Articles Posted in Automobile Accidents

Now that summer has hit Florida, more drivers may be on the roads. Families will be shuttling back and forth between summer camps, jobs, and summer attractions and more high-school-aged motorists will be on the roads rather than in the classrooms. This, combined with the consumption of alcohol during summertime parties and events can create a potentially deadly combination.

Although programs to raise awareness about DUI have been in existence for years, thousands of Americans each year continue to die from DUI-related car accidents and tens of thousands of Americans of all ages continue to suffer injuries caused by these accidents. Serious brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries result from car crashes each year. Some of these injuries require months or even years of recovery. Some of these cause permanent disability.

There is some good news. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over the past two decades, fatal crash accidents involving DUI and drivers between 18 and 20 years of age have decreased by 60%. In the past few years, though, the CDC reports that the reducing accident rate has slowed. To lower the rate even more, more steps will have to be taken.

The CDC also recently reported that when sobriety checkpoints are used, less DUI-related automobile accidents occur. Research has shown that these checkpoints consistently reduce car accidents by to 10%. Interestingly, the study found that the checkpoints were effective whether they were implemented over time or used in short-term bursts.
Another CDC report suggests that DUI legislation, enforcement, and education can reduce car accidents caused by alcohol. The study found that states where MADD has assigned low grades for DUI prevention activities were 60% more likely to have DUI-related accidents that states with high grades from MADD.

Continue reading →

Among US teens, car accidents are the leading cause of death, representing 36% of all teenage death, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). When teenagers are in car accidents, they often sustain serious injuries, including burn injuries, fractures, facial injuries, spinal cord injuries, trauma, head injuries, and other serious wounds.

Sadly, some younger drivers have their entire lives cut short or hampered as a result of injuries sustained in car accidents. Injuries from car accidents can affect a teenager’s ability to attend school or hold down a job. The permanent injuries caused by some car crashes can affect a young driver’s future chances of employment. Worse, teens do not always fare well when seeking help. Since teen drivers are minors, they often have fewer chances to pursue legal action against other drivers’ negligence.

The statistics surrounding minors and car accidents are alarming. In 2004, 4,767 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died of personal injuries caused by car crashes. In 2005, according to the CDC, almost 400,000 teen car occupants suffered injuries requiring emergency department treatment. Per mile driven, teen drivers are four times as likely as their older counterparts to crash. This makes car crashes one of the leading causes of injuries to minors and children.

According to materials published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), alcohol-related car crashes kill an American every 31 minutes and cause a non-fatal personal injury every two minutes. In 2005 alone, 39% of all car-accident related deaths involved car crashes that were alcohol-related. This means that 16,885 Americans died that year in fully preventable alcohol-related car accidents. In that same year, almost 1.4 million divers were arrested for driving under the influence. According to studies, that is less than one percent of the drivers who were impaired behind the wheel but were not caught.

Tragically, in 2005, 48 children were killed as pedestrians or as bicyclists when they were hit by impaired drivers. It is estimated that alcohol-related car accidents cost the country about $51 billion annually. In addition to the many fatalities that impaired driving causes, car accidents caused by impaired drivers cause property damage and lead to serious brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other life-altering injuries.

These statistics paint a grim picture, and many law enforcement groups as well as non-profit organizations have become involved in trying to stop these accidents. Among the tools used to stop car accidents caused by impaired drivers are the following strategies:

*Strict enforcement of current rules. Enforcement of laws concerning 0.08% BAC and legal drinking age as well as strict enforcement of traffic laws can help prevent car accidents. Also, implementing zero tolerance policies for drivers younger than 21 years old can help. Some experts have suggested lowering the BAC (legal limit for blood alcohol concentration) to 0.05% to further prevent fatalities and injuries.

*Immediate suspension of driving privileges for anyone who drives while intoxicated. Experts suggest that this can help stop drivers who routinely drive while impaired.

*Sobriety checkpoints that randomly check motorists for impairment.

*Community awareness campaigns and educational programs that teach motorists about the dangers of DUI.
* Mandatory treatment and assessment for substance abuse for motorists found to be driving under the influence.

Continue reading →

This summer season, the CDC is working with law enforcement agencies across the country to promote a summer campaign called “Click It or Ticket.” This US-wide seat belt enforcement program hopes to reduce the personal injuries and deaths that are caused by car crashes. Running from May 21 to June 3, the program will try to get everyone to buckle up each time they get into a car. Campaign organizers say that they hope the lessons learned will last far past June 3.

During 2005 alone, safety belts are estimated to have saved the lives of 15,632 Americans over 4 years of age. According to the same 2006 NHTSA findings, child-restraints helped to save 420 children ages 4 years and younger. Studies show that passengers and drivers alike have halve their risk of dying in car accident just by wearing a seat belt.

According to the CDC, personal injuries caused by car crashes kill more Americans between 1 and 34 years of age than any other cause. According to the NHTSA, 31,415 car occupants died in the United States in 2005 in car accidents. More than half of these victims were not wearing seat belts.

When Florida was first settled, the region was known for its natural beauty. The area had plenty of animals and plants. Today, even though the state has a large population, there are still many plants and animals in Florida, and animals can cause a real problem when they share roadways with humans in cars. Each year, Florida attorneys see many car accidents and lawsuits brought about by car collisions involving animals.

In 2003, car accidents involving animals caused 210 fatalities and many more personal injuries, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Three-quarters of these car accidents involved deer. Across the country, there are more than 1.5 million car collisions involving deer alone, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Deer themselves lead to over one billion dollars in vehicle damage.

In addition to deer, small rodents, moose, and even birds can cause car collisions when they distract drivers or collide with a vehicle. In addition, drivers sometimes cause car accidents when they swerve to avoid a pet. Recently, a panther was found dead in Polk County, Florida, apparently killed by a collision with a car. The panther was the seventh one to be killed this year.

Drunk driving is considered to be one of the most often committed violent crimes in the US. Each year, Florida attorneys spend hundreds of hours in court involved in auto accident cases that result when impaired drivers get behind the wheel. Despite this, Central Florida police don’t currently have any plans to adopt a plan that California has been successfully using to curb DUI charges and car accidents.

Fresno, CA was featured by U.S.A. Today as having a “model D.U.I. program” – Fresno police not only set up 73 checkpoints throughout 2006, but undercover officers began targeting potential drunk drivers at local bars. Fresno officials went undercover to major local bars and observed the clientele with an eye to stopping drunk driving – and car accidents before they began.

The unique DUI program stems from the fact that many people involved in DUI-related car accidents are coming from bars and pubs, according to Fresno authorities. By setting up a base of operations in these establishments, Fresno police believe they can reduce the number of auto accidents and fatalities linked to drunk driving. In 2006 alone, bar operations led to 138 arrests and the number of fatalities involving drunk drivers was reduced by more than 12 percent in the region – something that the Fresno police attribute directly to the success of their bar program.

The bar operations have not been without criticism, however. Some feel that targeting drinkers in bars is simply too much an invasion of privacy – after all, bar patrons who have not yet stepped behind the wheel of a car are doing nothing wrong. Several Florida lawyers and police forces are refusing to even comment on the Fresno operations. Others point out that Florida has DUI programs in place – programs that have reduced the instances of drunk driving in recent years.

Whether or not the state will eventually adopt the Fresno model of DUI control or not, though, few would argue that DUI continues to be a major problem on the streets of every state. Each year, personal injuries cases and car accident fatalities are the direct result of inebriated drivers. If you have been affected by a drunk driver or have been in a car accident, be sure to get help from qualified Florida attorneys. They can advise you of your rights and guide you through the legal process.

Continue reading →

This past week, Broward County officials put the ShuttlePort airport shuttle service company, on notice for having drivers with unsafe numbers of violations. According to officials, at least eight of the company’s drivers have too many violations to qualify for a contract with Broward County.

The interest by officials comes from a fatal collision that occurred recently involved a ShuttlePort driver who had an inadequate driving record to be working for the company. An investigation into that fatal car accident showed that the driver in question had six points on his driving records. Although no charges have yet been laid in the accident, the crash is still under investigation. However, the contract between ShuttlePort and Broward County does state that all drivers hired by the company must have less than three points on their record. Based on this, charges are possible against ShuttlePort.

Although the recent fatal car accident is the first involving one of ShuttlePort’s drivers, the company’s possible violations are a cause of concern. Although many people assume that car accidents usually involve personal vehicles, many thousands of people each year are injured or killed when using taxi cabs, shuttle buses, and other transportation services.

If you are involved in a car accident in a shuttle bus, taxi, or other public or commercial vehicle, it is important that you:

*Get the name and contact information of any other drivers or persons involved in the car accident.
*Get as much information as possible about the incident and the company. At the very least, get the driver name and contact information, the name and contact information of the company the driver works for, and the registration number of the car you are in.
*Get the names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.
*Take photos of the accident scene, if possible.
*Get medical attention at once and get medical attention for anyone involved in the accident. Get a doctor to document your injuries thoroughly.
*Contact a good personal injury lawyer to help you get the best medical treatment and the best legal help possible.

Continue reading →

Recently, the Florida Highway Patrol announced the addition of a new motor squad to their team. Acting on public requests, the FHP has designated four troopers to the squad to patrol Interstate 95 in an effort to reduce automobile accidents on the popular highway. According the FHP, the move will help ensure that stranded motorists are assisted quickly and will ensure that truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other Florida car accidents are attended to fast. Thanks to the fact that the troopers will be on motorcycles, they will be able to access roadway shoulders and heavily congested areas that until now were difficult for law enforcement to access with traditional patrol cars.

In addition to this step, the FHP continues its educational campaign to promote safe driving. The FHP website offers many driving tips as well as current highway reports, meant to assist drivers. Public service announcements, videos, and radio spots are just some of the other ways that the FHP is trying to ensure safety on the roads. According to the FHP, there are many things that drivers can do to avoid automobile accidents in Florida:

*Slow down! It’s very basic information, but a significant number of car accidents occur because of speeding.