hazardous for putting people at risk of traffic-related pedestrian accidents. In fact, according to safety advocates Transportation for America, which calculates a Pedestrian Danger Index -- Florida metro areas are among the most dangerous places in the country for serious and fatal pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.

As Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers, we are all too familiar with the devastating injuries and fatalities that can occur when a person on foot is hit by a car, truck, or other motor vehicle in Florida. NHTSA reports that on average, most pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas, at night, at non-intersection locations, and under normal weather conditions. People age 65+ are at greater risk of having a pedestrian accident. Florida experienced 466 pedestrian accident fatalities in 2009.

According to Transportation for America's "Dangerous by Design" study (see link below), approx. 47,700 pedestrians were killed in the United States between 2000 and 2009 -- "the equivalent of a jumbo jet full of passengers crashing roughly every month."

The study found that "most Americans continue to live in places where walking is risky business for their health and safety, where roads are designed solely to move traffic and where pedestrians are viewed as an obstacle." With Orlando, Florida, topping the list as the nation's most deadly city for pedestrians, the most dangerous metro areas in the South and West "…have seen rapid growth in recent decades of low-density development, characterized by high-speed urban roads that are particularly hazardous for walking."

Metro Orlando tops list of most dangerous communities for pedestrians
Sun-Sentinel.com May 24, 2011

Transportation for America: Dangerous by Design 2011

NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts 2009: Pedestrians (PDF)

Related Florida Accident Attorney article:

Florida Pedestrian Traffic Accident Deaths Up: Report Cites Technology Distractions

A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man in a wheelchair following a hit-and-run pedestrian accident has spoken out to the media about the traffic crash that's left him with leg and hip fractures.

According to a South Florida media outlet, 29-year-old Jay Wiegmann was initially involved in a minor rear-end traffic accident at a Fort Lauderdale intersection. Wiegmann reports that when he exited his vehicle to check on the damage of the car he'd rear-ended, he was struck by a pickup truck that sped off.

This hit and run traffic accident occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. near East Las Olas Boulevard and Fiesta Way. Wiegmann told the media he was shocked to be struck by the pickup truck shortly before he lost consciousness in this pedestrian accident with injury. The young man's family is asking the driver to come forward, and Broward County Crime Stoppers are offering a reward for any tips that come in through their anonymous tip line at 954-493-TIPS.

Fort Lauderdale pedestrian traffic accident lawyers may consult to families who seek guidance on whether they should pursue a lawsuit against a negligent or reckless driver who caused death or injury. Pedestrian traffic accidents can happen with no warning and can leave the victims with serious, debilitating injuries and their families in financially challenging situations.

A Broward County, Florida injury attorney with experience advocating for people hurt or killed in pedestrian accidents and other car accident cases can advise families on their legal rights and next steps. Pedestrian accidents claim the lives of roughly 500 Floridians every year and can cause pain, suffering, and disability in those who survive being struck by a car or truck.

Hit and Run Victim Speaks
WSVN.TV April 23, 2011

Broward Crime Stoppers of Broward County, Florida

Related Florida Accident Attorney Articles:

Florida Pedestrian Traffic Accident Deaths Up: Report Cites Technology Distractions

Florida Pedestrian Killed in Miami Traffic Accident : Bus Driver Faces Charges

A Miami-Dade County, Florida bus driver will face charges as the result of a commercial vehicle traffic accident that fatally injured a pedestrian.

The Miami Herald reports that on Nov. 27 of last year, a Miami Dade transit bus struck and killed a pedestrian, who appeared to step off the curb as the bus made a turn. At the time of the fatal pedestrian accident, the female bus driver, age 41, stated she did not know the bus struck a person. The man killed was 51 years old.

When a pedestrian accident resulting in injury or death occurs in Miami Dade County, Florida families may consult an experienced Miami pedestrian car accident injury lawyer to help determine liability in the case.

The pedestrian and bicyclist resource site WalkingInfo.org states that more than 4,000 pedestrians were killed and 59,000 pedestrians were injured in the U.S. in 2009. In addition, PEDSAFE crash analysis reports that pedestrian and bus accidents are more apt to occur when people cross the street in front of a commercial bus stopped at a bus stop, walk in the vicinity of a commercial bus stop, or are walking to or from a school bus stop.

The bus driver involved in this fatal Miami, Florida motor vehicle accident where a pedestrian was killed faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render aid to the accident victim.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

Florida Pedestrian Traffic Accident Deaths Up: Report Cites Technology Distractions
Jan. 31, 2011

Sources:

Miami-Dade bus driver charged in fatal accident
The Miami Herald Feb. 11, 2011

WalkingInfo.org: Pedestrian Crash Facts

PEDSAFE Crash Analysis

Pedestrians crossing our busy streets in Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other South Florida urban hot-spots know, when the traffic light turns green, you’d better watch out.

Deadly South Florida auto accidents involving pedestrians can occur for a variety of reasons, including drunk drivers who don’t see people in the road, to pedestrians stepping into the street at night, not using the crosswalk -- where even careful drivers may be less apt to see them.

Now the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) has issued a new report stating that iPods, cell phones, and hand held devices used for text messaging and checking websites are distracting pedestrians when they step off the sidewalk. Serious and fatal pedestrian – car accidents are on the rise in Florida and other states around the country.

Florida urban locations are in fact among the most dangerous in the country for pedestrian and auto accidents. The GHSA reports that "in 2009, four high-population states with large urban centers – California, Florida, Texas and New York – together accounted for 41% of the nation's pedestrian fatalities."

An experienced Fort Lauderdale, Florida pedestrian accident attorney may advise families who have suffered injury or the death of a family member due to a car accident with a pedestrian. A Fla. injury lawyer familiar with traffic laws and issues surrounding liability may advise injured people on whether they have a legal case or insurance claim. Florida is second only to California among the states where pedestrians are most at risk for fatal traffic pedestrian accidents.

Deaths on the Rise for Distracted Pedestrians
CBSNews.com Jan. 26, 2011

Progress in Reducing Pedestrian Deaths Lags in 2010
GHSA Press Release Jan. 20, 2011

Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2010 Preliminary Data (PDF)

According to a Palm Beach area news source, two men were injured while crossing Florida State Road A1A early on New Year's Eve. One man was released from the hospital with minor injuries while another remains in critical condition.

The newspaper stated that the Palm Beach County Florida pedestrian accident occurred around 5:30 p.m., as two men attempted to cross A1A in the southbound lane.

The men were allegedly in the crosswalk -- which was marked with fluorescent signs -- near the 3600 block of South Ocean Boulevard in front of Highland Beach Club when the traffic accident occurred. No charges have been filed at this time as the accident is under investigation. No names were released.

A Palm Beach pedestrian accident lawyer may provide consultation to Florida families where a loved one sustains minor, serious or fatal injuries as a result of a car and pedestrian crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2007, approx 70,000 U.S. pedestrians were hurt and more than 4,650 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data: Pedestrians). More than 500 pedestrians were killed in Florida in motor vehicle accidents that same year.

Pedestrian remains in critical condition after New Year's eve accident in Highland Beach
Palm Beach Post News Jan. 4, 2011

Related Web Resource:

Wikipedia: Florida State Road A1A

With Halloween falling on the weekend this year, South Florida residents should be extra careful when trick or treating in their neighborhoods. This includes heavily settled areas in Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, Florida.

Halloween is a time when children are literally running through the roads and streets -- adding extra responsibility on parents and drivers to avoid Florida car and pedestrian accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), citing an article from Parents Magazine, recommends parents use common sense when preparing their children for Halloween:

• Make sure costumes and shoes fit, so children aren't tripping over themselves


• Supervise young children who go out trick or treating


• Teach children to look both ways before crossing the street and to cross at intersections


• Keep children in well-lit areas only


• Create a safe neighborhood zone that limits children's Halloween travels to only houses they know (and teach children to stay away from dark houses, decrepit houses, or houses with barking or loose dogs -- even Florida premises liability law cannot stop a dog bite or fall causing injury from happening)

As experienced Fort Lauderdale accident injury attorneys and parents ourselves, we know how precious children are to their families. Be careful out there this Halloween season, so the scares you experience are only of the fun candy-corn and costumes variety.

Other South Florida Halloween Driving Safety Issues
In addition, NHTSA cites thousands of motor vehicle crashes every year during Halloween week -- in part due to adults' partying with alcohol. As with any holiday celebration, the risk of being involved a drunk driving accident increases as people drive home from bars and parties.

NHTSA also urges police departments to be on extra alert in college towns (such as Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Miami and Tampa, Florida), where students are likely to be drinking and partying more during Halloween week.

Child Pedestrian Safety Education
NHTSA, Sept. 2009 (PDF)

Related Web Resource
Are you Halloween prepared? Safety tips with a Parenting magazine expert
Yahoo.com Oct. 12, 2010

A Broward County, Florida teen reportedly lost part of her leg when she was struck by a car on school grounds on Oct. 20.

The Broward County car accident occurred last week at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, which is about 15 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A senior who was standing on school grounds was reportedly hit by a grandmother driving a Toyota Corolla. The accident victim's leg was, according to news reports, severed from the knee down as she was struck by the car, which backed into a utility pole.

Families sometimes consult a Broward County car accident injury lawyer to determine whether negligence, recklessness or liability are involved in serious auto accident cases where injury or death occur, in or around Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue team members responded to this teen pedestrian and motor vehicle accident, which remains under investigation. The driver was reportedly hospitalized due to stress. The victim is recovering at a Broward County, Florida hospital, according to news reports. Two other students were reportedly treated at area hospitals.

Florida motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents can occur on and around school grounds, where so many students congregate in close proximity to vehicles entering and exiting the premises. In this case, It's not clear why the grandmother, who was reportedly picking up two children, crashed her car.

News Source:
Teen's leg severed in car accident
WSVN.com Oct. 21, 2010

Related Florida Accident Attorney Blog Article:
Palm Beach County, Florida Bike Accident Victim Remembered on International Walk to School Day

People who visit West Palm Beach, Florida are typically struck by its waterfront views and elegant, Old World charm. They just might want to avoid a certain intersection to avoid being struck by another motorist.

According to a local news report, residents are making noise about a certain intersection being notorious for West Palm Beach car accidents and near misses. Residents say that the intersection of Forest Hill Boulevard and Kudza Road is particularly dangerous, despite it being well lit and having marked crosswalks -- and a crossing guard.

One concerned father told the press that in the year his family has lived near this West Palm Beach, Fla., intersection -- he often hears brakes screeching and has known of several motor vehicle accidents. These include a serious traffic pedestrian accident involving his own son. The boy, who was crossing the intersection for the school bus, was struck by a vehicle and hospitalized in the Delray Beach Medical Center Trauma Unit for a week.

A West Palm Beach accident injury lawyer may work with families in cases where negligent or reckless driving led to injury or death.

Forest Hill Blvd and Kudza Rd was the same West Palm Beach, Florida locale where in January, a drunk driver hit a van and caused a pile-up car accident, killing one young child.

Resident warns of dangerous intersection
WPTV.com Sept. 24, 2010

Baby Dies After 3-Car Pileup In West Palm Beach
WPBF.com Jan. 31, 2010

A boy walking home from school in Cape Coral, Florida was injured in a hit and run accident by a driver picking up his own child from Challenger Middle School.

According to news reports, the driver was traveling east on Trafalgar Parkway after 4 p.m. when his truck veered off the road, striking a boy walking home from school. The driver reportedly went home and then returned to the Cape Coral accident site to see if he'd hit a mailbox.

The child was treated at Cape Coral Hospital for injuries that occurred when the truck's passenger-side mirror struck him in the head. The driver was arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in a hit/run crash involving injury.

Children walking to and from school are vulnerable to pedestrian accidents, as are children getting on and off the schoolbus. The mother of the injured child in this case told the media that there were no sidewalks on the street where the Cape Coral - Ft Myers area traffic accident occurred.

A Fort Myers, Florida pedestrian accident attorney may be consulted by families seeking advice in traffic accident cases where negligence or recklessness may have led to injury or death.

DUI charges in after-school hit and run
ABC-7.com Aug. 25, 2010

Related Web Resource

SafeKids USA: Pedestrian Safety

A West Palm Beach news source reports that a four-year-old was killed when he was run over by a truck that was driving on a beach in Central Florida.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, the child, Aiden Patrick, was at New Smyrna Beach with his parents on Sunday afternoon when he was struck and killed by a Dodge pickup truck that was driving along the beach. Preliminary reports stated that the truck accident may have occurred because the driver did not see the child.

Florida Beach Driving Accidents

The Palm Beach Post reports that in the past 5 years in Volusia County, Florida, at least 40 beach-goers have been struck in motor vehicle accidents on the beach with more than half of the accident victims suffering serious personal injury.

Allowing cars and trucks to drive on the beach in the United States and in certain Florida locales, such as the Daytona area, is controversial -- due to the risk of catastrophic pedestrian accidents as well the impact on the coastal environment and wildlife. Volusia County regulates beach driving by designating beaches into three zones -- urban, transitional, and natural zones -- and by limiting when cars and trucks can drive on the beach to certain times and months of the year.

West Palm Beach injury lawyers have knowledge regarding Florida traffic laws put in place to keep pedestrians safe. The tradition of beach driving in Florida is tied to NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway.

Pickup runs over, kills 4-year-old on Central Florida beach
Palm Beach Post July 19, 2010

Related Web Resources

Volusia County Beach Safety: Beach Driving and Parking

Coastal A - Z : Beach Driving

A North Fort Myers, Florida man has been charged in a hit and run accident from May 10 that seriously injured a Fort Myers bicyclist.

According to news reports, 22-year-old David Mustonen was riding his bicycle home from his restaurant job around 1 a.m. when he was struck by a pickup truck, which fled the accident scene. The Fort Myers traffic accident occurred on Bayshore Road near Glick Drive. Bicyclist Mustonen was hospitalized in intensive care for three days at Lee Memorial Hospital with serious personal injuries.

Florida Highway Patrol reports that a witness tip led investigators to a damaged white 1994 Ford F-150 pickup truck parked in a local supermarket parking lot. After an investigation that lasted several weeks, state troopers arrested Richard Clem, age 54, of North Fort Myers, Florida. Clem is charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that caused bodily injury.

Fort Myers truck accident injury lawyers may be consulted by injured parties and their families if an accident may have been caused due to the negligence and recklessness of another driver.

Bicyclists, like motorcycle riders and their passengers, are particularly vulnerable to serious injury when involved in Florida traffic accidents with cars, trucks, and SUVs. Florida bicycle accident injury attorneys are familiar with the safety laws in place designed to help bicyclists and motorists share the roads safely.

N. Fort Myers man charged in hit-and-run crash
ABC-7.com July 2, 2010

FHP finds suspect vehicle in hit & run case
NBC-2.com May 13, 2010

Related Web Resource

NHTSA Bicycle Safety Portal

According to Miami, Florida new reports, a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured this past weekend in a multi-vehicle traffic accident involving a van and a county bus.

Miami-Dade Police reported that a fatal pedestrian accident occurred Sunday night after 8 p.m. in Northwest Miami Dade at the intersection of 22nd Ave. and Northwest 62nd St. Details of the fatal Miami car crash are emerging:

CBS4 news reports that a witness who was on the Miami Dade Transit bus involved in the accident stated that a van ran through a red traffic light, causing the bus to veer off course. In addition, WSVN-TV news of Miami / Fort Lauderdale reports that Miami-Dade Police stated that the van involved in the traffic accident hit the pedestrian and another vehicle, sending the pedestrian into the path of the oncoming Miami-Dade County transit bus.

Miami, Florida pedestrian accident lawyers may be consulted by families in cases where the reckless or negligent driving of another party causes injury or death to a pedestrian on South Florida's streets. According to Transportation for America's recent Dangerous by Design study, Miami, Florida ranks among the top most hazardous four cities in the country where pedestrians are most at risk for injury or death in traffic accidents.

Police are investigating the cause of this multi car accident in Miami that took the life of a pedestrian. Charges may be filed against the driver of the van if this chain reaction car crash is revealed to be a drunk-driving accident. The name of the pedestrian killed in the Miami traffic crash has not been released.

Pedestrian Struck & Killed In Northwest Miami-Dade
CBS4.com March 28, 2010

Pedestrian struck by multiple vehicles
WSVN.com March 28, 2010

Related Web Resources

Florida Dept. of Transportation: Pedestrian Bike Safety Program

U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration: Bicycle and Pedestrian Program

Transportation for America: Dangerous by Design

The son of a wealthy Chicago area family is being held without bail in a Broward County, Florida jail in connection with a hit and run pedestrian car accident last year that left two British businessmen dead.

According to news reports, Ryan LeVin, 35, was arrested at his condominium on South Ocean Lane in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Levin is the son of a wealthy Illinois family in the jewelry business. He became the subject of media attention surrounding his involvement in a fatal Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run motor vehicle accident that occurred in Feb. 2009.

Police stated that LeVin's Porsche sports car was driving along State Road A1A near Fort Lauderdale beach when it jumped the curb, striking and killing two British businessmen as they walked to their hotel. Pedestrian accident victims Craig Elford, 39, and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, were in America recruiting staff for their pharmaceutical business. LeVin has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide as well as leaving the scene of an accident causing death. LeVin, whom the media reports has a long history of multiple traffic violations, has denied being behind the wheel at the time of the accident. His friend, Derek Cook, surrendered to authorities this week and has been charged with being an accessory for helping LeVin hide the damaged Porsche, as well as for aggravated fleeing and eluding.

Florida Pedestrian-Car Accident Statistics

Fort Lauderdale, Florida hit and run injury lawyers are familiar with state and federal laws designed to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe on our streets and roadways. The LeVin case has received considerable media attention due to the wealth and status of the accused driver; it is one Florida pedestrian traffic accident among many more that add up to 490 pedestrians being killed in Florida in one year (2008 statistic from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In addition, NHTSA reports that...

• Nationally, one in five pedestrian-car accident fatalities is caused by a hit-and-run driver


• Of the 10 most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrian traffic accident injury and fatality, 5 are located in Florida

For background on the case, see previous blog entry: Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Fort Lauderdale Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident

Hit-and-run suspect Ryan LeVin ordered held without bail
Sun-Sentinel.com March 17, 2010

US heir Ryan LeVin charged over deaths of Britons
The Independent March 17, 2010

Porsche driver jailed in Florida hit-and-run
ChicagoBreakingNews.com March 17, 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida police are seeking a black late model SUV, possibly American made, in connection with a hit and run car accident that injured two pedestrians, leaving one with a life-threatening head trauma.

According to South Florida news reports, 65-year-old Carolyn Bianco of Fort Lauderdale and her friend, 62-year-old Victoria Kirby, were attempting to cross busy Las Olas Blvd near Southeast 11th Ave last Weds. night around 7:30 pm, near several restaurants. Witnesses told the press that as the women were crossing Las Olas Boulevard in the crosswalk, a dark-colored SUV hit them and sped off.

Ms. Bianco was taken to Broward General Medical Center with a serious head injury resulting from this Fort Lauderdale traffic pedestrian accident. Ms. Kirby sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital. The family of Ms. Bianco is appealing to the public for anyone with information about this hit-and-run traffic accident in Fort Lauderdale to come forward. Broward County, Florida Crime Stoppers has asked anyone with information to call them at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Fort Lauderdale pedestrian injury lawyers work with families whose members have been injured or killed by reckless or negligent drivers, including pedestrians and motorists who have been hurt in drunk driving accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 490 pedestrians were killed in Florida car pedestrian crashes in 2008 (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004-2008). In this case, Fort Lauderdale Police are examining pieces of the SUV left behind at the traffic accident scene in hopes of determining the make and model of the car, and finding the driver responsible for injuring two women pedestrians.

Family of woman critically injured in Fort Lauderdale hit-and-run pleads for help
SunSentinel.com March 17, 2010

Police Search for SUV Driver Who Hit Two Women & Fled
NBCMiami.com March 12, 2010

Hit and run injures 2 women
WSVN.com March 11, 2010

Related Web Resource

Broward County Florida Crime Stoppers