Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
A new program could help save motorists involved in car accidents in Fort Myers. This new program is designed with Baby Boomers in mind and aims to provide emergency responders with vital information in the event of an accident, according to USA Today. The program makes critical information of drivers readily available in the first 60 minutes, or the “golden hour”, of a crash. This is often the time period that can make a difference between life and death for an accident victim.
This is how it works: The state distributes yellow dot stickers to put on your vehicle’s rear window. This yellow dot alerts emergency responders that there is a folder in the glove box, with the corresponding sticker, that contains useful and personal information like prescription information, a photograph, medical conditions and other similar information.
Our Fort Myers injury attorneys understand that information like this can be vital to emergency responders in the event of an accident. It is even more important when a driver is suffering from serious injuries and may not be able to communicate. While Florida is not one of the 8 states that currently participates in the program, we realize the need for a similar system.
“It’s a promising approach,” says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime.”
The first Yellow Dot program was introduced in Connecticut back in 2002. Other states that currently practice versions of the program include Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and New York. Georgia is currently considering the program.
“It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes,” says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 motorists over the age of 65 were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2009. Another 187,000 of these motorists suffered serious injuries. The Yellow Dot program, influenced by these individuals, hopes to decrease these numbers as proper attention can be provided quicker with this information available in a motorist’s glove box. This age group of motorists made up nearly 20 percent of all traffic accident fatalities for the year and accounted for nearly 10 percent of all suffered injuries. Florida lost nearly 500 motorists belonging to this age group in 2009.
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, is a law firm committed to representing car accident victims throughout South Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, Sebring and Cape Coral. Call for a free and confidential appointment at 1-800-283-2900.
