Florida Accident Attorney Blog

When's the last time you drove down a Miami, Florida city street, only to be cut off, tail gated, or otherwise subjected to dangerous driving behaviors by your fellow motorists? What about driving on Florida I-95... When was the last time you witnessed aggressive driving such as rapid lane changing, tailgating, or speeding? How did you react to those incidents?

If they're being truthful, most South Florida drivers would admit to at least occasionally being at one end or the other of some form of road rage. Road rage involves an angry driver overreacting to a traffic situation by honking, yelling, swearing, making rude hand gestures, waving arms, speeding up or slowing down -- and other driving behaviors that can lead to serious Miami-Dade County traffic crashes.

As experienced Miami, Fla. car accident injury lawyers, we know that road rage can turn a minor traffic incident into a serious, even deadly motor vehicle crash. The AutoVantage Road Rage Survey in 2009 revealed the most common driving behaviors that set off road rage were talking on the cell phone, changing lanes without signaling, and tailgating. In fact, the same study ranked Miami, Florida 7th among the top 10 cities in the country with the worst road rage displayed on its streets and highways.

Miami had been no. 1 on the Road Rage Survey list for several years prior, being knocked off the top spot in 2009 by angry drivers in New York City. However Miami held onto its number-one rudeness ranking as the city most likely to report seeing other motorists cutting into other lanes with little or no warning, and engaging in distracted driving behaviors such as talking or texting on cell phones, tending to personal grooming, or reading while driving. Not to be outdone by NYC, Miami motorists are most likely to curse at another driver in reaction to road rage.

Stressed out South Florida drivers engaging in these dangerous behaviors may find themselves in a car crash or other serious traffic incident, if things get out of hand.

Now a new study indicates that road rage may be more than just an overreaction to rude or risky driving behavior. According to a report on National Public Radio, drivers who display road rage may have deeper seated emotional issues. If those individuals lose their tempers while behind the wheel, they fail to put on their emotional brakes, the report stated. This is when aggressive driving related motor vehicle crashes can and do happen.

We've all heard tragic stories on the news where a minor traffic incident escalated into something far more deadly -- where parties either ran each other off the road or stopped and settled the disagreement with fists or weapons. Driving in Miami-Dade County is challenging enough as it is. Let's all try to remain calm, keep eyes on the road, drive defensively, and avoid serious motor vehicle accidents. More on road rage and dangerous driving behaviors in Miami, Florida below.

Related Florida Accident Attorney article:
Florida Ranks Fourth for Worst Drivers in the Nation, Insurance Study Reports
(Nov. 10, 2011)

Sources:

AutoVantage Road Rage Survey Reveals Best, Worst Cities

U.S. Cities with the Worst Road Rage : Miami, FL
CNBC.com 2009

Affinion Road Rage Survey 2009 : Miami

Road Rage: A Symptom Of Much More Than Bad Traffic?
NPR.org Dec. 12, 2011

For the last couple years, overall motor vehicle crash fatality rates have declined in the U.S. -- and in the state of Florida. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projects an encouraging early estimate: Traffic accident death rates from 2009 to 2010 are expected to decline by 3 percent, on a national level.

National safety experts attribute the decline to a number of factors, including more aggressive laws and public awareness campaigns targeting dangerous behaviors such as drunk driving, as well as advances in automotive safety technologies.

In Florida, traffic accident fatalities declined from 2,980 deaths in 2008, to 2,558 deaths in 2009. In the U.S., an estimated 32,885 people were killed on roadways last year. That number reflects the decline projected by NHTSA. However even government and other traffic safety advocates recognize that if your loved was among the thousands of motor vehicle crash fatalities, the gains are of little comfort.

As experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident injury lawyers will attest -- we still have much work to do as a country and a state to make roads and highways safer for all motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. With our heavily travelled and congested highways such as I-95; city streets bustling with traffic, tourists, and pedestrians; and numerous roadways hemmed in by watery canals -- South Florida driving can be hazardous, and deadly. Let's look back at a few of the dubious distinctions Florida achieved for bad driving and pedestrian accident hazards last year:

Florida Ranks Fourth for Worst Drivers in the Nation: An insurance industry study ranked Florida the 4th worst place to drive in the country, behind Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas.

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida Among Worst Cities for Pedestrian Traffic Accident Risks: A national public safety advocacy group does a yearly "Dangerous by Design" study examining the most dangerous roads and highways in America. Our own Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ranked among the most dangerous cities in which to drive or travel on foot. In 2009, a total of 466 pedestrian accident fatalities occurred in Florida.

Florida Pedestrian Traffic Accident Deaths Up: Report Cites Technology Distractions: Used to be you'd walk down a South Florida city street and see tourists looking up at tall buildings and palm trees, admiring the scenery and landmarks. Now seems like everyone is looking down at their iPhones, Androids, and other hand-held devices. It's a dangerous practice for pedestrians: The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that distracted pedestrian traffic accidents are on the rise: "…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."

Please continue to visit our Florida Accident Attorney blog for more articles on Florida traffic safety, motor vehicle accidents, tire and other automotive product safety recalls, and other personal injury related topics. Have a happy New Year. Be safe on Florida highways and city streets.

Sources:

2011 DOT Year in Review: NHTSA safety record shines
U.S. Dept. of Transportation Blog Jan. 3, 2012

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida: 2005 - 2009
NHTSA.gov Collected Jan. 4, 2012

Related Web Resources:

Traffic laws for pedestrians and drivers to know
Florida Department of Transportation

It's a common site in Florida, whether you're driving up and down I-95 or cruising along a Miami, Fla. city street. Floridians are talking up a storm on their cell phones, as though they were in their own offices or kitchens. Automobiles have, in many ways, become home offices on wheels. With the proliferation of Internet enabled cellphones -- along with GPS devices, on-board DVD players, high-end stereo systems, and other tech extras available on newer cars -- yesterday's driving distractions, such as eating or adjusting the radio knobs, seem quaint in comparison.

The problem of distracted driving due to talking and texting on cell phones has received increased attention in the media -- with some public safety experts putting the problem on par with that of drunken driving.

In light of recent high-profile catastrophic motor vehicle accidents where driver texting was blamed, the U.S. government has made a recommendation sure to spark heated debate: Ban ALL cell phone usage while driving, except in case of emergency. That includes talking on cell phones, including both handheld and hands-free devices, as well as texting behind the wheel.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced this week that it recommends a total ban on cell phone usage while driving. The announcement came after a summit meeting held in the wake of a tragic traffic accident in Mo. in 2010 involving a pickup truck, two school buses and a commercial truck cab. The 19-year-old pickup truck driver in this truck accident had reportedly sent multiple text messages in the minutes leading up to the crash. A chain reaction traffic accident occurred when the pickup slammed into a tractor-trailer cab that had slowed for construction, with a school bus crashing on top of the smaller vehicle. In the end, the pickup truck driver and a teenage school bus occupant were killed, with 38 people sustaining minor and serious injuries.

A report in The Miami Herald states that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 4,000 people killed in traffic crashes due to distracted driving, including cellphone use, last year.

Miami FL car accident injury lawyers work with families when someone is injured or killed in a traffic accident, due to the fault of another driver. Many factors may contribute to a Florida driver making a fatal error in judgment. Sadly today, the electronic devices that make our lives more convenient have in fact become a serious and sometimes deadly distraction for drivers.

Debate will continue at the state level as to how Florida and other states will respond to the NTSB recommendation. The Miami Herald reported that Florida State Rep. Irv Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) is sponsoring a bill for 2012 (HB 187) that would prohibit use of hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices by drivers under 18 and for all schoolbus drivers. In addition, The Palm Beach Post reports that in the Florida Senate, Sen. Thad Altman (R-Viera) has a bill (SB 930) that would ban youth younger than 18 from using a phone while driving, and Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) is behind a ban on texting while driving (SB 416).

Currently, Florida has no such restrictions on using cell phones while driving.

Sources:

Federal safety experts urge crackdown on behind the wheel texting, cellphone use
Associated Press via Miami Herald Dec. 13, 2011

NTSB Recommends Nationwide Ban on Driver Cellphone Usage
FoxNews.com Dec. 13, 2011

Florida not so friendly to NTSB-suggested ban on texting, phoning while driving
The Palm Beach Post News Dec. 13, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Highway Accident Report: Gray Summit, MO: Collision Involving Two School Buses, a Bobtail and a Passenger Vehicle, August 5, 2010
NTSB website, collected Dec. 13, 2011

State Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws
Governors Highway Safety Administration Dec. 2011

It may come as no surprise to those of us who live, work, and vacation in the Sunshine State -- Florida ranked fourth worst in the nation when it comes to dangerous drivers and auto accident rates. This despite Fla. drivers receiving the most traffic tickets out of all drivers in the country.

The website that released the study stated that it arrived at its rankings by analyzing data from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the American Motorists Association. The company, which compares auto insurance rates, reportedly looked at state data from MADD for alcohol related traffic accidents (drunk driving crashes), NHTSA for traffic fatalities, and the Motorists Association for numbers of traffic tickets handed out to motorists.

The study reported the following U.S. states as the 10 most dangerous to drive in, with our neighbors in Louisiana having the dubious distinction of worst driving in America:

1. Louisiana
2. Missouri
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Oklahoma
6. Arizona
7. Kentucky
8. Montana
9. Alabama
10. South Carolina

The report's rationale for ranking Florida motorists among the nation's most dangerous drivers was as follows:

Florida has at least one thing to be proud of: it’s in the top ten for drunken driving, at number 7. Unfortunately, it sits at the very bottom for tickets, and one away from the bottom slot for carelessness. All that puts it squarely in the bottom four, and makes Florida car insurance in the running for the highest state insurance! (Source: CarInsuranceComparison.com)

As experienced Miami car accident injury attorneys, we know first-hand the hazards of driving in Florida. Our highways, including I-95, are fast, crowded, and often under construction. Encountering drunk drivers on Fla. roadways is always a concern. Driving on congested city streets, including in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and other South Fla. cities -- is always challenging. Tourists and others are at risk for getting struck in pedestrian traffic accidents when crossing busy city streets, particularly at night when the clubs and restaurants are in full swing. Beach driving in Florida (where it's legal) is hazardous, particularly for families with children who are unaccustomed to sharing the beach with motor vehicles driving down the hard-packed sands.

As the report also states, Florida's driving hazards also make us one of the more expensive states for auto insurance. When car accidents with injury occur, it's important to retain an experienced Miami, Fla. car crash injury lawyer, who knows the ins and outs of the auto insurance industry and what is required to make a claim against another party. Other findings from the insurance report…

> Traffic tickets don't seem to deter bad drivers enough to make a dent in accident fatality statistics. (Note: Florida drivers are slapped with the most traffic tickets of anyone, as mentioned earlier.)

> Once you get outside of urban areas (i.e., onto secondary and back roads), driving becomes more dangerous very quickly. This may be due to the fact that urban dwellers use more public transportation.

> Your chances of being in a fatal car crash increase the farther south you drive.

Wherever you drive in Florida, drive defensively.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

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

Sources:

Which States Have the Worst Drivers?
CarInsuranceComparison.com

Florida drivers ranked fourth-worst in nation, according to car insurance company report
The Miami Herald Nov. 4, 2011

Related Web Resources:

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)

National Motorists Association

ABC Action News reports that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has revoked thousands of Florida drivers licenses out of concern that drivers with physical or mental impairments pose a risk for causing serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents. Florida has in fact ramped up efforts to get such potentially dangerous drivers off the road -- revoking 7,716 Fla. drivers' licenses for medical reasons in 2010, compared to 3,559 licenses pulled for the same reasons in 2000. Many of these drivers are elderly drivers in Florida.

As a West Palm Beach car accident injury lawyer knows from working with injured and grieving clients, Florida highway and city driving can be hazardous. Our city streets are congested, and our highways are heavily travelled by tourists and other visitors, in addition to our residents. Florida's aging population poses a particular public safety concern for driving in Florida. As people age, their motor skills and reflex reactions slow, challenging senior drivers to respond swiftly and safely when something unexpected happens on a Florida city street or interstate.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel published an article revealing a little-known Florida law, which allows people to report Fla. drivers whom they believe pose a safety risk to other motorists and pedestrians in Florida. The newspaper reported that the increase in Florida DHSMV driver's license revocations is in large part due to family members reporting their loved ones as unfit to safely drive. Other tips on unsafe drivers come from the general public.

In addition to the 7,716 Florida driver's licenses revoked for medical reasons, the Sun Sentinel reports another 6,559 licenses were revoked by medical review last year for drivers failing the Florida vision test or not submitting a vision report. (Fla. law requires drivers over age 80 to submit to an eye test every six years.) The news source reports that statistically, senior citizens in Florida and the U.S. are involved in fewer accidents compared to younger people. However concern for senior driving safety exists in Florida due to the aging Baby Boomer population.

Senior citizens comprise a large percentage of the South Florida population, including those in retirement and life care communities, as well as Florida nursing homes. (The Sun Sentinel reports a Census figure of nearly one in five Floridians being over age 65.) We all cherish and respect our Florida seniors. It's a tough call for any family to decide if and when a mother or father, grandmother or grandfather, is no longer able to safely take a car out and drive on Florida roadways.

Physical as well as cognitive impairments, which may be brought about due to conditions such as dementia or taking medications, can seriously impact a senior citizen's ability to safely handle an automobile. No one likes to hear stories about a senior citizen driver who mistakenly hit the gas pedal rather than the brakes, and drove through a storefront window or into a crowd of pedestrians. Sadly, these types of Florida traffic and pedestrian accidents can and do happen -- forever changing the lives of both the victims and the drivers responsible.

Related Florida Injury Attorney articles:

Speed Kills on Florida Highways -- But Slow Driving in Left Lane Also a Safety Hazard, Lawmakers Say (Oct. 5, 2011)

South Florida Driving Safety & Senior Citizens : NTSB Conference Looks at Elderly Driving and Car Accidents (Nov. 10, 2010)

Sources:

Florida driver's license revocations spike
Associated Press via ABC Action News Oct. 23, 2011

State is taking more Floridians off the road as population ages
Sun Sentinel Oct. 21, 2011

Has this happened to you lately? You're cruising down a Fort Lauderdale, Florida area roadway, enjoying the fine weather (and the fact that traffic isn't that congested). Just then, around the bend, a motorist coming from the opposite direction starts flashing his headlights at you.

Most U.S. drivers know what that "motorist code of the road" means: There's a Florida Highway Patrol or local police officer parked up ahead, sitting in wait for drivers breaking the speed limit and/or driving recklessly (which can indicate a Florida drunk driver behind the wheel). The officer may in fact be operating a radar gun and speed trap, recording Broward County, Fla. drivers' speeds and slapping violators with a traffic citation.

Thanks to your fellow Florida motorist's warning, you apply the brakes and roll by the speed trap, safely under the speed limit.

There's no telling how many Florida speeders have been spared traffic citations because of other drivers alerting them to law enforcement's presence. However Florida Highway Patrol frown on this practice for exactly that reason -- that heavy-footed drivers will, indeed, speed up once they pass the speed trap -- posing a safety hazard on Broward County, Fla. roads and highways.

As a Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorney knows all too well from work with clients, speeding is a leading cause of Florida traffic accidents, injury and death on our roads and highways. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Florida 2004-2008 reports 553 speeding related fatalities in car accidents in Florida in 2008 (of a total 2,978 traffic deaths in Fla. that same year).

In the past, Florida Highway Patrol and other traffic enforcement agencies could ticket drivers caught signaling other motorists of a speed trap by flashing their lights. But now a Fla. driver who received a ticket for headlight flashing is challenging his charges in a Tallahassee court, suing the Florida Highway Patrol and others for violation of his First Amendment rights.

USA Today reports that the driver at the center of the controversy received a ticket for headlight-flashing near Tampa International Airport in Dec. 2009. He has, the newspaper writes, "filed a class-action lawsuit in Tallahassee against the highway patrol and other state traffic-enforcement agencies. He seeks an injunction barring law enforcement from issuing headlight-flash tickets, plus refunds and civil damages for previously cited motorists."

