Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Distracted driving-related car accidents in Fort Myers are a hot topic among residents, law enforcement and government officials in our area. There’s even a Stop Distracted Driving Facebook page for the city of Fort Myers. Even with all of this awareness about this dangerous driving behavior, we still see about a third of all drivers engaged in distracting diversions.

To help to promote awareness about these dangers, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety launched the third-annual “Heads-Up Driving Week.” Our Naples car accident attorneys would like to ask all residents to join the week-long event from October 2nd through the 8th and make the pledge to curb all distractions while operating a motor vehicle. Distracted driving-related car accidents took the lives of roughly 5,500 people in 2009. All of these roadway deaths could have been prevented with better driver attention.

It’s no secret that we all have a lot to do and that multi-tasking is a regular activity. But what’s most important is the need to focus on driving while on our roadways. Every single day, there are roughly 8,000 traffic accidents in the United States alone because of distracted drivers.

Distracted driving facts:

-Drivers typically spend more than half of their time behind the wheel engaging in distractions while also navigating our roadways.

-There were more than one million people killed in car accidents over the last 25 years in the country. Roughly 33,750 people were killed in 2010 alone. Experts blame the increase on the advancements in technology and in driver distractions.

-Using a cell phone while driving makes you more than four times more likely to experience a serious crash.

-Common driver distractions include smoking, listening to music too loudly, eating, slowing down to look at traffic accident scenes, making phone calls, text messaging and interacting with passengers.

-Passenger-related distractions were reported as the number one contributor to distraction-related accidents on our roadways.

According to AAA’s Traffic Safety Culture Index, nearly 95 percent of surveyed drivers said that they view emailing and texting behind the wheel as a driving behavior that is completely unacceptable. Nearly 90 percent of these same drivers reported that they completely support laws aimed to regulate or to completely ban the behavior. Still, about a third of them report that they’ve engaged in this driving behavior at least once within the last month.

This is the “do as I say, not as I do” complex, a common behavior of some drivers. We want drivers to practice safer habits on our roadways but refuse to make the changes within ourselves first. We ask that Florida drivers give this week-long pledge a try. You might just enjoy distraction-free driving, and will be able to truly feel the safety of alert driving habits. Urge your friends, family and coworkers to take the pledge with you.
Continue reading ›

Car accidents in Florida were the number one cause of death for on-the-job fatalities in both 2009 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2010, Florida experienced more than 200 work fatalities, nearly half of which were caused by work-related traffic accidents. To help combat this problem, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) joined forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation for another Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW). This year’s campaign has been titled “Focus 360°: Getting there safely is everyone’s business.” This year’s event is ongoing this week, from October 3rd to the 7th.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers, Naples and Port Charlotte understand that distracted driving-related car accidents have been a popular topic of conversation in the state recently. Distracted driving affects everyone on our roadways. As motor-vehicle accidents continue to be the top cause of death for work-related fatalities, these two organizations continue to push for cell phone-free work places. No phone call or text message is worth risking someone’s life on our roadways.

This campaign affects everyone on our roadways, whether you’re a passenger, a driver or a cyclist. There is something that we can all do to make travel safer. We ask you to practice safe and distraction-free driving habits to help set a good example for your loved ones, other motorists and your coworkers.

In Florida, transportation accidents took more lives of employees in 2010 than falls, fires, explosions, assaults, violent acts or any other type of work-related accident.

“Employers have the potential to reach up to one-half of the nation’s population, and their support in our fight to stop distracted driving is crucial.” Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

For this year’s campaign, organizers are suggesting the following:

-Consider creating and enforcing a cell phone policy for your company to help reduce the risks of these types of accidents.

-For employers who already have a policy, consider sharing tips and creating activities to help enforce the current policy.

-Employers who are not interested in creating a cell phone policy are still urged to talk with employees about the risks, the dangers and the consequences of distracted driving.

Distractions have the ability to take a driver’s attention off our roadways and to increase everyone’s risk for a motor-vehicle accident. In 2010, these types of accidents killed roughly 5,500 people on U.S. roadways. Nearly 500,000 others were injured in these accidents. Drivers who use a cell phone behind the wheel are four times more likely to be involved in a serious traffic accident. Recent statistics conclude that about a fourth of all accidents were caused by a distracted driver.

During the 2010 campaign, there were approximately 5,000 participating organizations. Of those who participated, nearly 90 percent now have some type of corporate cell phone policy We encourage you to join this year!
Continue reading ›

The 2011 Distracted Driving Summit will be held this year on October 17th in Washington D.C.. This is an important event that helps to reduce the risks of car accidents in Lee County and elsewhere. This year’s event is being put on by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and was made possible through funding from AT&T. NOYS is a firm believer that these types of programs have the ability to make a significant and positive impact on young drivers and for this reason they continue to push the issue on leaders across the nation.

Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys understand just how important these types of events are. It’s not been long ago since Cape Coral was ranked the most dangerous city of its size in the nation for teen car accidents. Our newly-licensed teen drivers are oftentimes unaware of the hazards and they lack the experience to effectively deal with dangerous driving situations. They’re also likely to underestimate the dangers of distracted driving. With the proper driving education, we can help to ensure the safety of our teens on Florida roadways.

The 2011 Teen Distracted Driving Summit will include:

-The commencement of the new 2011 and 2012 NOYS Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Team (TDDPT). This team consists of 40 leaders and 10 advisers.

-Sponsorship opportunities.

-A TDDPT workshop and training session that will be conducted by a safe-driving expert organizations and companies.

-Presentations by national leaders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

-Booth opportunities for those who wish to showcase products, programs and educations resources.

The organizers of this event also ask that parents get involved. They ask that parents make sure to reiterate the dangers of distracted driving and simple ways to improve safe driving habits. They’re also asked to make sure that the vehicle that their teen is driving is well-maintained and that teen understands how to keep it in that condition all year long. Talk with teens about the importance of properly maintaining a vehicle.

NOYS offers you and your teen a vehicle checklist to help ensure that you teen’s vehicle is running smoothly and that all is in order.

Car accidents are the number one cause of death for teens in our country. With the proper education and supervision from parents, we can all do our part to help turn this statistic around. As a matter of fact, distracted driving car accidents account for a third of all reported accidents every year. According to distraction.gov, approximately 5,500 people were killed on our roadways in 2009. About 1,000 of these fatalities were the result of a traffic accident that reported the involvement of a cell phone-using driver.

More specifically, drivers under the age of 20 make up the age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers. Roughly 20 percent of all of these young drivers were involved in a fatal distracted driving-related accident.
Continue reading ›

Newly-licensed drivers typically think they’ve got the whole driving thing down pat. According to a recent study, more than 90 percent of young drivers believe that their driving abilities are better than a majority of other drivers. Problem with that is that it’s not true!

Psychologists say they have “illusive superiority,” meaning they have a bias that causes them to overestimate their abilities. This also means that they underestimate their negative qualities, which oftentimes result in teen car accidents in Fort Myers. Toyota is trying to help educate these young drivers, according to CNN Money.

Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys know teens and older drivers are most at risk of being involved in a car accident. Those are the drivers targeted by the Toyota study.

One of these projects, conducted at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, mounted cameras onto the vehicles of young drivers. The footage revealed teen drivers were making phone calls, sending text messages and putting on makeup, all while remaining completely oblivious to the surrounding traffic. Researchers even saw a teen driver get thrown through the driver’s side window because of an accident. Young drivers were also the least likely to wear a seat belt. These drivers are three times more likely to get into a traffic accident than older drivers.

Teens aren’t alone in the group of less-than-perfect drivers. Drivers age 75 and older also face a serious increase in the risks for an accident. Research concludes that with age, a driver’s ability to take in information at a glance deteriorates. Their field of vision shrinks by nearly 30 percent. These elderly motorists are unable to remain aware of the surroundings and act in a timely manner to them.

Many motorists quietly admit that distractions happen because drivers can be boring and drivers believe that they can multitask behind the wheel. Recent studies conclude that about 30 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by a distracted driver.

To help reduce these risks, Toyota teamed up with the MIT AgeLab to conduct a study that will look into the use of vehicle voice-command systems and its effect on driver distraction. Researchers are looking for ways to reduce the risks of accidents for drivers across the board.

To make sure that everyone will benefit from the study and the research, Toyota is also looking into the body decencies of elderly drivers and is conducting a number of crash tests to better adapt to their body structures.

But no amount of research will replace a safe and alert driver behind the wheel. Put down the distractions and put more of your attention on the roadway. Too many innocent motorists are injured and killed every year because of the inattention of other drivers.
Continue reading ›

A record number of motorists are now wearing their seat belts, according to a recent press release from the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive (DHSMV).

New records conclude that 8 out of 12 of the surveyed Florida counties returned an average seat belt usage rate of more than 88 percent. The 2010 rate of usage was approximately 87 percent. These statistics were recorded this last June during the 2011 Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign. Seat belts have been proven one of the most effective ways to prevent death in the event of a car accident in Cape Coral or elsewhere throughout the country.

“We have made great strides in getting more and more people to buckle up, but we still have a long way to go. We must continue to do even more to meet our vision of delivering a transportation system that is fatality and congestion free,” said Ananth Prasad, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys would like to point out that pickup truck occupants were among the drivers least likely to buckle up on our roadways. It is important that we get all types of drivers on board with the seat belt campaign. Hundreds of lives can be saved each year with the use of seat belts.

To help raise awareness about the benefits of seat belts, the recent Click It or Ticket campaign, which took place from late May until early June, sent local and state law enforcement agencies out on our Florida roadways in search of motorists violating the state’s seat belt law. Officers enacted a zero policy tolerance for those who disobeyed.

According to the Executive Director of the DHSMV, Julie Jones, state enforcement agencies are thrilled with the compliance rate in Florida. She credits the compliance to lawmakers for changing the seat belt law to make it easier to enforce. She also thanks the Florida Highway Patrol and the other partnering agencies for their stepped up efforts to make our roadways a safer place for everyone.

According to seat belt usage statistics, Lee County ranked in at number one after reporting more than 92.4 percent of motorists were wearing seat belts in the county. Collier County followed with a close second with 92.1 percent of motorists wearing a seat belt during the 2011 poll.

Florida county seat belt usage:

-Lee County: 92.4 percent.

-Collier County: 92.1 percent.

-Palm Beach County: 91 percent.

-Broward County: 89.8 percent.

-Leon County: 89.8 percent.

-Duval County: 88.9 percent.

-Pinellas County: 87 percent.

-Miami Dade County: 86.5 percent.

-Polk County: 86.3 percent.

-Orange County: 85.9 percent.

-Marion County: 85.7 percent.

-Hillsborough County: 85.6 percent,
Continue reading ›

Sleepy driving is a quick way to get you into a serious car accident in Naples or elsewhere in Florida. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in our state. Drivers believe they have the will power and the strength to tough through fatigued driving, and the truth is that it’s harder and more dangerous than it may seem.

In an attempt to help combat the occurrence of fatigued driving-related accidents and to help save lives on our roadways, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of Transportation is teaming up with a number of state lawmakers and safe driving advocates this month to campaign for Florida’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that a great number of car accidents in the state of Florida report the involvement of a drowsy driver. Unfortunately, the number is expected to be much higher than statistics report because there is no way to be sure that a driver was drowsy at the time of an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 100,000 accidents a year involve a sleepy driver. These accidents are believed to kill at least 1,500 people each year and cause more than 70,000 injuries. These accidents cause nearly $13 billion in monetary losses every year, too.

To help stop drowsy driving-related car accident, the Ronshay Dugans Act was passed back in 2010. This act, which was sponsored by State Representative Alan Williams of District 8, specifically designates the first week of September as Florida’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

“Ronshay lost her life after a driver crashed into the bus that she was riding,” said Williams. “Drowsy driving can be eliminated with simple planning and a conscious decision to pull over when you know you are tired.”

The NHTSA reports that these groups face the highest risks for falling asleep at the wheel:

-Drivers ages 16- to 29-years-old. Males are more likely to fall asleep while driving than females in this age group.

-Residents who work irregular hours and workers who oftentimes have their sleeping schedule disrupted by work.

-Drivers who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy or sleep apnea syndrome..

Drivers can follow these simple steps to help prevent a fatigued driving related-accident:

-Get a good night’s sleep before heading out on a road trip. It is recommended to get anywhere from 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

-Bring a friend along. If you feel tired at the wheel, make a switch.

-Schedule in breaks. Drivers should be behind the week for no more than three consecutive hours.

-If you feel tired, pull over and take a break. It does no one any good to power through the symptoms of fatigue.

Drowsy driving greatly impairs your reaction time and your ability to drive safely. Please keep in mind the safety of other motorists, the safety of your passengers and the safety of yourself next time you try to power through some sleepy driving.
Continue reading ›

The Fort Myers Police Department and about 10,000 other law enforcement agencies throughout the country started enforcement efforts aimed at intoxicated drivers to reduce the risks of drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere through the Labor Day weekend.

The nationwide campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” has officers conducting a number of sobriety checkpoints and various saturation patrols. Officers will be focusing their efforts on the evening hours as that is when drunk drivers are most likely to hit our roadways.

The campaign kicked off on the 19th of August and will be running through the Labor Day weekend, September 5th, according to WINK News.

Our Cape Coral drunk driving car accident attorneys note that recent reports, released by the National Safety Council (NSC), estimate that approximately 400 motorists are expected to die because of car accidents over the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Another 39,000 people are expected to be injured in traffic accidents this weekend.

These accidents are preventable if all residents and visitors vow to drive safely and cautiously over the long weekend. We also ask that you remain sober if you’re planning to drive. Keeping intoxicated drivers off our roadways may be one of the most effective ways to help ensure everyone’s safety.

Over the last six Labor Day weekends, our county has seen an increase in the number of roadways fatalities compared to similar non-holiday time periods.

Local officers have the following agenda for the Labor Day weekend, according to WINK News:

-Locate and remove drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

-Reduce the likelihood that an impaired driver will jump behind the wheel.

-Strengthen and heighten awareness.

-Educate residents and visitors about the dangers of driving drunk.

To help make sure that everyone’s safe on our roadways over the long weekend, local officers suggest you follow these safety tips:

-Have a plan. If you’re going to be drinking, make sure you have a designated driver before you head out for the evening.

-Grab the keys. Do your part to make sure that friends and family members don’t get behind the wheel after drinking.

-Heads up. If you’re throwing a party over the holiday weekend and you’ll be serving alcohol, remember to let your guests know to make transportation arrangements to get home. It is wise to offer non-alcoholic beverages and to make sure that everyone leaving your party has a responsible ride or a designated driver.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report that in 2009, there were 25 traffic-accident fatalities and nearly 450 injuries in Lee County that were alcohol related.

Labor Day weekend continues to be one of the busiest and deadliest times on our roadways. Motorists are asked to navigate safely and to report any driver that they suspect to be intoxicated by calling local authorities. Please enjoy your Labor Day weekend, remain safe and help to keep your loved ones safe.
Continue reading ›

Statistics of fatal car accidents in Florida were recently analyzed by CNBC and figures conclude that Florida makes up a third of the list for the “15 Dangerous Cities for Driving.” Researchers took a look at traffic data from a number of large cities with populations of 150,000 or more in comprising the list — and determined which of the nation’s cities saw the highest number of car accidents

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand how deadly our roadways can be. There are a number of factors that contribute to the dangers on our roadways. Some of these factors include elderly drivers, tourist drivers, foreign vistors and spring breakers. Drunk driving and driving too fast for road conditions are common causes. And many of our roads simple weren’t built to handle current traffic volume. A number of these deadly accidents can be avoided with cautious and defensive driving habits.

The rankings were calculated based on the fatality rate per 100,000 population.

The 15 most dangerous cities to drive in are as follows:

-Oklahoma City: 551,789 population. 74 roadway fatalities.

-Birmingham: 228,798 population. 31 deaths.

-Tulsa: 385,635 population. 54 deaths.

-St. Petersburg: 245,314 population. 35 fatalities.

-Jacksonville: 807,815 population. 116 fatalities.

-Lubbock: 220,483 population. 33 fatalities.

-Memphis: 669,651 population. 101 fatalities.

-Jackson, Mississippi: 173,861 population. 27 fatalities.

-Chattanooga: 170,880 population. 28 fatalities.

-Salt Lake City, Utah: 181,698 population. 30 fatalities.

-San Bernardino: 198,580 population. 38 fatalities.

-Little Rock: 189,515 population. 34 fatalities.

-Augusta-Richmond Co., Georgia: 194,149 population. 38 fatalities.

-Orlando: 230,519 population. 46 fatalities.

-Fort Lauderdale: population 183,126. 41 fatalities.

These statistics illustrate just how dangerous it is to drive in the state of Florida. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were more than 256,000 traffic accidents in the state of Florida in 2006. More than 370,000 drivers were involved in these accidents. This means that more than 700 accidents occurred each day in Florida throughout the year. Florida has an average death rate of 1.65 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Nearly 3,500 people were killed in these accidents and another 215,000 people were injured.

Motorists are asked to have a game plan before heading out to your destination. Know the route that you’ll be taking to avoid confusion. It’s not a bad idea for motorists to check traffic delays before leaving as well. Sometimes the most direct route isn’t your safest bet. Don’t be hesitant to take a longer route to avoid dangerous or congested driving areas.

Right now we are in that lull before heading into season. Still, August has consistently produced the highest number of traffic accident fatalities nationwide. Please travel safely throughout the state and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Continue reading ›

The Florida Teen Driver Challenge is a program with one goal: to reduce the number of teen car accidents in Cape Coral and elsewhere in Florida. The program was launched in 2006 when the Florida Sheriff’s Association took notice of the large number of teens that were being killed in car accidents on our roadways.

To help fund the program, the Florida Department of Transportation offered a grant to the state that allowed the Association to create a 12-hour program. The program allows teen drivers to get some hands-on driving experience before being sent out on Florida roads.

This program is especially important for students that are returning to school this month. Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers know the risk to teens; they too often underestimate the risks and overestimate their own driving abilities.

Many of our teen drivers are heading back to school, during rush hour, before the sun even rises. Parents are urged to talk to their teen about the importance of not only a classroom education, but a proper driving education. Get out there and help teach your teen the rules of the road!

The Florida Teen Driver Challenger program is a two-day class that is instructed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement personnel. Each individual instructor works with about 5 teen drivers. Instructors cover a wide variety of topics, including the dangers of drinking and driving, the dangers of distracted driving, the consequences of aggressive driving, vehicle dynamics, all of Florida’s driving laws and the consequences of car accidents.

Children are taught in a classroom setting and they’re provided with the opportunity to jump behind the wheel for some hands-on driving practice. During their driving practice, students get to learn strategies to avoid car accidents, cornering, braking, off-road recovery and other beneficial skills. In exchange for their thorough driving knowledge, they will be rewarded with a certificate of completion that can earn them a discount on their car insurance.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic accidents were the number one cause of death for teens in the United States. Nationwide, there were nearly 2,500 teen deaths resulting from car accidents in 2009. Another 196,000 teens were injured in these incidents.

In 2009, there were nearly 29,500 car accidents that involved a teen driver in the state of Florida. During the same year, our state witnessed nearly 9,000 teen passenger injuries, nearly 11,000 teen driver injuries, approximately 80 teen driver deaths and about 75 teen passenger deaths, according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

As teens head back to school this year, parents are asked to speak with their young driver about the importance of safe driving habits and the fatal consequences of dangerous driving. Teens may not have safety as a first priority this school year, but it is our responsibility as their parents, guardians and mentors to help remind them of the dangers of the road and to help reiterate the importance of safe driving.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy school year and look forward to another year filled with learning, friends and memories.
Continue reading ›