Posts Tagged ‘Hallandale’

Working Through the Real-Life Impact of a Car Accident in Hallandale Beach

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

If you live in Hallandale Beach and are involved in a serious car accident, the impact of that accident can last for years. If you have sustained a serious injury, such as a spinal cord injury, burns, fractures, or a head injury in Hallandale Beach or another community, you may face a long medical recovery process and the impact of your accident can also affect your finances, your relationships, and your emotions for years to come. You will want to address all the areas of your life that may be affected by your injuries:

1) Medical. The most obvious impact of a serious traffic accident in Hallandale Beach is the injuries suffered. You may face head injuries, soft tissue injuries, or other serious injuries. You may be rushed from the scene of the accident to Memorial Regional Hospital or another local hospital. Even if you are not taken to hospital, you will want to visit a local clinic or your doctor for a check-up as soon as possible after the accident. Some soft tissue injuries and head injuries do not manifest symptoms right away but may be serious. Once you have received emergency medical care, you may face months or years of recovery time and medical treatment. Depending on your injuries, you may need surgery, follow-up treatment, rehabilitation, and other care.

2) Financial. The high cost of medical care after a car or truck accident in Hallandale Beach is usually compounded by the fact that after an accident you may not be able to return to work for some time, causing you to lose wages. The financial devastation of a serious car accident can push households into bankruptcy – and car insurance may not always be the answer. In cases where patients need long-term care, especially, insurance money often does not cover the full cost of an accident. For this reason, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney in Hallandale Beach soon after your accident. A good attorney can negotiate with insurance companies for you or can help you pursue legal claims, if possible in your case, so that you get the compensation you and your family need.

3) Relationships. It’s true that relationships often suffer after a serious car accident. In addition to the frustration and upset that serious injuries can cause, the financial burden of a car crash in Hallandale Beach can lead to household and relationship disputes. After a serious car collision, you may need to see a therapist or counselor to get assistance. It may also be useful to speak with a support group.

4) Mental. After a serious accident, it is normal to feel anxiety, fear, upset, and a whole turmoil of emotions. It is important to get help or counseling for these emotions, especially if they hurt your relationships or prevent you from living a full life.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

If You are Escaping Winter in Florida, Take Extra Steps to Prevent a Car Accident in Hallandale Beach

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

Hallandale Beach is known as the “Most Southern Canadian City” because of the significant number of Canadians (and US tourists from the Northwestern area of the country) who visit the city each year. The number of tourists and snowbirds from the North often increases during winter months, as seniors and other visitors migrate to Florida for the warmer weather. Unfortunately, the influx of new drivers can mean an added risk of car accidents in Hallandale Beach and across Florida. If you are spending the winter in Florida this year, the following tips can help keep you safer:

1) Get Familiar with Florida laws and streets. Florida streets may be significantly different than streets in your hometown. If you will be spending time in Florida, get familiar with local laws, driving habits, and roadways. Many traffic accidents in Hallandale Beach and across Florida occur because of driver inexperience.

2) Get Florida insurance and registration. Under Florida law, any car owner who has their vehicle in the state for over 90 days must register the car in Florida. If you sustain a head injury in Hallandale Beach – or any traffic-related injury in South Florida – your insurance company may not compensate you if you violate this law. If you spend your entire winters in Florida, this law may mean that you need to buy two insurance policies – one in your usual place of residence and one in Florida. However, this added expense is a better option than being under-insured.

3) Use extra caution on I-95 and other interstate roads. These high-speed roadways do have a higher risk of truck accidents and other traffic accidents.

4) Get a copy of the Coast Guard’s Code of Federal Regulations to get familiar with bridges and drawbridges in the area. South Florida has many waterways and bridges. If you are not from the area, you may not be familiar with driving over bridges. Drawbridges, especially, may have hours you are not familiar with.

5) Go beyond local laws to stay safe. Not every safe driver behavior is legislated. For example, Florida has no specific laws against texting and driving or driving fatigued, although many studies have proven that both driving behaviors are very dangerous and lead to accidents. Use common sense and common courtesy when driving on Florida streets. Driver sober and alert, and make sure that you get adequate rest before driving. It will help make your stay in the state safer and more pleasant.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Is it Possible to Stop Distracted Driving in Florida to Reduce the Number of Hallandale Beach Car Accidents?

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the state. It is no surprise to drivers, who may see drivers talking on their cell phones and making major driving mistakes such as changing lanes without looking or driving through a red light. The Florida Highway Patrol suggests there are many things that drivers can do to help prevent Florida and Hallandale Beach car accidents caused by distracted driving. Among their recommendations: keep your eyes on the road, limit the amount of cell phone use in the car, and use hands-free phones where possible.

These are great tips and may possibly help drivers prevent a Hallandale Beach truck accident or car accident – but do they go far enough in stamping out distracted driving? One reason that the Florida Highway Patrol has made the recommendations is that Florida laws currently do not ban cell phone use or even texting while driving. Even though numerous studies have suggested that use of mobile devices while driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving, it is legal in Florida to drive while talking or texting on a phone.

Just because it is legal, however, does not make it a good idea. Many Hallandale Beach truck accidents and car accidents each year are caused by distracted drivers using mobile devices. Putting away a mobile device when hopping into a car is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of a traffic accident. Even just glancing at a mobile device for “a few seconds” or using hands-free devices has been shown to increase the risk of an accident substantially.

Even if it were possible to pass legislation to ban texting and cell phone use while driving, safety experts still say that distracted driving would be an issue. While recent discussions about distracted driving have focused on cell phone use – admitted a serious concern – distracted driving in fact encompasses a much wider idea. Experts agree that any action which distracts a driver from the road can be potentially fatal. Applying cosmetics, eating, drinking, speaking with passengers, daydreaming, changing the radio station and dozens of other actions can remove a driver’s focus from driving long enough to cause a Hallandale Beach bicycle accident or traffic accident. However, since the focus has been on mobile devices, there has not been extensive research conducted to determine which distractions are the most prevalent and dangerous. While many drivers are starting to get the message about cell phone use while driving, many drivers do not consider the many other distractions which can be just as deadly.

More does need to be done to alert drivers about the dangers of any type of distraction while driving. One reason why the focus may currently be on cell phones is because it is possible to document this type of distraction. If a driver causes an accident because they were talking on a cell phone, phone records may show the texts and calls placed, helping police to determine what happened. In cases where a driver was distracted for some other reason, the evidence may not be apparent during a Hallandale Beach personal injury claim.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Steering Wheel Injuries and Hallandale Beach Car Accidents

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

In the days before air bags became popular and standard features in cars, steering wheel injuries were generally considered a silent killer. If a driver was not wearing a seat belt when a Hallandale Beach car accident took place, he or she was typically thrown against the steering wheel. This generally caused head injuries as well as injuries to major organs, including the heart and lungs. In many cases, the victim showed no external bruising or trauma but suffered potentially life-threatening internal injuries.

Today, many cars do have air bags, but even so steering wheel injuries can occur. Hallandale Beach brain injuries can occur, for example, if an air bag fails to inflate and the driver or passenger is thrown against the steering wheel. Air bag failure can be caused by manufacturer defects and when this happens, the victims can seek compensation for their injuries from the manufacturer.

Air bags themselves can also cause serious injuries. In some cases, the impact of hitting an air bag can cause head injuries and other trauma. Children and passengers who are below average in height are most vulnerable to air bag injuries, and can sustain head injuries and other injuries. When the air bag inflates quickly and the passenger is below average height, the air bag can inflate right in the passenger’s face, causing injury and even making it hard to breathe.

One of the best ways to prevent air bag and steering wheel injuries is to wear a seat belt. A seat belt keeps the driver or passenger in place in the event of a Hallandale Beach traffic accident, ensuring that there is no impact with the steering wheel or air bag. Numerous research studies have shown that proper use of a seat belt can substantially reduce brain injuries and other injuries in a car accident.

Another important way to prevent air bag and steering wheel injuries is to maintain a vehicle correctly. Checking the air bags on a used car, for example, is very important. Taking a car in for regular tune ups is also important as it ensures that a car is functioning correctly, which can actually help prevent Hallandale Beach car accidents.

If you have been injured in a Hallandale Beach traffic accident due to air bag defects or other car defects, it is important to consult with a qualified Hallandale Beach personal injury attorney. There may be multiple liable parties in your case, and this can help you get the compensation you deserve to pay for lost income, medical expenses, and other costs related to your accident. Getting fair compensation can help you get the quality of medical care you deserve and pursuing legal action can ensure that those responsible for the accident are held accountable. Often, legal action pushes companies to make safety changes that can help prevent other accidents from occurring, so seeking out an attorney’s advice after an accident can be important.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog