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Pedestrian accidents in Palmetto Bay and other South Florida cities are a serious cause of concern. While Florida offers beautiful walking trails, green spaces, and a mild climate that is perfect for walking, pedestrians who want to enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise do face the issue of possibly being involved in a serious accident and being severely injured. Pedestrian accidents often lead to spinal cord injuries, fractures, soft tissue damage, and head injuries in Palmetto Bay and other communities. All too often, these types of accidents lead to permanent or fatal injuries.

There many issues that lead to these types of personal injuries in Palmetto Bay and other Florida cities:

1) Visibility. Visibility issues can make it hard for motorists to see pedestrians. Visibility issues can result from dark nighttime conditions, weather conditions, inadequate lighting on city streets, fog, and other issues. Pedestrians can help avoid pedestrian-car accidents in Palmetto Bay and other communities by wearing reflective clothing and light clothing that is easy to spot.

2) Distraction. Distracted driving causes many car and truck accidents in Palmetto Bay and across Florida each year. Distracted driving can also easily lead to pedestrian accidents. Drivers who are looking at mobile devices, or changing music, or otherwise distracted may not notice a pedestrian crossing and may collide with a pedestrian because they cannot stop in time.

3) Speed. Speeding can make it harder for motorists to stop in time to avoid a collision with a pedestrian.

4) Road and sidewalk conditions. Road and sidewalk conditions are a key factor leading to many pedestrian accidents. Some communities are already making changes by providing additional barriers, wider sidewalks, and other features which can make it easier for pedestrians and cars to share the road. One issue that often occurs with pedestrian accidents is that pedestrians and cars must share the road in some areas due to lack of sidewalks. Providing added places for walking, as well as providing additional walking trails where pedestrians can walk separate from traffic can help reduce the instances of pedestrian accidents across South Florida.

5) Driver error. In many cases, drivers make errors that lead to accidents. Drivers may ignore traffic signals and signs, may speed, may drive distracted or drunk, or may make other choices that affect their ability to spot and react appropriately to pedestrians.

6) Pedestrian error. In some cases, pedestrians make errors that can lead to a collision. For example, pedestrians will sometimes walk in the dark without wearing reflective clothing or will step out between cars and into traffic without looking both ways.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Fort Lauderdale, as well as many other communities across the country, have been relying on red light cameras in order to prevent car accidents and in order to catch drivers who violate the rules of the road. Advocates of the red light cameras say that the devices help prevent car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and free up police for other tasks. They note that the cameras generate revenue for the city and may be more effective at catching those who break the law. Advocates also claim that red light cameras may discourage drivers from running red lights, since the risk of getting caught is higher. This, they claim, can help prevent traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale.

Opponents of red light cameras argue that the cameras have a track record of sending tickets to the wrong drivers. They also note that the cameras only catch drivers at some violations. They do nothing to reduce the number of cell-phone related car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, for example. Those who oppose the cameras also point out that it is possible for drivers to simply find out where the cameras are and avoid those intersections – all without changing bad driving habits.

In Fort Lauderdale and across Florida, red light cameras have been approved since 2010 but still have not become accepted by drivers. Many drivers see the tickets simply as a cash grab. Indeed, the tickets are estimated to create more than 0 million for Florida cities and the state.

Fort Lauderdale now has 23 red light cameras in the city, after recently adding six more cameras. According to Florida Senate President Dan Gaetz, the intersections in Fort Lauderdale that have cameras saw their rates of accidents double after the cameras were installed. In 41 other cities, car accident rates fell after red light cameras were introduced. In eleven cities, however, car accidents increased. That is a large enough number that some lawmakers are asking whether red light cameras are in fact the best way to reduce car and truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale and other cities.

Some lawmakers have also pointed out that red light cameras can only stop certain violations – most notably, cars running red lights. This is not necessarily the violation that causes the most accidents, yet red light cameras cannot catch drivers who are distracted, driving drunk, or falling asleep at the wheel.

Have you been injured in a car accident in Fort Lauderdale or another South Florida community? You have rights under Florida law. If your accident was caused by a driver’s negligence or recklessness, you may seek a legal claim to recover compensation for your medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and other damages. To get more details, schedule a free, no obligation consultation with the Flaxman Law Group to discuss your situation and your options. You may qualify for more compensation than you realize which is why getting legal advice is important before you make any decisions in your case.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to a new study by researchers from the Safe Transportation Education and Research Center at the University of California, obese passengers are more likely to sustain fatal injuries in a car accident when compared with passengers who are a healthy weight. The study, published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, expressed concerns about the ability of passenger vehicles to safely accommodate obese passengers and drivers.

Study Suggests Obese Passengers May be More at Risk

Researchers examined data of fatal accidents between 1996 and 2008, which were recorded through the US Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Between 1996 and 2008, the data showed that there were 57,491 car accidents. For about 3,403 people information about weight and seat belt use was available. Of these 3,403 people, 18% were obese, a third were overweight, and almost half were a healthy weight (based on BMI). Looking at the data, researchers found that those with a BMI (body mass index) of 30-34.9 had a 21% higher chance of dying in a car crash when compared with passengers and drivers of a healthy weight. Drivers and passengers with a BMI of 35-39.9 had a 51% higher risk of fatal injuries. Those who were severely obese with a BMI of at least 40 had an 80% higher chance of dying in a car accident when compared with those of a normal weight.

Researchers concluded that at least once possible explanation may be related to seat belt use. The study found that one third of those who died in the car accidents were not properly wearing a seat belt. The study’s authors concluded that some people who are severely obese may not be able to wear a seat belt properly or may choose not to wear a seat belt because it is not comfortable.

The study authors also suggested that in a car collision the lower body of an obese passenger is pushed forward more before the seatbelt engages. This is due to the extra tissue and body mass which keeps the belt from fitting snugly. The upper body is held back more while the pelvis moves forward, which the researchers believe may lead to more serious injuries.

The study’s authors also suggested that obese drivers and passengers may have more underlying health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and other conditions which can affect their recovery if they sustain serious injury.

What does this mean for obese drivers and passengers in South Florida?

The study suggests that drivers and passengers who are obese are more at risk of serious injuries in the event of a car accident in Fort Lauderdale and other communities. The study’s authors suggested that seatbelts sometimes do not fit obese passengers as well as they could. Hopefully, car and truck manufacturers will consider creating seatbelts for obese passengers and drivers so that these motorists can stay safer in the event of a truck accident in For Lauderdale and other communities. Traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Florida already claim too many lives. Creating safety devices that work correctly for passengers of all sizes and shapes would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog