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Purchasing a car with 5-star safety ratings may reduce the risk of severe injury or death in a Naples car accident , but it doesn’t give motorists a free pass to drive recklessly or get distracted when they are operating these highly rated vehicles. Safety ratings only help consumers make an informed decision on what vehicle is most equipped to withstand a rollover crash or other dangerous rear-end or forward collision impacted crash.

Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers agree that car safety is an important consideration when purchasing a vehicle but nothing can guarantee safety like motorists playing it safe every time they get behind the wheel. However, consumers are encouraged to check out crash test ratings before you purchase if you want to reduce the risk of injury to you or your family in a collision involving a drunk, distracted or aggressive driver in South Florida.
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Family Car Guide recently reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in the process of finishing up crash testing for 2011 models but has recently released the list of more than seventy 2012 models that will be put through rigorous testing next year. The 2012 vehicle list will be comprised of 42 passenger cars, 2 minivans, 8 pickup trucks and 22 SUVs and crossovers which is over 80 percent of the vehicle models on the projected market for 2012.
The following are samples of some of the 2012 vehicles being tested:
-Family cars: Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac CTS, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, Toyota Camry, Volvo S60 and the Volkswagen Passat.
-Minivans: Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town & Country.
-SUVs and crossovers: Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sorento and Subaru Outback.

For a full list of which vehicles will be crash tested and assessed a star rating for 2012, visit NHTSA online.
In a recent press release, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated “Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy. People should remember: More stars, safer cars.”

In recent years, crash avoidance technology has been an important added feature in warning motorists that they are about to leave the roadway, veer over the center line or hit someone or something head-on or from behind. For the first time ever, the NHTSA will make recommendations to consumers about vehicles containing forward collision warnings (FCW), lane departure warnings (LDW) or both features. Last model year crash avoidance technologies were offered in 45 vehicles as optional equipment. There are 68 models for 2012 that have FCW (18), LDW (12) or both features (38) standard equipped in the vehicle.

Safercar.gov will post the results of the Government 5-star safety ratings program for the selected 2012 models once the crash tests have been performed. You will also be able to find the NHTSA’s recommendations for which vehicles have the best crash avoidance technologies for 2012 models available on this website.
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In preparation for the upcoming holidays and toy shopping for your little ones, our Sebring defective product attorneys want to remind parents and gift buyers that there are millions of toys on the market, but some are quite dangerous and cause hazards for your children.

Manufacturers, shippers and retailers have an obligation to catch these defects before they hit the market and cause a preventable serious or fatal injury to a young child.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 19 toy-related deaths and 235,300 toy-related injuries for children 14 and under in 2008. Almost half of the deaths were connected with riding toys but other causes of death for children under 15 in 2008 were choking and drowning. More than 82,000 of the toy-related injuries treated at a hospital emergency rooms in 2008 were children ages 4 and younger.

In order to reduce the risk of toy-related injuries to children in Fort Myers , Port Charlotte, Cape Coral and elsewhere, gift-buyers need to be aware of the dangers associated with toys. Some toys contain toxic substances from paint or PVC plastic while others can cause cuts, bruises, bone fractures, choking or concussions.

The U.S. federation of state Public Interest Research Groups has released an annual publication for the last 25 years called “Trouble in Toyland,” which examines toy safety.

Over the years, the report has led to 150 recalls of child products and defective toys. Last year’s publication looked at the dangers of chemical hazards and phthalates while visiting several national chain toy stores in September and October of 2010. Lead can be found in several children’s products including metal toys, jewelry, lunchboxes, vinyl bibs, and paint or outer coatings used to cover toys.

Lead exposure can affect nearly every organ or system in the body including the central nervous system. Exposure to lead can cause brain damage in small children. Over a twelve-month period, the CPSC recalled over 500,000 children’s products for violation of the lead paint standard. Exposure to phthalates has been found by scientists to cause potential health effects during critical stages of development. Two products were found last year to contain levels of phthalates in excess of limits allowed by CPSIA.

Gifts.com offers these tips on how to buy safe toys this holiday season:
-Manufacturers place age restrictions on toys for a reason, so make sure the toy you are purchasing is age appropriate for the child you are buying for.
-When purchasing for a small child or infant, check to make sure small or loose parts can’t be disconnected or chewed off.
-Take the toilet paper tube test. If the toy fits through the tube, it could be hazardous to your child.
-Don’t purchase a toy with straps, cords or strings longer than 7 inches for a young child in order to prevent choking or suffocation hazards.
-Check the product for sharp edges or breakable parts that could cause a severe cut or laceration to a child’s hands or face.
-Dolls, puzzles, action figures and building sets often contain magnets which can be fatal for children when swallowed. Refrain from buying toys with magnets.
-Read warning labels for hazardous substances or toxic chemicals.
-Check riding toys for sturdiness and potential fall hazards. Purchase protective equipment like kneepads, elbow pads or a helmet if required to reduce the risk of injury from a riding toy.
-Check the product for recalls. Visit the CPSC website for a full list of Toy Hazard Recalls.
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A Fort Myers Police Department employee was killed in a recent car accident in Lehigh Acres, according to the Sun Times. The 25-year-old female officer was on her way to work when she was involved in an accident at the intersection of Westgate Boulevard and Lee Boulevard. She worked as a community service aid for the FMPD.

It happened when she was making a left onto Lee — another vehicle that was heading straight reportedly sideswiped her car, sending it spinning onto the shoulder of the roadway. The car that sideswiped her vehicle flipped. The driver was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital but is doing okay.
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Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that this accident happened on the 8-year anniversary of the death of Fort Myers Police Officer Daniel Starks who was killed in a car accident as well. The recent fatal accidents are tragic reminders of the risks as we head into the holidays and the winter tourism season. With the increase in traffic we see at the end of every year, drivers are urged to be cautious, have some patience and to drive defensively on our roadways to help prevent fatal accidents.

“Our thoughts and prayers obviously immediately go out to her family. It’s got to be difficult,” Chief Doug Baker said. “We’ll pull together, work together and help ourselves and help the family get through with our services.”

Another local accident took the life of a motorcyclist on Westlinks Drive in Gateway. The accident happened as the 52-year-old man crashed into a raised concrete center median in the roadway. The man was thrown from his bike.

A third accident took the life of an 8-year-old boy. This accident happened as the young boy and his family headed home from Flea Masters. As the family’s vehicle turned left onto Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral, they were struck by a pickup truck. The truck T-boned their car and sent it skidding for about 40 feet.

The child was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according The News-Press.

It’s not only motorists who need to be cautious. Pedestrians are at a real danger for accidents on our roadways as well. As we recently reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, a 15-year-old female pedestrian lost her life while traveling along Pondella Road in Cape Coral. Florida continues to be the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrian traffic. Our area experienced the most frequent fatal pedestrian accidents on our roadways for years in a row.

As seasonal residents flock to our southern state and tourists make this their vacation destination, we’re all asked to travel cautiously and compassionately on our roadways to help keep everyone safe.
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A Cape Coral drunk driving accident landed a man an 11 year prison sentence, according to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. The accident happened back in 2009 and killed one of his passengers. Authorities say the drunk driver sped down Santa Barbara, lost control of his vehicle, over corrected, spun out, drove through someone’s front yard, hit a building and flipped. Through this high speed chaos, the passenger in the vehicle was ejected and ended up underneath the vehicle. The passenger was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
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Our Cape Coral drunk driving accident attorneys understand that the driver tested for a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.238 and 0.240. In the state of Florida, a driver is considered drunk with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Here at Associates and Bruce Scheiner, we deal with too many of these kinds of horrific cases. We unfortunately see an increase in these cases during the holidays. That’s why we support Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the efforts of local law enforcement at sobriety checkpoints. As the holiday season approach, our message to you is please don’t drink and drive!

The drunk driver pleaded no contest to charges of DUI damage to person or property and to DUI manslaughter back in March for the death of his passenger. According to a spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office, the man received 131.7 months behind bars and another 78 days in jail for both of the counts. The sentences run concurrently. The man’s driver’s license has also been revoked for life.

In Florida, there were nearly 800 fatal accidents in 2008 that involved a driver who was legally drunk. More than 1,000 people were killed in the state during 2008 because of alcohol-related accidents.

In 2009, alcohol-related accidents accounted for nearly 40 percent of all fatal accidents in the state of Florida. During that year, there were nearly 800 people killed in these accidents. Nearly 100 of these fatalities killed those under the age of 21.

Statistics show that three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some point in their lives. In 2009, someone died every 48 minutes because of these types of accidents. Across the U.S. nearly 11,000 people were killed because an intoxicated person got behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Nearly 70 percent of these accidents happened from midnight to 3:00 a.m.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are holidays that increase the risks for these accidents. As a matter of fact, there were nearly 500 people on U.S. roadways on New Year’s Day who died in 2009. Forty percent of these accidents were alcohol-related. Drivers age 21- to 24-years-old are most likely to be involved in one of these accidents.

The average BAC level among drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents in 2009 was 0.17, which is more than twice the legal limit.
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The year is flying by and Christmas decorations have already hit storefronts. It’s about that time to start Christmas shopping. But before you do, you’re urged to check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s recalled products list and check it twice! Unfortunately, there are many popular household items and children’s toys that wind up on this list every year. Defective product injuries should always be handled by a qualified attorney.
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Our Fort Myers personal injury attorneys understand the risk; consumers buy products and bring them into their home with no expectation of danger. Sadly, companies are too often more concerned with making a profit than with consumer safety. The CPSC lists defective products on its website to help prevent injury or death from thousands of products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC overlooks products that can pose mechanical, electrical, fire and chemical hazards to you and your family.

Recent items on the CPSC recall list:

Trek Bicycles

The Trek 2012 FX and District bicycles pose potential fall hazards because bolts that attach the seat’s clamp to the seat have been found unreliable. Nearly 30,000 bikes were sold from May of 2011 to September of 2011 ranging in prices from $550 to $1,100. If you own one of these bikes, you should contact a Trek dealer to receive a new bolt. These bikes have the item’s SKU number placed on the back of its pedal. All items ending with “12” on the SKU number are being recalled. Injuries resulting from the defect have already been reported.

BB Buggies’ Bad Boy Buggies:

Bad Boy Buggies off-road utility vehicles were already recalled in October of 2009 and in December of 2010. This is a whole new recall for the product. The new problem with the buggy is that the steering assembly arm can break and cause the little driver to lose control of the vehicle. This breakage causes a serious crash hazard. The company has received nearly 20 reports of this type of accident. The recall pertains to Classic, Bad Boy LT, XT, XT, and XTO Safari models. The buggies were sold across the county at Bad Boys Buggy dealers from August of 2009 to June of 2011. They cost anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000. If you have one of these products, contact BB Buggies or an authorized dealer for a free steering assembly replacement.

Target’s Children’s Frog Mask:

Target is recalling its Children’s Frog Masks because they reportedly cause a suffocation hazard. There is no proper ventilation to allow a child to breathe once the mask is on. Nearly 3,500 were sold in Target stores from August of 2011 to September of 2011 for $1. If you have this product, return it to a Target store for a refund. Recalled masks have a UPC code of 06626491474. This code is printed on the label attached to the mask.

Guidecraf’s Twist ‘n Sort Toys:

Nearly 800 of these items were sold in gift shops, specialty toy stores, online and in catalogs from September of 2009 through November of 2010. They cost about $20. If you purchased this item, contact Guidecraft to get a replacement or another product of equal value. Pegs on the posts can detach and can pose a choking hazard to children. Recalled items have the number “712” printed on the bottom of the base.

Parents are asked to be cautious when selecting presents for children for the upcoming holidays. Consult with both Santa and the CPSC to make sure none of the items on their wish list are dangerous or have been recalled.
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As we recently reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, a 15-year-old female pedestrian was killed as she and two of her friends attempted to cross Pondella Road in Cape Coral. Luckily, two of the teens made it across the street safely. One wasn’t so fortunate.
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We continue to discuss the importance of pedestrian safety along Lee and Collier County roadways. Pedestrian accidents in Naples and elsewhere are all too common, but they are entirely preventable. Children and teens are often the most at risk pedestrians along our roadways because they’re unable to comprehend the maneuvers, functions and dangers of passing traffic. These statistics can be reversed! Parents are urged to talk with the children and teens in their life about safe habits to exercise when walking near vehicular traffic to help avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Our Fort Myers pedestrian accident attorneys understand pedestrian accidents are on the rise in Florida. According to recent statistics, there was a near 5 percent increase in the number of these accidents across the state from 2009 to 2010. Florida continues to be ranked as number one for having the most pedestrian accidents and the highest death rate in the country. Parents are urged to discuss the importance of safe walking and biking habits, especially with the 2011-2012 school year in full swing.

Parents should share the following tips with their young pedestrians:

-All children under the age of 10 should be accompanied by an adult when walking near traffic.

-Everyone should use a crosswalk or a street corner when crossing the road.

-Be sure to look both ways before and during your trek across the road.

-Wear brightly-colored clothing to help ensure that motorists see you.

-Always walk on a sidewalk when one is available. When there are no sidewalks, walk as far from traffic as possible and walk facing oncoming traffic.

-Limit nighttime walking, but when it’s necessary make sure to wear reflectors or carry a flashlight.

-Never dart out from behind a parked car. Passing motorists may not be able to see you.

-Always make eye contact with a driver before crossing in front of them.

-Never walk alone. Use the buddy system.

According to Transportation for America, there have been more than 5,150 pedestrians killed in Florida from 2000 to 2009. These accidents cost the state more than $22 billion. Because Florida has a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) of 182.8, our state was ranked again as the most dangerous state for pedestrians in the United States.

Most Dangerous Metro Areas from 2000 to 2009 and the number of pedestrian fatalities witnessed:

-Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach: 1555.

-Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: 905.

-Orlando-Kissimmee: 557.

Jacksonville: 342.

-Cape Coral-Fort Myers: 178.

From 2000 to 2007, there were nearly 300 children under the age of 16 who died in pedestrian accidents in the state of Florida. These accidents are all too frequent and can be prevented with education. Parents, educators and guardians are urged to speak with little ones about the dangers they face when walking near vehicular traffic.
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You child is four times as likely to be involved in a car-pedestrian accident in Cape Coral on Halloween night than during any other night of the year, according to ABC7.

Our Cape Coral child injury attorneys would also like to warn parents about other Halloween-related injuries that your child could experience on the 31st. Eye trauma from sharp costume accessories and burns from flammable costumes are also a common injury we see every year on Halloween. We are here to provide you with some quick and simple safety tips to help keep you and the whole family safe this Halloween.
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“Children should be out having fun and spending time with family and friends. They should not have to spend Halloween in the ER because of some injury that could have been easily prevented,” Dr. Sandra Schneider, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 40 million kids age 5- to 14-years old will be out this year roaming from door to door in search of sugary goods.

To help reduce any risks of Halloween-related accidents, parents are urged to follow these safety tips from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office:

-Young children should never be sent out alone. Always accompany these young ghosts and goblins on their trick-or-treating adventures.

-Never go inside a stranger’s house or car. Accept all candy at the door.

-The bigger the trick-or-treating group the better.

-Plan out your trick-or-treating route beforehand to help you to pick the safest route possible. Pick a route with safe sidewalks, minimal vehicular traffic and safe road crossings.

-Stay within your own neighborhood.

-Never approach a house that doesn’t have their lights on. Only trick-or-treat at houses that are well-lit.

-Always adhere reflective tape to your costume or carry as flashlight to help ensure that motorists see you.

-Consider using makeup instead of a face mask. Masks obstruct your line of vision.

-Wear light-colored costumes and clothing to make you more visible to motorists.

-Don’t cut across people’s lawns. Be respectful of everyone’s property.

-Parents should examine all treats before allowing children to consume them. Throw out any candies that have been opened or have been tampered with.

-Never accept any treat that has not been commercially wrapped.

-Start your trick-or-treating adventure and end early. The later it gets, the higher your risks are for a traffic-related accident.

-Always use sidewalks when available and walk facing oncoming traffic.

-Walk, never run.

-Never run out from behind a parked car. Passing vehicles may not have enough time to respond.

Parents are also urged to check out the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Sexual Offender and Predator database to help you to better plan out your trick-or-treating route.

Lastly, we would like to ask that all motorists be extra careful on the 31st. Little monsters and mummies will be combing residential areas around the county in search of yummy snacks. Be cautious of these young ones. This holiday should be safe and injury-free and it can be with the proper safety precautions. We want everyone to have a safe and Happy Halloween!
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According to the Fort Myers Police Department, National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) is being held this year from October 16th through the 22nd. During this time, officials, safe driving advocates and local law enforcement agencies will be campaigning to raise awareness about the dangers our teen drivers face on our roadways. Car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere continue to be the number one killer for teens in the country.
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This week-long campaign was established by Congress back in 2007 and has been held every year on the third week of October. This year, parents are asked to continue the teaching process with their teen driver. According to recent studies, parents who frequently speak with their teen about safe driving habits and those who enact driving rules within the family have fewer risks for an accident than teens who are let loose on our roadways without guidance.

Our Naples teen car accident attorneys would like to focus in on a recently released study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This study examined the driving habits of teen drivers by installing cameras into the cars of teen drivers in North Carolina. The goal of the study was to determine what it is that causes our teen drivers to be at such high risks for car accidents.

According to the study, teen drivers are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a car accident during their first 30 days of unrestricted driving than they are during their first year of unrestricted driving. These risks continue to decrease as they gain more experience behind the wheel.

Researchers were able to credit nearly 70 percent of the accidents to three common driving mistakes, including speeding, failing to yield and driver inattention. Data proved that these accidents most often happened when drivers were making left-hand turns. Another finding of the study confirmed that teen accident risks decrease with experience behind the wheel.

“What our new study tells us is that there are a few specific abilities that we could do a better job of helping teens develop before they begin driving independently,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger.

Cameras also revealed another interesting characteristic; the change in driver behavior once they were driving without supervision. During unsupervised and unrestricted driving time, teens were more likely to engage in dangerous driving habits behind the wheel, including texting, making phone calls and engaging in activities with other passengers.

Tips for parents of teen drivers, from the National Safety Council:

-Set a curfew. Teen driver’s risks of experiencing an accident increase as the sun goes down. Consider a driving curfew.

-Limit passengers. Passengers, especially teenage ones, can be some of the most dangerous distractions for drivers. The more passengers in a vehicle, the higher the risks are for an accident.

-Ban cell phone use. Because Florida has no laws governing the use of cell phones or text messaging devices for drivers, parents are asked to regulate these behaviors among their teen drivers.

-Require seat belts. Seat belts have been proven as the most effective way to save a life in the event of an accident. Make sure everyone wears one during every car ride.
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Car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere are the number one killer of teens in the state of Florida and in the U.S. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has recently teamed up with schools throughout the state to host a number White Out events.

These events are held to raise awareness about the dangers that teen’s oftentimes face in the driver’s seat. During White Out, teens, schools employees, parents and other safe driving advocates were asked to wear white t-shirts to help to raise awareness. In addition to White Out, the DHSMV is participating in National Teen Driver Safety Week. We recently told you about this week-long campaign and its efforts to keep teen drivers safe on our roadways. The week-long event takes place this year from October 16th through the 22nd.
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“Today’s white out is a good reminder that driving is a big responsibility and that parents and guardians play a key role in teaching their children safe driving behaviors that impact how they drive for their entire lives,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones.

Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys understand that with increased parental support and education among teen drivers, we can all do our part to help save the lives of these inexperienced drivers on our roadways. We lose far too many young drivers every year in Florida. More supervised driving time and more discussion about safe driving habits may be able to do the trick and turn these accident statistics around for our newly-licensed drivers.

According to the 2010 Florida traffic accident statistics:

-Teens age 15- to 19-years-old have the highest accident rate of any age group in the state.

-There were nearly 734,000 licensed teen drivers.

-Nearly 27,000 teen drivers were involved in traffic accidents in 2009.

-Nearly 150 teens (drivers and passengers) who died on our roadways.

-Nearly 19,000 teens (drivers and passengers) were injured in traffic accidents.

-Teen drivers in Florida are twice as likely to be involved in an accident as their parents and about three times as likely as their grandparents.

To help educate our state’s young drivers, the DHSMV recently launched an interactive teen driver website to help the newly-licensed to learn safe driving habits. Drive with CARE (Courtesy, Attention, Responsibility, Experience), another online resource for teen drivers, is here to help teach parents and young drivers about our state’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The website also reiterates the importance of parent involvement in a teen driver’s learning process. The CARE information is available on the website or at state and tax collector operated driver license offices.

Recent studies reveal that teens who have more supervised driving time with parents and guardians face lower risks of accidents on our roadways. Teaching your teen driver safe and cautious driving habits early on in their driving career can help them to form lifelong habits that can help to keep them safe on our roadways. Parents are urged to visit the websites listed above and to participate in National Teen Driver Safety Week to help raise awareness about the importance of proper teen driving education.
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Florida Highway Patrol has announced that it will be participating in Operation Safe Driver, which takes place from October 16th to October 22nd, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. According to director of the Florida Highway Patrol, Col. David Brierton, this time will be used to target drivers of passenger buses and commercial trucks to make sure that each large vehicle and driver is abiding by all federal safety regulations to help prevent fatal trucking accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere throughout the state.
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This year’s campaign is being organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It’s estimated that nearly 90 percent of fatal accidents that involve a large truck or a passenger bus are caused by driver error.

Our Fort Myers accident attorneys understand how dangerous traffic accidents can be when a large truck or passenger bus is involved. To help reduce the risks of these accidents the Florida Highway Patrol will be using this campaign to focus on the poor decisions made by the drivers of passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. This enforcement effort comes after a string of serious bus and truck accidents through the state and the country.

“Activities such as Operation Safe Driver have had a noticeable effect,” said Brierton. “The number of commercial vehicle related crashes in Florida is at its lowest since 2001.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 3,500 fatalities and nearly 75,000 people injured because of traffic accidents that involved a large truck in 2009. Many of these accidents were the result of driver’s poor habits behind the wheel. It is these types of drivers that the Florida Highway Patrol is targeting. There’s are a lot to target too, considering there were nearly 300,000 large trucks involved in accidents in the U.S. during that time period. Florida witnessed nearly 200 fatal accidents with the involvement of a large truck in 2009.

Safe driving tips from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:

-Make sure you’re buckled up every time you drive.

-Make sure that your vehicle’s headrest is adjusted to sit behind your head. It should not be placed behind your neck. This is to help minimize whiplash in the event of an accident.

-Never put more people in the vehicle than there are seat belts.

-Make sure the vehicle’s tires are in good condition and are properly inflated.

-Always keep the vehicle’s windshield clean.

-Never drive while you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

-Make sure you know where you’re going before you start your trip.

-Plan your trip around road construction areas.

-Obey all speed limits, lights and traffic signs.

-Always use turn signals so that other motorists know your intended maneuvers.

-Look out for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and other smaller vehicles on the roadway.

-Keep the music down. Loud music could prevent you from hearing the horn of another vehicle.

-Refrain from using cell phones or text messaging devices. These devices can take your attention off of the roadway and severely increase you risks for an accident.

-Consider weather conditions and adjust your driving habits accordingly.

-Lookout for potholes and other shoddy road conditions.

-Be courteous of other drivers at all times.
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