A spokesman for the International Union of Police Associations told the media that warning motorists of police presence and speed traps is in fact interfering with traffic law enforcement. USA Today reports that drivers in states besides Florida have challenged the validity of headlight-flashing traffic tickets and fines, given the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. It will be interesting to see how the Florida court views this traffic related case.

Source:

Headlight flashing faces test as free speech in Florida
USA Today Sept. 19, 2011

Related Web Resource:

The 2011 Florida Statutes
MOTOR VEHICLES : STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
Title XXIII, Chapter 316, 316.183 Unlawful speed

Miami, Florida news sources report that a former Miami Beach police officer has turned himself in to authorities following an accident in early July with a police-issued all-terrain vehicle that sent two people to the hospital. He is in the Miami Dade-County, Florida jail.

News reports state that the officer was driving the ATV on the beach with a female passenger when he struck two people; one man was hospitalized with broken bones and another woman suffered internal injuries. (The woman victim, a young mother, is reportedly still in the hospital.)

The ATV accident in Miami Beach, Florida is under investigation. The former police officer who was driving the ATV has been charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injuries and two counts of reckless driving. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle told the media that while most police officers take their jobs quite seriously, in any profession "you're always going to have a few that don't live up to the standard." The Miami Beach Police Dept. reportedly fired the officer along with a second officer who was allegedly drinking with him.

A Miami motor vehicle accident injury lawyer is aware that ATVs can pose serious safety hazards to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians when accidents occur. The ATV Safety Institute states that despite their fun appearance and popularity as recreational vehicles -- an ATV is not a toy. The ATV Safety Institute recommends the following operator safety guidelines:

o Wear a helmet, long pants, and shoes to protect your head and extremities
o Never take a passenger on a single-person ATV
o Ride an ATV that is appropriate for your size and age
o Supervise children under age 16 who are riding ATVs
(as Miami, Florida car accident injury attorneys know from experience, teen drivers -- of cars, ATVs, or boats and watercraft such as Jet Skis -- do not have the judgment that adults possess).
o Never drink and then drive an ATV

In another South Florida ATV accident story out of Lee County, Florida, a 13-year-old boy was killed when an ATV and a dirt bike collided. News reports state that speed may have been a factor when the vehicles crashed. Yet another fatal ATV accident occurred in Lehigh Acres, Fla., when an Immokalee man lost control of his ATV, which flipped over and killed him.

The Florida Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation website lists laws and statutes related to operating off-road vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, including damage to public lands, breaking fences, and safety training requirements and guidelines. For example, the organization recommends always riding an ATV of proper size within your abilities, and putting together a trip plan and emergency kit. See link below for more information about operating ATVs in Florida.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:

Florida Injury Cited in Lawsuits Against Yamaha Off-Road Vehicle : Rhino Blamed in Multiple Injuries and Death Sept. 27, 2010

Sources:

Former Miami Beach officer turns himself in
WSVN.com 7 News Miami / Fort Lauderdale July 26, 2011

Deadly ATV crash report shows vehicles were speeding
WINK News July 22, 2011

Immokalee man dies in ATV accident
WINK News July 25, 2011

Related Web Resources:

ATV Safety Institute

Florida Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation

Anyone who lives or works in Miami Dade County likely has stories to tell about the notoriously bad traffic. Whether driving in the City of Miami, Fla. itself or on Florida I-95 and other area highways … Miami traffic congestion is a headache on good days, a nightmare on bad days.

The Texas Transportation Institute's 2010 Urban Mobility Report examined traffic congestion trends across the USA. As any frustrated driver who has sat in traffic in Miami or other South Florida cities can attest -- urban traffic congestion has greatly worsened over the past 3 decades. The organization reports that Miami, Florida ranks as the 11th most traffic congested city in the U.S. (Miami tied for 11th place with Philadelphia, PA).

The report estimates that Miami's traffic gridlock translates to lost time and dollars -- with an average annual 39 extra hours spent in traffic, 31 gallons of gas wasted, and $892 lost to delays. As an experienced Miami car accident injury lawyer knows -- traffic congestion isn't just inconvenient, frustrating, a drain on precious time, and waste of gas. It's also dangerous and can lead to conditions where motor vehicle accidents with injuries can occur. For example:

• Cars inching along in bumper-to-bumper Miami city traffic may be involved in rear-end collisions, which can lead to whiplash and other injuries.
• Drivers speeding down Interstate 95 or other Florida highways who suddenly come upon stopped or slowed traffic may be involved in auto crashes that can be quite serious, depending on speed and if a chain-reaction traffic accident occurs.
• Stopped traffic prevents emergency vehicles including police, ambulance and fire response vehicles from quickly getting through to people injured in car and truck accidents.

> Washington, D.C., and Chicago have the dubious distinction of tying for first place -- most congested traffic in American cities.

> Traffic congestion nationally is increasing. The cost of extra time and lost fuel across the 439 urban areas studied increased from $85 billion in 2000 to $115 billion in 2009.

> "Rush hour" -- what used to be peak morning and evening traffic times as 9-to-5 commuters jockeyed to get to their jobs -- has expanded to six hours. Now we also must suffer through mid-day traffic congestion (anyone who's tried to get to a mid-day appointment in Miami or other congested Florida city knows this is true).

> Commercial freight trucks trying to avoid a.m., mid-day, and after-work traffic crunch times are now creating additional traffic volume when they travel overnight.

The 2010 Urban Mobility Report makes several recommendations for improving the worsening traffic congestion in Miami, Florida and other top American cities. These include increased usage of public transportation, street and highway design for better traffic flow, and better road and highway design to increase capacity to handle today's volume of traffic. Until then, best to put a big coffee in the cup holder and give yourself plenty of time -- to navigate Miami, Florida city streets and surrounding highways.

Sources:

Urban Mobility Report 2010 (PDF) Texas Transportation Institute Dec. 2010

Which cities have the worst traffic? CNN.com Jan. 20, 2011

Top 15 Cities with the Worst Traffic (slideshow) Comcast.net News

Related Miami, Florida Accident Attorney articles:

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

Road Rage Survey: Miami Drivers Not the Angriest -- But Most Apt to Read, Shave, or Put on Make-up While Driving June 17, 2009

Data analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the financial costs associated with Florida fatal traffic accidents are among the highest in the United States.

The CDC states that some 30,000 people are killed in auto crashes every year in the U.S. As any experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident injury lawyer will attest, the loss of a loved one in a Florida motor vehicle crash is devastating to the family.

In addition to the emotional damage of losing a family member in an auto accident in Florida, there are also enormous financial costs. The CDC data analysis found that motor vehicle crash deaths result in $41 billion in medical and work loss costs in the U.S. But these costs are not distributed equally across the USA:

• 10 states' auto fatality costs amount to half the total costs in the country.
• California leads the country as the state with the highest associated motor vehicle fatality costs ($4.16 billion), followed by Texas ($3.50 billion), with Florida ($3.16 billion) ranking third highest in the nation.

As Ft Lauderdale, Fla. auto accident injury attorneys, we are well aware of both the emotional and financial burden carried by families who lose a loved one in a Florida traffic crash.

The CDC data put a dollar amount on the tremendous financial costs associated with deadly auto accidents in Florida. This is why it's so important to consult an experienced accident injury lawyer when a serious car crash with injury or death occurs due to the negligence or recklessness of another driver. An experienced injury attorney can pursue the compensation grieving families are entitled to by law, for medical bills and lost wages as a result of serious traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Fla., and elsewhere in Broward County, Florida.

State-Based Costs of Deaths from Crashes
CDC.gov May 10, 2011

Related Florida Accident Attorney articles:

What Damages Mean to You in Your Florida Personal Injury Lawsuit

Driven to Distraction in Fort Lauderdale: Is Texting & Tweeting Behind the Wheel as Dangerous as Drinking and Driving?

Back in January, a news story out of Jacksonville, Florida reported on the tragic outcome of an erratic driving car accident -- one that possibly could have been prevented had the driver been pulled over by authorities and apprehended.

A Florida news source reported that a woman on her way to church in Jacksonville encountered an erratic driver who nearly hit her. She suspected this may be a drunk driver who could hurt himself or other motorists on Florida roadways. Being a good Samaritan, she called 911 and reported the erratic driving to the dispatcher. She even followed the vehicle onto the highway, where the driver swerved into the breakdown lane. Confusion arose as the caller was transferred from the local sheriff’s dispatcher to Florida Highway Patrol and back to local police again, as the erratic driver travelled on and off the highway in a dangerous manner.

The 911 caller stopped following him. Sadly, the erratic driver was killed in a car accident when his car drove into a retention pond in Florida. Other motorists reportedly called 911 to report the driver was swerving, hitting curbs and posing a danger on the roadways.

Families who lose a loved one or suffer injury in an erratic driving auto accident may consult with Fort Myers, Florida car accident injury attorneys to learn if liability is involved in their case.

The Florida Highway Patrol encourages motorists to report drunk drivers, erratic drivers, aggressive drivers, and others who pose a threat on the highways by dialing Star FHP (*347) from their cell phones. Florida drivers may also use that number to report motor vehicle accidents on Florida highways as well as stranded motorists.

Woman Reports Driver Before He Dies
Witness Who Followed Car That Crashed Into Pond Says Response Lacked Urgency
News4Jax.com Jan. 10, 2011

Florida Highway Patrol: Dial Star FHP in Road Emergency

Related Florida Accident Attorney Article:

Distracted Driving Car Accidents on the Rise

As Fort Myers, Florida car accident injury lawyers and long-time residents of the Sunshine State, we know too well the hazards of driving on Florida's streets, highways, and toll roads. Now a class action lawsuit filed in Tampa, Fla., claims that some motorists are being unlawfully detained as they attempt to pay their tolls.

Courthouse News Service and other media report that a federal class action lawsuit has been filed in Florida claiming that a private contractor that collects tolls for the Florida Turnpike detains and interrogates certain drivers who attempt to pay with large bills.

The lawsuit reportedly claims that some Florida drivers who try to pay their turnpike tolls with a $50 or $100 bill -- or even with a $5 bill -- may be detained, interrogated, and asked for personal information before they are released. The lawsuit cites contractor Faneuil, which was hired by the Florida Turnpike to collect the tolls. The complaint reportedly states that the Florida Turnpike authorized the contractor to detain and interrogate certain motorists while in some cases, "Bill Detection Reports" were prepared.

This Florida lawsuit reportedly states that such detention and seizure of motorists is unconstitutional and seeks damages for civil rights violations and false imprisonment. This problem that some consumers are apparently encountering at some Florida's Turnpike toll plazas gives new meaning to that old Monopoly chance card -- "Do Not Pass Go."

The Florida Turnpike is a north-south toll road running parallel to I-95, which extends through several counties in South Florida, providing access to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. (Note: Florida Highway Patrol tracks Florida Turnpike accidents and other highway motor vehicle accidents by county and region; see link below to clickable map.)

Unconstitutional Stops on Florida Highways
Courthouse News Service Feb. 11, 2011

Florida Toll Road Sued for Holding Motorists Hostage
TheNewspaper.com Feb. 22, 2011

Report: Motorists file class action suit against Florida toll road for...taking hostages?
AutoBlog.com Feb. 23, 2011

Related Web Resources

Florida's Turnpike (official website)

Florida's Turnpike (Wikipedia)

Florida Highway Patrol: Traffic Incidents by Region

If you drive a Toyota in Florida that was on last year's exhaustive recall list, you'll be interested in this news story. Toyota recalled millions of vehicles worldwide in 2010 after reports of several fatal car accidents occurring when drivers were unable to stop their vehicles from accelerating. Driver reports varied from problems with "sticky gas pedals" to ill-fitting floormats, to brakes that failed to slow the vehicles to a stop, to suspected electrical problems.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) worked with NASA engineers to investigate the causes of these "runaway Toyota" vehicle accidents. Now the report is in.

According to the DOT, the Toyota car crashes resulting from "unintended acceleration" were caused by mechanical problems -- not electrical failure. The causes, the report states, were problems with sticking gas pedals that were slow to respond when drivers tried to decelerate; improperly fitting floor mats that ensnared the gas pedals, preventing proper function of the gas and brake pedals; and possible driver error.

Families may consult with a Miami, Florida auto product liability attorney if a car accident with injury or death occurs and auto manufacturer liability is in question. The government is now considering proposing rules for a number of automotive industry-wide safety design modifications, such as brake override systems and better designed and placed pedals to "reduce pedal misapplication." A link to the DOT press release on the Toyota recall investigation findings appears below.

Press Release on Results of Toyota Recall Investigation Findings
US DOT Feb. 8, 2011

NHTSA, NASA Find No Fault in Toyota Electronics
Miami Herald Feb. 8, 2011

Related Florida Accident Attorney Blog Articles:

Florida Toyota Driver Alert: Toyota Recalls Millions of Vehicles; Sales & Production Halted Over Gas Pedal Problem Jan. 28, 2010

Florida Driving Alert: Toyota Lexus Issues Safety Advisory After Fatal Car Accident Involving Floor Mats Dec. 2, 2009

Do you drive an older Ford Windstar minivan in Miami Dade County or elsewhere in South Florida? If so, you may be interested in this news item. Ford Motor Company has expanded its recall of the popular Windstar Minivan, due to the risk of axle corrosion and failure. A badly corroded axle could break, sending the vehicle out of control and causing serious or deadly traffic accidents.

Ford's initial recall of the once popular Windstar -- a favorite among soccer moms and other families toting children -- occurred in August, covering minivans sold in the 1998 to 2003 model years in 21 U.S. states and Canada. An additional 37,000 minivans were added to the expanded recall, as Ford reportedly searched its database to locate owners.

Though the risk of severe axle corrosion is, according to Ford, higher in cold-weather states using rock salt on winter roads -- Florida owners of Windstars should nonetheless contact a Ford dealer to inspect their vehicles (particularly used vehicles which may have been sold in and/or previously owned and operated at length in cold weather states).

As a Miami-Dade car accident injury lawyer knows, automotive safety recalls are issued by the manufacturer in tandem with the U.S. government to prevent serious automotive accidents and injury from happening.

Unfortunately, sometimes defective vehicle part or defectire tire issues aren't always apparent until after traffic accidents start happening and consumers start to complain, prompting investigation.

Ford notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in August 2010 regarding the problem with the Windstar power train / axle assembly, stating at the time that more than 460,000 vehicles might be involved. (See letter from NHTSA to Ford acknowledging notice of the safety recall campaign -- PDF link below.)

A Massachusetts family blames Ford for a young husband and father's death this fall when his Windstar minivan careened out of control and struck a building. The Windstar's rear axle reportedly broke and the wheel fell off the vehicle. The family reportedly received the recall notice in the mail one week after the fatal car accident occurred.

APNewsBreak: Ford expands Windstar minivan recall
AP on Yahoo! News Dec. 15, 2010

Whitman family blames Ford Motor Co. for father’s death
AP in Patriot Ledger Dec. 15, 2010

Related Web Resource

NHTSA: Office of Defects Investigation: Ford Windstar (PDF)

As Fort Lauderdale car accident injury lawyers are all too aware -- drunk driving is one of the number-one causes of deadly South Florida motor vehicle crashes. That fact should be at the fore of Florida drivers' minds with the holiday season and parties in full swing.

More parties, more travel, and more traffic means an increased risk for deadly drunk driving car accidents on Broward County streets and Florida highways. If that weren't enough to make you think about staying home -- now motorists have to worry about sharing the road with people typing on technology gadgets while driving.

Despite laws restricting or outlawing such practices, wired drivers are fond of texting and chatting on cell phones while driving. Is social networking while driving (that is, updating Twitter, Facebook, and other social media webpages) the next big hazard on the roadways?

It just might be, says an opinion writer in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which covers Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and Palm Beach County, Florida.

The author, who represents the American Beverage Institute in Washington, D.C., writes that, "Studies have shown that distracted driving is more dangerous than enjoying an adult beverage or two with dinner responsibly." She suggests that auto manufacturers are partly to blame, as they equip 21st century cars, minivans, trucks and SUVs with technology powered information, communication, navigation, and entertainment devices. (She cites GM's plans to add a Facebook-surfing app to some vehicles, while other manufacturers have wireless Internet for cars in development.)

