Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Hit and run accidents are likely becoming more frequent in Florida due to the number of uninsured motorists involved in Fort Myers car accidents and elsewhere.

Our Cape Coral personal injury attorneys have been called to deal with an increasing number of serious accidents in which the victim had little or no insurance. The economic downturn is primarily to blame, although legislation that has decriminalized habitual traffic offenses has not helped matters any.

Florida Today recently reported about a motorcycle victim who was struck by a habitual offender, who was driving with a suspended license.

The victim and his wife were hit by an SUV that was making a left turn. The motorcyclists’ leg was mangled and he sustained severe internal injuries, which left him in a coma for two months. His wife riding on the back of the bike was killed instantly. Ironically, the SUV driver had just been released 5 days earlier when his case was dismissed on charges that didn’t stick because the police officer had improbable cause to pull him over as a habitual traffic offender.

The fatal accident was one of many that transpired last year when the at-fault driver was driving with an invalid driver’s license. It is debatable whether the struggling economy or the change in law back in 2008 is more to blame for motorists who continually drive with a suspended license. In July of that year, habitual offenders stopped being charged with a felony for driving with a suspended license. The only exception is if the driver causes the death of another and is found negligent in causing that death.

In other words, they now have to kill someone before the criminal justice system is going to get serious about keeping them off the road. It should be noted that drivers are only considered habitual traffic offenders once they have at least four major traffic convictions.

Drivers with suspended licenses typically have either failed to pay a traffic fine, child support, or their insurance premiums. Or they have been convicted of drunk driving or other serious traffic infractions.

The law was changed in 2008 to keep offenders out of prison for reasons deemed as unnecessary. Knowing that they will no longer go to jail makes Florida motorists less concerned about driving with a suspended license.

The lax attitude brings an even bigger problem to the table: Victims who incur severe damages in crashes with unlicensed and uninsured drivers. Covering damages to property or medical expenses can drain bank accounts quickly. But if motorists who cause crashes and are driving without insurance aren’t held accountable, it can cause even more stress for victims. In an effort to protect themselves, victims should know their rights and contact legal assistance right away if they or someone they love has been in an accident.
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Cape Coral car accidents involving distracted drivers are an ongoing risk — particularly during the busy winter tourism season. And no drivers are at greater risk of being distracted than our teenagers.

Last October, a student organization at University of Central Florida launched a “Put Down Ur Cell Fone” campaign on campus to increase awareness of the dangers of distracted driving to the student body. UCF Today reported that UCF’s Student Government Association invited several guests speakers (which included local officials, professional athletes, and a representative from Florida Department of Transportation) on campus to speak about the dangers of driving while texting.

The student organization also asked students to sign a petition against talking or texting on a cell phone while driving.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers applaud the student group, which recently received a National Safety Council award for the effort. An article in the Orlando Sentinel reported the UCF SGA received the Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Award for the “Put Down Ur Cell Fone” campaign.

As the only student group represented at the NSC’s annual awards banquet, they are commended for winning the award over some of Florida’s largest companies like Disney, Boeing Corporation, and Progress Energy.

This award speaks volumes to the fact that students are paying attention to the dangers. Young drivers ages 20 and under are most at risk when it comes to distracted driving accidents. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this age group has the greatest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes. There were 5,474 fatalities and 448,000 injuries in 2009 as a result of a motor vehicle crashes that reported distraction as a cause for the accident.

Over 1,000 students at UCF signed the petition to become more responsible drivers last October. If students at universities throughout the nation were to make this kind of pledge, the number of fatalities would decrease and U.S. roadways would become safer by the minute.

Though texting and talking on a cell phone while driving is still currently legal in Florida, students are encouraged to put the phone down to minimize the risk of injury to themselves and other motorists. Texting and talking bills have been proposed several times but still await passage at the Statehouse.
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After a tough start to the year that has already included two traffic fatalities, authorities are stepping up enforcement in an effort to reduce the risk of serious and fatal Cape Coral car accidents caused by speeding, red-light running and other forms of aggressive driving.

The Cape Coral Daily Breeze reports both fatalities this year have occurred along the busy Pine Island Road corridor. Increased enforcement through the end of February will concentrate on keeping residents and visitors safe during the busy winter tourism season.

“We are going to increase our enforcement up there,” Cape Coral Police Chief Jay Murphy told The Breeze. “The public needs to be forewarned.”

Of particular focus will be the area between Santa Barbara Boulevard and Del Prado Boulevard. Speeding tickets on the 55 mph road can cost you $124 or more.

Thus far this year in Cape Coral a 44-year-old died when his SUV crashed into a vehicle and flipped over on Pine Island Road.

And, as we reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, a 24-year-old resident was killed in a Cape Coral motorcycle accident, which also occurred along Pine Island Road.

Unlike Road Rage, which typically involves a criminal offense such as assault, most drivers are guilty of some form of aggressive driving from time to time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recognizes many forms of aggressive driving, including speeding, failure to use turn signals, running red lights, driving too fast for conditions, tailgating and disobeying other traffic laws.
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