Item: Flaxman Law Group
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Author: Clara Barman

Preventing Car Accidents This Halloween

Published on: October 29, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Halloween brings with it not only candies and parties, but also an increased risk of traffic accidents. Trick-or-treaters running along streets and between cars can inadvertently cause a pedestrian accident. Each year, child injuries in Homestead and other cities occur due to traffic accidents and other accidents on Halloween. If you are a driver, there are many things you can do to prevent these tragic collisions:

1) If you have a teen driver, review the rules of Halloween safety. If your teen is driving on their first Halloween, review safety instructions first. Make sure your teen stays extra alert on this night and looks out for young trick-or-treaters who may be too excited by the holiday to look both ways before crossing the street. Make sure your teen also does not drive distracted and calls you instead of driving after drinking. Drunk driving accidents in Homestead can be especially tragic on Halloween, since they are likely to involve young children who are out trick-or-treating.

2) Consider staying home if you can avoid driving. If you don’t have to be out driving, this is one night of the year where it is safer to stay in. Stay in and hand out candy or watch a scary movie and avoid the added traffic of heading out. If you have younger children, consider staying in your neighborhood rather than driving out further afield.

3) In residential areas, especially, slow down and expect the unexpected. Trick-or-treaters are supposed to be highly visible, are supposed to stay on the sidewalks, and are supposed to obey traffic rules (such as crossing at crosswalks only). Parents are also supposed to supervise trick-or-treaters to ensure that they do not run out into traffic. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Sometimes, trick-or-treating children will run out between cars or will wander off alone and will cross at a red light. Some will be wearing dark costumes that are hard to spot. Motorists need to be prepared for just about anything, so that they can stop in time to avoid a car accident in Homestead or their community.

4) Do not drive tired or distracted. Distracted driving in Homestead and other cities is always a problem – as is fatigued driving. These things can be especially deadly on Halloween, when there are so many young pedestrians around.

5) Keep visibility good. If you are wearing a Halloween costume, make sure that it does not impede your ability to see clearly as you drive. If you decorate your car for Halloween, make sure that there is nothing in or on your vehicle that will create added blind spots.

6) Avoid drinking at Halloween parties if you will be driving home. Drunk driving accidents in Homestead and other communities are a worry on any holiday – including Halloween. If you are planning on going to a party where alcohol will be served, bring money for a cab or have an alternative way of getting home.

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Teen Passengers Could Be Increasing Your Teen’s Risk of a Car Crash

Published on: October 22, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

There are a number of rules and regulations in place to ensure that teen drivers stay safer on the roads. For example, teen drivers are banned by law to drink and drive. All teen drivers must have a 0 blood alcohol level when driving. Teens must also take drivers education classes and pass driver’s tests in order to get their licenses.

According to some experts, however, it is possible to reduce teen fatalities even more by imposing more restrictions on young drivers – and research seems to back this up. A study from Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has found that drivers who are 17 years of age or younger have an eight times increased risk of fatalities if they have at least two teenaged passengers in the car.

The research study, headed by Russell Henk, examined 10 years of national traffic information to reveal that there is a 30% increase in teen fatalities in cases where other teens are in the car. According to Henk, the increase in fatalities coincides also with the time that text messaging became extremely popular. While Henk notes that his study does not confirm that texting is the culprit, the research does seem to suggest that distracted driving – whether that distraction is just from teen passengers or a combination of teen passengers and texting – is a concern.

It is especially a concern since car accidents are a leading cause of injuries to children and minors in Hollywood and across the country. In fact, drivers under the age of 20 are three times as likely to die in traffic collisions when compared with other age groups, statistics show. Traffic accidents are also the leading cause of death for teens.

Some of the news is positive. According to government agencies, the number of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents declined by 60% between 2002 and 2011. However, according to the new study, the number of fatalities that take place when teen passengers are in the care rise annually.

According to the TTI study, there are a number of reasons why teen drivers may be more at risk in a traffic accident in Hollywood and other communities. New drivers may not have the driving skills and experience they need yet to avoid a car accident in Hollywood or their community. According to researchers, teens may also be more likely to take risks when their peers are in the car.

Another reason for the increased risk for car and truck accident in Hollywood may have to do with how the brain develops. According to the TTI researchers, the last part of the brain to develop is the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that considers risky behavior and its consequences. Teens may simply not have this part of the brain fully developed yet, and this can make it harder for them to evaluate the consequences of their own risky behavior?

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Birth Injuries and Car Accidents: What is the Connection?

Published on: October 17, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

In a car accident in Homestead, any passenger can be at risk of brain injury, whiplash, fatalities, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other serious injuries. However, some passengers are more vulnerable than others. For example, many studies have shown that small children – especially those who are not in proper safety restraints – are more at risk. In fact, car collisions are the leading cause of child injuries in Homestead and other communities. Adults that are below average height may also be more at risk of injuries from air bags in an accident. Seniors and those who are obese may also face an increased risk of injuries in a car collision, according to studies.

A new research study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine adds another group to that list: pregnant women. The study examined 878,546 pregnant women in North Carolina who gave birth between 2001 and 2008. Researchers of the study note that little work has been done about the specific impact of car accidents on fetuses. This is despite the fact that car accidents are the leading cause of serious injuries to pregnant women.

According to researchers, car accidents pose a significant risk for these women and their unborn children, with trauma being one of the leading causes of death to unborn children. The impact in a car accident, according to researchers, can cause damage to the organ systems that mother and unborn child share and can cause fatal trauma to the developing infant. This is especially a risk if the woman is not wearing a seatbelt and is involved in an accident that results in trauma directly to the abdominal area.
Researchers concluded that women who were involved in one car accident were at greater risk of rupture of the membranes, placental abruption, and preterm birth when compared with women who were not involved in an accident. Unsurprisingly, researchers also found that women who had more than one traffic accident during their pregnancy increased their risks of serious complications even more. Women who had more than one car accident during their pregnancy had an increased risk of stillbirth, placental abruption, preterm labor and delivery, and rupture of the membranes.

Women who were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident also had a three times elevated risk of stillbirth when compared with women who were wearing a seatbelt at the time of their collision.

Clearly, pregnant women will want to take additional precautions during pregnancy to avoid being in an accident. While it is not always possible to avoid a collision, it can be useful to be more cautious. For example, it is possible to reduce the risk of a traffic collision in Homestead and other communities by:

•Driving when well-rested
•Checking over-the-counter and prescription medication to ensure that they do not affect driving ability
•Avoiding distracted driving
•Using extra caution on the roads, especially during longer road trips and trips to unfamiliar areas
As the study suggests, seatbelt use is vital and can prevent serious injuries in an accident. Wearing a seatbelt correctly each time you drive or take a car can save your life.

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Child Injuries and Car Accidents in Hollywood and Florida

Published on: October 15, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

The National Science Foundation and The University of Pennsylvania have teamed up for a research study to help prevent child injuries and deaths caused by car accidents. Researchers are looking at video data captured from school bus accidents to determine what cases specific injuries to children in an accident. They are also using computer simulation models and accident information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to learn more about child spinal cord trauma. The goal of the project is to find ways to prevent injuries such as spinal cord injuries that children suffer in traffic accidents.

While this data may be useful in preventing future child injuries in Hollywood and across the country, each year children are seriously injured due to traffic accidents. According to safety experts, there are several things that parents can do to prevent injuries caused by traffic accidents in Hollywood:

1) Use child appropriate safety restraints and devices. Experts agree that these devices should be used every time a child is in the car and should be used for as long as the child meets height and weight requirements for the devices. Safety devices include car seats for babies and toddlers and a combination of booster seats and seat belts for older children.

2) Have children sit in the back seat. In a side-impact collision, the rear seat of the car is the safest place for your child. It provides the largest crumple zone in the event of a car accident. In addition, the side impact and passenger air bags common in newer models can be dangerous for children and the back seat of the vehicle protects children from these devices.

3) Reduce the risk of a car accident by handling any health issues. Many drivers have health issues that cause drowsiness, poor motor skills, and other issues that can affect their driving ability. It is important when being diagnosed with a new condition to speak with your doctor about how the condition or your medication can affect your driving ability so that you do not put yourself and your children at risk on the road.

4) Improve your driving skills to prevent collisions. Many motorists overestimate their driving abilities and assume that they are stronger drivers than they actually are. Many motorists also do not develop their skills set and driving after their initial driver’s license has been secured. This can be a big problem, especially if mobility issues affect a person’s driving abilities later on in life. Getting refresher courses, especially if you have had near misses or feel that your driving is not up to snuff, can be an important way of preventing accidents and injuries.

5) Drive a safer car. Get your car maintained regularly and buy a car that has good safety features that can help protect your child and other passengers. Check safety ratings, products liability claims in Hollywood, and recall notices to ensure that your car model is not affected by safety issues that could put your child at risk.

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New Study Could Help Give Some Insight As to What Causes Car Accidents

Published on: October 8, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to statistics, in 2012 the number of car accident fatalities across the country increased by five percent and while experts know that more than 90% of car accidents are caused by driver behaviors and driver mistakes, it has been hard for researchers to determine exactly what happens to cause car accidents.

Now technology is being used to get some answers. As part of a huge new study, more than 31 000 volunteer motorists’ cars have been equipped with GPS systems, cameras, radar, accelerometers, and other technology to monitor speed, acceleration, and just about everything else. Virginia Tech researchers will sift through all the data – which they expect will include about 700 crashes – to determine what causes accidents and near-misses.

While the new study is very useful and will likely provide some great insight into ways that we can prevent car accidents, researchers and experts agree that there are already a few known causes of car accidents that drivers can address in order to reduce their risk of a car collision:

1) Distraction. Distraction is one of the leading causes of car accident and has received a lot of press in recent years. Nevertheless, many people continue to drive distracted and continue to cause car and truck collisions in Hollywood and other communities. Any time that your eyes leave the road, your hands leave the wheel, or your mind leaves the driving process, you are distracted. You may be distracted by your passengers, the scenery around you, or a mobile device, but it does not change the fact that you are at risk of pedestrian accident or another serious collisions. When you get into a vehicle, your sole focus should be on driving safely.

2) Inebriation. Drunk driving accidents in Hollywood and other communities unfortunately continue to be an issue, despite the fact that all drivers understand the risks of drinking and driving. In addition to driving drunk, however, drivers also run a risk when they drive under the influence of drugs, prescription medication, or over-the-counter medication that can cause drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, and loss of mental focus. Whenever you take a substance that can affect your driving ability, it is important to find a safer route home. If you are taking medication – whether it is over-the-counter, herbal, or prescribed — it is important to speak with your doctor and your pharmacist to ensure that you can drive safely while taking the substance.

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Car Seats Could Save Child’s Lives

Published on: October 3, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

A new study from Safe Kids Worldwide has concluded that one out of four parents polled has driven without using a proper age-appropriate safety restraint for their child. Parents who are higher income earners, better educated, and younger are the most likely to make the safety mistake.

According to the poll, parents had several excuses for not buckling their child up:

•They were too rushed
•They were just traveling a short distance
•They were driving at night
•They were rewarding a child by not having them buckle up

According to safety experts, though, there is no good excuse for not putting a child’s safety first. Child injuries in Hollywood and other cities are very common in car collisions and a car crashes can occur at any time, so it is always important to buckle up. Safety restraints can help prevent many types of serious injuries in a crash and can save a child’s life.

According to safety experts, children should be kept in age-appropriate safety restraint systems until they are about 4 feet nine inches and weigh at least 90 or 100 pounds. Depending on the weight and age of a child, these systems can include car safety seats or a combination of booster seat and seatbelt.

Do you know how to properly use a child car seat? According to some statistics, up to 80% of car seats are not used correctly. If you are not sure how to use your car seat or child safety restraint, read the instruction manual or check online to see video demonstrations. In many cases, police associations and other safety groups hold demonstrations and can teach parents how to keep their child safe in the car.

Whether you live in Hollywood or any surrounding South Florida area, child injuries and car accidents are among the most devastating incidents that can happen. Each year, families in Hollywood and other communities are ripped apart when their children are injured in traffic accidents. In many cases, severe injuries can be lessened or avoided entirely with the correct use of age-appropriate safety restraints.

Keep in mind, too, that even if you use a car seat or other child safety restraint correctly, defective car seats or cars can mean that children are injured. If you feel that your child has been injured in a car accident because of a defective product, you may have a product liability claim in Hollywood or your area. Speak with a personal injury attorney in your community in order to find out what options you may have. Acting now can help you pursue compensation that can help you pay for your child’s medical care and other costs so that they can make a full recovery.

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Are Car and Truck Accidents More of a Problem around the Holidays?

Published on: October 1, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Some research suggests that truck accidents in Homestead and other communities can become more of a problem around the holidays. There are a few reasons for this:

1) More traffic. During holidays, such as the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, there are often more drivers on the road. In addition to people taking time away from school and work, there may be more cars and trucks on the road as people complete holiday shopping and as people visit friends or family for holiday events. More traffic can increase the risk of pedestrian accidents in Homestead as well as car accidents around the South Florida area.

2) Slower traffic. More traffic often means slower traffic, congestion, and other problems which can lead to road rage, driver frustration, and aggressive or reckless driving. Unfortunately, in many cases slowed down traffic and tight holiday schedules combine to make drivers take dangerous risks with their lives.

3) It may be harder to see aggressive drivers because of the heavy traffic. When you’re surrounded by heavy traffic during holiday rush hour or during a particularly slow section of traffic, it can be harder to spot aggressive or dangerous drivers. This can make it harder to respond appropriately in order to avoid a rear end car accident or other car accident in Homestead or your community.

4) Drinking and driving can become an issue. Unfortunately, even though all drivers understand the risks of drinking and driving, drunk driving accidents in Homestead and across South Florida continue to be an issue. With holiday parties and get-togethers, alcohol is often served and in some cases revelers make poor choices after drinking, causing DUI accidents.

5) Unique routes and unfamiliar routes. For the holidays, many people head out to see friends or family or drive to special holiday events. This can take them along unfamiliar routes, along longer routes, and to new places where they may not be aware of traffic risks and other issues. If you are traveling this holiday season, make sure that you start planning now in order to choose a route that you are most comfortable with.

6) More truck traffic for stores and businesses. In the few months leading up to the holiday season at the end of the year, many retailers are stepping up their business plans in order to sell more products and services. This time of year is especially busy in terms of truck traffic as products are shipped to stores and to and from customers. More truck traffic, unfortunately, can increase the risk of truck accidents in Homestead and other Florida cities.

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Is Overconfidence in Driving Skills Killing Us in Car Accidents?

Published on: September 27, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Confidence is usually a great thing. It is what allows us to succeed in our careers, take new risks, try new hobbies, and lead a full life. Behind the wheel of a car, however, overconfidence can lead to car accidents in Hollywood and other cities as well as fatalities.

Most of us realize that many motorists overestimate their driving ability. A new study from the New Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Australia has concluded that overconfident drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. According to the study of more than 1300 drivers, about 65% of motorists classified their driving skills as better than average.

Of these overconfident drivers, most were male, urban, and younger. In fact, about 72% of men and 53% of women surveyed ranked themselves as better than average drivers. About 72% of urban drivers listed their skills as better than average, compared to 62% of drivers from smaller cities classifying themselves the same way. About 73% of drivers in the 26-39 year old age group described the driving skills as better than average.

What is more troubling is what else overconfident drivers agreed with. About 82% of drivers who described themselves as better than average didn’t agree that speeding increased the risk of an accident. This is in comparison to 87% of self-described average drivers who did think that speeding was linked to accident risk. About 82% of overconfident drivers thought that penalties did not discourage speeding. In comparison, about 82% of self-described average drivers saw a link between penalties and reduced speeds.

While the study is interesting, more research needs to be done to determine exactly how overconfidence can lead to accidents. However, there is some common sense and anecdotal evidence that suggests that overconfidence can lead to accidents.

So what are some of the ways that overconfidence can lead to car and motorcycle accidents in Hollywood and other cities? A few possibilities:

•Overconfident drivers may be less likely to feel they need seatbelts, helmets on a motorcycle and other safety devices
•Overconfident drivers may blame other drivers for accidents rather than focusing on improving their own skills so that they can prevent car and pedestrian accidents in Hollywood or their communities
•Overconfident drivers may take more risks (such as speeding) because they wrongfully believe that they can “handle” it.
•Overconfident drivers may be more aggressive and impatient with drivers they feel are not as skilled.
•Overconfident drivers can miss important cues. A University of Utah study concluded that overconfident drivers have “Inattention blindness” which makes them miss important cues – up to half the information in front of them – because they believe they have strong enough driving skills to multitask while driving.

It would be wonderful to see some more research to determine whether these links in fact exist.

What do you think? Do you think that too much confidence makes drivers dangerous?

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How Bad Choices and Disinformation Lead to Car Accidents in Hollywood and Florida

Published on: September 24, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

We all make bad choices and occasionally believe myths that end up harming us. If you are a driver, however, misinformation and poor judgment can kill you. Do you ever find yourself thinking:

1) “One drink won’t hurt me.” Many drivers have an idea of how many drinks they can have before they are legally over the limit. Unfortunately, many things can affect your ability to metabolize alcohol. Fatigue, weight loss, illness, and medication, to name just a few factors, can exacerbate the effects of even one drink and can lead you to an accident and a drunk driving charge in Hollywood. In many cases, drivers intend to have only one drink but end up losing count of how much alcohol they have consumed, so they end up driving drunk. If you plan on drinking at all, find a safe route home.

2) “Inebriated driving means drunk driving.” There are many things that can affect your driving. Illegal substances, such as marijuana, can affect driving ability, as can over-the-counter and prescribed medications. Anything that affects your judgment, fatigue levels, or mobility can result in a car or truck accident in Hollywood or your city. With something as important as driving, it is best to err on the side of caution.

3) “It’s just a second.” Many drivers overestimate their driving ability and think that they can remove their eyes from the road just briefly to check a text message, change a radio station, or do something else. Studies have shown that a car can travel the length of a football field in the amount of time it takes to check a message or do other simple things, and that’s enough time to cause a pedestrian accident in Hollywood or your community. In a car, it only takes a second to cause a fatal collision.

4) “I have to do this.” Many people overestimate the importance of a phone call, text message, or their own to-do list. It is unlikely that whoever is on the other line can’t wait a few minutes until you find somewhere to park. When you are driving the only thing you “have” to do is drive safely and keep your full focus on the road and your driving. Failure to so can lead to a terrible traffic collision in Hollywood or your community.

5) “Distracted driving means texting and driving.” Great efforts have been made in recent years to show the dangers of using mobile devices while driving. While it is true that texting and using mobile devices is dangerous, focus on that can obscure the fact that any distraction can be deadly behind the wheel. Whether it’s changing a CD, playing with the radio, listening intently to an audio book, arguing with a passenger, checking out the scenery or even daydreaming, anything that distracts you can kill you on the road because it can lead to a car accident.

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Everyday Decisions That Could Lead to a Car Accident in Hollywood or Your City

Published on: September 20, 2013 | By Flaxman Law Group

Certain decisions you make can increase your chances of being in a car collision in Hollywood or of sustaining a serious injury:

1) Deciding to do too much. It may not seem to have anything to do with your driving, but a very long to-do list can lead to a car or truck accident in Hollywood. When you are overextended with too many tasks, you may find yourself distracted and exhausted from your busy schedule – and fatigued driving and distracted driving are major contributors to traffic crashes in Hollywood and across the country. Make a list of everything you want and need to accomplish and then work on outsourcing some of those tasks to others. Or, consider taking public transit so that you can do some work while someone else focuses on driving.

2) Not considering your route first. Road work, poor weather, and heavy traffic can all contribute to car and motorcycle accidents in Hollywood and Florida. To save yourself time and frustration while staying safer, check for updates about your routes before you hop in the car and adjust your driving plans as needed.

3) Not thinking three moves ahead. Think ahead a few moves and you are less likely to be startled by other drivers or suddenly cut someone off. Thinking to where you need to be allows you to plan ahead and change lanes as needed, keeping you safer.

4) Moving too little in the car – and not using your mirrors. In your car, you should be checking blind spots by physically turning and using your mirrors regularly so that you know exactly what is going on around you. This is especially important when backing up, changing lanes, and turning.

5) Ignoring your health. Even minor symptoms can become deadly on the road if you suddenly lose consciousness, have a dizzy spell, or even have a sneezing spell on a freeway. If you are ill, take a break from driving until your doctor gives you the all-clear. Get symptoms checked out. If you are given a new diagnosis, be sure to ask your doctor and pharmacist how your illness and medication could affect your driving skills.

6) Deciding to drive when you should take an alternative transportation option home. Many of us just hop in the car, focused on getting to our next destination. Few of us stop to ask “Am I fit to drive right now?” Yet this one little question could help prevent many car crashes and pedestrian accidents on Hollywood streets. If you are distracted, upset, angry, fatigued, or unwell, you should not be driving.

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