The article cites a Harvard study suggesting that distracted driving causes some 2,600 traffic deaths every year in the United States. That's reason to pause before picking up the cell phone or hand-held device when you get behind the wheel and hit the highway on I-95 Florida. No text message, Tweet, or Facebook update is worth your life or someone else's.

Distracted driving riskier than drinks
SunSentinel.com Dec. 14, 2010

Related Florida Accident Attorney Blog Article:

Texting and Driving a Dangerous Combination for Florida Motorists

Florida is home to a significant population of senior citizens -- including snowbirds who come for the balmy winters and decide to make Florida their year-round homes. Native Floridians know a good thing when they have it, and seniors who were born in Florida may never leave. Why go anywhere else when the best weather, beaches, and golf courses are right here in Florida?

What makes Florida an attractive winter and retirement destination for senior citizens means more older drivers motoring around South Florida communities and highways.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a two-day conference on the growing population of elderly drivers and driving safety risks. While one study shows that seniors are actually involved in fewer serious motor vehicle accidents than in years past -- the aging Baby Boomer generation means more and more seniors will be taking to the roads in the coming years.

The CDC believes car crashes involving older drivers may be down in part due to the fact that older people tend to drive less and for shorter distances. Those who are in Florida nursing homes and retirement communities may use other forms of transportation available -- while some may give up their keys willingly or when their children ask them to stop driving for safety and/or medical reasons.

The most tragic auto accidents involving senior citizen drivers in Florida and elsewhere -- those where seniors lose control of their cars and crash into people, buildings, and other vehicles, sometimes with injuries and fatalities -- tend to make the headlines. Though the statistics indicate the issue of elderly drivers and car accidents is not worsening, states want to prepare for the influx of older drivers as the Boomer generation ages -- and shows no signs of slowing down.

The NTSB says it will continue to study the issue of elderly drivers and driving safety, as individual states work on their regulations regarding licensing, driver education, and driver testing. Florida put the Florida Grand Driver education program in place for people ages 65 plus (see link below).

NTSB forum examines growing population of elderly drivers
The Washington Post Nov. 9, 2010

NTSB: Symposia on Safety Mobility and Aging Drivers

Related Web Resources

Florida Grand Driver

AAA Foundation: SeniorDrivers.org

If you live in South Florida and drive a Nissan car, pickup truck or SUV, your vehicle might be headed for repairs just in time for the December holidays. Nissan has announced a global recall of 2.14 million vehicles due to an electrical problem that could cause the engine to stall.

Engine stall can lead to motor vehicle accidents.

U.S. vehicles being recalled include Nissan Armadas; popular pickup trucks the Nissan Titans and Frontiers; Nissan SUVs Pathfinders and Xterras; as well as Infiniti QX56s. All were manufactured in the 2000s. See the Nissan Recalls links below for manufacturer years of the affected vehicles and recall campaign numbers, as well as a recall lookup tool. Some models are also having problems with their GPS systems. And the compact boxy Nissan Cube had a recall this past summer for gas storage issues.

A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer has knowledge regarding manufacturer liability if a crash with injury or death occurs due to faulty automotive products or design. This past year has seen a number of massive motor vehicle safety recalls, notably from Toyota -- which included recent recalls of the popular Corolla and Matrix for engine stalling issues.

Defective tire recalls is another area of consumer safety that makes news headlines in Florida and around the U.S. Consumers in South Florida and elsewhere should always register their products with the store, dealership, and/or manufacturer where they purchased the auto or tires to ensure they receive recall notices when a potential safety problem is detected.

The recent Nissan recalls are expected to commence in December.

Related Florida Accident Attorney Blog Posts:

Florida Toyota Driver Notice : Toyota Recalls Matrix and Corolla for Engine Stalling Issue

Florida Tire Safety Alert: Goodyear to Recall Dunlop Tires for Air Loss Risk

Sources:

Nissan Recalling 2.14M Vehicles Globally
Automotive Fleet Top News Nov. 3, 2010

Nissan Extended Warranty: Nissan Recalls

MotorTrend.com: Nissan Recalls

Related Web Resource:

NissanUSA

A Florida man broke his ankle when test-driving the Yamaha Rhino off-road vehicle -- described in a CBS News report as "a muscle car for the back country." However that man's injuries were not the worst suffered by Rhino drivers and riders since the vehicle hit the market in 2003.

Manufacturer Yamaha faces multiples lawsuits in several states for personal injury and death resulting from accidents in the Rhino vehicle. A CBS News investigation last year linked the Rhino -- which looks like a cross between a dune buggy and a golf car on steroids -- to 59 deaths and hundreds of injuries and lawsuits. CBS reports the 1,100 pound Yamaha Rhino is prone to tipping and offers little protection for occupants in a side-rollover accident. The Rhino -- which is a side-by-side recreational off-highway vehicle (ROV) -- has a steering wheel, where an ATV or all-terrain vehicle has handlebars.

Fort Lauderdale accident injury lawyers are familiar with safety laws and regulations related to ROV and ATV manufacturer liability.

CBS reported that people injured and killed in Rhino vehicle accidents were not necessarily traveling at high speeds or on extreme terrain. Injuries cited in their investigation included broken bones, crushed legs and arms, and head injuries suffered in Yamaha Rhino vehicle accidents "often on level ground at relatively low speeds."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has chronicled complaints against Yamaha and the Rhino. The CPSC issued a safety advisory for consumers in 2009 (see link below), urging consumers to bring their Rhino vehicles to Yamaha for safety modifications and a free helmet.

Yamaha Rhino Victims (video)
CBSNews.com Aug. 4, 2009

Off-Roading With Safety: CPSC Reminder To Yamaha Rhino Riders To Stay Safe This Summer
CPSC News Release Aug. 5, 2009

Yamaha faces hundreds of lawsuits over off-road Rhino injuries, deaths
OregonLive.com Sept. 27, 2010

Yamaha Rumbles Into Rough Terrain, Battling Lawsuits Over Its Rhino Off-Road Vehicle
FairWarning.org Sept. 17, 2010

Related Web Resource

Recreational Off-Road Vehicle Association

Flamboyent NBA icon and reality TV star Dennis Rodman walked away from a rollover SUV accident on I-95 near Fort Lauderdale, Florida last week.

The Miami Herald along with other news media ran an Associated Press report that Rodman was a passenger in a Range Rover traveling north on Interstate 95 in Broward County, Florida. According to the AP, Florida Highway Patrol stated that the SUV flipped over three times after experiencing some sort of tire problem. Passers-by reportedly helped Rodman out of the crashed SUV; he emerged without serious injuries, as did another female passenger in the car.

The SUV driver was reportedly taken to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with non life-threatening injuries.

Mr. Rodman was fortunate to walk away from this SUV roll-over accident on a Florida highway. Ft Lauderdale, Florida SUV accident injury lawyers are aware that these types of roll-over SUV accidents -- which can happen in a heartbeat -- can be deadly. Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that SUV and other roll-over vehicle accidents have a higher traffic accident fatality rate.

Defective tires and driving on aged tires can cause SUV roll overs and other serious car accidents.

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman escapes injury in Fort Lauderdale crash
MiamiHerald.com Aug. 1, 2010

Dennis Rodman in Car Accident
WTVY.com Aug. 1, 2010

Related Web Resources

HowStuffWorks: Roll Over Accidents Explained

SaferCar.gov: Rollover Crashes

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that a 17-year old boy from West Palm Beach was killed in a weekend motorcycle accident in Coral Springs, Florida.

According to news reports, the fatal motorcycle traffic accident took place at approx. 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010. The motorcycle operator, identified as Michael Ferraz Lanzoni, 17, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was driving a Suzuki motorcycle when he struck the rear of a Ford Escape SUV near the 9000 block of Wiles Road in Coral Springs, Florida. Lanzoni, who was thrown from his motorcycle, died at the scene. He was reportedly wearing a helmet. The driver of the SUV was treated for injuries at an area medical facility and released.

The Coral Springs motorcycle and car accident remains under investigation.

Florida Motorcycle Accident Fatalities and Facts
According to a recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,290 motorcyclists were killed and another 96,000 were injured in the U.S. in 2008. Motorcycle accident deaths increased by 2% over the 2007 figure.

A West Palm Beach car accident lawyer is knowledgeable about traffic laws and safety regulations designed to keep motorists safe on Florida's roads and highways. Some facts:

o The state of Florida requires motorcycle operators to pass a Basic Rider Course through the Florida Rider Trainer Program to obtain the motorcycle endorsement for their driver's license.

o Helmets must be worn by younger drivers under age 21 in the State of Florida, and by older riders with less than $10,000 in medical coverage. (Florida changed its univeral helmet law in 2000 to only cover some drivers.) (Source: IIHS, Q&As: Motorcycle Helmet Laws)

o In Florida, 523 motorcyclists were killed in 2008, a slight reduction compared to 2007. (Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2008 Data: Motorcycles)

Friends remember cyclist killed in Coral Springs
SunSentinel.com June 7, 2010

Palm Beach Teen Killed In Springs Bike Crash
CBS4.com June 6, 2010

Related Web Resources

NHTSA Portal: Motorcycles

Florida Safety Council: Florida Motorcycle Training Courses

Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Share the Road

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Q&As: Motorcycle Helmet Laws

The Florida Highway Patrol announced it will be on the lookout to stop and apprehend drunk drivers in Florida over Memorial Day weekend, as well as anyone else breaking Florida driving laws. The step-up in driving safety law enforcement extends through midnight of May 31, 2010.

FHP is participating in three national driving safety campaigns this holiday weekend designed to save lives and prevent injury caused by Florida traffic accidents. These include the Click It or Ticket seat belt use campaign, Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort -- an initiative involving United States state police and highway patrol agencies), and Take Back Our Highways (also involving Alabama Highway Patrol).

Florida law enforcement and safety officials continue to strive to stop drunk drivers and other reckless or negligent drivers (including speeders and distracted drivers) in an effort to prevent South Florida car accident injuries and fatalities.

In fact, in recent years, DUI deaths on Florida roads have been on the decline (most recent stats show 875 deaths in 2008 compared to more than 1,000 in 2005). But as any experienced Miami Dade accident injury attorney who works with victims of Florida car and pedestrian accidents knows, the best form of prevention is for drivers not to get behind the wheel when alcohol has been consumed. In addition, speeding, talking on cell phones, and texting are all forms of dangerous driving which can lead to injury and death.

Chances for Miami Dade and other motorists to be involved in car accidents increases over long holiday weekends, as residents, visitors and vacationers flock to South Florida roads and highways to enjoy their extra day off.

Florida Highway Patrol Steps Up Enforcement This Weekend
Florida Highway Patrol News Release May 27, 2010

Related Web Resources

Click It or Ticket Florida

Operation C.A.R.E.

Florida and Alabama: Take Back Our Highways