Articles Posted in Car Accidents

In a fiery overnight Cape Coral car crash recently, one man lost his life while a female passenger suffered severe burns in a wreck off Rose Garden Road.

Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers understand the driver died after becoming trapped in the vehicle, while the passenger, from Lehigh Acres, suffered potentially life-threatening burns to more than 65 percent of her body.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within several minutes of arrival. But authorities said it may still be several weeks before they are able to definitively identify the deceased driver. Investigators believe the driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting to negotiate a curve, causing the car to spin into the median and strike a tree, before bursting into flames. We don’t know at this point whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
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We’ve all got a lot to do during the day. Students are spending all day in class and all night studying, and adults are spending more hours in the office just to pay the bills. Unfortunately, it’s our daily tasks that are putting us at some serious risks — for car accidents. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while fatigued and drowsy can have dangerous, and sometimes deadly, consequences.

Autumn’s early darkness increases those risks substantially.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), drowsy driving traffic accidents lead to close to 2,000 traffic fatalities and more than 70,000 injuries each and every year.

In fact, fatigued driving is similar to drunk driving. It slows down our reaction time and makes us less attentive behind the wheel. When we’re suffering from these symptoms, it’s difficult for us to make safe and responsible decisions.

Our Naples car accident lawyers understand that the first week of September is designated as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to help to reduce the risks of these accidents. During this week-long campaign, officials work to help to educate the public about the risks involved with such driving behavior.
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Our teens are back in class, and after an entire summer away from the books, they’re already looking forward to their weekends. Unfortunately, alcohol and underage drinking is a prevalent risk for high school and college students. Although they’re not old enough to legally purchase alcohol, far too many traffic collisions and accidental deaths result from underage drinking each autumn.

Oftentimes teens are granted more lenient curfews, as they’re growing into young adults. Unfortunately, too many teens run off with this freedom and experiment with alcohol, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). As a matter of fact, a recent survey conduct among individuals 18 to 40 concluded that more than 60 percent see the summer season as a time to engage in underage drinking. Back-to-school and fall football season do nothing to mitigate those risks. It’s more important than every to speak with your young family members about the risks of underage drinking.

Our Fort Myers personal injury attorneys understand that teens want to fit in, they want to be cool and they want everyone to like them — but underage alcohol consumption is no way to succeed. That’s why we’re asking parents to step in and to talk with their teens today. Parents are actually the most important (and influential) people in a teen’s life.
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South Florida is going to be one of the most popular destinations in the entire country during the Labor Day holiday weekend, according to USA TODAY. We’re expecting a significant increase in the number of travelers this year, too.

According to recent calculations, there are supposed to be more than 34 million people across the country who will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home during this last long weekend of summer.

Our Lehigh Acres car accident lawyers understand that crowded roadways are not only frustrating, they’re dangerous. According to the St. Pete Patch, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force for the three-day Labor Day weekend, targeting aggressive drivers and motorists not wearing their seat belts.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), troopers are on the lookout for aggressive drivers, including those who: following too closely, make unsafe lane changes, speed, or who are driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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We’ve recently discussed the risks that teen drivers are facing on our roadways, particularly drowsy driving. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. These newly-licensed, inexperienced drivers face a whole heap of dangers each and every time they get behind the wheel. And that’s where the state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program steps in — to help to ease these drivers into the responsibilities of driving, one limitation at a time.

But, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, many teens are skipping the nation’s GDL programs and are waiting until they’re 18 to get their driver’s license — with no limitations. CBS Philly reports that only 44 percent of teens obtained a driver’s license within 12 months of the minimum age for licensing. Slightly more than half of surveyed drivers got their driver’s license before their 18th birthday. This is a decrease from the near 70 percent (20 years ago) who got their driver’s license by the time they turned 18.

Our Naples car accident lawyers understand that traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens across the nation. For this reason, it’s imperative that our newly-licensed drivers get a thorough education. It’s an education that could save their lives. It’s critical that they participate in the state’s GDL program to help formulate safer driving habits.
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If you’re in the market for a passenger car, we encourage you to review crash-test results carefully.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), only half of the dozen small-car models tested received good or acceptable ratings and earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

Honda Civic (both the sedan and coupe) were the only small cars to get the top rating (good) in the test. Landing an acceptable rating were the 2014 model Scion tC, the Hondai Elantra, Ford Focus and the Dodge Dart.

Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers understand that choosing a new car isn’t just about choosing the latest model, it should also be choosing the safest car possible for your budget. Not only does a safe car mean that you will be safer in the event of an accident, but having a car with the latest safety features can mean discounts on your insurance rate. The two major safety features involve prevention, meaning how well a vehicle is designed to prevent an accident, and crash worthiness, meaning how well a vehicle performs in a crash test.
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According to the preliminary data collected by the National Safety Council (NSC) traffic trends indicate that our roadways are getting a little safer. During the first six months of 2013, we saw an approximate 5 percent decrease in the number of motor vehicle accidents compared to the same time period in the prior year.

In 2013, there were an estimated 16,600 people who were killed in traffic accidents from January to June. In the same time in 2012, there were close to 17,500 traffic collisions reported. Officials have not yet been able to determine a reason for the decrease.

Our Naples car accident attorneys understand that there was a decrease in the number of auto accidents reported in the state of Florida during this time. But it was one of the smallest decreases reported. And while we may have seen a decrease in the numbers, it does not mean that all types of accidents are on the decline. Oftentimes, we see an increase in the number of pedestrian and bicycle accidents during a nationwide decrease.

“The Council will be keeping a close eye on our monthly traffic fatality estimates to determine if this decrease is just a blip on the radar,” said Janet Froetscher with the NSC.

While human loss is the worst of the consequences of these accidents, there are many other obstacles that come with an accident, including injuries, property damage, employer costs, medical expenses, productivity losses, lost wages and even administrative expenses.

Medically consulted motor vehicle injuries during the first six months of 2013 were up 2 percent from 2012. Officials estimate that the total cost of these fatalities, injuries and property damage through the month of June this year was more than $125 billion, which serves as a .5 increase from the same time period a year ago.

During the first six months of 2013, the state of Florida saw a 7 percent decrease in the number of reported car accident fatalities. Still, we lost more than 1,000 people in these accidents. On the other hand, we’ve seen absolutely no fluctuation from the 2011 numbers compared to the 2013 numbers, which means there is no discernible downward trend.

According to the Florida Safety Council, motorists should always wear a seat belt — during each and every trip. It’s the law. Besides, safety belts and restraint systems have saved countless lives. You always want to make sure that 100 percent of your attention is focused on the road. This means keeping cellular devices and other electronics out of the driver’s seat. Pay attention to traffic signals, signs and the maneuvers of other drivers. Safe, aware and defensive driving habits are your best defense in avoiding a potentially fatal accident.
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You might think you’re better off behind the wheel if you’re using a hands-free device. Unfortunately, recent research has determined that hands-free devices are just as dangerous as hand-held electronics for drivers. According to The Street, voice-to-text email programs are more or less the worst of all.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), the state of Florida is one of the most relaxed states in the country when it comes to keeping drivers’ attention on the road. In the state, the only law that lawmakers have enacted to keep drivers from engaging in electronic devices behind the wheel was a ban on texting and driving, and that’s not even effective until October.

Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers understand that about half of the nation’s adult population owns a smartphone. According to the wireless industry, the nation’s subscription rate was over 103 percent. And that’s what has prompted officials with the GHSA to release findings of their “2013 Distracted Driving: Survey of the States” study.

But that’s not the only study in which experts have been looking into this epidemic. Using various road tests and a number of driving simulators, officials with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety performed a series of experiments on volunteers to measure how a range of distractions — from listening to the radio to answering math questions — affect driving proficiency.

Researchers looked at the amount of time it took for drivers to brake, adhere to speed limits as well as following distances to other vehicles, while they were engaged in other activities behind the wheel. Brain waves and head and eye movements were recorded during this time. Researchers wanted to see how well the participants could pay attention to the road. And the results weren’t pretty.

In helping to prevent distracted driving accidents, it’s not only important that the drivers are aware, but that local enforcement agencies and state lawmakers are doing their job, too. According to the GHSA, there were 47 states that reported having taken steps to educate the public about the threat of distracted driving in 2012. This is up from 37 states in 2010 (a more than 25 percent increase).

States are employing a number of information strategies in connection with these campaigns. But recognizing the effectiveness of technology-based communication, 36 states have incorporated new/social media such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to get out their message, an astounding 125% increase over the 2010 response, when only 16 states were using these strategies.

Luckily, the state of Florida was included in these efforts in 2012, but more needs to be done today! Hang up the phone, put down the bluetooth and save these activities for another time. Behind the wheel is no time to multitask. Unfortunately, we’re not able to do all of these things as safely as we would like to believe. Pay attention to the road and arrive alive.
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Intersections may be some of the most dangerous areas that we drive through each and every day. But it’s not just dangerous for the motorists. It’s the bicyclists and pedestrians who are up against some serious risks, too.

For this reason, we recognize the first week of August as National Stop on Red Week. This awareness week was launched back in 1995 and is still being used today to get more drivers to pay attention at intersections and to follow lighted traffic signals. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, this year’s week-long campaign will be held from August 4 through August 10.

Our Naples car accident lawyers understand that there were close to 2.5 million reported accidents that took place at an intersection in the U.S. in 2008. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 7,800 deaths and another 735,000 injury accidents reported in these locations. In 2011, the problem seems to be just as serious. During that year, there were close to 715 people killed and another 120,000 people injured in red light-running accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In urban accidents, accidents involving drivers who drove through a red light, stop sign or other traffic control are the most common cause of traffic collisions, accounting for more than 20 percent. Injuries resulted in roughly 40 percent of the accidents in which a driver went through a traffic control device unlawfully.

During rush hour, red-light running drivers were more common. Officials are likely to believe that these dangerous maneuvers happen even more often in areas in which there is more traffic.

Aside from relying on drivers to stop on red, there are some countermeasures that can help to get traffic to stop. According to recent studies, roundabouts and adequate yellow-light time can help to reduce these risks. Signalized intersections can be replaced altogether by roundabouts, which have dramatically fewer injury crashes. Unfortunately, it’s not feasible to replace every traffic light in the nation with a roundabout, and not every intersection is appropriate for a roundabout. That’s where driver safety and awareness comes in.

When you’re approaching an intersection and you’re in a bit of a rush, remember that speeding through a red light is only going to save you a matter of seconds and it could wind up costing you your life (or the life of another motorist). It just doesn’t balance out. Next time you’re approaching a yellow or red light. Come to a safe and complete stop. The safety of everyone relies on it.
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A motorcycle advocate from Cape Coral is calling for tougher distracted driving legislation. What caused the uproar? A recent motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a local 20-year-old rider, and which is being blamed on a driver’s lack of attention, according to FOX 4. The accident happened after his motorcycle was reportedly clipped by a 17-year-old behind the wheel of an SUV.

“In my opinion, [motorcycle accidents] do not have to happen,” said Wayne Cerra, the President of the Southwest Florida Chapter of ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Towards Education). “Distracted driving is the number one cause of these crashes today.”

Our Cape Coral accident lawyers understand that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents across the nation. It’s also a common and deadly factor in many motorcycle accidents. Although we have tougher laws regarding distracted driving that take effect here in the state of Florida in October, officials with ABATE say much more needs to be done.

According to Investor’s Business Daily, technology is oftentimes blamed for these kinds of accidents, but many officials believe that it’s actually the same technology that can help to fix the problem, too.

Safe driving advocates are working to get the technology to do the work. These organizations are mulling guidelines released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April. They’re trying to get auto manufacturers to eliminate the use of these devices while the vehicle is in motion. This includes GPS devices, cell phones, text messaging devices and all other forms of infotainment.

“We are aware that many manufacturers have already begun taking into consideration concerns such as the complexity of the tasks involving an electronic device, the length of time a driver’s attention is diverted from the primary task of driving,” says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to the Administration, text messaging drivers double their risk for an accident or near accident when they take their eyes off the road. Text messages take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 23 seconds.

Ray LaHood, the secretary for the NHTSA says that voice recognition isn’t the answer either. He says that the systems – like those that let people compose texts using voice commands while driving – do not meet his standards for safety. The car manufacturers argue otherwise, saying that they’re helping to reduce the risks of accidents, according to The New York Times.

Still, safe driving advocates view distracted driving as an “epidemic.”

“If somebody is trying to dial a number, even if it’s voice-activated, they’re obviously distracted from what they’re supposed to be doing,” said LaHood.

Think about that the next time you’re heading down the road, behind the wheel, and decide that you need to make a call or reply to a text. Traveling at 50 or 60 miles an hour doesn’t seem like the safest time to do it, does it? Stay focused and arrive alive by minimizing distractions (even with voice activation) when you’re behind the wheel.
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