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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

Two studies published recently in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggest that physicians and eye doctors may do more to prevent car crashes. As the population ages, experts predict that by 2020, 40 million drivers will be over the age of the age of 65. According to researchers, many of those drivers will eventually develop chronic conditions such as dementia, arthritis, eye problems, and other health concerns that could affect driving ability.

According to the study’s authors, eye doctors may underreport vision problems among elderly patients. The study asked eye doctors to respond to a series of questions. 87% of participating doctors stated that they would often ask about driving ability if the question was raised or if a patient fared poorly on an eye exam. Two thirds of polled doctors stated that they asked all elderly patients about driving. Over half of eye doctors stated that they were reluctant to report patients to agencies regulating driving. They were often worried about liability issues and about compromising the doctor-patient relationship. Only 36% of eye doctors reported unsafe drivers to physicians and only 28% reported unsafe drivers to rehabilitation.

According to the study’s authors, eye doctors need to take a greater role in reporting and helping unsafe drivers. The authors suggested that eye specialists always ask elderly patients about driving ability and refer patients to primary care physicians or driver rehabilitation when needed. Not only can this potentially prevent car accidents, but it can also help drivers stay behind the wheel longer. Driver rehabilitation, for example, can help qualified drivers adjust to mobility issues and vision problems.

Many Miami Gardens car accidents are caused by drivers with medical issues. Each year, people are killed because motorists cause Miami Gardens traffic accidents due to vision problems, strokes, heart attacks, and other medical situations. Having doctors reporting at-risk drivers can help prevent these accidents and can help drivers get help through driver rehabilitation to help prevent Miami Gardens truck accidents and car accidents. Some drivers may be resistant to this idea since it could get drivers banned for health conditions that have not yet caused an accident. With many drivers seeing cars as a form of freedom and independence, the decision to hang up the car keys for medical reasons is a difficult one. Support systems and more transportation options for non-drivers would potentially help with this problem.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog