Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Red-light cameras may not be as much of an inconvenience as people originally thought as the intersection cameras saved nearly 200 lives in 14 large US cities in a 4-year study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Researchers believe that if these cameras were installed in all cities during that same researched time period, a total of 815 lives could have been saved in intersection car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere.

"The cities that have the courage to use red light cameras despite the political backlash are saving lives," says Adrian Lund, IISH president.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers urge you to be careful when passing through intersections, regardless of the presence of red-light cameras. Intersection accidents are among the deadliest types of crashes.

Never mind these life-saving statistics, some Florida lawmakers want to pull the devices from local intersections. This campaign comes just one year after lawmakers passed a law legalizing these intersection cameras, according to Sun Sentinel. These red-light cameras slap drivers with fines of more than $150 for violating an intersection signal.

Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee voted 12-9 to send HB 4087 to the full House as both the Florida House and Senate are seeking repeal proposals. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Trinity, argues that the red-light cameras have actually increased the number of serious traffic accidents at intersections.

"Let's step back and figure out a way where we can make these intersections safer for our communities," said Corcoran. Some studies have shown an increase in rear-end collisions, usually temporary, as motorists remember the cameras and slam on their brakes to avoid a ticket.

Overall, the cameras have been shown an effect deterrent in preventing the more deadly broadside collisions. Researchers discovered that fatal accidents at intersections with cameras fell 35 percent, while fatal accident numbers fell 14 percent at intersections without the red-light cameras. The data from this 4-year study was compared to the information provided by a study of intersections conducted between 1992 and 2006.

"Examining a large group of cities over several years allowed us to take a close look at the most serious crashes, the ones that claim people's lives," says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research and a co-author of the study. "Our analysis shows that red light cameras are making intersections safer."

Based on the results from that study, researchers concluded that the number of fatal red-light running crashes at intersections with cameras was 24 percent lower than it would have been if the intersections didn't have cameras. They calculated that 74 fewer fatal red-light running crashes would have occurred, or approximately 83 lives would have been saved.

As lawmakers attempt to pull potential life-saving red-light cameras from our Florida intersections, they have also failed to pass any laws banning another dangerous driving habit -- text messaging. Florida remains one of the only states left without such a law.

Continue reading " Lawmakers Look to Pull Red-Light Cameras from Florida Intersections, Increasing the Risk of Fort Myers car accidents " »

This past weekend, a string of car accidents in Fort Myers left five people dead, according to The News-Press. The first accident took the lives of three people when a driver reportedly attempted to doughnut his Ford F250 on an unpaved loading dock off Six L's Farm Road by the Lee and Collier border. The driver flipped his vehicle, killing himself and two other passengers.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers would remind locals that accidents will continue to occur, taking the lives of residents, even long after the tourists have headed back up north and the season draws to an end. It is the responsibility of every driver to practice safe driving habits on our roads through the spring and summer travel season.

A separate incident left a driver dead after being involved in a serious single-car crash on the corner of Fowler and Colonial, according to WINK News. The accident happened shortly after 5 a.m. as he was traveling south on Fowler. The driver neglected to navigate a curve and struck a tree. The man, an independent carrier for The News-Press, was reportedly traveling at least twice the posted speed limit, at 80 mph, when the accident occurred. Police are still investigating the accident.

A third accident took the life of a disabled man. A man in a wheelchair was killed after being struck by a car as he was crossing the street at Hancock Bridge Parkway and Orange Grove Boulevard, according to another report by WINK News. He was thrown nearly 20 feet from the impact of the collision. Officials believe the handicapped man was crossing the street illegally.

It is estimated that roughly 10,111,000 vehicles were involved in car accidents in the United States in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). More than 90 percent of the vehicles involved in these accidents were passenger vehicles. There were more than 50,400 vehicles involved in fatal accidents. The NHTSA reports that more than 25,000 passenger-vehicle occupants lost their lives, and another 2.35 million suffered injuries in these traffic accidents in 2008.

Florida alone accounted for more than 1,700 of vehicles involved in fatal crashes. Passenger cars accounted for more than 55 percent of the number of vehicles involved in these fatal accidents, with SUVs and pickups tying for second -- contributed 19 percent to the total number of motor vehicle accidents.

Continue reading " Many Lost Over the Weekend in Series of Fort Myers Car Accidents " »

A 2-year-old boy was shot in the shoulder shortly after midnight in an apartment complex in the 3000 block of 2nd Street, according to WINK News. The young boy was sent to HealthPark Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

An investigation revealed that the toddler was shot inside a Fort Myers apartment. Detectives executed a search warrant for the residence where the shooting happened and found a semiautomatic handgun and a revolver. It is said that four adults and a second child were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. Police believe that the shooting was accidental. Those involved in the shooting are still being interviewed as the investigation continues.

Our Fort Myers child injury lawyers understand that, while this is a tragic occurrence, these types of accidents happen all too often. Every few months, we hear the tragic case of a child being seriously injured or killed in an accident involving a firearm.

According to Common Sense: About Kids and Guns, adults are urged to keep guns locked away from children at all times. Store ammunition in a separate locked area away from the gun and store the keys in a place where children cannot find them. Parents are also urged to talk with their children about guns, making sure they know the dangers, the consequences and the power of a gun. Teach your children not only to leave all guns alone, but what to do if they run across one. Make sure they tell an adult.

The guns are not the problem. It is the lack of education. And sometimes the lack of respect for firearms. Or just plain carelessness. As a gun owner, or as a homeowner, a Fort Myers premise liability claim could hold you responsible for medical bills, pain and suffering and other costs associated with an accidental shooting. To say nothing of the emotional toll taken by the serious injury or death of a child.

According to ChildrenDefense.org, guns kill more than 3,000 children and teens a year. In 2006, more than 150 children were accidentally killed by guns. Florida experienced more than 10 accidental fatal shootings the same year. With federal statistics showing that nearly half of every household in America has a gun, it is important to be cautious and knowledgeable around firearms.

The National Riffle Association (NRA) offers these tips to parents who own guns to help keep their young ones safe:

-Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. NEVER point it at another person. Assume that the gun is always loaded and ready to fire at any moment.

-Be mindful that, when indoors, bullets can penetrate floors, windows, walls and ceilings.

-Always keep the gun unloaded until you're ready to use it. Learn how to safely check to see if the gun is loaded. If you don't know the proper technique, leave it alone.

-Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot. When holding the gun, rest your finger on the outside of the trigger guard.

Continue reading " Toddler Hospitalized in Fort Myers Shooting Accident " »

Each month, countless tour buses travel through the area. To the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. To the casino in Immokalee. And on to Key Largo and Miami. These tour buses have a responsibility to transport passengers in as safe a manner as possible. Passengers may feel a little safer after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a number of surprise inspections. But the reality is it will do little to help decrease the risk of bus accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere in the U.S.

Interstate 4 was recently shut down for an hour after a Naples Tour bus caught fire this past weekend, according to the NBC 2. The bus, belonging to Naples Tours, dropped off a group of passengers in Orlando for the weekend and was returning to pick them up when a fire started on the rear-end of the bus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver reportedly attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, which failed, and was then forced to sit back and watch as the $80,000 bus went up in flames.

Our Naples personal injury lawyers urge Florida residents and tourists to be cautious when choosing tour bus transportation as the results of the recent federal inspections proved alarming.

As the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced, the FMCSA, along with local and state enforcement agencies, conducted nearly 3,000 surprise passenger bus inspections in a 90-day period. The inspections removed nearly 300 unsafe buses and drivers from our roadways, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.

That means roughly 1 in 10 buses on the road had problems so significant they could not continue to their destination.

"Working side-by-side with our state and local law enforcement partners, we can ensure that every passenger bus company and driver operates as safely as possible," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "These strike force activities are one of the many effective tools we use year-round to raise the safety bar for commercial buses and drivers on our nation's roadways."

These inspections come after a string of bus accidents throughout the United States, including the recent bus accident in New York that killed 14 passengers.

The Obama Administration recently announced a new Motorcoach Safety Action Plan, which sought to ensure that companies make improvements to their vehicles. Proposed improvements include rules that would require bus companies to install seat belts and electronic on-board recorders on every bus.

Low-fare bus companies have recently been the focus of these investigations. Such companies were accused of running buses that failed to meet safety standards and forcing their driver to work under more grueling schedules. These conditions contributed to the increased risk of passengers being involved in a serious bus accident.

"Safety is our number one priority," said Secretary LaHood. "We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to shut down unsafe passenger bus companies that place motorists at risk and remove drivers from our roads who put passengers in harm's way."

While the government is trying to increase safety measures on tour buses, residents are urged to be cautious when choosing a busing company to travel with. Make sure to check their safety records and don't let the cheapest fair be the deciding factor.

Continue reading " Bus Companies Face Surprise String of Inspections to Decrease Risks of Bus Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere " »

A recent car accident killed an 18-year-old Lee County teen in Immokalee. The young driver was traveling eastbound on Oil Well Road near County Line Road at approximately 3:00 a.m., according to ABC 7.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the fatal Collier County car accident happened when the teen driver overcorrected as the car drifted off the road. The vehicle rotated, veered onto the shoulder and struck a tree. The young female driver was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital and later pronounced dead. Investigators have determined the driver was wearing her seat belt.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers understand how devastating such tragedies are for families. And we urge teens to be extra careful this spring season as the school year is winding down, prom events are approaching and graduation is just around the corner. It is this time of the year when local high school students hit the road in full force -- parents should take a forceful and proactive approach to their teen's driving safety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 3,000 teens in the United States between the ages of 15 and 19 were killed in car accidents last year and more than 350,000 were injured. While these young drivers count for only 14 percent of the U.S. populations, they racked up 48 percent -- $26 billion -- of the total cost for motor vehicle injuries. More specifically, Florida teens driving accidents claimed the lives of almost 400 motorists last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Why do teens face a higher risk for motor vehicle accidents? TakeTheWheel.net found these factors make the roadways more dangerous for teen drivers:

-Teen drivers tend to more frequently drive with passengers. These young passengers often produce distractions for the driver.

-Teens use driving as more of a social activity than as a necessary activity.

-Teen drivers have less experience at the wheel, making them more vulnerable to accidents.

-Young drivers have a tendency to not fully understand the consequence of risky behavior behind the wheel.

-Teen drivers, statistically, speed more and disobey other traffic laws.

-Since teens are more likely to hit the road in the evening hours, they are more likely to drive while impaired or drowsy.

The AAA Auto Club provides parents with a teen driving contract to help keep your young driver safe on our roadways. Parents are urged to speak with their teen driver about the dangers of unsafe driving habits and are urged to have them commit to this written agreement in an attempt to reduce the risks of motor vehicle accidents on Florida roadways.

Continue reading " Parents Asked to Speak with their Teens about Driving Habits to Decrease Risks of Fatal Fort Myers Car Accidents " »

As Floridians enjoy the spring weather, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been conducting investigations into the safety of pool and spa drain covers.

As the investigation carries on, testing protocols used by some laboratories have been deemed improper, resulting in noncompliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct). Defective pool and drain covers heighten the risk for a Naples swimming pool accident.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers understand the risks posed by defective drain covers -- which can lead to entrapment injuries and drowning. These investigations have provided the CPSC with more than 17,000 pages from the laboratories in response to subpoenas from the federal agency.

Many homeowners are uncovering and servicing their pools for the summer season. In Florida, pools are much more likely to be used year around. But that can mean there is no set time for safety and maintenance inspections. We suggest a thorough inspection be conducted at the start of the spring and summer swimming season, as well as around the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act), which regulates the safety of our pools, was passed after a young girl drowned from being trapped under the water by the suction from a hot tub drain. The suction proved to be too powerful, despite the fact that she had been swimming since she was 3 years old.

The failing marks returned to the CPSC raise red flags to Southwest Floridians as the Memorial Day weekend approaches. Anytime is a good time in Florida to have your pool and pool equipment thoroughly inspected. It's encouraged that you have it checked thoroughly, and have it checked often.

National drowning statistics show that swimming pools can be fatal to anyone if the proper precautions are not taken to reduce the risk of preventable safety hazards. A national study determined approximately 10 people drowned on any given day each summer. Approximately 5,000 children under the age of 14 of hospitalized each year with 15 percent of them dying and 20 percent suffering severe and permanent brain damage. Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related deaths for children under the age of 14.

According to the Florida County Property Appraisers, Florida has the highest number of deaths resulting from swimming pool drownings in children under the age of 5. These fatalities often occur in cases where a pool lacked the proper safety features.

As Florida is home to more than 1,000,000 residential pools, residents are urged to practice all safety precautions, conduct regular inspections and make sure your pool meet safety standards.

Continue reading " Pool Inspections reduce risk of Pool and Spa Accidents in Fort Myers " »

The Lee County Department of Transportation is currently looking at a popular intersection in South Fort Myers -- the "T" intersection at Plantation Road and Crystal Drive -- as it is one of the few intersections in Lee County that currently has a greater amount of traffic flow than it did in the "boom years," reports ABC 7.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers urge community leaders to take a better look at the traffic on our roadways in an attempt to increase driver safety. A lot of factors go into the cause of an accident and an overflow of unorganized traffic can be a common contributor.

The traffic at this intersection is believed to be up nearly 30 percent from just two years ago -- to more than 12,000 vehicles a day. We understand that this number will only increase as more drivers become aware of this back route. The overflow in traffic in this area has caught the attention of community leaders as they're discussing a plan that could possibly change the layout of the popular South Fort Myers intersection.

While construction goes on to better equip our busy roadways to handle the increasing amount of Southwest Florida traffic, drivers must practice cautious driving habits while traveling through these work zones. A recent motor vehicle accident on Santa Barbara caused by warning lights that weren't working is just one local lawsuit stemming from dangerous or defective roads or roads that are under construction. The suit, filed by the driver of the passenger vehicle, is against the construction company for alleged negligence and failure to provide safe traffic direction during the road-widening project in East Naples.

These incidents come right after a week when work zone safety was promoted nationwide through the National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week event. Florida joined the nation in raising awareness, as our state suffered 100 of the 700 work zone fatalities resulting from motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2009.

The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse provides these driver tips to help increase safety for everyone in our work zones:

-Put away all distractions while passing through a work zone. Distracted driving only increases your risk for an accident.

-Stay alert and expect the unexpected. Workers, other vehicles and construction equipment can seemingly pop out of nowhere.

-Obey all posted street signs and road flaggers. The warnings are posted and displayed to help keep you safe. Knowing and understanding the rules for work zones will only help keep you safe.

-Be patient and allow yourself extra time. If you know your trip is going to take you through a work zone, leave early to allow yourself more time to make it through the congestion or avoid the route all together and find another way to your destination.

-Don't tailgate. Following too closely proves as dangerous in these situations as unexpected maneuvers by other vehicles are more common.

If you've experienced a motor vehicle accident in one of these congested areas, consulting an attorney as soon as possible is your best bet. An experienced attorney will be much more familiar with possible issues that could impact your case. Faulty roads, missing or inoperable street signs and signals, overgrown vegetation and poor drainage are just a few causes that may contribute to a car accident in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres or elsewhere in South Florida.

Continue reading " Local Intersections Impact Risks of Fort Myers Car Accidents " »

Florida currently has no prohibitions against cell phone use while driving. However, there are at least 9 bills relating to distracted driving that have been filed for the legislative session of 2011 in Florida, according to Hands-Free Info.

These bills are being filed even after the Legislature rejected all previous bills that aimed to limit cell phone use by drivers. The aim of these proposed laws is to reduce the risks of potentially deadly distracted driving car accidents in Naples and elsewhere in the Sunshine State.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers urge both residents and visitors to practice safe driving habits behind the wheel and to pay full attention to our roadways. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 28 percent of all car accidents -- 1.6 million crashes per year -- can be attributed to cell phone use while driving.

“You already see people at red lights text messaging or punching in things into their BlackBerries when they should be paying attention,” said Rep. Charles Chestnut, D-Gainesville. “Now, you’re going to see more eyes focused on their iPhones than driving. With the increase in new technology, I think there should be some type of increased regulation to protect the safety of innocent people who are giving their full attention to the road.”

For the entire month, the National Safety Council and FocusDriven have joined forces with transportation departments nationwide to ask drivers to commit to putting away their cell phones and other distracting devices. They're also urging drivers to change their voicemail message to alert callers that the person they're calling may not be able to answer as they might be behind the wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,500 people were killed and approximately 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents that involved a distracted driver in the United States in 2009. Nearly 1,000 of those accidents reported the use of a cell phone as the form of driver distraction.

The NHTSA considers a number of factors that can contribute to distracted driving:

-Using a cell phone.

-Changing the radio station or CD.

-Eating or drinking.

-Smoking

-Adjusting climate controls.

-Passengers in the vehicle.

The NSC and FocusDriven find this month to be the perfect opportunity to rally employers to initiate a cell phone policy in the workplace and while operating vehicles on the job. They've provided employers with this free Cell Phone Policy Kit to help employers enforce these safety rules.

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was first introduced by former Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO). It was passed through the U.S. House of Representatives in a 410-2 vote. The resolution mentions a 9-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a distracted driver in November of 2008. The girl's mother is currently a founding board member of FocusDriven.

Continue reading " National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to help Decrease Risks of Fort Myers Car Accidents " »

Automotive Discovery reports lawmakers are considering a pair of proposed bills that would limit the rights of accident victims in crashes involving defective vehicles.

The bills (Florida Senate Bill 142 and House Bill 201) may place undue blame on drivers involved in car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere in the U.S., instead of keeping the blame on manufacturers for their faulty products.

Our Fort Myers defective products attorneys know that hundreds of recalls are issued each year involving defects. Many of those have the potential to either cause an accident or increase the risk of serious or fatal injury in the event of an accident. Defective car parts and manufacturing can pose potentially deadly threats when car makers put profits ahead of people.

The two bills proposed in legislature will attempt to allocate blame. Currently, Florida law places blame in the lap of the manufacturer in accidents involving defective vehicles.

The bill “changes Florida law to permit juries in a Florida courtroom to hear all of the facts leading up to a products liability case, thereby allowing that jury to apportion fault,” said Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, sponsor of SB 142. “It’s an opportunity to put all the facts on the table.”

Richter is also backing insurers in opposition of a bill that would require them to pay upfront replacement costs in the event of an accident -- current law permits them to withhold part of the payment until proof that repairs are being made.

The occurrence of crashworthiness-related cases have increased nearly 400 percent in Florida over the last 10 years while national cases are down roughly 50 percent, according to The Florida Bar News.

“We Floridians buy these vehicles and we are led to believe that they will be safe, and safe from inherent defects that will cause secondary issues that can cause even more damage, injuries to people,” said Sen. Maria Sachs, R-Delray Beach. “Those manufacturers should be held accountable whether it’s a tractor, or a motor vehicle.”

Regardless of driver error, the company should still be held liable for producing a defective product.

With the new bill effective in Florida courts, drivers may fall victim to faulty products twice, once in a car accident and once in court. The house bill will not apply to law enforcement first-responders involved in car accidents, according to Automotive Discovery. The average motorist should be afforded the same protections.

We urge you to contact our Florida State Lawmakers to oppose this bill and keep responsibility for faulty products where it belongs -- with the manufacturers. No driver should be punished for an accident in which a defective product influenced the outcome.

If you've been involved in a car accident involving a defective or recalled product, it is more important than ever to contact an experienced attorney to help you fight for your rights. Don't let the court system blame you for poor manufacturing.

Continue reading " Lawmakers Could Put Blame on Drivers for Vehicle Defects in Fort Myers Car Accidents " »

Various transportation agencies, including the Florida Department of Transportation, will be joining together to raise awareness of work zone safety and traffic accidents as it is National Work Zone Safety Week. The "Safer driving. Safer work zones" campaign theme and the Lee County Sheriff's Office are urging motorists to practice cautious driving when passing through our Southwest Florida construction zones, and when encountering emergency responders, as officials work to reduce the risks of a Fort Myers car accident.

Our Naples car accident attorneys would like to remind drivers to be extra cautious in these work zone areas as nearly 700 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in highway work zones in 2009. Florida alone experienced 100 work zone car related accidents.

While 2010 marked the lowest number of car accidents since 1948, work zone fatalities are still a routine risk. The National Work Zone Safety Awareness Information Clearinghouse reported that, in 2009, more than 30,000 people were injured in work zone vehicle accidents. Motorists experienced most of these injuries -- accounting for 85 percent of those killed.

The main contributors to work zone car accidents are excessive speeds, improper lane changes, careless driving, following too closely and failure to yield to the right of way. Violating
work zone laws can result in fines ranging from $100 to $10,000 and immediate license suspension.

Additionally, construction companies may bear some of the responsibility in the event of an accident. Issues with local road construction crews -- from the gas line explosion on Colonial Boulevard, to asbestos found in fill dirt on Summerlin, to the length of time of the Gladiolus widening project -- have been spotlighted in local media reports this year.

The National Work Zone Safety Awareness Information Clearinghouse would like to offer you these work zone driving tips to make your drive through construction areas safer for you, other motorists and road workers:

-Put away all distractions. Distracted driving significantly influences the likelihood of an accident in work zones.

--Watch out for everyone and everything involved in these work zones. Be sure to keep a safe distance between you, workers and all obstructing objects.

--Merge as soon and as safely as possible. Waiting until the last minute to change lanes can cause dangerous congestion. Getting in the proper lane well in advance will only decrease your risk of putting yourself in a compromising situation.

-Think ahead. If you know you'll be passing through a work zone on the way to your destination, leave earlier to allow yourself more time or find a different route. Be sure to pass through these zones, and all Southwest Florida work zones, with caution.

The Florida Department of Transportation offers this public service announcement to share with friends and family in attempt to raise awareness of work zone safety among our local motorists.

The North Fort Myers Neighbor offers this list of work zones that will be targeted by Lee County Sheriff's Office Traffic Units in effort to provide safer roads for our motorists and workers.

Continue reading " FDOT and Local Sheriff's Office Team up to Decrease Risks of Fort Myers Car Accidents during National Work Zone Safety Week " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Friday that fewer people were killed on the nation's roads last year than at any time since modern record keeping began following World War II.

However, our Cape Coral personal injury lawyers note the news was not all good: Government figures show the number of fatal accidents actually increased year-over-year as the economy improved during the last half of 2010.

"Last year's drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first."

Traffic deaths declined three percent, from 33,808 in 2009 to 32,788 last year. The number of traffic deaths has declined 25 percent since 43,510 died on the nation's roads in 2005.

"The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be."

A close look at the statistics shows a year-over-year increase of 1.6 to 1.8 percent during the last half of the year, after a decline of 5 to 11.4 percent during the first six months of 2010. Region 4, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, reported a decline of 3 percent for the year, in line with the national average.

California recorded a decrease of 10 percent in the number of fatal accidents in 2010 -- the Northeast led the nation with a decline of 12 percent.

The nation's industrial areas recorded an increase as the economic recovery gained ground. Fatal traffic accidents in New England increased by 18 percent. A two percent increase was reported in Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Midwest region, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, recorded an increase of 3.9 percent.

The beginning of the winter tourism season was met with great optimism after several tough years in South Florida. As our snowbird friends head north and year-around residents settle in for a long, hot, comparatively quiet summer, it’s important to remember that more and more people will be on the roads as the economy improves. Putting the phone down, not driving distracted, and avoiding aggressive driving behaviors like speeding and tailgating will go a long way toward making sure you reach your destination safely.

Continue reading " Nation Records Fewest Fatal Accidents Since World War II - Risk of Fort Myers Car Accidents to Increase with Economic Recovery " »

With spring in South Florida comes the arrival of the kind of torrential rains and thunderstorms unique to our tropical climate -- and an increased risk of Fort Myers car accidents caused by bad weather, high winds and floodwater.

Florida -- and particularly our area of Southwest Florida -- is the lightning strike capital of the United States. Be particularly cautious around thunderstorms, whether in your vehicle or on the golf course. While it's an often overlooked danger, lightning kills more people each year than snowstorms, hurricanes or tornadoes, according to National Geographic. On average, 73 people are killed and hundreds more suffer debilitating injuries. In the last 50 years, nearly 500 people have been killed in Florida -- or about 10 percent of the nation's total.

Our area of the state is also among the coastal regions with the highest rainfall totals -- with an average of 50 to 60 inches of rain each year. Nearly all of that falls between April and November and still Florida is among the top 5 states with the most precipitation each year.

The Florida Highway Patrol offers motorists tips for driving in rainy Florida weather:

-Stay Put: Florida storms are most often violent and brief. Avoid driving in them. Either wait until a storm has eased to head out to your destination, or pull over to the side of the road and wait out a storm. Also, watch for fallen debris in the aftermath of a storm.

-Slow Down: Decrease your speed following a storm. Watch for standing water and beware of the dangers of hydroplaning.

Buckle up: Always wear your seat belt.

Beware of high winds: Winds can make a vehicle handle poorly. High-profile vehicles such as buses, trucks and SUVs, may have a particularly difficult time.

Don't Drown - Turn Around: Never drive into standing water or attempt to drive through a flooded area. The area of road beneath the water may be washed out or conceal debris, such as tree branches or power lines.

Pay Attention: Intersection lights may not be functioning properly. Debris may be on the roadway. Disabled vehicles or other unexpected roadblocks may present unique challenges when it comes to driving in a storm's aftermath.

Continue reading " Spring Rains Increase Risk of Car Accidents in Cape Coral, Fort Myers " »

The Governors Highway Safety Association recently announced the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is joining a multitude of organizations in support of requiring drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers applaud ongoing measures to get drunk drivers off the roadways in an effort to prevent drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and throughout South Florida. Our attorneys will continue to fight for the rights of victims and families whose lives are forever changed by the actions of a drunk driver.

The ignition interlock initiative also includes the support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

After an extensive review of 15 scientific studies, the CDC concluded that ignition interlocks help prevent drivers -- who have a prior arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI) -- from being re-arrested. Re-arrest rates for DWI decreased by 67% after the device had been installed.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of CDC, notes, “Each day, more than 30 people die because of alcohol-impaired driving. We know that interlock devices can save lives. More widespread use will reduce alcohol-related crash deaths and injuries.”

In 2009, the NHTSA reported 32 percent of traffic fatalities were caused by drunk drivers. DWI deaths occur about every 48 minutes in the U.S. Tragically, drunk drivers in fatal crashes were 8 times more likely to have had a prior DWI conviction than drivers of fatal crashes with no evidence of alcohol in their system.

Of the 2,558 fatal crashes in Florida, 904 had a driver with some amount of alcohol in their system. In 527 of the crashes the BAC was .15 or over -- or nearly twice the legal limit.

Dr. Randy Elder who was the lead author on the review added, “When offenders’ licenses are suspended, they aren’t legally able to provide transportation for themselves and others may rely on them to get to places like school and work. Ignition interlocks allow offenders to keep operating their vehicles legally and safely.”

MADD is working with Florida to make ignition interlock devices mandatory for all DWI offenders. Currently, only first time offenders who have a BAC of .15 or greater are required to have the interlock device.

The cost of ignition interlock programs is currently being reviewed by the GHSA, with funding from the CDC. The least expensive way to prevent repeat offenders from getting behind the wheel to cause an accident is to take their keys away. Don't let your friends drive drunk.

Continue reading " Mandatory Ignition Interlock Devices would Reduce Risk of Drunk Driving Accidents in Fort Myers " »