Item: Flaxman Law Group
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Author: Clara Barman

Bad Habits That Could Lead to a Trucking Accident in Homestead or Your City

Published on: September 20, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Some habits that you may engage in without thinking twice about them could actually be increasing your risks of being in a traffic accident in Homestead or your community. Are you guilty of any of these bad habits while driving?:

1) Multi-tasking. If you are trying to do more than one thing and one of the tasks you are trying to complete is driving a car, you are doing too much. When you are driving, you should not be focused on any other task. If your mind is thinking about a work project, you can easily miss cues on the road and that can lead you to cause a pedestrian accident in Homestead or another traffic accident.

2) Not treating trucks differently than cars. Trucks are different, and not only because of their size. They have far more blind spots, which means that when you drive too closely to them, the driver may not be able to see you. In addition, trucks handle differently than passenger vehicles. If you cut off a truck, it may not be able to stop in time and you may find yourself in a rear-end car crash. Trucks may also make more frequent stops along their route, so you need to be prepared to stop if you are following a truck.

3) Not paying attention at turns. Trucks turn wide and this can mean that you end up in a squeeze play accident if you do not pay attention. Always keep alert as to where a truck is turning and give the truck driver plenty of space to complete the turn.

4) Not making eye contact with other drivers. Making eye contact with other drivers and with pedestrians and bicyclists ensures that others on the road can see you. This can ensure that others are aware of your presence and you don’t crash into them. With a truck driver, making eye contact is especially important. Since trucks have so many blind spots, you need to be extra cautious in making sure that the driver can see you.

5) Lack of signaling and checking. Many drivers simply weave into another lane or make a turn without checking blind spots or mirrors – and without signaling. This bad habit can easily lead to a truck or motorcycle accident in Homestead or your community because there could be a vehicle in your own blind spot. Not signaling can also make it hard for truck drivers to know where you are headed, and they may not have enough warning about your intended move in time to avoid an accident.

Do you have bad habits that could lead to a fender bender or more serious accident?

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Do You Need to be in the Trucking Industry to Prevent Trucking Accidents in Hollywood and Other Cities?

Published on: September 17, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Many people assume that they need to be in the trucking industry or in politics to make big changes in reducing the number of car and trucking accidents in Hollywood or Florida. Nothing could be further from the truth. Individual people just like you have made big changes that have affected car accident rates in Hollywood and other communities. For example, a group of mothers who lost children to drunk drivers created MADD, an organization that has created changes to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents in Hollywood and across the country.

If you are committed to stopping traffic accidents in Hollywood and your community, you may have more resources than you think, including:

1) Political resources. As a taxpayer, you have elected representatives that are eager to hear from you. If you have concerns, your local elected legislators can take your concerns to the state and local governments and even to the federal governments. Whether you support specific laws that could reduce truck and car accidents in Hollywood or have ideas for new laws, write to your local representatives or attend city meetings to make your voice heard. If you see street designs and poor street maintenance that could lead to car and motorcycle accidents in Hollywood, let the city know and follow up with your request. You can even run for office in your community to make big changes.

2) Advocacy groups. There are a number of groups that advocate for better road safety and for trucking safety. In some cases, these groups are made up of people who have been injured or who have suffered loss due to traffic accidents. Joining can mean that you help to make law changes and raise awareness that can make a big difference. There is power in numbers.

3) The courts. If you have been injured in a traffic accident in Hollywood or any city, you may be able to file a legal claim if your injuries were caused by recklessness or negligence. Filing a legal claim can secure compensation for your injuries, but it can also force important safety changes. Motor carriers tend to take legal claims seriously and will sometimes act to prevent further legal action by making safety improvements.

4) Your own community. Your own community is a great place to start making changes. There are probably others in your city or neighborhood who are concerned about truck or bicycle accidents on their streets and may be willing to work with you to raise awareness or to approach the city about making safety changes to keep residents safe.

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Changing Psychology and Attitudes May be the Key to Preventing Car and Truck Crashes in Homestead and Across the Country

Published on: September 12, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

While there have been many attempts made to ban texting and driving in Florida, in order to really stop car accidents in Homestead and across the state, what really needs to change is the psychology and attitudes of drivers. Beyond mobile devices, there are a number of causes of distracted driving and traffic accidents in Homestead and Florida. Not all of those distractions can be stopped with a new law, and some causes of accidents – such as careless driving – are hard to legislate and enforce.

To make a big difference in reducing the number of car and truck collisions in Homestead and across the country, we need to make some bigger attitude changes, such as:

1) We need to re-define focus. Many people multi-task when driving but are still convinced that they are concentrating on the road and not distracted. All drivers need to redefine distracted driving to mean driving while doing anything that can remove focus from the road. Undistracted driving means thinking and concentrating only on driving. Anything that removes that focus – even for a second or two – is dangerous and can easily lead to a pedestrian accident in Homestead or our community.

2) We need to get more modest about our importance. Many of us try to get everything done and try to do a little bit more. This creates a dangerous situation where we are multi-tasking – even when driving. We assume that the text message, phone call, or drive can’t wait. Doctors have been saying for years that stress is one of the leading causes of disease and health problems, and stress can contribute to traffic accidents, too. We need to recognize that if we let go of some things on our to-do list, we will be healthier, happier, and safer.

3) We need to get more humble about our driving skills. Studies have shown that many drivers are overconfident when it comes to their driving skills, assuming that they can handle distractions and other dangerous situations. When actually tested, however, motorists are not able to handle distraction or as much alcohol as they think they can without becoming dangerous drivers. Being humble about driving expertise and acknowledging that driving needs to be treated with respect and caution is very important when it comes to driving safely.

4) We need to get more polite. Aggressive driving, impatience, road rage, and cutting drivers off is not just rude – it can easily escalate into a traffic collision in Homestead or your community. Slow down and treat other drivers with courtesy and you may find your community’s streets getting a little safer.

What about you? What attitude changes do you think need to be made by Florida drivers to make driving safer in Homestead and across the state?

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Types of Driver Distraction That Lead to Truck Accidents in Homestead and other Communities

Published on: September 10, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Driver fatigue and distraction is a major concern for long-haul commercial truckers. Even though truck drivers are required to take more training and submit to more rigorous testing than most motorists, the long hours they spend behind the wheel combined with unusual work shifts, can make these drivers more vulnerable to both fatigue and distraction. Unfortunately, the stakes are also higher. When commercial truck drivers are distracted, they can cause catastrophic traffic collisions in Homestead and other cities. There are many types of distraction that truck drivers are susceptible to:

1) Highway hypnosis. Long hours on the road can itself be distracting. Since it is difficult to focus for an entire shift, drivers may begin find themselves focusing less, especially along long stretches of highways. This can easily lead to a car or pedestrian accident in Homestead or another community.

2) Work-related tasks. Some truck carriers expect truck drivers to be “on call” all the time and complete other work-related tasks – such as speaking to dispatch – during a drive. When truck drivers are expected to pick up cell phone calls or text information about their deliveries, however, accidents are a common result. A good personal injury attorney in Homestead or your community can work to determine whether motor carrier policies are a factor in a crash.

3) Mobile devices. Mobile devices such as cell phones, tablets, MP3 players, and other devices remove a driver’s focus from driving and their eyes from the road. There is texting ban in place for all truck drivers operating commercial vehicles, but some drivers still use cell phones and other devices while driving.

4) Truck systems. Changing music, adjusting mirrors, and taking care of other basic tasks inside the cabin can distract a truck driver for a few seconds at a time – more than enough time for the truck to cause an accident.

5) Personal issues. Like all drivers, truck drivers may become distracted by personal worries and stress, thinking about their own problems or even their to-do lists rather than driving. Long-haul drives and long shifts can contribute to this.

6) Daydreaming. Studies released in the past year have highlighted the fact that daydreaming and focusing on anything other than driving can and does lead to car crashes and traffic collisions. Even if a driver is not taking their eyes from the road, the mind misses important cues during daydreaming.

7) Events on the road. Accidents on the road, billboards, other drivers, pedestrians, and road work can all lead to rubbernecking and distraction as well as secondary car accidents.

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Are Truck Accidents in Hollywood Causing Many Injuries but Fewer Fatalities?

Published on: September 6, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

A recent study by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that the number of traffic fatalities across the country has been dropping steadily for the past few years. In fact, the study has found that traffic fatalities across all vehicles dropped 26% between 2005 and 2011. On the surface, this seems like great news. Who can argue with fewer deaths caused by car and truck accidents in Hollywood and other cities?

According to a paper written by Ian Savage of Northwestern University, however, the news may not be all great. According to Savage, part of the reason for the decline in fatalities is because cars and trucks are being made to be more survivable in a crash – more is not necessarily being done to stop crashes in the first place.

In fact, Savage wonders why we place most of the focus on the number of fatalities in vehicle accidents rather than focusing on the number of accidents themselves. There are a number of reasons why we don’t want to get overconfident in the number of truck and car accidents in Hollywood and the US at large:

1) The risk of dying in a traffic collision is 1 in 6,800. According to Savage, bout 43,239 people died annually between 2000 and 2009 due to traffic accidents. While traffic accidents cause less than 2% of all US deaths, it does mean that transportation is the biggest cause of unintended injury fatalities (those fatalities not cause by illness, old age, self-harm, or violence).

2) Trucks and cars are more dangerous than any other mechanical device. In fact, according to Savage, the annual toll in terms of deaths is about 40% higher for vehicles than for the second-most dangerous mechanical device (guns).

3) In traffic collisions, the risk of injury and death for those not in trucks remains very high. When a commercial truck collides with a pedestrian, bicycle, or passenger car, the risk of injury and death for the occupants of the non-truck vehicle are very high. It is unlikely that a pedestrian will survive a pedestrian accident in Hollywood involving a truck, for example. While the current statistics may be encouraging, it does not mean that the average driver is safer from injury or death.

In other words, it’s great that fatalities from traffic collisions are dropping, but that does not mean we don’t have to worry about car and truck accidents — they remain one of the biggest causes of injury and death.

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Hollywood or any South Florida community, the odds are good that you will suffer severe injuries, such as head trauma, amputation, spinal cord trauma, injury, burns, and other injuries. If you have suffered a serious injury, keep in mind that you will likely need medical attention for your injury for many years. You may lose substantial income as you recover and you may never be able to return to your regular job (and the salary you are used to).

For all these reasons, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney before you make any decisions about your case. A personal injury attorney in Hollywood or your community can give you important advice about how to secure compensation so that you do not have to worry about your future.

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How Truck Drivers Can Avoid Distracted Driving and Truck Accidents in Hollywood and Other Communities

Published on: August 31, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to a 2009 report from the U.S. Department of Transportation, distracted driving is a serious concern for truck drivers, with distracted driving causing truck collisions in Hollywood and other cities across the country. In many cases, distracted driving was caused by:

•Eating and drinking
•Mobile devices
•Watching people or other cars
•Smoking
•Reading a map
•Playing with radios or other devices

Motorists cause car accidents in Hollywood and other cities with these same distractions, but the results of a large truck accident can be even more devastating. Due to the size and force of trucks, the results of this type of accident are more likely to result in severe injury or even fatalities. According to safety experts, there are several things that truck drivers can do to help prevent distracted driving and resulting accidents:

1) Avoid temptation by turning off mobile devices. Texting while driving is banned by federal law for commercial truck drivers, but when a mobile device indicates an incoming message, it is human nature to be curious.

2) Set up the cab so that simple driving-tasks can be completed without distraction. This can mean programming music so that there is no need to adjust the radio, or having water and other necessities on hand so that there is no need to hunt for these items while driving.

3) Focus on driving and take frequent breaks. One of the big challenges for truck drivers is that they drive for so long. This can make it easy for the mind to wander – a major hazard. Regular breaks can help.

4) Ensure plenty of good quality rest. It is harder to stay focused when the mind is fatigued, so regular sleep and quality sleep can help with mental alertness. In addition to getting enough hours, it is important to get good quality sleep, and that can mean addressing issues such as sleep apnea and other conditions that can affect sleep quality.

5) Maintain good health. Illness in itself can be distracting, especially if a drive is thinking about a doctor’s appointment or the latest troubling symptom rather than the road. Maintaining good health is also important to sleeping well and avoiding distraction.

6) Keep in mind that distracted driving does not just mean mobile devices. Anything that takes the mind off of driving, the eyes off the road, or the hands from the wheel is a distraction — and can lead to a traffic accident in Hollywood. Drivers need to be very vigilant about the many distractions that are all around them and work to prevent these distractions from causing an accident.

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Australia Study Could Shed Light on Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents in Homestead and Florida

Published on: August 28, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

A new Australia study has some insights that could help prevent truck accidents in Homestead and other Florida cities. According to the study’s authors:

•Heavy truck drivers who did not finish driver fatigue management training were six times more likely to be involved in an accident when compared with drivers who completed the training
•About half of the 200 truck drivers in the study smoked and 44% were obese
•Truck drivers with apnea were three times more likely to be involved in a truck accident when compared with truck drivers who did not have the medical condition

How is this study applicable to preventing truck and car accidents in Homestead and Florida? Most US studies focus on scheduled hours and work hours as a source of fatigue, but the Australia study from Curtin University focused on other causes of fatigue-related crashes. The study may suggest:

1) Preventing fatigue may be a taught skill. The Australia study focused heavily on fatigue management training, which teaches drivers how to recognize fatigue and how to deal with it. Teaching drivers how to cope with tiredness rather than just adjusting hours of service seems like a very commonsense approach.

2) Health may have a large role to play in preventing fatigue-related truck accidents. A number of US studies have also found that health factors, such as obesity and sleep apnea, can contribute to traffic accidents in Homestead and other communities. Drivers who smoke and are obese are more likely to suffer from cardiac disease and other illnesses which can be dangerous on the road. They are more likely to develop sleep apnea.

3) A number of underlying factors contribute to fatigue-related crashes. The Australian researchers stressed that fatigued driving has many causes, including health issues, scheduling, and other problems. They noted, for example, that some drivers are afraid to speak up about sleep apnea and other health concerns because they are concerned about losing their jobs. This suggests that addressing the various causes of fatigued driving at once is necessary to prevent more traffic accidents in Homestead and other cities.

Adding another item to learn may not go over well with motor carriers or drivers, however. Truck drivers are already subject to stricter rules, more rigorous testing and licensing requirements, and frequent checks when compared with passenger car drivers. However, if addressing health issues and getting fatigue management training would help prevent accidents and injuries, perhaps it is worth a try?

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Are Lighter Trucks a Concern When it Comes to Truck Crashes in Hollywood and Other Florida Cities?

Published on: August 22, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

The NAFA Fleet Management Association has sent information to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, citing concern about studies for lighter single-unit trucks. According to a recent NTSB study, lighter trucks account for 9% of the nation’s accidents, even though they account for only 4% of vehicle mileage and 3% of vehicles.

The study also raised concerns about the fact that light trucks may be overlooked because inspectors do not always identify them correctly. According to federal regulators, lighter single-unit trucks carry up to 10 000 pounds and do not have trailers. While these can seem less daunting than tractor-trailers, however, they are still much larger than passenger cars and can cause traffic accidents in Hollywood and across the country. Lighter trucks are also subject to fewer regulations and can still carry dangerous substances, making them dangerous in car accidents in Hollywood and other cities.

According to the NAFA Fleet Management Association, the NTSB study had a few issues. The main one was that study did not distinguish between unmanaged and managed fleets of light trucks. Although light truck drivers do not need a commercial truck license, NAFA argues that managed fleets have more training and supervision of drivers and have better safety records. Another issue was that NAFA and its members were not included in the study of light trucks.

The NTSB suggested that more studies need to be done to consider whether stricter licensing is required for light trucks. The study’s authors also suggested that light trucks should have more safety features shared by larger commercial trucks. For example, the NTSB recommended under-ride guards to prevent under-ride accidents in Hollywood and other communities as well as reflective surfaces on truck corners.

What do you think? Do you think that lighter trucks should be regulated more closely? Although these trucks are smaller, they can still cause truck collisions in Hollywood and other cities. They are also still larger and may be more prone to rollovers and tire blowouts when compared with smaller vehicles. All trucks, even smaller trucks, have more blind spots and can be more awkward to navigate in traffic. In the news headlines, larger commercial trucks usually grab the spotlight, in part because the accidents involving these vehicles are so dramatic. However, even smaller vehicles can cause catastrophic injury and fatalities. Accidents involving lighter trucks can still cause head injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, burns, fractures, concussions, and many other serious injuries.

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Have You Been Injured in a Fire Truck Crash in Hollywood or Another Florida City?

Published on: August 14, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Fire trucks race to emergencies and fires to save lives, but unfortunately these vehicles can also be a risk on the roads. Each year, about 2,000 fire truck accidents occur nationwide, leading to about 1000 injuries, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Although fire trucks tend to drive fewer miles than passenger cars, their heavy weight and high speeds can put them at risk of collisions. Many factors can lead to fire truck collisions in Hollywood and other Florida cities:

•Speeding. Fire trucks are legally allowed to speed and drive through red lights when they are driving to an emergency with their lights and sirens on. However, the high speeds and weaving around traffic can be dangerous and can lead to car accidents in Hollywood and other cities.

•Other traffic. All traffic is expected to yield right of way to any emergency vehicle driving with lights and sirens on, but some pedestrians, motorists, and others do not get out of the way of a truck, leading to accidents. In fact, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the most common cause of fire truck crashes is motorists’ failure to yield.

•Equipment problems. In some cases, mechanical failure – including brake failure or tire blowouts – can lead to a fire truck collisions.

•Driver fatigue. Drivers are sometimes called out to emergencies in the middle of the night, and may be fatigued enough that they make mistakes leading to an accident.

•Obstructions on the road or poor road conditions. In some cases, fire trucks need to drive through rough roads, unpaved roads, or through construction areas in order to get to an emergency. These more dangerous conditions can be a contributing factor to any traffic accident.

•Weather. Weather can cause a range of traffic collisions in Hollywood and other Florida cities. For a fire truck, slick roads or heavy rains can be an added problem since fire trucks are already so heavy and can tip over or crash when racing through bad weather to get to an accident or fire.

•Driver inexperience. Fire truck drivers need added experience driving, since their on-road experiences are so different than other motorists. Fire truck drivers need to be able to speed safely and get to an emergency in a very short amount of time – without crashing. Fire trucks also have a considerable weight and many types of lifesaving equipment that fire truck drivers need to be familiar with.

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), car accidents are the second most common cause of fatalities for firefighters. One of the best things that drivers can do to help prevent car collisions in Hollywood involving fire trucks is to pull over immediately when they hear a siren and see a fire truck.

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Truck Tire Blowouts in Homestead and Other Communities Lead to Questions

Published on: August 3, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Most drivers have seen the shredded remains of tires from truck tire blowouts on highways and roads. In addition to being unsightly, these tire remnants can be a hazard. Tire blowouts can lead to car accidents in Homestead and other communities. The tire debris also easily lead to motorcycle accidents in Homestead and other cities. In some cases, a truck driver can lose control of their vehicle during a tire blowout, a fact that leads to truck accidents in Homestead and across Florida.

There is some debate about where shredded tires come from. Many people note that the hot temperatures in Florida put additional pressure on tires and cause tires to disintegrate. When trucks are overloaded and exceed weight limits, this can also place additional stress on tires and can cause not only truck rollovers in Homestead and other cities but also tire blowouts. Of course, in some cases simple wear and tear lead to tire blowouts, although in many cases careful monitoring and maintenance of tires can prevent blowouts.

Another issue that is often blamed for tire blowouts is retreaded or capped tires. This process involves stripping down old tires and adhering new treads and a new exterior. This method of dealing with older tires is considered by many in the trucking industry to be more cost-effective and it is also more eco-friendly. However, some experts claim that the adhesive used in the process can become unglued, especially in high temperatures, leading to tire debris on the roads and tire issues.

Other experts, however, say that retreaded tires can be just as safe as other types of tires – provided they are made correctly. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded in 2008 that retreaded tires were not more likely to suffer from a blowout than new tires. Unfortunately, there is no regulation of capped tires, which means that some companies take fewer steps to ensure the safety of the tires. Reputable retreaders do not cap old tires and check for flaws before retreading. Some even x-ray tires to ensure that there are no tiny flaws which can affect the integrity of the final product.

No matter what causes tire problems for trucks, there is certainly an issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 55 people are killed each year in accidents involving a truck with tire issues. Many more people are seriously injured in these types of accidents. Federal rules require trucking companies to maintain their fleets carefully and also require truck drivers to carefully check their trucks – including the tires – each time they drive. Drivers are expected to check tire pressure and also to check for bulges, cuts, and other flaws on the tires.

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