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Unfortunately, at this time of year many people make poor decisions when it comes to driving after drinking. At the same time, office holiday parties and personal holiday parties often serve alcohol, allowing some drivers to make poor decisions after drinking. Drunk driving causes too many Hollywood car accidents each year – and these accidents are completely avoidable if motorists simply take some extra time to plan ahead to get home safely.

Planning ahead

Plan ahead if you will be attending any events in the next few weeks where alcohol may be served. Even if you do not have plans for drinking at a the specific party, make sure that you have at least three ways to get home safe if you do end up drinking. Keep extra money on hand to pay for a hotel room, a taxicab, or another alternative to get home. Make plans with friends and family so that you can call each other in order to get a safe ride home. Designate a driver. Do what you can, but make sure that you do not drink and drive. It is the only way to avoid a DUI Hollywood traffic accident.

Make use of more than one option to get home

Many communities offer free or inexpensive transportation options at this time of year to help people get home safely after festivities. Find out what is offered in your area. Keep a printout of local bus routes, taxi cab company phone numbers, and other information on your mobile device or in your glove compartment so that you know how to get a safe drive home. One good option is to simply leave your car at home if you will be drinking at a party. That way, you will not be tempted to drive home.

In order to stay safe on the road, you must also be well rested and alert when you get behind the wheel. This holiday season, give yourself the gift of sleep and get plenty of rest. Not only will you enjoy the holidays more, but you will have a safer holiday season as well. If holiday stress makes it difficult for you to sleep, visit your doctor in order to get assistance before your drowsiness leads to an accident. Keep in mind that even if you have not been drinking, you may be too fatigued to drive home safely after a party. Having alternative options to get home safely can help you avoid a Hollywood truck accident or car accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to statistics, seniors in Florida will make up 27% of the state’s population by the year 2030, making it the greyest state in the US. Gail Holley of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Mobility for Life program says that more needs to be done to ensure that drivers know when they must hang up their keys in order to prevent car accidents.

According to the AAA, some drivers develop conditions such as arthritis and other conditions which impair driving. Others take medication with severe side effects. In some cases, drivers can operate a car safely into their 90s. In other cases, drivers in their 30s and 40s are dealing with chronic conditions that affect their ability to avoid a car accident. Therefore, it is not age alone that determines driving fitness. However, drivers who are elderly are more at risk for many serious illnesses and may have conditions such as osteoporosis, which can contribute to serious and fatal injuries in the event of a traffic collision.

The AAA suggests that family and friends speak privately to someone who may be having problems driving. According to the organization, it is important to avoid making demands or lecturing the driver. This can be a challenge, since in some cases a driver may be in denial about their situation. If the driver has never gotten a ticket and still has a perfect driving record, for example, they may be reluctant to admit that they have developed some driving challenges. It is also important to discuss transportation alternatives. Many drivers in Florida are reluctant to surrender their driving privileges because they fear losing independence. It may be important to discuss alternatives such as shuttles, taxis, and other resources (as well as their costs) to reassure a driver that they will still be able to get around when they need to.

If you have a friend or loved one who you believe may be an at-risk driver, it is important to take steps to help them before they are injured in a Homestead car accident. Offering alternatives and discussing their medical condition can help. Keep in mind that it is not only the elderly who may have trouble driving due to a health condition. A younger driver with a chronic health condition may still be at risk of causing a Homestead truck accident or Homestead motorcycle accident if their condition affects driving ability. If you yourself have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, discuss your with your doctor and ask how your condition will affect your driving ability. It can be frightening to have a health concern and even more frightening to contemplate giving up your car keys due to a health condition. However, it is important to make the right decision in order to avoid a Homestead traffic accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Florida car accidents mean many worries: will you be able to get your car repaired? Will you be able to return to work? While you are in this state of worry, you will need to make many choices. Making the right choices can make it easier for you to start on the road to recovery, while the wrong choices can follow you for years.

After a car accident, one of the first choices you will need to make is whether or not to get medical help. Many people who feel fine after a car accident never bother to see a doctor. In some cases, this can be a fatal mistake. If you have been in a serious car accident or have hit your head or lost consciousness (for even a few seconds) you need to get immediate medical attention. Many Florida brain injury patients do not experience symptoms right away and only find out too late that they have a serious injury. Some brain injuries – not to mention whiplash – do not always present symptoms right away, so if there is any possibility that you may have sustained an injury, play it safe and get immediate medical attention.

Another choice you will need to make is who to trust with your accident claim. Florida, unfortunately, is one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to insurance fraud. A number of companies have been raided for trying to target victims of car accidents. These companies will call car accident victims – in some cases claiming to be an insurance representatives – and will ask the victim to visit specific doctors and attorneys. The company will then bill insurers for fake injuries or will over-bill for medical services. When a company calls you, make sure that you understand who they are and who they represent. If the call sounds suspicious, hang up. You do not want to become involved in this type of illegal activity.

Another choice that car accident victims will need to make is whether to contact a personal injury attorney. Many Florida car accident victims believe that as long as they can get a claim from an insurance provider, there is no need to get an attorney involved. However, insurance companies do not pay out the maximum possible for a claim. If you have been in a serious Florida car accident or in an accident that involves commercial vehicles or multiple vehicles, you may need a qualified Florida personal injury attorney to help you get the maximum recovery for your claim.

Finally, all accident victims will need to make a decision about the claim amount they accept for their injuries. Whether you decide to pursue the case in court or rely on your insurance company to pay you for medical costs, lost income, car repairs, and related costs of your accident, you need to make sure that the amount you receive covers all your expenses. If you do not, you could end up paying thousands out of pocket. With longer-term injuries, especially, it can be hard to determine the total costs of an accident. An experienced Florida attorney can often help you determine the true costs of your accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 2430 fatalities in 2010 caused by Florida car accidents. This represents the smallest number of fatalities seen since 1978, even though the population of Florida has grown significantly since that time. However, while these numbers are cheering, the fact is that there are still too many deaths and serious personal injuries resulting from Florida traffic accidents. There are ways to help reduce these numbers even further:

1) Enact texting bans. Many legislators and experts have been calling for a text ban for drivers. Many states already have such bans in place to help prevent distracted driving. There is a well-established link between distracted drivers and accidents. According to the NHTSA, 448 000 people were injured and 5474 were killed in 2009 due to distracted driving. Of these injuries and fatalities, 24 000 injuries and 5474 fatalities were linked to cell phone use by a driver. However, the measure to ban texting has proven controversial. Currently, there are two bills which could be considered by Florida legislature: H.B. 79 and S.B. 158. Both would limit or ban the use of wireless devices in cars.

2) Encourage more public awareness campaigns and enforcement campaigns. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, increased seat belt use (due in part to public awareness campaigns) and efforts by law enforcement are partly responsible for the lowered Florida car accident fatality rates. Encouraging enforcement and public awareness can hopefully help to drop the numbers of injuries and deaths even more.

3) Enforce drunk driving laws. Florida drunk driving accidents are still a serious problem. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 770 out of 2558 Florida car accident fatalities in 2009 were the result of drunk driving. Only Texas and California had higher rates of drunk driving fatalities.

4) Better training. A number of studies have suggested that graduated licensing and other programs designed to encourage additional driver training ensure that all drivers on the roads have the skills needed to stay safe. Ensuring that teens and young drivers get more training can help reduce accidents involving younger drivers.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog