millerboycott.com

A new study out of Oregon and Portland State Universities has concluded that left turns are among the riskiest pedestrian areas. Researchers have found that permitted (also known as unprotected) left turns are especially risky. These types of left turns are created to ensure a steady flow of traffic, but if the study’s authors are correct, that speedy traffic comes at a price: more car collisions in Hollywood and other cities.

The study, published by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, determined that unprotected left turns lead to traffic accidents for a few reasons:

1) Poor motorist habits. According to the researchers, motorists who are turning left at permitted turns are 4-9% less likely to check for pedestrians when completing their turn when compared with motorists making other types of turns.

2) Confusing signals. Each city in the US – and even different cities within the same state – have different signals for unprotected left turns. According to personal injury attorneys in Hollywood and other communities, this lack of consistency can lead to confusion and can increase the risk of pedestrian accidents in Hollywood and other communities. Some experts have recommended one universal permitted left hand traffic sign be adopted to reduce confusion and reduce the risk of collisions.

3) Poor pedestrian habits. In many car and truck accidents in Hollywood and other communities, when pedestrians are involved they may bear some of the liability for the collision. Researchers with the Federal Highway Administration found that pedestrians are more likely to be injured when crossing in marked crosswalks rather than unmarked areas. According to some experts, this may be because pedestrians feel much safer in marked crosswalks and may take fewer precautions.

4) Unprotected left turns encourage cars to turn quickly. According to the study published by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, drivers making a permitted left turn often need to move quickly in order to complete their turns, and this speed can mean that they do not take the time to check for pedestrians.

According to a 2010 NHTSA report, 13% of all traffic deaths in 2010 were pedestrian fatalities. That means that year about 4280 pedestrians died in traffic collisions. Experts agree that in many cases these deaths are preventable and could be avoided with better motorist habits.

Some experts believe that permitted left turns should be converted into protected left turns in order to reduce instances of traffic accidents. Others argue that better signals or traffic signs would help prevent pedestrian fatalities. Most experts do agree that some changes need to be made to prevent senseless fatalities and injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

In many cases, Hollywood traffic accidents are preventable. In some cases, a driver who has caused a car collision has a medical issue or a series of fender benders and other accidents that friends and family know about. If there is someone in your life that you feel is a problem driver and is at risk of causing a Hollywood truck accident or car accident, there are several things you can do:

1) Talk to the driver in a non-accusatory fashion. In many cases, motorists are defensive about their ability to drive and fearful that their independence will disappear if they can no longer drive. In these cases, it is important to listen to the driver and to show concern.

2) Find out the specific reason for a driver’s problems with driving. If it is a health condition or simply poor driving habits, there may be some way to help. A driver may be able to avoid a Hollywood car accident by speaking with their doctor about treatment or difference medications, for example. If poor habits are to blame, remedial driving lessons can be a big help.

3) Learn about transportation options and share them with the driver. A driver may be more willing to use other transportation options if they are convenient and affordable. Learning about the options can help a driver make a safer decision about their driving.

4) Don’t assume that elderly drivers are automatically unsafe. Driving ability has more to do with skills, choices, and health than with age. While the elderly are more susceptible to certain conditions which can affect driving ability, drivers of any age can make poor choices or develop health concerns that can make them a hazard on the road.

5) Learn about resources that can help. Florida’s Silver Alert system can send out if a driver goes missing. The Safe Mobility for Life program at the Florida Department of Transportation offers tips and information.

6) Speak to a doctor or have the problem driver speak to their doctor about their driving ability. If a health concern is the cause, proper treatment can go a long way towards reducing the risk. A doctor can also help a patient understand how their health can affect driving ability.

7) Get re-testing or one-on-one refresher courses with an experienced driving instructor. Re-testing and one-on-one sessions with driving instructors can help pinpoint and address problems. In some cases, additional training or even accessibility features in a car can help a motorist who is at risk drive safer.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Authorities say that a Burlington, North Carolina man was involved in a series of accidents Wednesday. Police say the man caused two car accidents, involving six cars around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. The North Carolina Highway Patrol reportedly responded to the scene of the second accident in the area, and troopers quickly concluded that one of the drivers had been involved in the two separate accidents that occurred minutes apart.

No serious injuries were reported in either car accident. But troopers reportedly arrested a Burlington man on suspicion of a string of serious charges at the scene of the second crash. Law enforcement believes that the man was under the influence.

He faces charges for allegedly driving while impaired, driving while revoked, driving with an open container in his vehicle, and careless and reckless driving. In addition to those charges, troopers accuse the man of felony hit and run.

Law enforcement booked the 30-year-old man into the Alamance County Jail where he was held on ,400 bond. Officials claim that the man also had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for prior DWI charges.

Car accidents occur all over North Carolina on any given day. News reports often indicate whether or not police suspect the involvement of alcohol or drugs in most car accident stories. Often, people infer that drugs or alcohol are involved. But an inference of impairment remains an allegation in the eyes of the courts, unless and until there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

The presumption of innocence is an important concept that cannot be overlooked. Even when tragedy is involved, a defendant is protected by specified constitutional rights. Those important rights serve as part of the very foundation of our country.

Source: WGHP Fox 8, “Police: Burlington man charged with DWI after causing 2 wrecks,” Ryan Sullivan, Oct. 5, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

Police and emergency crews were at the scene of a plane crash just north of Manitou on Wednesday night.

Manitoba stories

A 53-year-old Morganton woman apparently lost control of her silver station wagon while changing the music on her CD player Wednesday in Morganton. The woman was driving near an intersection that neighbors say is the site of far too many car accidents. Neighbors apparently have been trying for years to get lights or signs at the intersection to reduce the number of accidents at the location.

The driver reportedly says she does not know what happened next. The woman’s silver Volvo apparently meandered down an embankment along the road and slammed into a home. The homeowner says it the second time his home has been hit by a car. The Volvo in Wednesday’s accident crashed through a brick wall and wound up in the basement of the home.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says that the driver, who just crashed through a wall, stumbled from the vehicle and at one point fell down after the crash. She is now facing serious North Carolina driving while impaired charges.

Authorities say the woman had seen her doctor earlier on Wednesday before the accident. She received a prescription that morning for muscle relaxants. Law enforcement confiscated the woman’s prescription bottles and believes she was driving under the influence of prescription medication. She apparently provided a blood sample, but blood test results usually take a long period of time before the toxicology tests can be performed.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol reportedly charged the woman with DWI and reckless driving. No injuries were reported in the car accident.

Source: Morganton News Herald, “Driver crashes into home, charged with DWI,” Matthew Hensley, Feb. 1, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

Some medical conditions can make drivers unfit for the road. There are measures in place to ensure that drivers who have seriously and potentially dangerous medical conditions can be reported by their doctors and can have their licenses revoked. Each year, across Florida, thousands of drivers have their licenses revoked to ensure that they are not a threat on the roads. The aim of this policy is to ensure that preventable Miami car accidents and Florida traffic accidents in general do not occur because of a known medical condition.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and other groups, however, some known drivers with unsafe medical conditions are getting behind the wheel – and it is putting drivers across the state at risk. In the past few months, at least two fatal accidents in the Tampa area alone have been caused by known medical conditions.

Under Florida law, drivers who have had their licenses revoked due to medical reasons have the right to submit medical reports in order to get their licenses re-instated. Cases can be reviewed by a medical board and doctors can submit regular reports to ensure that someone is not deprived of a license because a condition that is under a control and therefore no longer a threat. However, some experts say that the system is far from perfect.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, some drivers may underreport systems or downplay the extent of their illness in order to get a license reinstated. Other drivers may notice dangerous symptoms but never go to a doctor, so that their license is never revoked in the first place. In some cases, drivers have chosen to alter their names in order to obtain a new license after theirs was revoked for medical reasons.

With the number of licenses revoked for medical reasons on the rise, this is becoming a serious issue in Florida. In 2000, the number of Florida licenses revoked for medical reasons was 3559. In 2010, the number was 7716, more than double. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, many of these revocations occur due to illnesses such as cardiac illness, seizures, dementia, and strokes. About half of licenses revoked are revoked due to these types of illnesses while the remaining half are largely due to addiction-related illnesses and drunk driving accidents.

It’s a sensitive issue, especially with growing numbers of elderly Miami drivers being diagnosed with illnesses every year. Many argue that revoking licenses limits mobility and independence, especially in cases where a person’s ability to drive is not tested and may not even be affected. As well, most patients usually receive care to help control symptoms. In most states, drivers who have not had symptoms for six months and patients who submit to treatment for their conditions are allowed to apply for reinstatement of their licenses. Some argue that this is the best way to give everyone freedom. Others argue that the reinstatement process is too lax and relies too heavily on patient and doctor honesty. If patients are not honest about their treatment and condition, Miami traffic accidents can result.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Drunk Driving Accidents, Fatal Car Crashes Accident Liability
After a car crash, many people don’t realize their injuries are serious. Just because a victim’s head isn’t bleeding, doesn’t mean they are perfectly fine. Closed head injuries often occur after car accidents and almost 2 million people suffer from these types of injuries every year. This usually occurs when a car crash victim’s head suddenly hits a hard service at a fast speed without penetrating their skull. This type of collision results in internal injuries within the brain. Windshields, steering wheels, car seats and dashboards can all injure the brain. Because the brain is the most critical organ in the human body, it is also the most fragile. In fact, in some cases it doesn’t even matter if there is any impact at all. Whiplash alone can even cause a closed head injury.

There were almost 200,000 people arrested for DUI in California alone last year. Out of those numbers there were just over 180,000 were misdemeanor offenses and a large portion of those cases were overturned by DUI lawyers.

DUI is an acronym that stands for ‘Driving Under the Influence’. A person is guilty of a DUI if they decide to operate a motor vehicle after the consumption of alcoholic beverages or any chemical or controlled substances. In California, there are a wide variety of laws that involve intoxicated individuals. California has some of the most severe penalties for driving under the influence in all of the United States.

In California you cannot drive a motor vehicle if your BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) is over .08%. After you’ve been pulled over, the officer will administer a test giving you the choice of blood, breath or urine. Breath tests are the most common, and the device used to measure your BAC with your breath is called a breathalyzer.

If you or a loved one has suffered from paralysis due to a car accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. It is important that you contact a qualified car accident attorney today and get a free case review. Time is crucial when it comes to lawsuits, so it’s important not to procrastinate. An experienced car crash lawyer will help you get your life back on track.

Drunk Driving Lawyer – DUI Lawyers DWI Attorneys help

A 36-year-old Monroe man is accused of DWI, careless driving and reckless driving after an incident early Tuesday morning. In addition to potential jail time and fines, the man faces possible license suspension. North Carolina DWI laws are tough and complex. DWI is classified as a crime and a conviction can remain on a person’s driving record indefinitely.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol claims the man was traveling south on Wesley Chapel Road in Monroe shortly after midnight. Law enforcement alleges the 36-year-old crossed over the center line. The man reportedly lost control of his vehicle and hit a ditch. The car allegedly rolled over in the ditch several times before crashing into a truck parked along the road.

A North Carolina Trooper says he estimates the car was traveling 90 miles per hour before the accident. The Monroe resident reportedly sustained injuries in the crash. He broke both arms and has a broken jaw.

Law enforcement believes that alcohol played a role in the roll-over accident. During its investigation the Highway Patrol obtained a blood sample. The toxicology report for the sample has not been completed.

The 36-year-old potentially faces serious consequences. A person convicted of DWI in North Carolina faces potential jail time, fines, loss of license and other potential court imposed consequences. In addition to what the court can impose, collateral consequences can arise. A conviction goes on a person’s record.

Insurance companies often raise car insurance rates after a conviction for DWI. Car insurance is mandatory. Driving without insurance itself carries stiff penalties.

Source: WBTV, “Man going 90 mph charged with DWI after wrecking car, trooper says,” 19 Oct 2010

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm