Articles Posted in Car Accidents

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted Distracted Driving Among Newly Licensed Teen Drivers ; an in car video study of the habits of teenage drivers. As previously reported in this blog, auto accidents is the leading killer among teenagers. Therefore, research was conducted in order to pinpoint exactly what activities these drivers engage in that puts them at risk.

AAA found that distracting activities are significant among all teenage drivers. These activities include use of cellular telephones, text messaging, makeup application and other grooming habits. Another distracting habit among the drivers was reaching for items in and about the vehicle.

The study found that the greatest distraction for all teenage drivers was the use of electronic devices. An alarming 70% of the drivers used an electronic device while driving. This was even greater among older teenage drivers.

Gender was also a huge factor as this study revealed that females in their teens use electronic devices, including cell phones, double the amount of time than their male counter parts. Female teen drivers also engaged in other distracted behaviors, including reaching for items and eating and drinking, significantly more than male teenage drivers.

What was particularly interesting was the finding that when parents or adults were in the vehicle, distracting behavior among the teens decreased.While the opposite was true when passengers were teenagers. With other teens in the vehicle distracting activities actually increased.

As a Miami personal injury lawyer, this study is not surprising as the number of accidents due to distracted driving is on the rise. Our office applauds the efforts of educators and law makers alike who have made efforts to decrease distracted driving habits on the streets of South Florida. However, more needs to be done to protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
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Most, if not all, Florida drivers are familiar with this State’s requirement that each vehicle owner carry $10,000.00 of personal injury protection coverage (PIP). Essentially this is $10,000.00 of medical and loss wage insurance. This form of insurance coverage applies no matter who is at fault in the accident and may cover others within the drivers household, children, and passengers in the vehicle who do not own a vehicle and have no PIP coverage. PIP insurance benefits are available if you are involved in an accident in another person’s vehicle, as a pedestrian, or on a bicycle.

Also known as Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law , PIP insurance requirements are imposed on all owner/registrants of a motor vehicle with 4 wheels. In order to maintain legal licensing and registration, these vehicle owners must carry $10,000.00 policy limits of this coverage.

Florida law makers have recently approved a bill reforming the current law. The new version of the PIP law continues to require $10,000 in minimum coverage, but this can only be used by those who are seriously injured in a motor accident. The legislature has limited coverage in what it defines as moderate or “soft-tissue” damages to $2,500.

The new law allows victims up to fourteen days after the accident to seek medical treatment in order to receive PIP benefits. It also allows insurance companies to examine accident victims under oath. The law limits treatment with chiropractic care by only allowing coverage for treatment if referred. Although the change still permits chiropractic care, it does not cover acupuncture or massage therapy.

This personal injury lawyer in Miami believes these changes will cause greater harm than good for the drivers in Florida. By limiting benefits, it only causes greater losses to those injured in an auto accident. With the significant costs of medical care, the limits imposed by this change will leave many unprotected and without the ability to receive needed care and medical attention to their injuries. Simple diagnostic testing, including x-rays and cat scans will surely “eat away” at the available coverage for many. This will. leave very little or no coverage available for actual care of the injuries. By excluding various forms of therapy, this new act also leaves the injured party without access to forms of medical care that, in our office’s experience, have proven beneficial for injuries. The exact benefit of this reform to the injured remains unclear.
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As a Miami car accident lawyer it saddens me that motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 15-24. The risk is even higher for those between the ages of 16-19.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are a number of factors responsible for the increased death rate among teenagers and young adults. Speeding, low seat belt use, inability to recognize hazardous situations, alcohol use and risky driving behavior are some of the recognized factors that increase the risk of death among this age group.

The other obvious factor is use of cell phone and the resulting distracted driving that occurs. Use of cellular telephones among those aged 15-24 is high. What is particularly high is the use of these devices for text messaging and email. This is the most dangerous use of the phone while driving. Clearly, when added to the factors mentioned above, cell phone use only increases the risk of death among young drivers.

Parents and law makers alike need to proactively address this issue and protect these drivers by educating them of risk factors and setting boundaries regarding dangerous behavior while driving. It is clear that new initiatives will be created to assist in the effort to reduce teen deaths due to auto accidents.
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The latest Texas Transportation Institute study has ranked Miami’s 836 Highway in its top 40 most congested highways in the country. From a review of the study I found that the 5 mile corridor on the 836 between 107 Ave and 57 Ave was the only roadway in the state of Florida to make it to the “most congested” list. This stretch also made it to the institute’s “3 cup morning” list.

Although congested roadways lead to slower speeds, this does not mean less serious collisions and safer conditions for drivers. The daily grind of stop and go traffic leads to more accidents than steady traffic flow.

Automobile collisions can lead to injuries. For most of us there just is no way to avoid the congested 836 and other freeways in south Florida on a daily basis. Therefore if ever involved in a car crash in South Florida one should seek counsel of a personal injury lawyer in Miami.

In Miami, there are still not laws against using a cell phone and driving. Throughout the country, however, there are concerted efforts to reduce distracted driving through the institution of laws prohibiting cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle.

The Chicago Tribune has recently reported that one town has taken the fight against distracted driving one step further. Town officials of Oak Park, IL have announced that they are considering a ban on eating or drinking while operating a car.

So is eating while driving really a risk?

In Canada, an observational study discovered that consumption of food or drinks while driving was the most frequent distraction. The same study revealed that using the phone was the third of all distractions.

Distracted driving is one of the leading negligent acts which result in auto accidents. A Miami car accident attorney may assist those who have suffered losses as a result of the distracted driving of others. By thoroughly investigating such accidents and claims, Law Office of Ruth E. Johnson assists victims in obtaining maximum benefits for such losses Continue reading

Auto drivers who do the daily commute between the two major South Florida metropolitan cities understand the need for alternatives. The Florida Department of Transportation has proposed a study that anticipates yearly savings of $12 million in a commuter rail line connecting Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

A consultant working for the state agency estimates that such a rail system would cost over $40 million per year. This is based on the proposed railway that will connect the Miami-Dade government center to the Fort Lauderdale government center along the abandoned Florida East Coast Railway corridor. This is less than the current Tri-Rail system which costs over $52 million per year.

There are no guarantees regarding the new rail system as there is considerable debate regarding the cost effectiveness of a new system versus the current Tri-Rail. Hence the need for the results of the study.

Any efforts to reduce traffic congestion and the number of auto accidents on the roadways of South Florida should be applauded. It is quite clear that the increase in the number of drivers on the roadways only leads to more collisions. Miami personal injury attorneys are available to assist those who may be involved in such accidents.
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The Governors Highway Safety Association is a group that consists of all the high ranking highway safety officials through out the country. This group recently reported its recommendation that states should wait for the completion of further research prior to banning the use of cell phones while driving.

The group indicates that there is insufficient evidence out of the states that have already banned the use of hand held cellular phones that these bans have actually reduced the number of crashes on the roadways. The group does, however, urge all states to make efforts to reduce distracted driving on a whole. They encourage laws that make it illegal to text while operating a vehicle. Over half the states in the country already have such laws in place.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a report which shows that approximately 5,500 fatalities in 2009 as a result of distracted driving. The report went on to indicate that over 500,000 were injured in auto accidents with inattentive drivers.
This means that 20% of the injury crashes in that year consisted of a distracted driver.

With these statistics it is surprising that the safety groups want more direct evidence regarding the use of hand held cell phones prior to issuing laws restricting use while driving. Many motorists have become aware of these dangers and have intentionally reduced the use of cellular phones while driving on their own. Most parents do not allow teenage drivers to use their phones while operating a vehicle and are anxiously awaiting the laws that ban this in states where they don’t already exist.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have approved production of the world’s first flying car, designed right here in the United States.

The “Transition” is a product of Massachusetts based Terrafugia. The vehicle has the ability to transition between the sky and road by using retractable wings operated by the push of a button. The fold up wings make the plane narrow enough to fit on standard roadways. The car/plane has just enough room for one pilot and one passenger. It has airbags and uses a crumple zone just like that used in several cars. Unlike most cars on the road, the Transition also has a carbon fiber safety cage in case of rollovers, usually only found in racing vehicles.

It is anticipated that this flying and driving vehicle will be available to customers as soon as next year.
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The Miami Herald reports Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio was recently arrested in Miami for disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice.

While driving in the Little Havana area of Miami, Rubio was involved in an auto accident. She was not at fault for this incident.The police arrived at the scene and requested the pop star exit her vehicle. She then refused and began cursing the officer and issuing threats. She was then arrested, placed in handcuffs and charged with refusing to obey a lawful command, obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.

What should you do when the police arrive at the scene after an auto accident?

If ever involved in a car accident it is wise to call the police. When the law enforcement officer arrives at the scene of the accident, it is also wise to cooperate fully. Provide as much detail as possible to the investigating officer so that an accurate reflection of the events can be detailed in the police report. Remember that these officers are there to assist.
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