Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Preventing Back to School Truck Accidents

Published on: September 15, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

While many people associate Florida truck accidents with high-speed highway accidents, some tragic Florida pedestrian accidents involve trucks in urban areas – and these accidents often include small children. Pickup trucks, delivery trucks, and other types of trucks which are common in urban areas and residential areas pose a high risk of fatalities and injury to children and minors. These trucks make unexpected stops and often fascinate youngsters.

Waste management trucks, for example, are a common risk to children, because they are prevalent in residential areas and often back up or stop unexpectedly. There are more than 700 such trucks servicing the South Florida area alone and now that the children are in school, these trucks are often in residential areas during the morning rush, when children are preparing for and heading out to school. Waste management truck drivers get training to ensure that they are safe drivers. However, there are many things that parents can do to help prevent this tragic type of Florida trucking accident:

1) Set some rules. Talk to your children about trucks and other vehicles. Especially, make sure that your children know how dangerous it is to approach a waste management truck or climb on it. Emphasize that the truck is dangerous, even when it is parked or stopped. Teach your children to recognize the back-up alarm and lights, which indicate that a truck is backing up.

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Could Our Love Affair With Trucks Be Causing More Florida Truck Accidents?

Published on: September 13, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to a research study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention journal, our love affair with light trucks may be causing more Florida car accidents and pedestrian accidents – and more traffic accidents nationwide. The research was completed by researchers at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University.

Researchers at Rowan University used the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS), and the General Estimates System (GES) to gather information about crash statistics. Researchers compared injuries and accidents involving SUVs (sport utility vehicles), light trucks, pickup trucks, vans, and passenger vehicles.

The researchers concluded that passenger vehicles are shifting. More customers are purchasing vans and lights trucks, rather than the smaller cars which have traditionally made up the bulk of passenger cars. However, vans and light trucks are designed differently. They are more blunt, stiffer, and heavier. Their load is distributed differently. Researchers concluded that these differences make these vehicles more likely to cause serious Florida pedestrian accidents and Florida vehicle rollovers – as well as pedestrian accidents and rollovers across the country.

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SAFE Hopes to Prevent Florida Truck Accidents and Car Accidents With Detailed Presentations

Published on: September 10, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

The NAS Jax Safety Department has been offering hands-on workshops to audiences to teach them about the dangers of Florida truck accidents, car accidents, and other accidents. Most recently, the department sponsored their “Street Smart” presentation over the Labor Day weekend. The presentation involved two Orlando paramedics who are part of Florida SAFE (Stay Alive From Education) Inc.

The presentations include audience participation, a clear description of cases where paramedics arrive at the scene of an accident and graphic depictions of accident scenes. According to SAFE, many trauma calls to local paramedics involve Florida drunk driving accidents. In many cases, drivers and passengers involved in these accidents are not wearing seat belts.

According to Orlando Firefighter and Paramedic Scott Neusch, who is also a part of SAFE, when a driver in a Florida truck accident or car accident is not wearing a seat belt, the chest hits the steering wheel. The impact of there crash causes the head of the driver to collide with the windshield and causes the thigh femur bones to be pushed into the abdomen.

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Florida Law Hones in On Drowsy Drivers to Prevent Florida Truck Accidents and Car Accidents

Published on: September 8, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

In 2008, 8-year-old Ronshay Dugans was killed when a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and caused a Florida bus accident involving the school bus on which Dugans was traveling. Dugans’ family lobbied to change legislation in Florida to help prevent drowsy driving. Working with Florida state representative Alan Williams, the Dugans family has helped pass the Ronshay Dugans Act to combat fatigued driving.

As part of the act, the first week of every September will be designated as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in Florida. The bill was passed by Florida legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist in June. Morton Plant Mease Hospital, the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have joined together to help promote Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 50% of drivers admit to fatigued driving in the past year. About a third of drivers admit that they drive while fatigued at least once a month. Another 30% of drivers admit they have fallen asleep at the wheel and 1% of drivers have been in an accident or a near accident while driving drowsy.

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Avoiding a Florida Truck Accident

Published on: September 6, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Although there are many regulations at the state and federal levels regulating truck drivers, truck companies, and the truck industry, car drivers still have an obligation to help prevent Florida car accidents involving trucks. Florida trucking accidents involving cars are often especially tragic for passenger vehicles and their occupants, simply because of the disadvantageous difference in size between a truck and a car. There are many things that Florida car drivers can do, however, in order to help prevent tragedy:

1) Stay alert. Avoid a Florida drunk driving accident as well as trucking accidents and other types of traffic accidents by driving sober. Even one drink can impair your judgment. In addition to drinking, carefully consider any medications – including over-the-counter medications – that you may be taking. These may also cause you to become drowsy and unfit to operate a vehicle.

2) Stay focused. Distracted driving is a major contribution factor to Florida truck accidents and traffic accidents of all types. Avoid using your cell phone, mobile device, or headphones while driving. Focus on the road rather than on conversations or on entertainment.

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Preventing Florida Drunk Driving Accidents and Truck Accidents This Holiday Weekend

Published on: September 2, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

More than 40 agencies and many officers launched their “Hand Across the Border” campaign recently at the Florida and Alabama border. The campaign aims to increase the presence of law enforcement authorities on Florida’s roads during this holiday weekend in order to help prevent Florida car accidents and truck accidents.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the past year that the campaign was in place, there were fewer Florida drunk driving accidents and traffic accidents during the long weekend. According to law enforcement agencies, drunk driving is an especially severe problem during the last holiday weekend of the summer. As motorists hope to enjoy the final weekend of summer, they sometimes indulge in alcohol and get behind the wheel of a car. Unfortunately, that decision can easily lead to a Florida pedestrian accident, car accident, or other serious accident. When cars and trucks collide, the results tend to be even more dangerous and fatal. Trucks cannot stop as quickly as cars can, so an erratic motorist or truck driver can be an especial danger.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the message to motorists this holiday weekend is simple:

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Avoiding Florida Truck Accidents When You Own a Small Business

Published on: August 30, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

Many small businesses rely on light company trucks or even large trucking companies for business. If you own a small business, you may rely on trucks in order to get your product to customers or in order to have materials delivered to your offices. While trucks can make things convenient for your business, they can also create liability issues. If a truck your company owns causes a Florida pedestrian accident or a Florida trucking accident, the legal ramifications could affect your business. Such an accident can even push your business towards bankruptcy. Even if you work with a trucking company, if a company truck is in an accident while delivering your goods, you could face legal problems as well. That is why it is important to:

1) Carefully consider before getting trucks for your own business. If you want to have a truck for your business, consider who will drive the truck. How will you screen drivers? Can the drivers be trusted to remain safe?

2) If you do decide to get trucks for your business, use a little extra caution. Draw up a list of regulations for your truck drivers and delivery personnel. Insist on a driver’s log and check to make sure that your driver is qualified.

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Dealing with Loss After a Fatal Florida Trucking Accident

Published on: August 27, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

A fatal Florida trucking accident is one of the most devastating traffic accidents possible. The injuries and damages in such an accident are often catastrophic and the outcome can affect the rest of your life. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal Florida car accident involving a truck, there are several things you will want to do in order to deal with your loss:

1) Get the best medical care possible. If you are a survivor of the accident or if another family member has survived the accident, you will want to secure the best medical care possible. This may mean negotiating with your insurance carrier to ensure that all medical costs and long-term care costs are covered.

2) Get answers. Often, after a fatal Florida trucking accident, you will have many answers about how exactly the accident occurred. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help you investigate the accident so that you understand what happened. This can help bring some peace of mind and some closure to the accident.

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Quality Medical Care After a Florida Trucking Accident

Published on: August 25, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

After a Florida truck accident, your first priority will likely be to get emergency medical attention. Most truck accidents in Florida result in at least some injuries, if not fatalities. It is difficult to assess the extent of injuries on the scene, which is why it is important to seek medical attention right away if you have sustained any type of injury. Many serious Florida brain injuries, for example, do always show overt symptoms at once. In some cases, patients feel fine right after an accident, only to find that they have indeed sustained a serious brain injury. Getting immediate help can dramatically increase your chances of surviving a Florida car accident involving a truck.

However, getting medical care after a Florida truck accident can be a challenge for many patients. If you are in a Florida truck accident, you will generally be taken to the closest Florida hospital for immediate treatment. If you are unconscious, you may not be able to act as your own health advocate. It can take emergency personnel some time to reach your family doctor and to recover your records. Mistakes can happen in the high-pressure environment of the emergency room. This is why after serious accident, Florida medical malpractice suits are common.

Another problem with getting quality medical care after a Florida truck accident is cost. Truck accidents can cause serious or even permanent injuries and the total cost of treating these injuries can be very high. Many insurance companies only pay for part of the treatment involved and do not consider long-term costs of the injury. For example, many Florida spinal cord injury patients find that long-term rehabilitation costs, home care costs, and other costs are not considered. The first few years of treatment may be covered by insurance, but subsequent costs may not be.

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Concerns After a Florida Truck Accident – And How to Resolve Them

Published on: August 23, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

After a Florida truck accident, you will have many questions and concerns if you have sustained any injury. Among your concerns might be issues such as:

1) Paying medical bills. You may be uninsured or underinsured for the serious injuries that you can sustain in a truck accident. As well, you will inevitably find that your insurance provider does not cover all the costs associated with your injuries. For example, many Florida burn injury patients find that their health insurance does not cover skin grafts and other so-called “cosmetic” surgery, even though such surgery may be necessary for full recovery. As well, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries may require years of rehabilitation and treatment, and not all of this is usually covered by insurance. Health care costs can be devastating, which is why it is vital to speak to a qualified Florida personal injury attorney after your truck accident. A good attorney can give you good advice and can help ensure that you have the financial resources you need to get the best quality medical care for your injuries.

2) Dealing with lost wages. If you have been injured in a Florida car accident involving a truck, you will likely miss work. In addition, you may need to miss work in order to meet with your Florida personal injury attorney or in order to visit your insurance company or doctor after your accident. If you have sustained a serious injury, you may not be able to return to work for weeks or months. In the event of a permanent injury, you may not be able to return to work at all. A good Florida personal injury attorney can help ensure that you are compensated for your lost wages, so that you do not have to worry about losing your home or ruining your credit rating.

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