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Weather and weather-related fatalities usually only make the news when they concern a serious natural disaster such as a hurricane. But there may be another reason to keep an eye on the skies: according to experts, one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities is traffic accidents. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) reports that over 7000 people across the country die each year in car and traffic accidents caused by inclement weather. Most of these fatalities tend to be overlooked because they are not counted among the deaths caused by serious storms and most of these fatalities involve one or two-car accidents. Experts are now paying more attention, however, hoping to reduce the number of weather-related traffic fatalities in Miramar and other communities.

According to meteorologists and other experts, there a number of things that drivers can do to help prevent weather-related car crashes in Miramar and other communities:

1) Understand what conditions to look for. Many people understand that snow, ice, and water can mean slippery conditions, but a range of weather conditions – including whiteouts, fog, sunny days, wildfire smoke – can create potentially dangerous conditions. Any situation that interferes with visibility or makes the roads slippery can cause dangerous road conditions.

2) Be prepared for different weather conditions. Even a very sunny day with glare can lead to a car or truck accident in Miramar if you aren’t prepared for it. In your car, keep the tools you need to stay safe. This may mean sunglasses and a hat for sunny weather and extra windshield wiper fluid for days where visibility is a problem and you need your windshield to be as clean as possible for the best visibility.

3) Keep your car in good condition. Good brake systems, tires, and windshields ensure that your car is prepared for various weather. Take your car in for regular tune-ups to ensure that it drives safely. Consider getting all-season tires, even if you never plan on driving outside of Florida and don’t need to worry about ice and snow. Tires with good treads can really help in any wet or slipper road conditions and could potentially help you prevent a pedestrian accident in Miramar or your community.

4) Stay alert about weather conditions. Get into the habit of checking weather conditions before hopping in your car. Don’t head out when the weather is very bad and if you do need to drive in inclement weather, be prepared to give yourself extra time to get to your destination.

In the future, there may be new ways to help prevent weather-related car and truck accidents in Miramar and across the country. The U.S. Department of Transportation is funding new technology, the “Vehicle Data Translator,” which would gather and share up-to-date atmosphere and road conditions with drivers in real time, giving motorists the information they need to stay safer on the roads. The system would collect data from cars and from local weather stations as well as other sources in order to give drivers more information to prevent collisions.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As the seasons roll into spring, high school proms, high school and college end-of-year parties and graduation parties are scheduled all across North Carolina. Pitt County defense lawyers know that many students can face serious underage drinking or drunk driving charges at this time of year.

Recently, the Century Council, a not-for-profit organization funded by distillers to fight underage consumption and drunk driving, conducted a study on underage alcohol issues that found parental involvement can significantly reduce incidents of underage drinking.

The study shows that today’s youth are more aware of the issues that underage drinking can bring. Researchers with the Century Council say that 83 percent of 10 to 18-year-old students who have decided to avoid alcohol made the decision after speaking with a parent about alcohol.

The study shows that most discussions about alcohol use between a parent and child arise after an event occurs, such as:

• An event reporting an alcohol-related tragedy that is reported in the news
• A movie or television program raises an alcohol-related issue
• Someone that the family knows is charged with an alcohol-related offense

But even in families where alcohol-related issues are discussed, North Carolina youth can find themselves in a situation that may lead to alcohol charges. Charges for drunk driving, or underage possession and consumption, are not a finding of guilt.

Students in North Carolina who are cited for an underage alcohol offense, underage DUI or North Carolina DWI charges may have a valid defense to the allegations. It is important for students or parent s to consider reviewing individual charges with an experienced Greenville defense attorney. Criminal charges that result in conviction are made a part of a student’s permanent criminal record if the accused is age 16 or older in North Carolina.

Source: Keloland Television, “More Teens, Parents Discussing Alcohol Risks,” Shawn Neisteadt, April 4, 2012

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

Distracted driving has been in the news for years but many drivers still choose to text and drive and many Miami Gardens car accidents continue to be caused by distracted drivers. Even though Florida still does not have a texting ban for drivers, many people are aware that distracted driving (including texting while driving) can lead to Miami Gardens traffic accidents. Why, then, do many drivers continue to drive distracted? Reporters, investigative journalists, and police authorities point to many reasons:

1) Drivers may lack the discipline to not get distracted. Many drivers think that they will “just quickly” check a text message or voice mail. Very few are willing to turn off all devices and put their focus entirely on the road. Unfortunately, even a few seconds of focus away from the road can cause a serious Miami Gardens truck accident or car accident.

2) There are more distractions today than ever before. Lately, even car manufacturers have been targeted for putting more distracting technology and devices in cars. Today, many people have mobile devices, tablets, cell phones, and other devices they carry with them – including devices they bring with them into the car. In addition, newer vehicles have many potentially distracting features, such as LCD touch displays, GPS, complex audio systems, infotainment systems, internet access, and other features. There are more devices and more forms of technology demanding driver attention.

3) Drivers overestimate their driving ability. Some drivers continue to drive distracted because they feel that they can use their mobile devices and still drive safely, even though research has shown that this is not the case.

4) There is not enough awareness about distracted driving. While much has been written lately about the dangers of mobile devices and driving, less is written about distracted driving in general. As a result, there is less awareness about the dangers of driving while eating, changing music, and other distractions.

5) There is a dangerous focus on multi-tasking. With most people busier today than ever before, many of us feel the pressure to do many things at once – including getting tasks done as we drive. Unfortunately, this attitude can be dangerous for drivers.

If you have been in a Miami Gardens motorcycle accident or other traffic accident caused by a distracted driver, it is important to consult with a qualified Miami Gardens personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, proving distracted driving is very challenging and a good attorney will usually work with a private investigator and with other professionals to determine whether distracted driving was a factor in your accident. If distracted driving was a factor, Florida law allows you to recover damages from the negligent driver for lost income, medical expenses, and other costs related to your accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

An article from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal caught our eye – Testing the Limits of Tipsy.

As the article discusses, alcohol affects individuals differently. A person’s blood alcohol level may be affected by their age, weight, gender, physical condition, amount of food consumed, and any drugs or medications they are currently taking. In addition, different drinks may contain different amounts of alcohol, so it is important to know yourself, what you are consuming, and pay attention to the rate you are drinking.

Factors that can affect Blood Alcohol Concentration include:

• Amount consumed
• Concentration of alcohol
• Pace of drinking – the faster you drink, the higher your BAC
• Food in stomach (Food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol)
• Body weight (more body weight, lower BAC)
• Gender – BAC rises faster for females than it does for males
• % of body fat (more body fat, lower BAC)
• Gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (enzymes in the stomach that break down alcohol)
• Carbonation – Carbonation irritates stomach lining, increasing the rate of absorption
• Health status of liver – healthy livers can break down alcohol quicker

With this many factors, the best course of action is always to take it safe. Put simply, if you plan to drink, don’t plan to drive.

Century Council Blog

According to 2010 statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Florida ranks fourth – only behind Texas, California, and Illinois – for the number of law enforcement fatalities. Nationwide, the rate of law enforcement fatalities rose 40% between 2009 and 2010. In some cases, fatalities occurred as a result of gun violence. For example, three police officers were killed by gunfire in Florida while making traffic stops.

However, Florida car accidents and traffic fatalities seem to contribute significantly to police fatalities. Out of 160 law enforcement deaths cross the country, 73 police officers lost their lives in traffic accidents and many more were seriously injured. According to experts, the reason for the high accident rate is because police officers are often asked to speed and make dangerous decisions behind the wheel of cruisers for public safety. For example, to stop a dangerous criminal, police may engage in a chase. Unfortunately, driving at high speeds can easily lead to accidents and can also harm bystanders.

According to driver experts, the increased number of distracted drivers and heavier traffic make car accidents more likely for everyone, especially for law enforcement professionals, who may significant amounts of time driving as part of their work. Some experts have even questioned whether the presence of computers in police cruisers is not contributing to accidents by distracting law enforcement officers.

Many driving trainers offering driving instruction to police officers and many departments across the country are instituting new rules about police chases in order to enhance public safety. However, in some cases, the danger to the public is greater than the danger of pursuing a suspect. In these cases, police are obligated to pursue a suspect, even if he or she uses dangerous driving and aggressive driving that makes the chase dangerous to police and the public alike.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog