millerboycott.com

The latest statistics from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have both positive and disappointing news for Miami and the rest of Florida. According to the NHTSA, the number of fatal car accidents across the country dropped by 1.9% in 2011, when compared with 2010. In 2010, there were 32,999 fatalities linked to traffic accidents and only 32,367 in 2011 – representing the lowest number since 1949. Since 2005, traffic fatalities have declined 26%.

Florida, however, is still third in the national for the total number of car accident fatalities. Although car accident fatalities in the state dropped 1.9% in 2011 when compared with 2010, according to experts much still needs to be done to reduce these fatalities even more. In 2011, Florida saw 2,398 car accident fatalities. Only Texas and California had more. Experts believe that there are a number of things that can be done to help prevent traffic accidents in Miami and across Florida:

1) Improve awareness of seat belts, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, and other risk factors through public education campaigns. Making drivers aware of the risks they take – and the dangers of those risks – can encourage more motorists to drive safely, which can help reduce the number of car and truck accidents in Miami and across Florida.

2) Improve law enforcement. In some cases, awareness is not enough and motorists continue to take risks that they know can lead to traffic accidents. In these cases, law enforcement can ensure that drivers are ticketed or even taken off the roads before they cause an accident.

3) Hold reckless drivers accountable for their actions. In cases where a driver’s negligence causes a car accident in Miami or anywhere in South Florida, injured parties can hold the at-fault driver responsible. Pursuing a legal claim can push a negligent driver into being more careful in the future, preventing other accidents. A legal claim can also help someone who has been injured get compensation for their injuries, so that they can pursue medical care. If you have sustained a personal injury in Miami or anywhere in Florida due to a traffic accident, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney before you make any decisions about your case. Your case may be worth more than you realize and there may be more resources available to you than you know about. You may be able to secure a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to review your options before you accept an insurance company offer.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to a 2009 Transportation for America study, among the top cities for pedestrian fatalities are Orlando, Tamp, Miami and Jacksonville. In 2008, 490 pedestrians were fatally injured in car accidents in the state, making Florida the worst region for pedestrian deaths. Over the years, Florida routinely has been listed as one of the worst spots for fatal hit and run accidents. According to experts, there are many reasons why hit and run Miami car accidents happen:

1) Modern development in suburban and urban spaces has created lots of high-speed areas for traffic and fewer areas for bicyclists and walkers. It is no surprise that Miami bicycle accidents are also high when compared to other US cities. Larger urban centers such as Miami have fewer spaces that are just for safe walking and biking. The amount of money spent on safe pedestrian areas is just a fraction of the amount spent on roadways and car areas.

2) Drivers who are afraid of being caught. In many cases, hit and run Miami traffic accidents occur when a driver hits someone but keeps driving because he or she is already doing something illegal. If a driver is driving with no insurance, no license, or is driving drunk, he or she may be more likely to leave the scene of an accident, because he or she is afraid of the legal consequences. Since Florida leads the country in car accident insurance, it is plausible that there is also a high instance of people driving illegally.

3) A car-reliant culture. In Miami, having a car is not just about transportation; many people see it as a sign of independence or even a right. This creates all kinds of problems. Many people use cars when there are other alternatives, which in turn increases congestion and the risk of Miami car accidents. In addition, when people see cars as a right, they are more likely to want to drive when it is not safe to do so. For example, someone with an illness that makes it dangerous to drive may still get behind the wheel of a car because they do not want to lose their independence. Alternatively, someone who has a suspended license or no insurance may still drive because he or she “needs” to get to work.

4) Shared spaces. Miami does have many pedestrians and many congested spaces where pedestrians and vehicles share space. Parking lots, crosswalks, and other areas where pedestrians and vehicles share space are especially dangerous sites for Miami pedestrian accidents.

In Florida, hit and run accidents are taken seriously. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing property damage can be charged with a second degree misdemeanor and may face up to 60 days in jail as well as fines of up to 0. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing an injury can be charged with a third degree felony and may face up to 5 years in prison as well as fines of up to ,000. Anyone who leaves the scene of an accident after causing a fatality can be charged with a first degree felony and may face up to 30 years in state prison as well as fines of up to ,000. In addition, those who leave the scene of an accident can face Miami personal injury lawsuits, where they can be sued for damages caused.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

More than 7,000 cubic feet of water per second are
expected to flow through the emergency channel
constructed by the province north of Lake St. Martin in
just a few days.
Manitoba stories

While 33 states – including Guam and the District of Columbia — have bans on texting while driving, Florida is one of just 17 states that do not have specific bans against texting and driving, despite a number of efforts by legislators to pass these types of laws. Currently, no states have blanket bans which prohibit all cellphone use by motorists. However, eight states – as well as the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia – have laws which ban the use of handheld cellphones while driving.

In Florida, a number of proposed laws were considered by Legislature in the latest session. One proposed law would have mandated driver education programs to include information about the dangers of distracted driving and the hazards of cellphones and other mobile devices while driving. Another proposed piece of legislation would have made it illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use handheld cell phones and mobile devices while driving. None of these bills passed. Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn, R-Ormond Beach sponsored SB 80, which would have created the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law. That law also did not pass, but Sen. Evelyn J. Lynn has spoken out about the need for such legislation.

Certainly, a number of studies do seem to suggest that the use of cell phones and mobile devices while driving is dangerous. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute completed a study in 2009 which found that using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of accidents and near accidents. Those who text drive are about 23 times as likely to be in a car crash or near car collision as those who drive distraction-free, according to the study. The study found that texting, specifically, was the most dangerous activity related to cellphones and mobile device use while driving. As well, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 0.2% of car accident related deaths and 1.22 % of car-accident-related injuries in Florida are caused by distracted driving. In 2009, for example, 1,532 people in Florida were injured and four were killed due to distracted driving. However, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the actual number of Florida car accidents caused by distracted driving may be quite higher, since drivers who have been in an accident rarely own up to driving distracted and, in some cases, there is no evidence to confirm that a driver was distracted.

Statistics such as these have led many Florida residents to conclude that there needs to be laws against distracted driving in order to prevent more Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. However, others oppose the idea of more government interference for drivers. They note that written tests for learner’s permits in Florida already contain questions about distracted driving. As well, a 2010 study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that in states with texting bans, the rates of car accidents did not actually decrease after a texting ban. In fact, in three states, the number of car collisions increased after the texting ban was put in place. Another study by the Highway Loss Data Institute found that bans which prohibit the use of handheld cell phones and mobile devices also did not reduce the number of car crashes. As well, some believe that technology is actually helping to prevent Florida car accidents, as there are hands-free texting applications, alerts for distracted drivers, and other special safety features, available for drivers.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog