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Florida posted the largest decline in the number of fatal car accidents of any state in the nation last year, according to new information just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide, fatal accidents declined to a level not seen since 1950, lead by Florida, which reported 422 fewer fatalities, and Texas, which logged 405 fewer deaths on the road in 2009. In all, 33,808 people were killed in traffic accidents last year, compared to 37,423 in 2008.
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Last week we reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog that the area ranked 33rd safest in a list of 200 cities. But Fort Myers car accidents and car accidents elsewhere in Florida put the Sunshine State among the nation’s most dangerous overall.

Fatal Florida car accidents declined to 2,558 from the 2,980 reported in 2008. However, only California (3,081) and Texas (3,071) recorded more traffic fatalities.

“Today’s announcement shows that America’s roads are the safest they’ve ever been,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are.”

The number of motorists injured in accidents also declined for the 10th year in a row, from 2.346 million in 2009 to 2.217 million last year.

However, advocates acknowledged there is still much work to be done.

“We are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said. “We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that car accidents remain the leading cause of death for people ages 3 to 34.
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Drivers in Cape Coral can expect to be involved in an accident about once a decade, according to a listing of safe driving cities published by Allstate Insurance –ranking the city 33rd among 200 cities with a population of over 100,000.

Fort Myers was not large enough to make the list. The insurance giant reported that Cape Coral car accidents were about 8 percent less likely to occur than the national average. We encourage motorists to be prepared; take a moment to read our tips about “What to do in the event of an accident.” The aftermath of an accident can be a confusing time. By printing out these tips and putting them in your glove compartment, you will be assured of having the information when you need it.

921217_crashed_car.jpgThe safest city in America was Fort Collins, Colorado, where motorists went 14.5 years between crashes. Motorists in Washington, D.C. ranked dead last, with an accident every 5.1 years.

A high-tech device being tested by a defense contractor in Massachusetts has the potential to virtually eliminate drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers and throughout the nation.

It is a revolutionary possibility and one that our Fort Myers accident attorneys hope will ultimately bring an end to the senseless tragedies too often caused by drunk drivers.
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The Boston Globe reports the technology would test the blood-alcohol level of a driver with the push of a button, and prevent cars from starting if alcohol is detected. If made standard equipment in all new vehicles, the federal government estimates as many as 9,000 of the nation’s 11,000 drunk driving deaths could be prevented each year. Only the 15,000 lives saved by seat belts could claim a bigger impact on traffic safety.

A more rudimentary technology is already in use today in the form of ignition interlock devices, which can be required of those convicted of drunk driving. The machines require a breath test before permitting a car to start.

The new technology is being developed with the assistance of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of a $10 million study. The disclosure comes after criticism of the government’s recent traffic safety efforts and the revelation that 8 percent of motorists — or some 17 million Americans — admitted to driving drunk last year.

As we reported last week on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog the insurance industry has pushed for such technology to be mandated in new automobiles and has criticized the U.S. Department of Transportation for not doing enough to force automakers to comply.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving said drunk driving fatalities have declined by 44 percent in the 30 years of the organization’s existence. But the organization is renewing its fight through advocacy for such new technologies, as well as the use of ignition interlock devices, sobriety checkpoints and other enforcement efforts.

“We must continue our work to make American families safe from the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking,” said MADD President Laura Dean-Mooney. “Lives are at stake.”
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When it comes to auto insurance in Florida, “full coverage” can mean “mandatory minimum” coverage, which can mean “virtually no coverage.”

Our personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral urge you to take the time to determine exactly what your auto insurance policy covers in the event of a car accident. Too often — usually, in fact — the minimum coverage is woefully inadequate. And the increasing popularity of online insurance sites has cut the agent out of the mix and eliminated the often critical advice of an insurance professional.

774605_car_accident_2.jpgIn other cases, uninsured or underinsured motorist protection is not selected by default on many online insurance quotes. And at least one state — Massachusetts — has accused an online insurance provider of including sky-high deductibles and eliminating emergency medical coverage for motorists who indicate they have health insurance.

A series of drowning or near-drowning incidents involving children remind us that swimming safety is an important topic for discussion. Each of us need to do our part to avoid swimming pool accidents in Fort Myers, Naples and throughout South Florida.

On Sunday, the News-Press reported that a 2-year-old boy drowned in a pond in South Fort Myers. The child apparently slipped out of his house and wandered into the pond about 30 yards away.

1262339_swimming_pool.jpgLast week, a 15-year-old boy drowned while swimming near the Sanibel Causeway, according to The News-Press.

Whether you and your loved ones will be fishing, boating, drinking or driving, the Fort Myers accident lawyers at Associates and Bruce L Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly and enjoy the long Labor Day weekend.

Twenty-three motorists were killed in accidents over the Labor Day weekend last year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In 13 of those cases, drunk driver’s were responsible. Please do your part to drive safely and avoid a Fort Myers car accident this weekend.
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As we reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, local law enforcement will be out in force throughout the Labor Day weekend as part of the state’s “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” campaign. Nationwide, law enforcement in all 50 states will be participating. The campaign runs through Labor Day weekend and includes $13 million in public service announcements on television and radio.

“Drunk driving is deadly, it’s against the law, and unfortunately, it’s still a problem,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “With the help of law enforcement around the country, we are going to continue doing all that we can to stop drunk driving and the needless tragedies that result from this reckless behavior.”

Nationwide, someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During a holiday weekend, motorists are at an even greater risk.

Florida Holiday Traffic Fatalities in 2009:

New Year: 34 Memorial Day: 22 Fourth of July: 30 Labor Day: 23 Thanksgiving: 36 Christmas: 28
The National Safety Council reports approximately 54 motorists will be injured for every fatality victim, meaning more than 1,200 Florida motorists will be seriously injured this weekend.
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Boating Safety:

Traditionally, Labor Day is also the last big boating weekend of summer. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that Naples boating accidents made Collier County the sixth-most dangerous area in the state in 2009, with 35 boating accidents reported.

Fort Myers boating accidents ranked Lee County seventh most-dangerous. It also reported 35 accidents last year. Operator inattention, no proper lookout, reckless operation and excessive speed were the top causes.

Many boating accidents are also alcohol related. Last year, 65 people were killed in more than 600 reported boating accidents in Florida.
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The federal government has been sidetracked by the issues of distracted driving and vehicle defects and is not doing nearly enough to force automakers to incorporate new safety technologies, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers frequently report on steps being taken by the federal government to reduce the dangers associated with text messaging and cell phone use by drivers. Florida is one of the few states in the nation that has not passed a law aimed at reducing the threat. Recently, we reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, that the winner of a teen-driver-safety campaign would see their public service announcement played at a nationwide distracted driving summit planned for later this month in Washington, D.C.

312490_man_talking_on_the_cell_phone.jpgNow the IIHS, a respected safety and advocacy organization that is funded by the insurance industry, claims the federal government needs to get its priorities straight. “There’s nothing rational about the way we set highway safety priorities,” wrote Institute President Adrian Lund in the agency’s Status Report. “You’d think from the media coverage, congressional hearings, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s focus in recent months that separating drivers from their phones would all but solve the public-health problem of crash deaths and injuries — It won’t.”

Viewers will likely see a blitz of “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” television commercials this week and next. And motorists will see increased enforcement through the Labor Day weekend as authorities aim to reduce the threat of drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers and the surrounding area.

“Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but also the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant,” said FHP Director, Colonel John Czernis. “Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work and dozens of other expenses. Do not take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you can expect to be under arrest.”

1073287_beer.jpgFor four decades, our Fort Myers accident attorneys have built a reputation for providing compassionate and aggressive representation to families dealing with the serious injury or death of a loved one in a drunk driving crash. Through our work with law enforcement at sobriety checkpoints and our support for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Mobile Eyes and other safety efforts, we remain dedicated to fighting for the rights of clients whose lives have been changed by the senseless acts of a driver who has climbed behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

Dogs might be man’s best friend, but there is clear and convincing evidence that they are not a driver’s best friend.

About two-thirds of dog owners surveyed by AAA said they routinely play with their dog while driving — some go so far as to feed or water their pet while maneuvering through traffic. Our Fort Myers injury lawyers continue to report on the dangers of distracted driving, which is a leading cause of Fort Myers and Cape Coral car accidents.

586375_driving.jpgThe increasing popularity of dogs — and particularly smaller lap dogs — could be contributing to the dangers. The Humane Society of the United States reports there are 77.5 million dogs in the United States, or one dog for every four people. Dogs are in nearly half of U.S. households. A report by the Chicago Tribune suggests that more owners are keeping small dogs in their laps while driving and are allowing bigger dogs to roam free inside the vehicle.

Young drivers are being asked to prepare and submit public service announcements about the dangers of text messaging and using a cell phone while driving. Authorities hope the messages by teenagers for teenagers will help reduce the dangers of distracted driving. As we continue to report, teenagers are at increased risk of car accidents in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

The winning announcement will debut at National Two-Second Turnoff Day on Sept. 17 and will be featured at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s second annual Distracted Driving Summit on Sept. 21 in Washington, D.C. The Two-Second Turnoff Day encourages teenagers to take two seconds to shut off their cell phones before getting behind the wheel — about the same amount of time it takes a distracted driver to cause a serious or fatal accident.

As our Fort Myers accident attorneys recently reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, the Sunshine State is one of the few that does not have a law preventing teenagers from text messaging or using a cell phone while driving.

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