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The Florida Highway Patrol is concerned that hit and run cases are on the rise, with close to 70,000 hit and run accidents reported across Florida last year. Experts have many explanations for why the increase in hit and run accidents in North Bay Village and across Florida is occurring:

1) Uninsured or underinsured drivers. In some cases, experts say that after a car or truck accident in North Bay Village or another community, drivers leave the scene because they do not have adequate insurance, are concerned that their insurance rates will go up, or have no insurance at all and don’t want to face authorities or insurance claims as a result. Drivers do have the option of getting additional insurance on their own policies to protect themselves against underinsured drivers.

2) Drivers with previous records. In some cases, a truck or car accident in North Bay Village is a hit and run accident because a driver has a previous record or does not want to speak with authorities because the driver has an outstanding warrant. They are worried that having an additional mark on their record can harm them further or worry that police will be able to charge them with additional offenses.

3) Unlicensed drivers. According to some experts, up to 3% of drivers across the country have no license at all and are driving without authorization or insurance. In some cases, unlicensed drivers have a suspended license or simply have never been able to qualify for a license. When unlicensed drivers cause a car or pedestrian accident in North Bay Village or another community, they may leave the scene of the collision because the penalties for driving without a license are significant.

4) Panic. In some cases, drivers panic and leave the scene of an accident. For example, young drivers may be worried about being blamed for an accident, may panic, and may therefore leave the scene of the accident. In some cases, someone may be driving distracted, under the influence, or maybe doing something else that can lead to serious charges. Therefore, rather than being charged with those offenses they leave the scene of an accident, hoping that authorities will never be able to find them. Of course, if drivers are found after leaving the scene of an accident, the charges against them can be even more significant.

Hit and run accidents in North Bay Village and across Florida are a serious cause for concern. When drivers leave the scene of a collision, they do not stop to offer help to anyone who may be injured. Each year, people die due to their injuries because no one stopped to offer help. In addition, when drivers leave the scene of an accident, anyone who is injured in the accident may have a harder time recovering insurance money for their injuries, and may face additional financial pressure due to that fact.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Car accidents cause serious injuries across South Florida. Each year, victims of car accidents are rushed to Fort Lauderdale and Florida emergency rooms with head injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, fractures, and other serious injuries. However, it is not just the accident and impact of the crash itself that can cause serious injuries. In some cases, a secondary cause can cause serious and even fatal injuries.

Some car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida, for example, involve not only another car but also utility poles. Downed power lines can seriously injure a driver attempting to leave their car. In some cases, victims of traffic accidents in Fort Lauderdale and across South Florida sustain serious burn injuries or are even electrocuted because of downed power lines.

The safest place is in your car

If you are in a car or truck accident in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in South Florida and the accident involves utility poles and downed power lines, the safest place for you to be is inside your car. If possible, remain in your vehicle and call 911 as well as the local power authority. Even if the downed power line is not close to your car, the area could be electrified and could harm you if you attempt to get out of your car or approach a car that has been in an accident near a downed power line. Verify with emergency dispatch and the power company that it is safe to get out of the car before you attempt to do so.

If you must leave your car after an accident, use caution

If you are in a traffic accident in Fort Lauderdale or South Florida involving a downed power line but cannot safely remain in your car, you can tuck your arms close to your body and try to leap free of your car. You can reduce the risk of electrocution if you try to avoid touching the car and the ground at the same time. However, it is best to call 911 first and try to get the power shut off before attempting this.

If you do leap from the car, experts suggest keeping your feet together and shuffling or hopping, avoiding placing one foot in front of the other or lifting one foot higher than the other. If one foot is placed in a higher voltage zone than the other, this could make your body a conduit for electricity and this can lead to serious injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

When you gotta go….

Ohio Cops May Not Prevent a Call of Nature


Columbus, OH.  Aug. 10 – The Ohio Court of Appeals late last month overturned a man’s conviction for public indecency after police refused to allow him to use the restroom during an overly long traffic stop. On March 7, 2011, Springfield Police Officer William Evan pulled over a car that passed that had a stuck horn which blew continuously. Robert S. Wilcox was a drunk passenger in the vehicle. During the stop, he refused to identify himself to the officers.

This annoyed the patrolmen who ordered him out of the vehicle for a frisking. Wilcox did finally give them his name and asked urgently for permission to use the nearest restroom, which was five blocks away at a gas station. The police refused. Wilcox was told he was not under arrest but that he needed to sit inside the stopped vehicle. Wilcox could not hold it.

While the officers were busy writing up citations for the driver, Wilcox relieved himself on the grass next to the car. Officers then arrested him for public indecency. In the process of a search, he was found to be carrying cocaine and heroin. At trial, a Clark County Court of Common Pleas judge sided with Wilcox.

"He was not committing acts, but rather responding to a natural biological function, for which, under his intoxicated condition, he had diminished capacity to control and under circumstances which were acerbated by the refusal of the officers to allow him to leave to find a more appropriate facility, even though there were no facts justifying the defendant’s further detention," the lower court wrote.

Prosecutors appealed, insisting the officers did nothing wrong. A three-judge panel ruled instead that it was Wilcox who had been treated improperly.

"A passenger, unlike the driver of a vehicle, is not legally obligated to carry identification or to produce it for a police officer," Judge Jeffrey E. Froelich wrote for the appellate panel. "An officer making a traffic stop may order passengers to get out of the car pending completion of the stop due to the added danger to an officer when a passenger is present and the minimal additional intrusion on the passenger."

The appeals court found that there was no reason to suspect Wilcox had been engaged in illegal activity.

"While the officers acted lawfully in stopping the car and asking basic questions of Wilcox, the passenger, they violated his constitutional rights when they insisted that he remain in the car or at the scene of the traffic stop while the driver’s citation was issued," Froelich wrote. "When the police determined that Wilcox would not be allowed to drive the stopped vehicle, they had no basis to keep him at the scene while the citation of the driver was completed. Wilcox should have been allowed to walk away from the scene when he expressed a need to do so."…

From the definition of the legal defense of "duress" from Black’s Law Dictionary:  "Unlawful constraint exercised upon a man whereby he is forced to do some act against his will".  And from Black’s definition of the legal defense of "coercion":  "Where the relation of the parties is such that one is under subjection to the other, and is thereby constrained to do what his free will would refuse."

Not to mention the cop’s lack of probable cause to detain, false imprisonment….and criminal stupidity.
 

DUI BLOG

Over the years, several reports have been published on the number of deaths caused due to drunk driving. The drunk driving facts point to the bitter truth that a large number of people involved in road accidents drive under the influence of alcohol. The problem is very serious as a lot of individuals involved in these accidents are teenagers, with the highest crash rate being that of eighteen-year olds. There are several causes of drunk driving, let us try to get some insight into these.

Causes of Drunk Driving

One of the most common reasons that people give when asked about drunk driving is that they feel that they can ‘handle’ the situation. This is caused because of the fact that alcohol impairs the brain, resulting in poor reasoning and judgment. People feel that driving a few blocks would not be too much of a task, and as they have been in such a situation before and done that several times, they would be able to manage the situation. People also feel that telling their friends to drop them home because they are too drunk to drive is a sign of weakness and vulnerability. They would rather risk their own life and that of several others, but will not take help. This is one of the major causes people end up driving under the influence of alcohol.

A lot of people who indulge in drunk driving are aware about the risks involved, but they are often left with no other option than to drive by themselves. There are usually other options available, like hailing a cab or calling someone from home to pick you up, but alcohol impacts our sense of judgment, and precariously, we end up driving ourselves.

Reports have pointed out that a large percentage of people involved in drunk driving related crashes is that of individuals aged between 18-25. Teenagers are often under a lot of pressure to indulge in these activities, so that they can gain acceptance in a group. Teenagers often drink as if they have to prove a point to their friends that they have the capability to ingest large quantities of alcohol. Competing against one another on how much one can drink also contributes to drunk driving, as the impairment level varies from person to person.

There are many people who look at drunk driving as an adventurous activity, which only the ‘brave’ can indulge in. They look at it as a means to ‘break-free’ and ride their luck. It is not as if they are not aware about the repercussions that their choice can have, but the urge is too hard for them to resist. This is one of the most serious challenges in the fight against drunk driving.

There has been a lot of work that has been done in curbing the menace of drunk driving, most notable among them being the lowering the blood alcohol limit. In many states, offenders are now made to face the victim’s family members. This move is aimed at getting the offender to get a first-hand experience of what grief and loss he has caused to others. States have also got tough with establishments serving alcohol to minors or to those who already have had ‘enough’. The SafeRides program has also helped in taking an objective stance on the issue, where volunteers offer their services to intoxicated teenagers, by dropping them home. The Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) has also initiated several steps to prevent youngsters from indulging in drunk driving.

Drunk driving is not an issue that concerns a certain section of society, as we all are prone to being impacted by it. So, if you know someone who has a habit of indulging in drunk driving, please spread the word, because you never know when it is too late. We hope that this article would have helped with some awareness on the causes of drunk driving.

Visit >>>http://duilawdrivinglawyer.blogspot.com/

Tag: most common causes of drunk driving, dead drunk, drink and driving, how to avoid drunk driving

Source: Buzzle.com By Rahul Pandita

Drunk Driving Lawyer – DUI Lawyers DWI Attorneys help

Most Common Causes of Drunk Driving

Over the years, several reports have been published on the number of deaths caused due to drunk driving. The drunk driving facts point to the bitter truth that a large number of people involved in road accidents drive under the influence of alcohol. The problem is very serious as a lot of individuals involved in these accidents are teenagers, with the highest crash rate being that of eighteen-year olds. There are several causes of drunk driving, let us try to get some insight into these.

Causes of Drunk Driving

One of the most common reasons that people give when asked about drunk driving is that they feel that they can ‘handle’ the situation. This is caused because of the fact that alcohol impairs the brain, resulting in poor reasoning and judgment. People feel that driving a few blocks would not be too much of a task, and as they have been in such a situation before and done that several times, they would be able to manage the situation. People also feel that telling their friends to drop them home because they are too drunk to drive is a sign of weakness and vulnerability. They would rather risk their own life and that of several others, but will not take help. This is one of the major causes people end up driving under the influence of alcohol.

A lot of people who indulge in drunk driving are aware about the risks involved, but they are often left with no other option than to drive by themselves. There are usually other options available, like hailing a cab or calling someone from home to pick you up, but alcohol impacts our sense of judgment, and precariously, we end up driving ourselves.

Reports have pointed out that a large percentage of people involved in drunk driving related crashes is that of individuals aged between 18-25. Teenagers are often under a lot of pressure to indulge in these activities, so that they can gain acceptance in a group. Teenagers often drink as if they have to prove a point to their friends that they have the capability to ingest large quantities of alcohol. Competing against one another on how much one can drink also contributes to drunk driving, as the impairment level varies from person to person.

There are many people who look at drunk driving as an adventurous activity, which only the ‘brave’ can indulge in. They look at it as a means to ‘break-free’ and ride their luck. It is not as if they are not aware about the repercussions that their choice can have, but the urge is too hard for them to resist. This is one of the most serious challenges in the fight against drunk driving.

There has been a lot of work that has been done in curbing the menace of drunk driving, most notable among them being the lowering the blood alcohol limit. In many states, offenders are now made to face the victim’s family members. This move is aimed at getting the offender to get a first-hand experience of what grief and loss he has caused to others. States have also got tough with establishments serving alcohol to minors or to those who already have had ‘enough’. The SafeRides program has also helped in taking an objective stance on the issue, where volunteers offer their services to intoxicated teenagers, by dropping them home. The Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) has also initiated several steps to prevent youngsters from indulging in drunk driving.

Drunk driving is not an issue that concerns a certain section of society, as we all are prone to being impacted by it. So, if you know someone who has a habit of indulging in drunk driving, please spread the word, because you never know when it is too late. We hope that this article would have helped with some awareness on the causes of drunk driving.
By Rahul Pandita

Visit to – http://duilawdrivinglawyer.blogspot.com/

Source – buzzle.com/articles/causes-of-drunk-driving.html

Tags -effects of drunk driving
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Drunk Driving Lawyer – DUI Lawyers DWI Attorneys help

The silver screen and the current legal drinking age have something in common. A recent European study claims many popular teenage films celebrate dangerous drinking.

The correlation between binge drinking and teen movies was drawn in a European study based on films released between 2004 and 2009. MedPage Today reports,

Across six European countries with different cultural experiences with alcohol, exposure to drinking in movies was associated with binge drinking in adolescents (P<0.001), according to Reiner Hanewinkel, PhD, of the Institute for Therapy and Health Research in Kiel, Germany, and colleagues.

Choose Responsibility recognizes the importance of developing a culture that supports responsible consumption. These films, like MLDA 21, then promote a culture that does not appreciate alcohol and its responsible use.

Choose Responsibility Blog

While Miami car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities for children and teens in the city, parents need to worry about much more than just Miami traffic accidents. Miami children and minors are subject to many car-related injuries, although the good news is that many of these injuries are preventable:

1) Hyperthermia / Heatstroke. While children in Miami rarely need to worry about hyperthermia, heatstroke is a serious concern for children left in the unforgiving Miami heat in a car. Even leaving a child alone in a car for a few minutes can be dangerous, as on a hot day the temperature in a vehicle can quickly reach dangerous levels. The obvious solution is to never leave a child unattended in a car. However, with parents more busy than ever before, it is also important to routinely check the back seat of a car before walking away. Unfortunately, there have been a number of tragic cases where a parent has simply forgotten a child in the back seat of a car.

2) Backovers. Small children sometimes play in driveways or near cars, and smaller children may not be visible to drivers who are backing up. Each year, tragedy strikes when children in this situation are hit and killed or seriously injured. In many cases, it is a parent or family member who injures the child, further adding to the pain and suffering of the family. Today, there are devices which can be installed in most cars which show the driver exactly what is behind the vehicle so that these types of Miami pedestrian accidents do not take place. In many cases, these devices are less than two hundred dollars and can help save a life.

3) Power Windows. Children who play with power windows can easily get their hands or other body parts stuck in the window, causing broken bones and other injuries. Newer models of cars have child-safety locks and windows to keep children in the back seat safe.

4) Seat Belt Entanglement. In the event of a Miami truck accident or car accident, a seat belt can save your life – if you are an adult. Unfortunately, for children, seat belts can be very dangerous. They can wrap around a child’s body and cause injuries. They can also cut into a child’s neck and head, causing injuries. For these reasons, it is important to put children in age-appropriate child restraints.

5) Vehicle Rollaway. Rollaway usually occur when a child accidentally disengages a parking break, causing the car to roll. This is another important reason to never leave children unattended in a car. Keeping children in the backseat of the car can also ensure that they cannot touch anything on the dashboard that can affect the car itself.

6) Trunk Entrapment. Trunk entrapment occurs when children climb into a trunk – often while playing – and become stuck. If children are not found in time, they can suffocate or suffer hypothermia or heat stroke. Most newer cars have trunk release levers in the trunk. These can usually be installed on older models. To prevent truck entrapment, it is also important to lock the trunk of your vehicle when the vehicle is not in use.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog