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If you have decided to launch a car accident claim in Davie or any South Florida community, building the strongest case possible may increase your odds of getting fair compensation for your injuries. Here’s how you can build the strongest traffic accident claim in Davie or your community:

1) Hire the right attorney. The right attorney can make a huge difference in your case. An attorney with extensive experience in personal injury claims, insurance company negotiations, and local laws will have the experience and knowledge about how to build the strongest case. He or she will likely be familiar with the local justice system and with the local professionals who will be involved in your case. A full-service law firm that has handled many similar cases to yours will have the resources, private investigators, expert witnesses, and other professionals needed to take care of the case. More importantly, an experienced personal injury attorney in Davie or your community will be able to take care of all the details, so that you can focus on healing.

2) Act quickly. There are statutes of limitations when filing many types of personal injury claims in Florida. In addition, after a traffic accident in Davie, the longer you wait, the less evidence will be available. In addition, if you sign any documentation or accept any insurance money for your injuries, you may find that you’ve signed away some of your rights to pursue a legal claim. For all these reasons, if you’ve been in a car or truck accident in Davie or any other community, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney right away to discuss your legal options and to discuss the best ways to preserve your rights. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to file a legal claim, an attorney can give you important advice on preserving your right to file a legal claim down the line. An attorney can also help you understand how much your injuries could be worth and how much your case might be worth, both of which are important pieces of information to have when you’re trying to decide whether to launch a lawsuit or not.

3) Gather documentation where you can. As soon as possible, start the documentation process. Make note of the other driver’s insurance and contact information, but also notice much as you can about the scene. Take photos if you can. If you are taken to a hospital, get copies of the police report and any medical reports about your condition. If you have to make any purchases related to your injuries – such as medications, taxicabs to and from doctors’ appointments, and other expenses – keep a list of the expenses, the dates you spend the money, and receipts where you can. Document your injuries, taking photos of any bruising or fractures and keeping a journal of symptoms and the recovery process.

4) Be careful of what you say, sign, and do – both in real life and online. Even saying something as simple as “sorry” at the accident scene may be construed as you taking blame for the accident. Signing documents can also impact your ability to pursue legal action later on. Even posting pictures of yourself on Facebook can have a detrimental effect if they show you looking injury-free. If you decide to file a legal claim, make sure that your attorney takes care of any documentation you may need to sign related to the case. In addition, be sure to discuss with your attorney your social media presence and what you can and cannot say about your accident to others.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

If you sustain injuries in a car accident in Davie or another community, you may assume that car insurance will cover the costs of your injuries. After all, that is what you pay premiums for. Unfortunately, many people who sustain serious injuries – such as head injuries – in Davie and South Florida after being in a car accident find that they have issues after being in a traffic accident. You may face some of these same issues when you try to file a claim:

1) The insurance company may dispute your claim. The insurance company may accuse you of insurance fraud or may dispute some medical charges or other claims that you have made – even if they are valid.

2) The insurance company may not consider longer-term costs or all costs. In many cases, insurance companies look at immediate medical costs and related costs. However, if you have sustained a serious injury you may face months or even years of recovery time. You may need home care, accessibility features for your home and car, rehabilitation, medication, and other assistance on the road to recovery – and insurance companies often do not take these total long-term costs into account.

3) The insurance company will want to settle claims quickly and inexpensively. In many cases, an insurance carrier will want to settle a claim quickly – before the full extent of your injuries and possible long-term expenses are even known. This can make it harder for you to get the fair compensation you may need to recover fully and to get the medical care you need.

4) Thanks to new legislation, if you are visiting Florida at the time of your accident, your insurance carrier may not honor your claims. Since January 1, a new law has required all international drivers in Florida to have an international driver’s permit (IDP). The idea behind the law was to make sure that all drivers in Florida had a driver’s license translated into English. However, many visitors to Florida are not aware of the law and when they find themselves in a traffic collision in Davie or another South Florida city they find they have a hard time getting an insurance claim honored because they did not realize they needed an IDP.

5) Some required expenses may be considered “extras” by your insurance company. For example, burn patients in Davie and other communities often need skin grafts or other skin treatments to recover from their injuries. However, some insurance companies may deem such procedures “cosmetic” and not pay.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

We rely on trucks to carry a range of cargo – from fuels to consumer goods to life-saving fire-extinguishing chemicals and water. In some cases, however, cargo that has been incorrectly secured can lead to serious truck accidents in Davie and other Florida communities. Cargo that rolls off trucks can also cause secondary car accidents in Davie and other cities. To prevent these types of traffic accidents in Davie and across the nation, there are federal rules, FMCSRs, which regulate cargo, among other things, for truck drivers and commercial motor carriers. Under these rules, truck drivers and motor carriers must:

1) Ensure that the cargo is correctly secured and distributed. How the cargo will be distributed and secured will depend on the type of cargo. Securing the cargo ensures that the cargo does not slip and cause a secondary car accident. Distributing the cargo evenly ensures that the cargo is not lopsided, which can increase the risk of a truck rollover.

2) Ensure that all the elements of the truck that are related to the cargo are secured. On an 18 wheeler truck, this will include tarpaulins, tailboard, tailgate, spare tire, and any other equipment used in securing the cargo and operating the truck. In some cases, elements of the truck may become loose or fall off the truck, which can lead to an accident. For example, if the tarp covering the cargo is not correctly secured, it can fly off and cause a secondary car accident.

3) Ensure that the cargo does not obscure visibility or prevent the safe operation of the truck. Under FMCSR rules, nothing must obscure the driver’s front view or side view, although an exception is made for drivers of self-steer dollies. In addition, cargo and other objects must not prevent the truck driver from accessing emergency equipment or from freely moving his or her legs. Cargo and other objects must also not prevent any passenger from safely leaving the cab.

There are also many additional rules for hazardous cargo. For example, many types of hazardous cargo must be clearly labeled. In addition, additional precautions may need to be taken in cases were cargo is highly flammable, unstable, or otherwise dangerous.

Unfortunately, although there many federal rules regarding cargo, not all truck drivers and motor carriers are careful about following the rules. If you are injured in a truck accident in Davie or in any Florida community and you think that the accident was caused by a cargo problem, you may have a legal claim. If the federal rules regarding cargo are not carefully followed, then you may be able to seek a legal claim to get compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other costs related to your injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Each day, car accidents in Davie and across the state result in serious spinal cord injuries, fractures, head injuries, fatalities, and other injuries. Could the type of car determine how badly you are hurt in a traffic accident in Davie or your community? According to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the answer is yes. IIHS representative Russ Rader said that some cars, especially sub-compact cars fare well on safety tests but in real life are more likely to result in insurance injury claims in the event of a car accident.

Rader noted that today’s smaller, lighter cars have more safety features and are safer than similar models of years past. Nevertheless, he says, in a collision, physics and weight matter more. In a collision between a smaller car and a larger car, the passengers in the larger car are more likely to enjoy more protection – including larger crumple zones – which protect them in the event of a crash.

According to Rader, in a head-on car accident, the larger car will push the smaller car back. This will reduce crash forces for occupants of the larger, heavier vehicle while increasing the crash forces for those in the smaller car. This is seen all the time in truck accidents in Davie and across the nation – smaller cars simply have no chance against much larger vehicles. Even in cases where the size and weight difference is not as extreme, the difference counts.

Research by Insure.com supports these findings. Insure.com recently compiled a list of safest cars based on rates of for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay). Cars with higher rates had the higher costs because more people were making injury claims with these cars in the event of an accident. Even in cases where a car had good safety ratings, it could still end up with higher real-life injury rates. According to Insure.com, the top five cars that fared best when it came to protecting passengers from injuries were generally larger models:

1. GMC Sierra 1500 (SLE, SLT and Work Truck)
2. Porsche Cayenne
3. GMC Yukon (Denali and SLT)
4. GMC Sierra 2500 SLE
5. GMC Terrain SLE1

The five cars that fared worst, according to Insure.com, tended to be smaller:

1. Fiat 500 (Lounge, CLounge, Sport, Pop and CPop)
2. Kia Rio 5 (LX and SX)
3. Toyota Corolla L
4. Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
5. Mercedes-Benz CL600

No matter what kind of car you drive, safety experts agree that there is much that you can do to make your vehicle safer for you. For example, start by choosing a car that has good safety ratings and feels comfortable for you. Secondly, get required maintenance on the vehicle so that it responds as you expect it to. Make sure that you outfit your car with any extra safety devices you need. These may be an issue if you have health problems or mobility issues that prevent you from operating a car safely. And don’t forget the most important safety feature of all: your seat belt. You should always wear your seatbelt, even if you are going for a very short drive or just parking the car. Accidents can happen at any time.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than adult drivers to be involved in car accidents. There are a number of reasons for this. The most common reason is that teen drivers have less driving experience than older drivers, and this can put them at risk for an accident simply because they do not know how to avoid a collision. In some cases, teen drivers also take a larger risk than older drivers. For example, they may drive distracted or may engage in other risky behaviors that lead to a Davie car accident. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration believes that parents can play a key role in preventing teen car accidents. According to the agency, there are rules that parents can establish to help their children stay safe on the roads:

1) Always wear a seat belt. Both teen drivers and their passengers should wear a seat belt correctly each time that they are in a car. Wearing a seat belt can help prevent Davie head injuries in the event of a crash as well as many other serious injuries. The simple seatbelt, despite the advent of many safety features, remains one of the most important pieces of safety equipment in any car.

2) No alcohol. In Florida, teenage drivers are not allowed to have any alcohol in their blood system. This means that teen drivers cannot drink at all when they are driving. Many parents assume that their children do not drink and drive because they are underage and cannot secure alcohol easily. Unfortunately, it is all too common for teen drivers to cause Davie drunk driving accidents, and alcohol is easier to procure than many parents believe. Underage drinking is a serious problem across Florida, so it is important for parents to enforce no drinking rules for their teen drivers.

3) No using a cell phone or texting while driving. Teen drivers often feel that they will miss something important if they turn off their cell phones or mobile devices off while driving. In addition, many teens like to stay connected at all times, even when they are driving. While Florida does not have any laws banning cell phone use or texting and driving, multiple research studies have suggested that texting while driving can be as dangerous as drinking and driving. Distracted driving is a leading cause of many Davie truck accidents and car accidents. In order to keep your teen driver safe, it is important for parents to enforce the no distracted driving rule. There are online pledges that teen drivers can sign, promising that they will not drive distracted.

4) Only one passenger in the car at a time. Studies have shown that teens with multiple teenage passengers in the car are more likely to be involved in risk-taking activities and more likely to be involved in a car accident. The more teens are in the car, the higher the risk of an accident or injury. The same studies, however, show that having an adult in the car can actually reduce the risk of a car accident for a teen driver. Based on this type of research, it is a good idea for parents to limit the number of passengers that their teen drivers are allowed in the car.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

While all Davie car accidents are frightening and can lead to serious accidents, collisions involving a car and a bicycle are often devastating. Since the cyclist is not enclosed, the size and car of a passenger car often leads to very serious or even fatal injury. In many cases, Davie bicycle accidents are caused by drivers who take risks or fail to pay attention. Fortunately, there are many things that drivers can do to prevent these types of accidents:

1) When passing cyclists, give them plenty of room. At least a few feet reduces the risk of collisions.

2) Pass cyclists quickly. While drivers may think that they are being courteous by passing cyclists slowly, it can actually make cyclists nervous and can cause a collision. Simply give cyclists plenty of room and pass as you would a car.

3) Check for cyclists before opening a car door. If you are opening your car door where cyclists are riding, a bicyclist may not notice the car door in time to stop, and the collision is enough to seriously injure or kill a cyclist.

4) Do not honk at bicyclists unless absolutely necessary. This can startle someone on a bicycle and can lead to a collision. Bicyclists can generally hear a much larger vehicle, such as a car, behind them.

5) Get familiar with the signals bicyclists use when turning. In some instances, drivers are not aware of these signals and cannot prevent an accident because they cannot anticipate where bicyclists are headed.

6) Never drive distracted. Bicyclists are more flexible than motorists in that they can zip up behind a car quite quickly and can be hidden in a car’s blind spots. Driving distracted increases your risk of a Davie pedestrian accident, bicycle accident, and every other type of traffic accident.

7) Check your blind spots. Bicycles are small enough to hide in your blind spot, so check your blind spot.

Never drive drunk. Davie drunk driving accidents claim too many lives each year. These accidents are completely preventable, which makes them even more tragic. If you will be drinking, make sure you have a few plans for getting home safely.

9) Drive defensively. Driving defensively ensures that you anticipate the movements of other motorists, so that you can avoid a collision if necessary.

10) Treat bicyclists like cars. Never attempt to share a lane with bicyclists and make sure that you provide them with the same space and courtesy you would provide to any vehicle. Use signal lights and eye contact to ensure that bicyclists can see you when you change lanes, turn, or pass.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to the NHTSA, car accidents are the leading cause of death among children between the ages of one and twelve. Children are especially vulnerable in a Davie car accident due to their small size. They are also less protected than adults, since most safety devices in cars are designed for adult passengers and drivers. To protect children from Davie head injuries, bone fractures, spinal cord trauma, and other injuries, it is important to use child safety restraints correctly. That means:

1) Buy the right child safety seat or booster. The right item will fit your car and child and is easy to use so that you will use it correctly each time you travel. If your child is an infant under one year of age and under 20 pounds, use a rear-facing convertible seat or an infant seat. Children between 20 and forty pounds should have a convertible or forward-facing seat. Children between 40 and 80 pounds should use a booster seat.

2) Avoid buying used child safety seats or boosters. You should get rid of a safety seat if it has been in an accident, and when you buy a used item you have no way of knowing whether it has been damaged in a collision. As well, safety seats are recalled from time to time and you do not want to buy a recalled model that has been found to be unsafe.

3) Seat children in the back until they are twelve years of age. The back seat is the safest spot for a child, since the front seat usually has side impact and front impact airbags that can cause serious injury to a child. In the event of a Davie traffic accident, a child sitting in the front seat can easily sustain a Davie head injury or suffocate by hitting the dashboard or the airbag. The safety devices in the front seat of a car are not intended for children.

4) Use a safety seat correctly. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them correctly. If you need help with installation, check the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s website. Some local fire departments and police departments also offer assistance with installation.

5) Be careful of rear side air bags. If your car has them, make sure any child safety seat you install is well away from them.

6) Use booster seats until your child can correctly wear a seatbelt. Your child can wear a seat belt when he or she is tall enough so that the shoulder strap fits across the shoulder and chest, not cutting into the neck. The lap belt should be across the thighs, not on the stomach.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The morning school run is a high-risk time for Davie car accidents. With plenty of people on the road trying to get to school and then to work, there’s often congestion, frayed tempers, and therefore a high risk of Davie traffic accidents. To reduce your risk of accidents during this time of morning, make sure that you:

1) Talk to your child about pedestrian safety and distracted walking. If your child walks to school, you can help your child prevent a Davie pedestrian accident by teaching your child to stay safe. Walk the route to school with your child, pointing out any possible dangers and reviewing the safety tips that are relevant for the walk. In many cases, children like listening to music or texting while they walk. Make sure that your child does not do this, as distracted walking can cause your child walk out into traffic.

2) Give yourself plenty of time if you are dropping your child off at school. If you are driving your child to school, you can help prevent Davie traffic accidents by giving yourself additional time. While this may mean getting up earlier, it can also help prevent the speeding and aggressive driving that are all too common during the school rush.

3) Be alert for others – including buses, pedestrians, and kids on bikes – sharing the road, especially close to the school.

4) Use good communication skills. When dropping your child off at school, make sure that you make eye contact with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists to ensure that you are visible and that you are communicating well with others who share the road with you.

5) Stay focused. While texting and driving is not illegal in Florida, any form of distracted driving can be extremely dangerous to you and your child. Distracted driving leads to many Davie truck accidents and traffic accidents each year, so put your mobile devices away and focus fully on the drive to school rather than on distractions.

6) Follow speed limits. Speeding significantly increases your risk of a collision.

7) Drop your child off in a safe zone. Your child is at risk if you drop them off where there is a high traffic volume and fewer pedestrian areas. If your school has a drop off zone that allows you to deposit your child right at a pedestrian area, this is often the safest possibility. If this is not an option, drop your child off in an area with good pedestrian walkways, easy access to the school, and low traffic. If it is difficult to find such an area, encourage your child’s school to create a safe drop-off zone.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Much has been written about the dangers of careless or negligent driving, where a driver pays so little attention to the road and to traffic that a Davie car accident takes place. Careless driving in fact involves two elements: impatience and distraction. When they are combined, a Davie traffic accident is very likely.

Impatience can occur because a driver is in a hurry, is having a bad day and wants to get home, or is facing slow traffic. Impatience can lead to road rage but can also mean that a driver focuses on getting to their destination rather than looking at the road. It is a type of narrow focus that blinds the driver to what is going on directly in front of them. Distraction can be caused by anything from a billboard to a sandwich to a ringing cell phone. When someone is already impatient behind the wheel and is therefore emotionally distracted and then takes their eyes off the road due to a distraction, a Davie truck accident or car accident is very likely. There are many ways to help prevent impatience and distraction when traveling:

1) Consider taking public transit or using car pooling. Driving everyday to work and back can be stressful and can lead to distraction or impatience as the driver inevitably looks for ways to make the commute more manageable. Taking an occasional break from driving allows you to return to the task relaxed and ready to place your full focus on the road.

2) Consider all possible distractions in the car and remove as many as possible. There are many possible distractions, from food to other passengers, to music and mobile devices. It is a good policy to turn off any mobile devices before getting in the car. Program the radio or music before you start to drive and consider a form of music that will last for some time without you having to change the station or music settings. Avoid eating in the car, drinking coffee or other hot beverages, or doing anything else that requires the use of your hands.

3) Avoid driving when angry or upset. Emotions are a powerful distraction and they can easily make you impatient. If you are already upset about a meeting or disagreement, you will not be able to focus fully on your driving and this type of emotional distraction can easily lead to a Davie pedestrian accident or car accident. Take a walk around the block or spend some time calming down before you get in the car.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Davie car accidents seem very common during the summer months, when the news is filled with stories of serious accidents and roadway closures caused by collisions. One common cause of many Davie traffic accidents is fatigued driving. Fatigued driving can increase the risk of a Davie car crash in a number of ways. Fatigue, for example, can mean poorer motor control and response times. Studies have shown that driving when tired can result in the same poor motor control and slower response times as drunk driving. If you avoid drinking and driving to avoid a Davie drunk driving accident, you should also avoid driving tired to avoid a car accident.

Fatigue can mean micro-sleeps. When you are very tired, you may feel that you stay aware and awake but research has shown that you actually fall asleep for fractions of a second. This is the body’s way of getting much-needed sleep if you are severely exhausted and not taking the time to rest. You may have no recollection of these micro-sleep cycles but, of course, if they occur when you are behind the wheel of a car they can easily cause a devastating Davie pedestrian accident or traffic accident.

If you suffer from extreme fatigue, you can fall asleep at the wheel. Each year, Davie truck accidents and car accidents occur because an exhausted driver simply falls asleep while driving. When the body becomes so tired that even micro-sleep does not replenish the body, the body simply shuts down. When this occurs on the road, a driver loses complete control of their vehicle and the result is often a serious accident.

Even if you think that you are getting good sleep, you may still be driving tired. Many people assume that they are getting adequate sleep when in fact they are not. Even if you are getting eight hours of sleep a night you may suffer from sleep apnea or other sleeping disorders which can affect your driving ability. If you always wake up tired or find yourself sleepy during the day, even when you get adequate rest, speak with your doctor to find out whether you could have a sleep disorder that could be affecting the quality of rest you enjoy.

Summertime can exacerbate the effects of fatigue, so it especially important to be aware of the dangers of driving fatigued. The bright sun and high heat of Florida summers can lead to drowsiness and can be distracting, making it even harder for fatigued drivers to drive safely. Hot nights can also make it harder for those who already suffer from sleep disturbances to get a good night’s sleep.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog