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Drivers in the state of Florida are still allowed to talk on cell phones and text message at the wheel. In fact, we’re one of the few states left in the U.S. that hasn’t enacted any laws to regulate such dangerous behavior, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. That could all be changing soon.

At a meeting earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended a nationwide ban to stop drivers from using portable electronic devices behind the wheel, according to CBS Miami. If this recommendation makes it into office, drivers would be able to use these devices only in emergencies or to help aid safe driving. Regulating distractions for drivers could help to significantly cut down on the number of car accidents in Lauderdale Lakes and elsewhere throughout South Florida.

“According to NHTSA, more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents,” said NTSB chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices while driving. No call, no text, no update is worth a human life.”

Our Lauderdale Lakes car accident attorneys understand that many states have trouble enforcing distracted driving-related laws. In many states, drivers are permitted to make phone calls at the wheel, but aren’t allowed to send or receive text messages while driving. These laws make it hard for law enforcement officials to determine what a driver was actually doing at the wheel; talking on the phone or composing a text message. A federal ban on these behaviors may be a better way to reduce the risks of car accidents across the U.S. and help officials to better enforce distraction-related driving laws.

Throughout the years, lawmakers in our state have made several attempts to pass bans on text messaging at the wheel. There’s even another proposal on the lineup for the upcoming 2012 legislative session. If this law makes it through, drivers could face a $30 fine for texting while operating a motor vehicle. This would only be a secondary offense and still cell phone use wouldn’t be regulated.

“Needless lives are lost on our highways, and for what? Convenience? Death isn’t convenient,” Chairwoman of the NTSB, Deborah Hersman said. “So we can stay more connected? A fatal accident severs that connection.”

The NTSB isn’t the only organization that agrees with these measures. The National Safety Council (NSC) is applauding the NTSB for making such a move to make our roadways safer. The NSC reports that more than a million traffic accidents occur every year because of distracted drivers.

“Making citizens safer is one of the most important roles of government,” said the president of the NSC, Janet Froetscher. “We are hopeful that legislators across the nation will recognize the value of NTSB investigations and recommendations and take the necessary actions proposed by NTSB to make our roadways safer for everyone.”
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The National Safety Council (NSC) and The Allstate Foundation recently started the HEARTS Network, also known as Honoring Everyone Affected, Rallying The Survivors, and is asking victims and family members affected by teen car accidents in Lauderhill and elsewhere to step forward. These organizations are asking for these individuals to join Network to help raise awareness about the serious consequences that result from accidents involving these young, inexperienced drivers.

David Teater, senior director of transportation initiatives at National Safety Council, says that the stories from victims will help prevent or at least reduce accidents. Car accidents continue to be the number one killer for teens. With more awareness, we can help to turn this statistic around and help make our roads safer for everyone.

Our Lauderhill car accident attorneys understand the dangers that teen drivers face on our roadways, and that these young drivers have higher accident rates than any other age group of drivers. The HEARTS Network was launched to allow accident victims and participants with the chance to speak with organizations throughout the community, to help their communities to improve teen driving problems, and to recruit the help of community leaders and traffic safety leaders to raise awareness about the epidemic. The group also serves as a support system for those who have experienced similar tragedies, offering them a place to turn to in difficult times.

John Farrace became a member of the HEARTS Network after his 17-year-old son was killed in a car accident in 2007. Farrace says that he hopes the program will help to enlighten parents and teen drivers about the importance of driver road safety.

The HEARTS Network has shared stories with audiences at the NSC New York Teen Driving Forum, the National Conference for State Legislators and the N.J. Governor’s Teen Drivers Study Commission. Awareness is the number one step to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents.

Of course teenagers aren’t the only people who are suffering in these accidents. In fatal car accidents that involved drivers between the ages of 15 and 17, nearly 70 percent of the victims aren’t the drivers but those in other vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Nearly 6,000 fatal accidents happened in 2009 that involved a teen driver.

HEARTS Network participants are also serving on various traffic safety groups. One of the main groups is the Teen Safe Driving Coalitions funded by The Allstate Foundation. The coalitions are overseen by the National Safety Council in 10 states, including Florida.

If your teen driver has been in an accident or you’ve been in an accident with a teen driver and would be willing to to share your story to help raise awareness about the issue, you can e-mail the NSC or call them at (630) 775-2411.
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Chevrolet Volt runs a serious risk of bursting into flames after a serious side-collision, as could potentially happen in a car accident in Stuart City. Recently, the NHTSA conducted a number of crash tests on the vehicle to determine how well it could protect the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a side collision. During one of the tests, the car’s battery was damaged and a coolant line cracked. Afterward, the car faced increased risks of a fire and eventually experienced one. The NHTSA is working with the Department of Energy (DOE), General Motors (GM) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct thorough tests to determine what exactly happened, how to prevent these incidents and how to correct them.

The findings from the NHTSA have consumers worried. GM is helping by offering to buy the car back from owners. Our Stuart City defective vehicles lawyers understand that the chief executive of General Motors, Dan Akerson, said the company will happily purchase back the Chevy Volt from any concerned consumer. The NHTSA has not completed its investigation into the incident and an official recall has not been made, but GM is willing to ease the minds of consumers before a real problem happens.

“While the investigation is going on, we will do whatever it takes to allay concerns and keep our customers happy,” said GM spokesman Greg Martin, “and if that includes repurchase, we will work individually with any customer.”

Martin says that if GM’s engineering team and NHTSA finds out what exactly is causing the fires then the motor-vehicle company will recall and retrofit those who already own the vehicle.

There have been nearly 10,000 sold so far. About 30 owners have already hit up the company for loaner vehicles until the investigation is complete. The details of the repurchase plan haven’t been determined yet.

Jessica Caldwell, an auto analyst, says that GM is fortunate to have only sold about 10,000 of these vehicles. Results could have been much worse both financially and logistically if the Chevrolet Volt was a more popular vehicle. Experts don’t expect many consumers will likely sell back the vehicle, considering it offers roughly 40 miles per gallon and that the fires happen weeks are a side collision.

“There are a couple of mistakes that have been made, but we all trying to do the right things,” said Mark Reuss, GM’s North America chief. “We are moving fast.”

Consumers are urged to do their research before purchasing a new vehicle. Everyone should visit the Safecars.gov website to check out the latest safety recalls. You can also check out vehicles’ safety ratings and other cool features. Be a smart consumer and do your homework to help prevent an accident from a defective vehicle.
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With the holidays right around the corner, residents throughout the state are out and about combing store shelves for the perfect gifts for family, friends, business associates and others. With the purchase of these presents, however, comes the risk of potentially buying a defective product in Oakland Park. That’s why consumers are urged to take a look at the Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s (CPSC) latest recall lists to make sure no faulty items sneak their way into your house this holiday season. Many household items are on the recall list and you may not even know it.

Our Oakland Park defective product attorneys understand that many common household items are found faulty every day. Residents should keep an eye on the latest recalls to avoid injury that could result from one of these items. Household cleaning items, children’s toys, clothing, electronic devices and many other items that are deemed dangerous have been recalled by the CPSC. Do you know which ones they are?

Golf Cars recalled by Club Car LLC:

Nearly 1,000 Golf Cars have been recalled by the golf car manufacturer because the fuel tank seal is known to separate and cause a fuel leak that poses a fire hazard. All 2011 Precedent golf cars fall under the latest recall. The serial numbers are as follows:

CF1139-233925 – CF1147-250173
PR1139-233918 – PR1147-249956
PY1144-244648

The golf cars were sold at authorized dealerships across the country from April to May of 2011. If you own one of these cars, call Club Car at (800) 227-0739, extension 3580, to schedule a free inspection.

Schwinn Elliptical Exercise Equipment Recalled by Nautilus:

Nautilus Inc. has recalled approximately 10,000 Elliptical Exercise Trainers because the foot plates on the machine can fall off, posing a fall hazard to users. Nine incident reports have already been submitted to the company and one injury has been reported. The model name “Schwinn 460” is the item that is being recalled. They were sold at various sports stores from July 2008 through May 2011. If you have one of these elliptical machines, contact Nautilus at 800-259-9019 to receive a free repair kit.

Family Dollar Stores Recalls Kidgets Animal Sock Top Slippers:

Nearly 200,000 pairs of these children’s slippers have been recalled by Family Dollar Services Inc. because the animal’s eyes can come off the slippers and pose a choking hazard. Incidents have been reported. Item number “FD9619108020690611” is the style that’s been recalled. They were sold at Family Dollar stores across the country from September 2011 until October 2011. If your child has a pair of these slippers, bring them to a Family Dollar store for a full refund.

Residents should always keep an eye on the CPSC’s recalled item website. It’s especially important to do so before heading out to pick up those holiday presents this year. Have a safe and Happy Holiday!
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More than 6.000 teenagers are killed because of alcohol-related car accidents in Hollywood, Florida, and elsewhere every year. The consumption of alcohol contributes to more fatalities among this age group than all illegal drugs combined.

To help reduce the risks of these types of accidents, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is teaming up with the National Football League (NFL) in an attempt to urge teenagers to pledge to never drink and drive and to never ride with a driver who has been drinking. To reward those who are responsible and those who take the pledge, MADD and the NFL are offering official NFL prizes. All you have to do is visit MADD’s Power of You(th) Facebook page, sign the pledge and invite your friends to do the same. Children and other young people between the age of 12 and 21 are eligible to win.

Our Hollywood teen car accident attorneys understand that car accidents are the number one cause of death for teens in the United States. Many of these accidents can be prevented by talking to our young drivers and discussing the consequences of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel. As a matter of fact, drivers who are 16-years-old have the highest accident rate of any age group of drivers. They’re three times more likely to get into an accident than any other group. Frequently discussing the dangers that drivers face on our roadways and the proper way to handle them can help our young drivers to navigate more safely behind the wheel.

In 2008, nearly 2,750 teens died in car accidents on U.S. roadways. These accidents cost the country nearly $35 billion for property damage, medical costs and other various costs, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Of these fatalities, more than 30 percent were killed in a traffic accidents in which they had been intoxicated, about a quarter of them were considered legally drunk.

Why are teens at such high risks for fatal accidents?

-They are more likely to underestimate roadway dangers than older drivers.

-They’re more likely to exceed the speed limit.

-They’re more likely to follow the vehicle in front of them too closely, or tailgate.

-When passengers are present in the vehicle, drivers are likely to increase their display of risky behavior behind the wheel.

-Teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use.

In a recent survey, nearly a third of all surveyed teens admitted to riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol within the last 30 days. A tenth of those who were surveyed admitted to drinking alcohol at least once in the last 30 days.

Although teenagers may not be able to drink legally in the U.S., it doesn’t mean they’re not going to. Remember to talk to the young drivers in your life about the dangers, risks and consequences of both driving drunk and riding with an intoxicated driver.
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We typically see a drastic increase in the number of car accidents in Vero Beach and elsewhere throughout the last quarter of every year and through the holiday season. These accidents don’t always happen on streets though, as many of them occur on driveways and in parking lots, too.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation is pushing on in its campaign to require the installation of rear-view cameras on all new-model vehicles. Drivers’ blind spots hinder the visibility of pedestrians behind a vehicle. The use of back-up cameras will help a driver to see behind the vehicle and pedestrians before it’s too late. Still the most beneficial safety precaution to avoid one of these accidents is driver awareness.

Our Vero Beach pedestrian accident attorneys understand that nearly 300 people die and another 18,000 injured because of back-over accidents in the U.S. every year. As Christmas and New Year’s draws closer, millions of people will be traveling throughout our state to attend holiday gatherings with family and friends. As we visit and friends’ houses and shopping malls statewide, drivers are urged to be extra cautious when backing out of the driveway or out of a parking space as pedestrians are oftentimes overlooked.

“There is no more tragic accident than for a parent or caregiver to back out of a garage or driveway and kill or injure an undetected child playing behind the vehicle,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The larger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spots are. While the NHTSA is looking to push these back-up cameras to help prevent accidents, driver awareness is still the most effective preventative measure to avoid a back-over accident. Even with cameras, an inattentive driver can miss a passing pedestrian.

Of the near 300 fatalities that are estimated to occur every year because of back-over accidents, nearly 230 of them were committed by the drivers of vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds. More than 40 percent of these victims were pedestrians under the age of 5, which is alarmingly high for any type of accident. Nearly 35 percent of the victims were pedestrians who were 70-years-old or older.

For this reason, families are urged to discuss these incidents with their elderly and children family members. To help to prevent these accidents, drivers are urged to be extremely cautious when reversing a vehicle, but especially when reversing out of a driveway or from a parking spot. Make sure that you look completely around your vehicle before jumping in and reversing. For drivers with larger vehicles, you’re urged to roll down your windows before backing up so that you can hear what’s going on outside your vehicle. Lastly, remember to always back up slowly just in case someone darts behind your vehicle unexpectedly.
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Talking with your elderly parent or spouse about your concern for their diminishing motor skills is no easy task. But taking the first step to help a loved one who no is longer able to safely navigate our roadways can help to reduce their risks of a car accident in Davie and elsewhere.

According to Florida’s traffic data, the number of drivers who had their licenses taken away because they were deemed as unable to safely drive has doubled over the last 10 years. Most of these licenses were revoked because of physical or mental health challenges related to age, including strokes, dementia and seizures, according to News 4 Jax.

Our Davie car accident attorneys understand that drivers’ risks for an accident drastically increase once they reach the age of 60. To help prevent these types of accidents, Florida lawmakers have decided to promote a longstanding, but little-known Florida law that allows residents to contact the state regarding motorists who may be suffering from mental of physical conditions that could affect road safety. We’re not asking you to go report you elderly family members to the state. We would just like to raise awareness about the dangers they face behind the wheel and head off that problem before it gets here.

Family members are urged to speak with their elderly loved ones face to face, but if nothing seems to work then you can report the driver to the state. Reports are confidential.

“There’s a lot wrapped up in having a driver’s license, in terms of identity and dignity,” said
Linda Levins, of ElderSource.

Florida drivers are required to get their eyes checked every six years once they’ve reached the age of 80. Since 2004, about 7,000 drivers’ licenses have been taken based on these vision tests alone.

“We know that Florida’s older adult population has positively impacted our state, both socially and economically,” said Terry White, secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and council member. “We are committed to addressing the safety and self-sufficiency of Florida’s elder drivers.”

Signs from AARP that a driver should start limiting his or her time behind the wheel:

-Having near-misses, close calls or almost accidents on our roadways.

-Discovering dents and scrapes on your car or on the property around your driveway.

-Getting lost on routes that should be familiar.

-Have a tough time seeing road signs, road markings and traffic lights.

-A slow response time to road hazards.

-Underestimating gaps in traffic.

-Receiving many honks from other drivers.

-Easily becoming distracted.

-Having a hard time turning to look at your vehicle’s surroundings.

-Receiving numerous written and verbal warnings from officers.

Take the time to examine your elderly loved one’s driving abilities. Make sure they’re not endangering themselves or anyone else on our roadways. If not, consider sitting them down and talking to them about their safety behind the wheel. Your concern could help to save their life.
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Hybrids have a safety edge over the gas-guzzling vehicles on the roadways. In a recent study, conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), hybrids are better able to protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accident. As a matter of fact, you’re 25 percent less liked to be injured in a hybrid during a car accident in Deerfield Beach and elsewhere.

“Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts. This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes,” says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president.

As we recently reported on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the type of car you choose is an important decision in your likelihood of staying safe in the event of a car accident. Drivers are urged to check out the safety ratings of vehicles before making a purchase. The new discoveries regarding hybrid vehicles are good news to energy-conscious consumers who aren’t willing to trade safety for fuel economy. Before this, green drivers had to choose between one or the other because the hybrids were typically smaller and lighter and more dangerous for occupants.

Hybrids now come with more safety options than every that can help save money at the pump and save lives in accidents.

In the recent study, crash results were the same for hybrid vehicles and their conventional versions were uplifting for hybrid owners. Hybrid passengers’ odds for injury were more than 25 percent lower than their standard counterparts, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Size and weight has always been associated with safety. Both the hybrid and its conventional counterpart share the same structure and footprint, but now the hybrid outweighs gas guzzlers because of the added weight of battery packs and a number of additional components used in dual-power systems. The additions on the hybrids add the extra weight needed for safety. The newer model hybrids oftentimes weigh more than their counterparts.

A downside discovered in the study regarded hybrid-pedestrian car accidents. All too often, the electric motor is too quiet for pedestrians to hear on our roadways. Study data concluded that hybrids were about 20 percent more likely to be involved in pedestrian accident that their convention versions.

This is a problem that has become so widely recognized that it’s even gaining attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as they work to correct the problem. In the beginning of this year, Congress allotted the NHTSA with three years to find a way to make these vehicles more noticeable by pedestrians.

As vehicle technology advances, we’ll continue to face safety issues. Consumers are urged to research potential purchases to help ensure the safety of vehicle occupants. Regardless of which vehicle you choose, it’s important to drive carefully and cautiously to help to preserve the safety of your fellow travelers.
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A St. Lucie car accident landed a man with charges of manslaughter after a laundry list of previous drunk driving convictions, according to the TC Palm. The accident happened on King’s Highway just south of St. Lucie Boulevard and took the life of a 63-year-old woman, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The man has been in the St. Lucie County jail after he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. According to Sheriff Deputies, the man was driving his car and hit a number of mailboxes on Godwin Road and Orange Avenue before slamming his car head-on into the vehicle of that 68-year-old woman. According to most recent reports, he remains in jail on a $1 million bond.

Our St. Lucie car accident attorneys understand that drunk driving accidents occur more frequently during the holidays than during any other time of the year. Thanksgiving is no different. Motorists are asked to be careful on our roadways and to please drink responsibly. Drunk driving-related car accidents are completely preventable with a little bit of common sense and responsibility. If you think you’ve spotted a drunk driver on out roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday or any other day of the year, you’re urged to call *FHP and report the information. Your call could save a life.

Most people think that New Year’s Eve is the number one night for drunk driving accident, but those people would be wrong. New Year’s Eve comes in second after Thanksgiving, according to Life Tips.

We all know that Thanksgiving is time to spend with friends and family, but all too often people think this time spent is best spent drinking. At this year’s Thanksgiving celebration consider giving thanks to friends, family, good health and making sure that everyone makes it home safely.

We’re not saying you aren’t allowed to drink over the holiday. We’re just asking that you do so responsibly. That’s why Budweiser and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety will be pushing their “Tow to Go” program through Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. The program launched back in 1998 and has since then taken nearly 14,000 drunk drivers off of our roadways.

Everyone’s allowed to participate in the program and you can use it to have your vehicle towed home from a restaurant or bar for free if you’ve had too much to drink. All you have to do is call 1-800-AAA-HELP (4357). The program is offered to drivers in Florida, West and Middle Tennessee as well as Georgia.

“The busiest time for the Tow to Go program is during the upcoming holiday season when more than 70 percent of the call volume is received,” said Joanna Newton, Tow to Go program manager, The Auto Club Group.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there were more than 12,000 citations issued and nearly 4,000 motorists assisted over the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Officers made more than 120 arrests during this time and busted roughly 5,000 drivers for speeding. Another 1,500 were cited for not wearing a seat belt. More than 20 motorists died.

From our Firm to your family, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Celebrate responsibly.
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Motorists, pedestrians and state officials may overlook the violence and gore of some of today’s most popular video games reaching audiences around the world, but one video that’s not getting the stamp of approval is the video on a new website and safety program called “See the Blindspots.”

One Florida Senator says he’s offended by the safety program’s depiction of pedestrian accidents in Wellington and elsewhere. “See The Blindspots” says the campaign is doing exactly as it’s supposed to and raising awareness about the severity of the problem. Unfortunately, Florida continues to be the number one state for pedestrian fatalities and safety advocates are taking a bold step to reverse the trend.

The pedestrian video shows numbers of people being brutally hit and run over, some through no fault of their own, but through the carelessness of drivers. Florida State Senator Mike Fasano says that the video is effective, yet disturbing and should not be accessible on a website that is reachable by viewers of all ages.

Our Wellington pedestrian accident lawyers understand that this controversial video depicts some of the real life dangers that pedestrians face in our state. Many of these pedestrian accidents are caused by distracted drivers, those who just aren’t paying attention at the wheel.

Still, with all these fatal accidents and this graphically disturbing video, Florida lawmakers have yet to enact legislation to regulate the use of a cell phone or text messaging devices for drivers. Florida is one of the last states in the nation that has done nothing to regulate these dangerous driving behaviors — even among teen drivers.

To help to spread the word about the risks associated with distracted driving, the new “See The Blindspots” website aims to serve as a clearinghouse for data regarding pedestrian accidents in the state. The video that Senator Fasano objects to is posted front and center on the site’s homepage.

Florida State Representative Irv Slosberg refuses to give into the criticism however. He says that as brutal as this video is, Florida drivers need to see it. It’s the cold-hard truth our state faces every day. Slosberg recently lost his daughter in an accident. He says that the graphic content of the video is warranted given the nature of both the state’s pedestrian accident problem and the statistics on pedestrian-vehicle accidents in Tampa.

According to the website, there were nearly 500 pedestrians killed on Florida roadways in 2009. Both Georgia and Texas followed with more than 300 fatalities each. Both states have seen significant drops in fatality numbers in recent years — but not Florida.

“We’re going backwards instead of forwards. A lot of it has to do with driver distraction: cell phones, texting and driving,” Rep. Slosberg.

The U.S. sees about nine pedestrian fatalities a week. Florida accounts for 10 percent of these deaths.
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