Item: Flaxman Law Group
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Author: Clara Barman

Have You Suffered an Amputation After a Truck Accident in Homestead or Another Florida City?

Published on: August 24, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck accidents in Homestead and other Florida cities cause a range of serious injuries. One of the most devastating tends to be an amputation. In cases of a serious traffic accident in Homestead or another community, firefighters and other emergency personnel sometimes need to amputate a limb in order to extract a survivor out of the wreckage of a car or truck. In addition, the impact of a car accident in Homestead or another city may simply cause enough damage to limbs that an amputation is needed to save the life of the patient.

Amputations cause devastating and lifelong injury to a patient. Patients who have this procedure may face additional risks and complications, including the risk of infection and other life-threatening conditions. In addition, amputations are expensive and require expense of prosthetics for the patient. Prosthetics often cost more than patients realize. These medical devices are always improving and patients need to update them regularly. In addition, a patient may need multiple prosthetics for different tasks. The cost of replacing multiple prosthetics over a lifetime can be very high, especially considering that newer, better prosthetics will be more expensive.

Amputations can change a patient’s entire life in the blink of an eye. Patients who have undergone amputations in Homestead and other cities often report feeling depressed, angry, and unable to return to life as they knew it before their accident. In some cases, patients are unable to carry on with their regular career or work and face financial devastation as a result.

If you have suffered an amputation as a result of a truck or car accident in Homestead or any Florida city, it is important to get as much support as possible. In addition to getting medical treatment at a hospital and through your physician, you may want to seek out a support group, counselors, or a therapist in order to deal with the devastating emotional loss.

It is also very important to protect your legal and financial rights. An amputation can have a devastating impact on your finances. The initial emergency surgery coupled with the high cost of prosthetics, coupled with income loss and the income devastation that an amputation can cause can all add up to substantial financial pressure. Speak with a personal injury attorney in Homestead or your community to find out about your options for pursuing fair compensation. Fair compensation can help pay for quality prosthetics and a lifetime of medical care as well as replacement for lost income.

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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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New Fire Truck Simulator May Help Prevent Trucking Accidents in Coral Springs

Published on: July 25, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Coral Springs firefighters have access to a new fire truck simulator for training, and some local authorities say that the new technology may help prevent truck and car accidents in Coral Springs and surrounding areas. The Coral Springs Fire Department has purchased the simulator to make training easier for firefighters and drivers. The department already has one simulator and has added another mobile simulator to make training more accessible.

The new technology will help firefighters train in conditions that mimic pouring rain and heavy traffic as well as other conditions which are difficult to recreate on demand during traditional driver training. In addition, the simulator will help firefighters train in extreme conditions as well, since the simulator can mimic city traffic after a plane crash and other unique situations.

Why Fire Truck Accidents Take Place

According to local experts, the simulator is important because driving is an important part of the equation when firefighters respond to emergency calls. Long before they can arrive at the scene to save lives and prevent serious burn injuries in Coral Springs, firefighters must rush through city streets to arrive at the destination. The bulkiness of fire trucks, coupled with the high speed of travel can lead to accidents.

Firefighting trucks carry not only emergency help, but also considerable equipment. Like all large trucks, they have multiple blind spots and are quite heavy. Navigating these trucks through Coral Springs streets is difficult. While traffic and pedestrians are supposed to get out of the way of fire trucks rushing to an emergency, not all drivers obey this rule. As a result of this problem and as a result of driver error, fire truck accidents in Coral Springs do occur. When they do occur, serious injury is the common result. In addition, if the fire truck is delayed there may be secondary injuries if the people needing emergency help do not receive assistance in time due to a traffic accident delay.

Preventing Fire Truck Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year across the US about 2000 fire truck accidents take place. These can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities. The Coral Springs fire department hopes to avoid these types of fire truck accidents in Coral Springs by providing the simulator and additional training. The fire department is also the only South Florida department to buy a mobile driving simulator. This will allow the fire department to share the technology to hopefully prevent traffic accidents in other communities as well.

Simulators have been show to prevent traffic accidents by providing additional driver training, according to the Coral Springs fire department. The department also believes that the new purchase is a cost-effective one, since additional training may help the department prevent injuries to fire department vehicles and equipment.

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Single-Unit Trucks are also Responsible for Truck Accidents in Homestead and other Communities

Published on: July 13, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently completed a study about the safety of single unit trucks. These trucks have a weight rating of at least 10,000 pounds but do not have detachable cargo units. Single unit trucks also have axles attached to one frame. These trucks are not subject to all the same safety rules that the federal government applies to tractor-trailers. Nevertheless, 10,000 pounds or more of a single unit truck can still cause a serious truck accident in Homestead or anywhere in the country and can still pose a higher risk than a passenger vehicle due to its size and force.

The NTSB examined single unit truck accident collision data from hospital reports, state records, police reports, case reviews, and federal databases dating from 2005 to 2009. According to the NTSB, about 1800 fatalities across the country each year are attributable to single unit truck collisions. As well, thousands of injuries can be related each year to these types of vehicles.

The study concluded that single unit trucks are part of a “disproportionate number” of multivehicle collisions as well as passenger vehicle fatalities. Each year, these trucks cause permanent injuries, including head injuries in Homestead and other communities across the nation.

As a part of the study, the NTSB recommended that safety rules be changed so that single unit trucks have some of the same federal rules apply to them as tractor-trailers. Specifically, the agency would like to see single unit trucks have rear underride guards as well as safety features that would improve visibility. Single unit truck still have large blind spots, and the agency would like to see additional measures taken to prevent car accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents involving these types of larger trucks. In addition, the agency recommended changing the classification of these trucks, arguing that currently the truck classification for single unit trucks leads to underreporting of accidents involving these vehicles. Finally, the NTSB recommended driver license changes which would require drivers of single unit trucks to have to face some of the same requirements as commercial tractor-trailer truck drivers.

Single unit truck accidents lead to car accidents in Homestead as well as other communities, and according to safety experts and government agencies more can be done to prevent these types of accidents. Tractor-trailers are recognized as potential dangers on the road and a number of federal safety standards have been passed to ensure that drivers and motor carriers of larger trucks must adhere to certain safety standards. However, experts agree that more needs to be done to prevent traffic accidents in Homestead and across the country related to smaller commercial trucks.

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Avoid Road Trip Truck Accidents in Miami Beach and Other Communities

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

During the summer, many families head out to Miami Beach and other Florida communities for a road trip. Southern Florida is an ideal place for this type of trip, since the coast is beautiful and the entire area is filled with unique communities and tourist attractions to explore. If you are headed to the area, you will want to take steps to ensure that a car or truck accident in Miami Beach or another community does not ruin your vacation:

1) Plan your trip carefully. A successful trip is a well-planned trip. You do not want to risk a rear-end accident in Miami Beach or another community because you are making frequent stops because you are lost. Plan your route and map your route before you go. Decide where you will stop and mark rest stops, restaurants, and hotels on your way so that you know where you can stop. Check road conditions and weather conditions before you go as well, so that you are prepared.

2) Take frequent breaks. Driving too long is unpleasant and can make you tired, which can cause you to make mistakes that can lead to a collision. Schedule regular stops into your trip and use these to drink water, get a snack, and stretch your legs.

3) Carefully consider your car before going on your trip. Make sure that it is in good mechanical condition and ready to drive. If you are sharing the road with commercial trucks, especially, you may need to make sudden maneuvers to avoid a crash. Make sure your car can handle various driving conditions.

4) Assign a co-pilot. If possible, travel with someone who can check maps, look out for road signs, and handle any mobile devices. This way, you can put your entire focus on driving. Many traffic accidents in Miami Beach and across the country are caused by distraction, and you can help prevent this type of accident by having another passenger take care of everything but driving, so that you can concentrate on the road.

5) Take turns driving. If possible, have someone else drive some of the time. This will allow you to see more and will help prevent fatigue and distraction behind the wheel, keeping you safer on the road.

6) Prepare yourself physically for the trip. Driving is physically and mentally tiring. Before your trip, get a good night’s rest and be sure that you are physically in good condition and well-nourished. Eat healthy snacks and drink plenty of water on the trip. Try to get a little exercise when you make stops.

7) Avoid road dangers. Do not drink and drive or try to drive when you are sleepy. Avoid trying to use your mobile phone as you drive. When on the highways, especially, even minor distractions can lead to a disastrous collision.

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Moving This Summer? Follow These Steps to Prevent a Traffic Accident in Miami or Your Community

Published on: June 27, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Many families take advantage of the summer to move. In addition, many college students move to new apartments or move into student housing during the summer and fall months. Moves can pose a number of hazards, the most significant being the risk that families run by renting large moving trucks. Truck rental companies are responsible for maintaining their fleets, but each year people are injured in serious moving truck accidents in Miami and other Florida cities. You can avoid these by following these tips:

1) Consider movers. If you are moving a great deal of furniture and many possessions, movers may be a safer option. Most drivers are simply not trained to drive large trucks and run the risk of causing a serious car accident in Miami or their community by trying to operate a heavy truck on moving day. Large moving trucks are heavy and have many blind spots. In addition, driving this sort of truck requires you to consider clearance under bridges, shifting cargo, and other issues you do not need to worry about with a car. If budget is an issue, compare several movers or consider do-it-yourself or self-service movers. These types of movers will drop off a storage container at your home and leave it so that you can load the container. A professional driver will then drive the container to your new destination and you will be responsible for unloading. Since you do much of the hard work yourself, this costs less than hiring movers but still ensures you do not have to drive a large truck.

2) If you do decide to rent a truck, take some precautions. Choose a truck that is about 10% larger than what you will need, so that you do not overload the truck. Compare the safety records and reviews of several rental companies. Visit the companies in person and ask for a demonstration of the truck and its safety features. You should not rent a truck until you have gotten some training in how to use it. Before your move, take the truck to a mechanic for a once-over. This way, if the truck is in poor condition and puts you at risk of a traffic accident in Miami or at your destination, you can return it to the rental company and ask for another truck before you start loading your possessions.

3) Stay organized. Pack well in advance of your moving day, taking care to keep boxes well out of walking areas. Keep in mind that trip and fall and slip and fall accidents in Miami and other cities are very common on moving day. You can generally avoid them by staying organized and keeping walkways clear.

4) Pack your cargo carefully. Distribute weight evenly over the truck and tie down boxes and furnishings so that they do not shift as you drive. Ask your rental company for loading and packing tips. In addition, consider renting dollies so that it is easier for you to load the truck without hurting your back.

5) Give yourself plenty of time. Moving day should be as unrushed as possible. Rushing around increases the risk of an accident. Check and double-check as you go. For example, when backing up in your rental truck, be sure to check blind spots carefully to prevent any back over accidents.

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Passenger Car Drivers Have a Key Role to Play in Preventing Distraction-Related Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Other Cities

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

When car and truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other cities occur, passenger car occupants are usually the ones injured due to the size difference between the two types of vehicles. While in some cases truck drivers cause the accident, distracted passenger car drivers are a major contributor to both truck and car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and across the state. While truck drivers are subject to strict federal rules designed to prevent fatigued driving, passenger car drivers have far fewer rules to follow. This means that passenger car drivers must take responsibility to prevent collisions. According to experts, there are several things that passenger car drivers can do to curb distracted driving:

1) Adjust car systems before driving or ask a passenger for help. It is a good idea to use a pre-programmed playlist on an MP3 player on a longer drive or to rely on pre-programmed radio stations, since changing a CD can be very dangerous on the road. In addition to music, A/C, mirrors, and other basic items should be changed or adjusted before starting the car – not on the road.

2) Mobile devices should be off when driving. Much has been written about distracted driving and cell phones. While commercial truck drivers are banned from texting and driving, Florida drivers of passenger cars do not face the same ban. Despite this, the road is safer for everyone when all drivers focus on the road rather than their cell phone. Turn the cell phone off before hopping in the car so that you will not be tempted to check the device. Studies have shown that talking or texting while talking does contribute to traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other US cities. Research has also suggested that hands-free devices are not entirely safe, either, as they remove a driver’s focus from the road. The best practice, experts agree, is to leave mobile devices off entirely when driving.

3) Set rules for passengers. Conversations with other passengers can be very distracting. In fact, studies have shown that teen drivers, in particular, significantly increase their risk of a car accident with every passenger in the car with them. For adult drivers, children and pets can be a significant distraction. For this reason, it is a good idea to distract children with child-appropriate car games and to set rules for car rides. Pets should be placed in kennels or carriers for every car ride.

4) Do not eat or drink while driving. While many people know that drinking and driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale are a serious concern, many do not realize that safety experts consider drinking coffee (or any beverage) while driving to be very dangerous as well. Eating and drinking takes your focus off the road and if you spill your food you may be distracted enough to cause a serious collision.

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Common Mistakes That Can Lead to a Truck Accident in Miami Gardens and Other Florida Cities

Published on: May 29, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

A few common mistakes that drivers make tend to cause a significant portion of car and truck accidents in Miami Gardens and other Florida communities. These mistakes are:

1) Cars overtaking a truck on the left where there are two lanes. This commonly occurs on merge lanes and in situations where merge lanes end. In some cases, a car will try to pass the truck, only to have the truck sideswipe the vehicle because the truck driver cannot see the smaller car.

2) Speeding. Trucks take longer to slow down and stop when compared with passenger cars, so when cars speed around commercial trucks collisions can easily happen. When trucks speed, they can rollover and when speeding truck drivers can lose control of the vehicle. When cars speed, they can cause serious collisions with other vehicles on the road.

3) Not being in mental or physical shape to drive. Driving is one of the most tasking thing most of us do every day. Being ill, tired, distracted, inebriated, or otherwise unable to drive can result in a collision. To prevent truck and car accidents in Miami Gardens and across the country, there are federal rules governing truck drivers. For example, truck drivers must get specific amounts of rest, are subject to drug and health checks, and must not text while driving. The rules are far less strict for passenger car drivers. Nevertheless, both passenger car and truck drivers have a responsibility to prevent drunk driving accidents in Miami Gardens and other communities as well as other types of preventable accidents caused by fatigue, distraction, and other issues.

4) Following too closely. Trucks take extra time to stop, so following a truck too closely or being followed too closely by a truck can lead to collisions. When trucks follow passenger cars too closely, for example, override accidents in Miami Gardens and other communities are a common result. When the passenger can has to stop suddenly, the truck often cannot stop in time, resulting in an override. When cars tailgate trucks, the bulk of the truck hampers visibility and if the truck has to make a sudden stop, a rear-end collision in the likely result.

5) Not following traffic laws. Some drivers take shortcuts, running the occasional stop sign or not signaling properly. The traffic laws, lights, and signs are there for a reason. Ignoring them, even occasionally, dramatically increases the risk of an accident.

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The Dangers of Fuel Truck Accidents in Miami and Other Florida Communities

Published on: May 16, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Fuel trucks carry fuel to homes, businesses, and to and from industrial sites every day. When these trucks are involved in truck accidents in Miami and other communities, however, the results can be catastrophic. Fuel is often highly combustible and unstable, increasing the likelihood of a fire. Tanker trucks containing fuel also more subject to rollovers and other accidents because the cargo is less stable. The devastation of these types of traffic accidents in Miami and other communities can be catastrophic:

1) Fuel truck accidents can lead to fires and explosions. While fuel tanker trucks are especially secured to protect against fires and damage, in a rollover or other type of truck or car accident in Miami, a fuel truck can spill its cargo, can explode, or can cause a serious fire. While a simple leak and spark alone are not usually enough to cause a fuel fire, when fires do occur they can be devastating. Fuel trucks can carry 100 gallons of fuel, and this is enough to cause a serious explosion or serious fire that can cause devastating damage to everyone in the area. The high heat and the extreme nature the fire can make it difficult for firefighting professionals to approach the scene immediately, meaning that it can be hard to extinguish this type of fire right away.

2) Fuel truck accidents often lead to secondary accidents. Truck accidents that result in fires, explosions, or spills can easily lead to a secondary accident. A tanker truck accident in Miami that causes a spill, for example, can lead to additional car accidents if approaching vehicles do not notice the spill in time. If a fuel truck accident results in a fire, other cars may be involved in collisions as they tried to stay away from the flames.

3) Fuel truck accidents can cause devastation and injury to bystanders and can cause damage to people over a wide radius. Fuel truck accidents, especially if they lead to explosions or fires, can affect people over a wide radius. Nearby homes and businesses may be severely damaged by the blaze, for example, and nearby pedestrians may suffer serious burn injuries or other serious injuries. Homes and businesses in the area may need to be evacuated until the situation is under control.

4) Fuel truck accidents can release toxins. Burning fuel can released dangerous toxins in the air, which can lead to severe injury and illness to bystanders in the area. Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems may be especially at risk. In some situations, tankers carry hazardous materials. When these hazardous substances spill or ignite, the results can lead to an environment and health disaster.

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