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Automobile technology is helping to reduce pedestrian fatalities, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys warn that relying on technology isn’t the best way to avoid a Palm Beach pedestrian accident.

According to the IIHS study, the two most likely scenarios for a vehicle hitting a pedestrian are when pedestrians cross the street and when vehicles are coming straight at them. The Institute feels strongly that vehicles equipped with forward collision warning systems with pedestrian detection can greatly reduce these types of collisions. This technology exists and can be found on several models including the Volvo S60 sedan. Volvo feels this technology has the potential to decrease pedestrian deaths by about 24 percent if installed in all vehicles. Several European automakers including Subaru, BMW, Audi and Mercedes are making vehicle design improvements to help reduce injuries to pedestrians. Technology is available today that recognizes bicyclists and pedestrians and applies the brakes automatically if the driver doesn’t react to a situation. There is even night vision technology that will protect pedestrians at night.

In 2009, pedestrian’s deaths accounted for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities according to
the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). They report that 4,092 pedestrians died in traffic accidents and an additional 59,000 were injured. Of Florida’s 2,558 traffic fatalities, 466 were pedestrians, ranking them second only to California for being the deadliest state for pedestrians.

Here are some helpful safety tips to remember from walkinginfo.org:

Make yourself visible to drivers.

-Wear reflective material and bright colored clothing.

-Always carry a flashlight if go you for a walk at night.

-Always cross the street in an area that drivers can easily see you.

-Never let obstacles like parked cars or hedges block your view before crossing the street.

Avoid dangerous behaviors.

-Always use the sidewalk.

-Never walk if you are impaired, get a ride.

-Make eye contact with the driver; never assume a driver sees you.

-Always look before you cross the street; you should not rely totally on pedestrian signals.

-Pay attention to backup lights or engine noise in or near parking lots and on-street parking spaces.

Look before you step.

-When possible cross streets at marked intersections or crosswalks.

-Obey WALK/DON’T WALK signs.

-Before crossing any road look left, right, and left again.

-Make sure ALL lanes you must cross are safe before proceeding. Never assume all drivers see you when there are multiple lanes to cross.

-Never talk on the phone or wear headphones while crossing the street
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A letter from Governor Rick Scott has declared May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Actually, it’s a national awareness but motorcycle enthusiasts in Florida are particularly vulnerable as officials work to reduce the risk of West Palm Beach motorcycle accidents.

We gave recognition to Bike Week back in March on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog in hopes of getting motorists and motorcyclists to share our roadways in harmony.

Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyers once again want to urge all drivers to ensure the safety of everyone by being safer drivers.

For the first time in over a decade motorcycle fatalities were reportedly down in 2009 according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Florida dropped by over 100 deaths from 2008 to 2009. It is too early to tell but with surging fuel prices and recovering economy whether the state will again see an increase in motorcycle fatalities for 2011.

The message is clear for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month which is “Share the Road with Motorcycles.” Naples News offers the following safety tips for drivers who want to avoid colliding with a motorcycle:

-Check mirrors and blind spots by physically turning your head before making turns or changing lanes.

-Allow at least a 3 to 4 second distance between you and the motorcycle in front of you in order to allow ample time to stop in emergency situations.

-Sharing a lane with a motorcycle is dangerous so always allow a full lane width for them to travel in.

-Turn signals on motorcycles are not self-canceling so never trust that a bike is turning until you actually see it making the turn. On the flip side, be sure to use your turn signal to indicate to other drivers that you are turning or changing lanes.

-Don’t get distracted or react to other aggressive drivers on motorcycles. Stay in one lane and let the aggressive driver go around you to avoid a road rage incident, which could lead to serious injury.
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Tragedy struck the Florida all-terrain vehicle recreational rider community this week when a 12-year-old boy was killed and his 11-year-old passenger was injured after the ATV they were riding drove off a curved dirt path and struck a tree, Tampa Bay Online reports.

The boys were cut off by a dirt bike and lost control of their ride according to the police report. Both boys were wearing safety goggles and helmets.

Our Fort Lauderdale injury attorneys know that property owners and businesses permitting ATV riders, ATV rental sites, ATV owners and other recreational vehicle enthusiasts (such as dirt bike riders) all share in the responsibility for keeping South Florida terrain, off-road parks and equipment safe. That a negligent act, intentional or not, of another rider; or, oversight on the part of a property manager or owner, can lead to an accident with devastating long-term consequences.

According to Florida Statute 316.2074, children under age 16 are permitted to operate an ATV, but must be wearing a helmet and safety goggles. Riders under 16 are also required to successfully complete an online ATV course and carry proof of same whenever they ride. Overall in 2009, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports there were 536 ATV-related crashes that claimed 12 lives and left another 489 injured.

First and foremost, the ATV Safety Institute reminds recreational riders that ATVs are not toys and that treating them as such can have deadly consequences. Among a host of other guidelines offered below, it is important to ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s minimum age guidelines for passenger and drivers.

~ Be familiar with the handling quirks of your vehicle. Be comfortable with brake controls, starter systems, transmission clutches, gears, drive chain action, throttle and controls on any ATV you ride.

~ If an ATV is a single rider, NEVER carry a passenger.

~ Passengers and drivers should always wear a DOT-approved helmet. Eye protection and gloves, a heavy long-sleeved shirt and pants, and strong, thick-soled over-the-ankle boots will add more layers padding and protection in the event of an ATV crash.

~ If riding off-road, layering on specialty gear like knee pads, shin guards and chest protectors is recommended.

~ Before riding check your tire air pressure and check to make sure your axle nuts are screwed on tight and secured by cotter pins. Test your throttle, brake and foot-shifter controls for smooth and consistent action. Make sure your oil and fuel levels are topped off.

~ Because riding off-road will rattle loose just about any fasteners, give grips and footrests a good shake before assuming bolts are tight.

~ Carry a toolkit complete with spare parts – spark plugs, tape/wire, and some tow rope – to address common mechanical foul-ups.

~ Know the terrain and know the rules of the road wherever you ride.

~ Keep your hands on the handlebars, your feet on the footrests, your eyes on the road, and your mind free of distraction. In short: pay attention to your ride, the road and your surroundings.

~ Approach soft terrain, turns, slopes, dunes, muddy surfaces and hills cautiously. In other words, adjust your speed according to your confidence in the terrain. Be constantly on alert for human and environmental hazards.

~ Don’t ride alone and don’t mix alcohol or drugs with ATV riding. Carry a charged cell phone and, if possible, a GPS device.
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As foreclosure rates across South Florida continue to climb, the Miami Herald reports that for the second quarter, foreclosed property made up more than one-in-three home sales. Miami-Dade County reported 4,439 foreclosure sales and Broward County reached almost 5,000 between April and June.

And now as fallout from the recent Ally Financial flawed foreclosure document revelation resonates, Old Republic National Title Insurance, which has eight offices in Florida and carries more than 10 percent of the title insurance market share, has stopped writing policies on foreclosed homes, the Palm Beach Post reports. This move sets the stage for a screeching halt to the transfer of distressed property sales in South Florida, a region already overwhelmed with abandoned and distressed real estate.

West Palm Beach premises liability lawyers know that the growing incidence of abandoned property falling into disrepair from Margate to Port St. Lucie does more than further depress already rock-bottom home values. Especially in locations across Broward and Miami-Dade counties where the number of vacant homes now hovers near 19 percent.

More so than eyesore, many of these properties are becoming hazards. Unkempt yards with hip-high grass can block the view of drivers and pedestrians alike, not to mention lure squatters. Abandoned swimming pools – now more pond-like ecosystem than refreshing backyard retreats – pose a safety hazard for kids who think nothing of taking a quick dip. Cracked driveways, broken windows, overgrown tree limbs, roof damage – all these things create potential security issues and safety hazards.

And if a property is in foreclosure or some twilight-zone stage in the process, who is responsible? The bank? The former mortgage holder? In an effort to address growing violation issues with abandoned property, the City of West Palm Beach has implemented a Distressed Vacant Property Registry. The hope is the City will then be able to keep track of responsible parties and manage a database of vacant real estate, the Palm Beach Post reports.
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