Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Florida currently has no prohibitions against cell phone use while driving. However, there are at least 9 bills relating to distracted driving that have been filed for the legislative session of 2011 in Florida, according to Hands-Free Info.

These bills are being filed even after the Legislature rejected all previous bills that aimed to limit cell phone use by drivers. The aim of these proposed laws is to reduce the risks of potentially deadly distracted driving car accidents in Naples and elsewhere in the Sunshine State.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers urge both residents and visitors to practice safe driving habits behind the wheel and to pay full attention to our roadways. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 28 percent of all car accidents — 1.6 million crashes per year — can be attributed to cell phone use while driving.

“You already see people at red lights text messaging or punching in things into their BlackBerries when they should be paying attention,” said Rep. Charles Chestnut, D-Gainesville. “Now, you’re going to see more eyes focused on their iPhones than driving. With the increase in new technology, I think there should be some type of increased regulation to protect the safety of innocent people who are giving their full attention to the road.”

For the entire month, the National Safety Council and FocusDriven have joined forces with transportation departments nationwide to ask drivers to commit to putting away their cell phones and other distracting devices. They’re also urging drivers to change their voicemail message to alert callers that the person they’re calling may not be able to answer as they might be behind the wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,500 people were killed and approximately 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents that involved a distracted driver in the United States in 2009. Nearly 1,000 of those accidents reported the use of a cell phone as the form of driver distraction.

The NHTSA considers a number of factors that can contribute to distracted driving:

-Using a cell phone.

-Changing the radio station or CD.

-Eating or drinking.

-Smoking
-Adjusting climate controls.

-Passengers in the vehicle.

The NSC and FocusDriven find this month to be the perfect opportunity to rally employers to initiate a cell phone policy in the workplace and while operating vehicles on the job. They’ve provided employers with this free Cell Phone Policy Kit to help employers enforce these safety rules.

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was first introduced by former Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO). It was passed through the U.S. House of Representatives in a 410-2 vote. The resolution mentions a 9-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a distracted driver in November of 2008. The girl’s mother is currently a founding board member of FocusDriven.
Continue reading ›

Various transportation agencies, including the Florida Department of Transportation, will be joining together to raise awareness of work zone safety and traffic accidents as it is National Work Zone Safety Week. The “Safer driving. Safer work zones” campaign theme and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are urging motorists to practice cautious driving when passing through our Southwest Florida construction zones, and when encountering emergency responders, as officials work to reduce the risks of a Fort Myers car accident.

Our Naples car accident attorneys would like to remind drivers to be extra cautious in these work zone areas as nearly 700 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in highway work zones in 2009. Florida alone experienced 100 work zone car related accidents.

While 2010 marked the lowest number of car accidents since 1948, work zone fatalities are still a routine risk. The National Work Zone Safety Awareness Information Clearinghouse reported that, in 2009, more than 30,000 people were injured in work zone vehicle accidents. Motorists experienced most of these injuries — accounting for 85 percent of those killed.

The main contributors to work zone car accidents are excessive speeds, improper lane changes, careless driving, following too closely and failure to yield to the right of way. Violating work zone laws can result in fines ranging from $100 to $10,000 and immediate license suspension.

Additionally, construction companies may bear some of the responsibility in the event of an accident. Issues with local road construction crews — from the gas line explosion on Colonial Boulevard, to asbestos found in fill dirt on Summerlin, to the length of time of the Gladiolus widening project — have been spotlighted in local media reports this year.

The National Work Zone Safety Awareness Information Clearinghouse would like to offer you these work zone driving tips to make your drive through construction areas safer for you, other motorists and road workers:

-Put away all distractions. Distracted driving significantly influences the likelihood of an accident in work zones.

–Watch out for everyone and everything involved in these work zones. Be sure to keep a safe distance between you, workers and all obstructing objects.

–Merge as soon and as safely as possible. Waiting until the last minute to change lanes can cause dangerous congestion. Getting in the proper lane well in advance will only decrease your risk of putting yourself in a compromising situation.

-Think ahead. If you know you’ll be passing through a work zone on the way to your destination, leave earlier to allow yourself more time or find a different route. Be sure to pass through these zones, and all Southwest Florida work zones, with caution.

The Florida Department of Transportation offers this public service announcement to share with friends and family in attempt to raise awareness of work zone safety among our local motorists.

The North Fort Myers Neighbor offers this list of work zones that will be targeted by Lee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Units in effort to provide safer roads for our motorists and workers.
Continue reading ›

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday that fewer people were killed on the nation’s roads last year than at any time since modern record keeping began following World War II.

However, our Cape Coral personal injury lawyers note the news was not all good: Government figures show the number of fatal accidents actually increased year-over-year as the economy improved during the last half of 2010.

“Last year’s drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first.”

Traffic deaths declined three percent, from 33,808 in 2009 to 32,788 last year. The number of traffic deaths has declined 25 percent since 43,510 died on the nation’s roads in 2005.

“The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be.”

A close look at the statistics shows a year-over-year increase of 1.6 to 1.8 percent during the last half of the year, after a decline of 5 to 11.4 percent during the first six months of 2010. Region 4, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, reported a decline of 3 percent for the year, in line with the national average.

California recorded a decrease of 10 percent in the number of fatal accidents in 2010 — the Northeast led the nation with a decline of 12 percent.

The nation’s industrial areas recorded an increase as the economic recovery gained ground. Fatal traffic accidents in New England increased by 18 percent. A two percent increase was reported in Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Midwest region, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, recorded an increase of 3.9 percent.

The beginning of the winter tourism season was met with great optimism after several tough years in South Florida. As our snowbird friends head north and year-around residents settle in for a long, hot, comparatively quiet summer, it’s important to remember that more and more people will be on the roads as the economy improves. Putting the phone down, not driving distracted, and avoiding aggressive driving behaviors like speeding and tailgating will go a long way toward making sure you reach your destination safely.
Continue reading ›

With spring in South Florida comes the arrival of the kind of torrential rains and thunderstorms unique to our tropical climate — and an increased risk of Fort Myers car accidents caused by bad weather, high winds and floodwater.

Florida — and particularly our area of Southwest Florida — is the lightning strike capital of the United States. Be particularly cautious around thunderstorms, whether in your vehicle or on the golf course. While it’s an often overlooked danger, lightning kills more people each year than snowstorms, hurricanes or tornadoes, according to National Geographic. On average, 73 people are killed and hundreds more suffer debilitating injuries. In the last 50 years, nearly 500 people have been killed in Florida — or about 10 percent of the nation’s total.

Our area of the state is also among the coastal regions with the highest rainfall totals — with an average of 50 to 60 inches of rain each year. Nearly all of that falls between April and November and still Florida is among the top 5 states with the most precipitation each year.

The Florida Highway Patrol offers motorists tips for driving in rainy Florida weather:

-Stay Put: Florida storms are most often violent and brief. Avoid driving in them. Either wait until a storm has eased to head out to your destination, or pull over to the side of the road and wait out a storm. Also, watch for fallen debris in the aftermath of a storm.

-Slow Down: Decrease your speed following a storm. Watch for standing water and beware of the dangers of hydroplaning.

Buckle up: Always wear your seat belt.

Beware of high winds: Winds can make a vehicle handle poorly. High-profile vehicles such as buses, trucks and SUVs, may have a particularly difficult time.

Don’t Drown – Turn Around: Never drive into standing water or attempt to drive through a flooded area. The area of road beneath the water may be washed out or conceal debris, such as tree branches or power lines.

Pay Attention: Intersection lights may not be functioning properly. Debris may be on the roadway. Disabled vehicles or other unexpected roadblocks may present unique challenges when it comes to driving in a storm’s aftermath.
Continue reading ›