Item: Flaxman Law Group
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Author: Clara Barman

Truck Tips from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Published on: October 6, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

A new initiative from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles could help prevent Homestead truck accidents – as well as traffic accidents throughout Florida. If you live in Homestead or anywhere in South Florida and own a truck, consider these safety tips to drive safely:

1) Keep an eye on your vehicle and yourself. While all drivers on the road have a responsibility to keep other motorists safe, truckers have an especial responsibility as their vehicles can cause even more damage in a Homestead car accident. Ensure that your truck is maintained regularly and responds as needed to help you avoid collisions. As well, ensure that you are in good physical shape to drive. Being well-rested, calm, and fit ensures that you can put your whole focus on the road.

2) Stay distraction-free. Distracted driving is a danger for all motorists, but light trucks have more blind spots, so drivers of these vehicles need to concentrate even harder on the roadway to stay safe.

3) Watch your no-zones. Be aware that your larger truck has more blind spots, and check your blind spots more often. Do not count on other motorists to stay out of your blind spots – many drivers are not aware of how many blind spots trucks have.

4) Drive sober. Homestead drunk driving accidents claim far too many lives. Never drive under the influence, and be sure to check over the counter and prescription medications for side effects; anything that may cause drowsiness is unsafe to use.

5) Leave lots of room. Trucks have more height and are therefore at an advantage when braking. Nevertheless, leave plenty of room for the car in front of you. If the motorist in front of you needs to brake suddenly, the extra room can help you avoid a rear-end collision.

6) Use caution in construction and work zones. Follow signs and slow down. Leave yourself extra room; with the blind spots on a light truck, you may need the extra cushion space.

7) Stay aware of road conditions. Check conditions before you leave, so that you can anticipate problems and hazards. If you see any problems on the roads, report the problem when you can. It is free to do so from your mobile device if you dial *FHP (that is,*347).

8) Give smaller vehicles plenty of room. Homestead bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents are often fatal, especially when trucks are involved. Give pedestrians and bikers extra room, and be aware that riders and walkers can move and maneuver more easily than a truck. An extra cushion of room protects you and gives you a chance to maneuver if a rider or pedestrian makes a move that is unexpected.

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Preventing Florida Drunk Driving Accidents and Truck Accidents

Published on: August 18, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

At this time of year, there are many end-of-summer parties with alcohol. The roads are also busier with tourists coming to Florida for one final holiday and trucks delivering back-to-school goods to stores. As well, there are many moving trucks on the road as the end of summer is a time when many college students are moving to campus and many families are moving ahead of the school year. Alcohol-fueled parties and extra traffic on the road are not a great combination, and they can mean Florida truck accidents and DUI accidents.

You can help prevent accidents at this time of year if you:

1) Plan your own parties carefully. If you hope to have an end-of-year party, prevent accidents by having a plan to get guests home safely. You can hire a designated driver or a van service for a low cost. You can arrange to have taxis to call. Plan to start scaling back servings of alcohol earlier in the evening, too, to help prevent DUI and other accidents. As well, remember that alcohol does not just lead to Florida drunk driving accidents; it also affects mobility and inhibitions, so that guests are more at risk of slip and fall accidents as well as other injuries. You could be held liable if you serve alcohol and a guest injures themselves at your party.

2) Consider an afternoon party. An afternoon weekend party allows you to enjoy the great weather and also allows you to avoid sending out guests late at night. Accidents are more common late at night, as guests are more tired and are more likely to lose control of the car. Late at night, there are also more trucks on the roads, making Florida truck accidents more likely. Sending guests home early also ensures that guests are not as tired and are not affected by alcohol as well, which can lead to poor decisions. Having an earlier party also makes it easier for guests to take taxis or the bus home.

3) Have a plan for getting home safely yourself. If you are headed to a party yourself, make sure that you have at least a few alternatives for getting home safely. Do not assume that you won’t drink and don’t assume that you can get home safely with a designated driver. You or your designated driver may end up being tempted to drink. Bring enough cash for a cab or a nearby motel or have a few friends you can call for a safe ride home.

4) Talk to your loved ones about Florida drunk driving accidents. Make sure that they know they can call you for a ride home and ask for the same privilege. If you have teens who are just starting to drive, have then sign pledges not to drive drunk or distracted.

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Could Red-Light Cameras Help Prevent Florida Truck Accidents?

Published on: August 16, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

New research and statistics from the Department for Transport in the UK suggests that red-light cameras have not improved accident rates in that region of the world, but have helped cities secure speeding fines. A camera installed in Oxfordshire saw ten fatalities and five car accidents between 1997 and 2002. Before 1997, when the camera was installed, the same intersection had not seen any fatalities or car accidents for five years. In 2009, that camera caught over 3600 drivers exceeding the speed limit. In 1997, another red-light camera was installed at an intersection in Cambridgeshire after the intersection saw five minor collisions. In 2010, that same intersection saw two serious injuries and five smaller injuries as well as 1027 drivers exceeding the speed limit. Of 89 red-light cameras installed in Humberside, 19 of those cameras saw an increase fatal pedestrian accidents after the cameras were installed.

The statistics – and others like them, published in the US, shed concerns about red-light cameras and their use in the US. Red-light camera companies and advocates of the cameras claim that the cameras can help reduce Florida truck accidents and car accidents by forcing drivers to slow down. The cameras are installed on intersections and can automatically capture anyone exceeding the speed limit. Some cameras also capture other traffic violations, such as running red lights or making illegal turns. When the cameras capture a violation, they can determine the driver responsible from the license plate number. The driver is then sent a ticket, with the time, date, and location of the alleged violation.

Red-light cameras have hit other speed bumps in the US, however. Some states have questioned the very legality of the system because the tickets are sent automatically whereas in many states traffic tickets must be written up by police officers or must be served by process servers. In some cases, drivers have successfully been able to argue their case in court in order to have their tickets dismissed. Others have simply ignored their tickets and have left it up to red-light camera companies to pursue payment.

The real concern, however, is whether red-light cameras can really help prevent Florida car accidents and traffic crashes. Advocates of the cameras claim that the cameras are ever-present and so discourage drivers from violating rules because drivers know that they will get caught automatically. As well, advocates of the cameras claim that red light cameras have been proven to reduce car accidents. Indeed, some US-based studies have suggested that red light cameras can reduce traffic violations at an intersection. As well, red light cameras can theoretically help free up law enforcement professionals and resources for more serious concerns. Opponents suggest that the cameras are a cash-grab for cities who want to increase revenues with traffic tickets.

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Florida Truck Accidents on the State’s Beaches

Published on: August 4, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Volusia County, like many counties in Florida, uses large Beach Patrol trucks to keep beaches safe. However, this year, one of the trucks was involved in a collision with a sunbather, shining the spotlight on Florida truck accidents on beaches. There have been three Beach Patrol accidents in the county since 2010, all involving collisions between trucks and sunbathers.

Miami Beach also has trucks patrolling its beaches. However, in that county, only higher-ranking patrol officers are permitted to drive the patrol trucks on beaches. As well, there is a limit of four trucks on the beach at one time. As well, some patrol officers use ATVs (all terrain vehicles) for their patrols, instead of the larger trucks. ATVs have the advantage of offering improved visibility, especially since they are lower to the ground than standard beach patrol trucks.

Across Florida, beach driving has been studied extensively after two children were killed in 2010 by private vehicles driving on beaches. While many people enjoy driving their trucks or passenger cars on Florida beaches, the combination of sunbathers and vehicles is a poor one. Sunbathers are often not visible to drivers of cars because they are lying down. And sunbathers are often not on the lookout for drivers on a beach. Children, especially, are vulnerable to accidents because they may not know enough to move out of the way of an oncoming vehicle amid the excitement of a day at the beach.

While beach patrol drivers get training to drive on the beach – something that drivers of private vehicles do not get – the accidents involving beach patrol trucks suggest that new rules may need to be considered. Volusia County authorities are investigating the accidents and will likely examine the drivers and vehicles allowed on beach patrol.

Critics say that the beaches could be made safer if private vehicles and larger beach patrol trucks were removed from beaches entirely. If the larger trucks were used to get cars out of sand only, that might help reduce some of the Florida truck accidents involving these vehicles, some have suggested. The larger beach patrol trucks have poor visibility during right turns and U-turns, whereas smaller vehicles and ATVs would ensure better visibility and potentially smaller risks. One local newspaper has suggested placing two officers in each beach patrol vehicle, so that one officer could look for sunbathers and check blind spots as well.

While it is possible that banning private vehicles from beaches would also help prevent Florida car accidents on the state’s beaches, there is a long tradition of beach driving in Florida and many oppose any attempts to ban the practice. Beach driving is also a part of the tourism industry in many cities along the coast, which has helped create a lively debate about the future of beach driving.

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Expert Tips for Preventing Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: July 19, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you drive a passenger vehicle, your car stands no chance against a large tractor trailer in a collision. Each year, many lives are lost due to Florida truck accidents, but there are things you can do to help protect yourself and your loved ones, according to law enforcement and other experts:

1) Stay alert to existing Florida car accidents and truck accidents. Listen to the radio or check the traffic reports before leaving home, so that you can avoid congested areas and accident sites – which have higher risks of accidents. The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) has even launched a new Florida 511 iPhone application as a free download on iTunes. The app provides free real-time traffic information for Florida’s major roadways and can be used with GPS to help drivers keep track of accidents near their current location.

2) Keep your car in good condition. When your car is well-maintained, it handles more reliably, allowing you to get out of dangerous situations. Check your car’s owner manual to determine what basic maintenance your vehicle needs and then schedule the needed maintenance.

3) Avoid distracted driving. You cannot drive near trucks safely if you are texting or talking on the phone while driving. Trucks take longer to stop and may make unexpected stops. You need to be alert, and that means putting your mobile devices away while you are on the road. Avoid other distractions, too. Changing CDs in your car, having animated conversations with passengers, or eating while driving can all be fatal mistakes.

4) Drive sober – and well rested. Both fatigued driving and drunk driving affect your motor skills and your response times. To prevent a truck accident, you may need to act fast, and you cannot do that if you are not at your best. Florida drunk driving accidents and accidents caused by fatigued drivers are very preventable, so work to prevent these accidents from happening to you.

5) Get some good coaching. If you have had more than one or two near-accidents or Florida car accidents in the past year, it is a good idea to get some additional driver training. Most drivers believe that their driver education ends when they get their license, but in fact the world’s best drivers – including race car drivers and stunt car drivers – get continuing education to improve their skills. If you need to, consider a refresher course, a racing school course, or defensive driving course. In some cases, you may even be able to enjoy a car insurance discount as you enjoy safer driving.

6) Make provisions for commercial trucks. Driving near other passenger vehicles is not the same as driving near large commercial trucks. Large trucks require more room, and it is important to ensure that truck drivers can see you. Learn to respect the larger vehicles on the road and you will keep yourself and your loved ones safer.

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Could a Lowered Rate of Fork Lift Truck Accidents in the UK Help Prevent Similar Florida Truck Accidents?

Published on: July 1, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

The Health & Safety Executive has reported that since the Fork Lift Truck Association’s National Fork Lift Safety Week initiative was launched, UK has seen fatal fork lift truck accidents decline by two thirds. In 2006/7, 16 workers in the UK died due to such accidents, while in 2009/10, five workers were killed in these accidents. This is the third improvement in statistics.

Experts in the UK have reported that fork lift truck accidents are among the most dangerous accidents for workers. Even with the recent reductions in the number of these fatal truck accidents, there were 369 serious but non-fatal fork lift truck accidents in the UK in the past year – an average of one serious accident per year. Many of these accidents were life changing amputations, brain injuries, and other such serious incidents.

Can Florida learn from the UK example to reduce the instances of Florida truck accidents? There certainly seem to be a number of take-away lessons from the UK example:

1) Truck accidents can be reduced through effort. Although many people see accidents as an unavoidable reality of life, the UK example shows that the number of accidents overall can be reduced with concerted effort. Statistics prove that over three consecutive periods, the number of fatal truck accidents dropped. The statistics were also adjusted for the economic downturn, so it is not only the recession that is helping to reduce the accident rates in the UK.

2) Education is key. The Fork Lift Truck Association’s National Fork Lift Safety Week was introduced in 2008 to help educate workers and the public about safety and to promote safety best standards. This program is credited for helping to reduce fatal fork lift accidents across the UK.

3) Training is important. The Fork Lift Truck Association’s National Fork Lift Safety Week focuses on different safety topics every Safety Week. Recently, the Fork Lift Truck Association has been focusing on training, with the slogan “more skills, less spills.” According to the Fork Lift Truck Association, poor training increases the risk of serious accidents.

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Truck Proposals Could Change Rates of Florida Truck Accidents

Published on: June 30, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Federal lawmakers are considering transportation bills which would, over the next few years, change a number of things about the trucking industry. Some experts are concerned about a proposal in the bills which would allow higher weight limits and which would permit trucks on more roads across the country. Some experts are concerned that such changes could affect the rates of Florida car accidents and truck accidents on the road.

The bills would increase truck weight limits from 80 000 pounds to 97 000 pounds for single-trailer commercial trucks on state highways and interstate roadways. Trucks with two or three trailers would be permitted up to 100 000 pounds. As well, trucks with two or three trailers will be allowed the entire national highway system rather than on interstate roads.

According to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, the bills could be put to a vote before committee by July 12. The suggested legislation would also place a tax on trucks over the weight limit. This money would be placed in a fund and distributed to states to assist with road repairs and bridge work.

There are many concerns about the proposed changes. Many legislators, for example, have pointed out that cars are currently getting smaller as more consumers look for fuel economy in their passenger cars. Combining smaller cars with larger trucks could create even more devastating Florida car accidents involving cars, whereby smaller cars would have no chance against very large commercial trucks. There is also concern that the larger trucks would have very large blind spots and would not be able to safely share the roads with motorcycles, bicyclists and others who use the road system.

There is also a concern that the larger trucks could create problems on residential streets. While the proposed legislation allows very large trucks only on the national highway system, when a section of the system is closed due to an accident or another cause, traffic is often rerouted through residential areas. There is a concern that 100 000 pound trucks would be on residential streets in such cases, posing the risk of Florida pedestrian accidents and other types of traffic accidents.

Other experts have noted that much larger trucks could create load problems and could make the roadways deteriorate faster, due to the weight and force of the larger vehicles. Those in the trucking industry have noted that improved technology in the trucking industry would potentially help offset some of these problems. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also notes that allowing the proposed changes would allow businesses to be more competitive and efficient, which would beneficial to the economy.

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Preventing Miami Truck Accidents With Design

Published on: June 27, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

A blogger writing for TransitMiami, has recently written about the large number of accidents along Biscayne Boulevard. These accidents often reportedly include high speeds and in recent months have resulted in damage to light poles and storefronts. According to the blogger, some of the problem stems from design and suggests some of the ways that Miami truck accidents and car accidents along this road could be prevented:

1) Changing the design speed of the road. The design speed of Biscayne Boulevard in Upper East Side (where many of the accidents have been taking place) is 45 mph, and the posted speed limit is 35 mph. The TransitMiami blog suggests a design speed of 35 mph.

2) Re-striping scenario in order to bring back parallel parking to the street. The MiMo Business Improvement Committee (BIC) has made this suggestion to District 6 Secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation. Creating parallel parking in the area would encourage cars and trucks to slow down, BIC believes, and would also provide a layer of protection for pedestrians, helping to prevent Miami pedestrian accidents in the area.

3) Adding traffic calming design features. According to the City of Miami’s Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan (MCNP), such devices can include wide sidewalks, different lane widths, medians, landscaping, roundabouts, lighting; and signage. All of these features make the area more like a neighborhood and less like a highway, encouraging motorists to slow down.

4) Enforcement. While improved design can help reduce the speed and therefore the number of accidents, enforcement is still an important part of the equation, ensuring that motorists obey the rules of the road. An enforcement campaign targeting the area specifically could help prevent accidents along the street.

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North Miami Hopes to Reduce Florida Truck Accidents with Ordinance

Published on: June 23, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

North Miami has proposed an ordinance which would require food trucks, which appear regularly at such events as the Biscayne Triangle Truck Round-Up, to get licenses and permits. The proposal, if successful, would charge food trucks $167 yearly and $50 one-time fee to pay for a background check. Currently, food trucks in the area do not need permits or checks to operate in the area. Although there are no statistics suggesting that food trucks contribute to Florida truck accidents, some have raised concerns:

1) The industry is less regulated than the commercial trucking industry. Commercial trucks are subject to many rules. Drivers are usually trained and must obey rules about hours of service and other laws. Food trucks, however, are less regulated, and the North Miami ordinance would at least require background checks on those operating the trucks.

2) The trucks congregate in parking lots. This has the potential to cause accidents as trucks back up or pull into the lot. There are no reports of such accidents, but some feel that the sheer numbers of food trucks could create such accidents.

3) The trucks usually require some form of fuel for food preparation. While most operators take precautions to ensure a safe work environment, some people point out that parking lots are a bad place to set up food trucks that include additional sources of fuel. Any fire in such a truck has the potential to cause a serious conflagration.

4) The trucks attract pedestrians. Some worry that the trucks could contribute to Florida pedestrian accidents because they attract large numbers of pedestrians. As well, since these trucks often set up shop near parking lots or in parking lots, the trucks can produce more pedestrian traffic in areas with many cars, creating a large risk for Florida car accidents.

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Florida Truck Accidents Involving Delivery Trucks

Published on: June 18, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

While large commercial tractor trailers get a lot of attention in discussions of Florida truck accident risks, delivery trucks are also a danger on the state’s roads. Delivery truck accidents can lead to the same serious injuries and to fatalities. As well, there are a number of factors that make delivery trucks especially dangerous:

1) There are a great many delivery trucks on the roads. In addition to major courier services, most cities have local couriers as well as a host of local companies offering delivery service. The large number of delivery trucks increase the odds that these vehicles will be in accidents.

2) Driver training varies widely. Commercial truck drivers are required by federal law to meet specific training requirements and to commit to specific job-safety standards (such as hours of service regulations). This is also true of delivery truck drivers working for large national companies. However, local companies with drivers operating smaller trucks often are not required to adhere to such regulations.

3) The pressures of the job. Delivery truck drivers – especially drivers working for couriers – are under a great deal of pressure to deliver packages under very strict deadlines. This can lead to mistakes, speeding and carelessness that can lead to serious accidents.

4) Delivery trucks often deliver items to residential areas. While commercial tractor trailers largely drive on highways, delivery trucks generally make deliveries to residential addresses – including addresses in areas where a driver may not be familiar with a specific neighborhood. This can increase the risk of Florida pedestrian accidents involving such trucks.

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