Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Florida is ranked third in the United States regarding costs from deadly car accidents. The total of costs of car accidents nationally in 2005 (the latest figures available) was $41 billion, with Florida total costs coming in around $3.6 billion.

The CDC has made four recommendations that states could implement to cut back on these costs. One of the suggestions is having a seat belt law. Florida implemented a safety belt law effective June 30, 2009 which allows police to pull over drivers for not wearing seatbelts as a primary offense (before this law, a driver without a seatbelt would have had to commit another violation, such as speeding, before being pulled over). This is the only one of the four recommendations by the CDC that Florida has put into action.

Another recommendation by the CDC is the use of motorcycle helmets for all ages. Since 2000, it has not been mandatory for adults to wear helmets in Florida when driving or riding on a motorcycle. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 402 motorcycle accident deaths in 2009. Motorcyclists who don't wear helmets are at higher risk of sustaining more serious personal injuries than those who wear helmets. A new study by the Yale School of Medicine shows that the death rate in motorcycle accidents was almost twice as high for people who did not wear helmets (65.6 percent) than people who wore helmets (34.4 percent) during an accident.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Helmets and Seat Belts Again Recommended to Reduce Deaths in Florida from Car and Motorcycle Accidents or Crashes" »

In our 30 years in practice as Coral Springs motorcycle accident lawyers, we have helped many victims and the families of victims who have been involved in motorcycle crashes. These types of accidents result in injuries that are oftentimes more catastrophic than injuries suffered from car crashes because motorcycles don't provide as much protection as a car or a truck. Injuries that result from motorcycle accidents range from traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and in some cases death.

Given that our firm represents clients from multiple cities including Parkland, Coral Springs, Tamarac, Margate, and Pompano Beach, we make our best effort to keep up with the latest news in those cities. Unfortunately, we oftentimes see stories involving car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. One of these stories involves a Coral Springs man who passed away after he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a curb last weekend.

Motorcycle crashes are caused by a number of factors including speeding, drunk driving, or negligence of another driver. According to the latest Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report, motorcycle accidents led to 402 deaths in 2009, compared to 532 in 2008. Thankfully, the number of deaths resulting from motorcycle accidents decreased by 24% in 2009. The report also points out that there was a 14% reduction in the amount of deadly car accidents in 2009.

Continue reading "Coral Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on Crash that Killed Coral Springs Man" »

A Miramar, Florida, driver has been charged with killing a Davie, Florida, resident while driving drunk.  According to reports, the intoxicated driver was taking his 9-year-old daughter to school when he struck the Davie motorcyclist and dragged him 180 feet before coming to a stop.  When the drunk driver was apprehended after fleeing the scene of the accident, breathalyzer results showed his blood alcohol content to be .236 -- nearly three times the legal limit.   This was not the first time the driver has been charged with drunk driving according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  According to their report, the intoxicated driver was wanted in Maryland for failing to appear for a court proceeding after violating his probation for driving under the influence with another charge of DUI.

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents have been on the rise for the past nine years according to Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  In 2008 alone, there were 9618 motorcycle crashes in Florida which caused the death of 502 motorcyclists and 30 passengers and contributed to over 9000 injured riders.  These numbers include 37 motorcycle accident deaths in Broward County, 44 in Miami-Dade County, and 34 in Palm Beach County.  Drug and alcohol related fatalities in Florida sadly exceeded 1,400 people in 2008.

Continue reading "Repeat Drunk Driver Charged with Killing Florida Motorcyclist" »