South Florida Injury Lawyers

A woman waiting for the bus was killed in a recent Miami bus stop accident. The accident happened on 93rd Avenue and Bird Road. The woman, in her 60s, was waiting at the bus stop when the driver of a small-passenger car lost control and ran directly into the bus stop waiting area. The woman died instantly, according to 7News.

The driver of the motor vehicle stayed at the scene of the accident. Officers are trying to determine if the man was driving recklessly or if he was speeding at the time of that deadly accident. The investigation is ongoing.

Our Miami bus accident lawyers understand that many residents rely on buses to get around town. Riding the bus is a simple way to save some money, avoid waiting behind the wheel on congested roadways and help minimize traffic. But getting to and from the bus stops may be tough on our busy Miami roadways. We are here to offer bus riders a few simple safety tips to help avoid a potentially fatal bus accident. An accident can happen when approaching the bus stop, while waiting for the bus and even while riding the bus.

Safety Tips for Walking to the Bus Stop:

-Always use a sidewalk when one is available. If you have to walk along the road, do so far to the side and facing oncoming traffic.

-Keep an eye out for oncoming traffic.

-Stand away from the roadway.

-Don’t allow distractions, such as radios, phones, computers, etc., take your mind and your eyes off of the roadway.

-Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.

Waiting for the Bus:

-Don’t play around the street. Stay away from traffic.

-Stand in the covered stop area. When a bus pavilion is not available you should stand at least 10 feet away from the street.

-Keep your eyes and your mind on the road. Keep a look out for dangers, including vehicles, passing bicyclists and road debris.

Boarding a Bus:

-If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before bending down to get it. If the bus driver doesn’t know your location, it’s a good possibility they will not see you and drive off, potentially hitting you.

-Look for passing motorists before boarding. Not all drivers are cautious near stopped buses.

-Board the bus, find a seat and be seated. It’s important not to distract the driver or to block their line of vision with the roadway.

-Stay out of the buses blind spots. Make sure you can always see the face of the bus driver while walking around or near the bus.

Riding a bus can be super convenient and cost and eco-friendly. Riders are asked to be cautious when taking advantage public transportation. Just because you’re driving doesn’t mean that you don’t need to keep an eye out for passing traffic.
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According to the Florida Department of Transportation, intersection car accidents in Palm Beach Gardens and elsewhere throughout Florida are a huge cost to society in terms of property damage, lost productivity, injury and even death.

Statistics reveal that roughly 40 percent of all traffic accidents in the state happen at intersections or as motorists approach intersections. In 2003, there were nearly 100,000 intersection accidents in the state. In these collisions, nearly 1,000 people died and another 107,500 were injured.

Our Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyers understand that intersections can be dangerous for everyone, not just motorists. Pedestrians and bicyclists also face serious accident risks in these areas if travelers aren’t cautious. Motorists are especially cautioned to be careful at intersections during rush hour when traffic volumes are at their highest and accidents are more likely.

This is the fourth entry of a 6-part blog in which we are asking Florida drivers to make one of their New Year’s resolutions to be a better driver in 2012. By making a resolution to be more careful and cautious behind the wheel and when traveling through intersections, we can all do our part to make our state’s roadways safer for everyone. Traffic collisions at intersections oftentimes are the result of high speeds, reckless drivers, inattentive drivers and because of visibility reductions. Knowing what your risks are for an intersection accident and ways to avoid these dangers can help to reduce your risks of a potentially fatal intersection car accident.

Safety Tips for Drivers at Intersections:

-Make sure you always make a complete stop at stop signs. During your stop, be sure to look for oncoming traffic from all directions before proceeding.

-Check for oncoming cars twice before continuing through an intersection. Even if you have the right of way at the intersection, be cautious of other motorists in case they fail to yield for your vehicle.

-Always expect the unexpected. You should never assume that other vehicles will stop for you.

-Drivers don’t always abide by traffic signals. Be on the lookout for red-light runners.

-If you’re making a turn at an intersection, keep your eyes out for bicyclists and pedestrians who may be using the crosswalk.

-Always use your turn signals when turning at an intersection. This will help to alert drivers of your desired movements.

At an intersection, you never want to:

-Run a red light.

-Roll through a stop sign.

-Follow another vehicle.

-Rely on other vehicles giving you the right of way.

-Make unsafe left-hand turns.

The second most common traffic ticket issued to drivers in the state Florida is red-light running, In 2006, there were more than 391,000 traffic tickets issued for this violation. Intersections continue to be some of the most common places for car accidents.
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As we recently reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is putting its best efforts forward to propose a nationwide ban on the use of all portable electronic devices for drivers across the country — including hands-free devices. Earlier this month, the NTSB made a recommendation for all local and state governments to prohibit this behavior to help reduce the risks of distraction-related car accidents.

States have enacted some laws to stop driver distraction, but no state has completely prohibited the use of all electronic devices — including hands free. Some lawmakers say that this type of law is a form of government intrusion, while others feel it’s an invasion of personal freedoms, according to CNN.

Our Riviera car accident lawyers understand that recent studies from the National Safety Council (NSC) prove that hands-free phones are just as much of a distraction as hand-held phones are. Still, no state has enacted a law to prohibit this behavior. Maybe legislators are taking the problem too lightly. According to Barbara Harsha with the Governors Highway Safety Association, lawmakers can’t expect these laws to start producing safer results right away. Once they’re enacted, it takes time to enforce them and an even longer time for drivers to start changing their behavior behind the wheel. Still, lawmakers need to take that first step to help get us on the right path to safer roads.

The truth of the matter is that hands-free cell phone use is just as dangerous as a drivers talking on a hand-held phone. According to the NSC, the use of cell phones, hand-held or hands-free, causes drivers to “look at” and not “see” the roadway. Many legislators would argue that hands-free cell phones pose less of a distraction that hand-held. That’s not true. Drivers don’t multitask well. Drivers are unable to focus the same amount of attention on driving when talking on a cell phone as they are when they’re just driving alone.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 10 percent of drivers are using a cell phone at the wheel at any given moment. The NHTSA’s studies also concluded that about a quarter of all car accidents involve a driver using a cell phone at the time of the collision.

The problem with current distraction-related laws:

-Almost all legislation addresses the banning of only hand-held phone or of text messaging devices. None focus on the use of hands-free devices.

-Every state’s distraction-related driving laws allow the use of hands-free device by drivers. The same is true for employer policies.

-Recent polls conclude that driver recognize and understand the risks associated with hand-held cell phone use and text messaging devices usage, but not for hands-free devices.

-Many drivers think that they’re safer using a hands-free phone at the wheel than a hand-held phone.

“If it shows both are unsafe, then a total ban may make the most sense,” said Harsha.
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As we recently reported on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods serve as a time where we see an alarming increase in the number of drunk-driving car accidents in Cooper City and elsewhere throughout the state. In 2010, about 40 percent of the accidents we witnessed during this time period were alcohol-related.

The National Safety Council (NSC) recently released its predictions regarding the number of traffic accident fatalities we’re going to see nationwide during this year’s holiday periods. Our Cooper City drunk driving car accident attorneys understand that the holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with friends and family. Time off from work and away from school allows time to re-energize. Unfortunately, our roadways are also overflowing with snowbirds, residents and visitors. The increase in traffic is tough enough to deal with as it is, but add the increased amount of drunk drivers over the holidays and your risks increase.

According to the NSC, the Christmas holiday period starts at 6 p.m. on the 23rd of December and goes through 11:59 p.m. on the 26th of December. The council is predicting that we’re going to see more than 280 traffic accident fatalities during this 3.25-day period. The NSC goes on to predict that another 28,700 individuals will be injured in car crashes during this time.

The number of roadway fatalities during any time of the year could be greatly reduced if all motorists were to wear a seat belt. According to studies, seat belts are more than 40 percent effective in saving lives during car accidents. This information indicates that more than 100 people may potentially be saved in car accidents over this year’s Christmas holiday period because of seat belts. If all motorists were to wear a seat belt during travel, experts conclude that another 75 people could be saved.

The NSC also reports that there are going to be close to 300 people killed in traffic collisions during the New Year’s holiday period. This time period officially begins on Friday, December 30th at 6 p.m. and goes through Monday, January 2nd at 11:59 p.m. In addition to these predicted fatalities, the NSC is estimating that another 29,700 people will require medical attention from injuries resulting from car accidents during this time.

According to the NSC, more than 105 people may be saved in car accidents during this holiday period because of seat belt usage. If all motorists were to wear a seat belt during this time period, the NSC predicts that an additional 75 people could also be saved.

Drivers are asked to be careful on our roadways during the upcoming holidays. Be safe, exercise defensive driving habits and always wear a seat belt. Have a safe and happy holiday!
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According to Governor Rick Scott, December is “National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month.” During this time, local and state officers are on our roadways in search of intoxicated drivers through the holiday season. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and thousands of other local law enforcement departments are also pushing the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, according to WCTV. The campaign began last week and is running through January 2nd, and is aimed at helping to decrease the risks of drunk driving car accidents in Boynton Beach and elsewhere throughout the state.

Drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired accidents are some of the deadliest ones, especially during the last part of every year and through the holidays. In 2010, nearly 40 percent of car accidents during the New Year’s and Christmas holiday periods were alcohol-related.

Our Boynton Beach drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that FHP Reserve and Auxiliary troopers also will be patrolling our roadways throughout the rest of the year. With the holiday season, residents and visitors venture out to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Many of these gatherings involve alcohol, and all too often drivers hop behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after drinking.

“Safety is our focus year round at DOT. But this holiday season, we’re stepping up our efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads and reminding Americans ‘drive sober, or get pulled over,’ ” said USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “We’re making gains in our fight against drunk driving, but we cannot and will not let up.”

FHP is asking drivers to practice the following safety tips to avoid a drunk-driving accident:

-Plan head. If you’re going to go out drinking, make sure that you have a sober driver who can get you home safely.

-Designated driver doesn’t mean someone who is “less drunk” than you. It’s someone who has had nothing to drink.

-If you’ve been drinking and you don’t have a sober driver, call a friend or family member to help get your home, call a cab, use mass transit or stay at a hotel or friend’s home.

-If you think you’ve spotted someone on our roadways who is drunk, dial *FHP (*347) to help to get them off the road. You can also use this number to request assistance if your car has broken down.

“Impaired driving continues to be a priority for law enforcement in the state, and the Florida Highway Patrol will be intensifying enforcement during the holidays,” said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. “Our goal is to create the safest possible driving environment by modifying driver behavior – and helping drivers make better decisions.”

We ask all drivers to be cautious at the wheel and to be patient with the heightened volume of traffic. Practice responsible driving habits and ring in the near year injury free.
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