Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

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,
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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