Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Making This Your Safest Holiday Season on the Road

Published on: December 4, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Holiday drivers face extra hazards at this time of year. There are distracted, ill, and drunk drivers on Hollywood and Florida roads and the roads are often filled with more drivers due to holiday events and shopping. The extra traffic, extra drinking, and added stress can all add up to more dangers on the roads. However, there are things you can do to reduce your chances of being injured in a collision at this time of year:

1) Get your car into the best condition possible.

This is a good time to get a tune-up. The better your car responds, the better your chances of avoiding a collision, especially if you need to maneuver suddenly to avoid a crash. Pay attention to your tires and brakes in particular. Make sure that your car’s tires have good treads that grip the road and ensure that brakes work so that you can avoid parking lot crashes and other collisions common at this time of year.

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Studying the Effects of Google Glass on Car Collisions

Published on: October 10, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

A number of recent studies have focused on the effects of distracted driving in Miami and other cities and many researchers have considered the impact that mobile devices and hands-free devices may have on drivers. Google Glass is a new type of technology and a new study has been published outlining the ways that the wearable technology could impact motorists.

Is Google Glass Safe for Drivers?

A recent study by the University of Central Florida and the Air Force Research Laboratory concluded that Google Glass is a distraction for drivers. However, researchers also concluded that drivers using the device can regain control of their vehicles faster after a car collision when compared with motorists using a smartphone. The study concluded that drivers should not use Google Glass or any devices while driving but noted that new technologies may eventually develop that would allow drivers to get information and to communicate with minimal or no distraction.

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Study Concludes That Hands-Free Devices are not a Magic Solution for Distracted Driving

Published on: October 8, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Manufacturers of hands-free and voice-activated devices claim that their products allow drivers to send and check emails and texts while still keeping their eyes focused on the road and their hands on the wheel. Many drivers assume that these devices are safer and are a good way to prevent distracted driving in Homestead or their communities.

A new AAA study casts doubt on these assumptions.

According to the study, voice-activated, hands-free devices can still be very distracting for drivers – especially if the devices fail to recognize the speaker’s voice and the driver has to repeat what they are saying. The study looked at drivers using devices that relied on voice command or hands-free features to allow drivers to place calls, change the car’s entertainment system, or text messages. Drivers were placed in simulators and asked to use the hands-free devices while having to “drive” through a course.

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Does Your Job Influence Your Chances of Being in a Car Crash?

Published on: September 2, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

There many things that could influence your risk of being in a car accident in Homestead or your community. For example, newer drivers, older drivers, and drivers with serious medical conditions may have an increased chance of being in a car accident. Your ability to drive and your ability to focus on driving can have a big impact on how safe you are behind the wheel. Of course, your sobriety also has an impact. But could your job also play a role?

According to a new research report by Moneysupermarket.com, the answer may be yes. The website analyzed more than 2 million insurance claims and found that healthcare-related professions have a higher rate of car accidents than other workers. In fact, according to the analysis, general practitioners and surgeons had the highest rates of car accidents among all professions. Of the top 10 professions for insurance claims, nine were health-related. Probation officers were the only exception, coming in at number seven when it came to the number of car crash claims by occupation. In contrast, office workers have the lowest rates of car crash claims. Fair employees and car wash attendants also had low rates of car accident claims.

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Devices That Could Prevent Child Injury in Cars

Published on: August 7, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Child injury in Homestead and other communities is often linked to cars. Not only are car accidents one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities for young children, but cars themselves pose a risk to children – even if the cars are not moving. Each summer, for example, there have been instances of children dying of heat stroke and hyperthermia after inadvertently being left alone in a hot car.

There are a number of safety devices that can be used to help combat the problem, according to experts:

Motion and heat sensors. These sensors can be installed in a car seat and sense movement or heat, alerting parents when their child is left behind in the car. There are now many brands and models of the devices.

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A Quick Mental Check Before You Drive Could Save Your Life

Published on: August 5, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Recent studies have shown that one of the most dangerous obstacles to overcome when driving doesn’t have to do with other drivers, poor road design in Hollywood or your community, or the many other things that we tend to associate with road safety problems. Instead, our minds – and specifically, daydreaming – contribute to a large number of car accidents. In fact, studies suggest that daydreams contribute to more collisions than cell phones.

If you want to stay safe on the roads and avoid traffic collisions in Hollywood or your community, you will want to do a quick mental check before you hop in the car. The simple precaution could save your life. A mental check means:

1) Checking for fatigue.

If you are fatigued to the point where your mind feels almost buzzed, you are not safe to drive. Fatigue affects a lot more than just your response times. It can also affect your ability to process information correctly and to make it hard for you to focus. It can also leave you more likely to daydream. If you are tired, take another method of transportation home. Fatigued driving in Hollywood and other communities already causes far too many collisions each year.

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Why The Mind Can Be One of the Leading Causes of Car Crashes in Hollywood and Other Florida Cities

Published on: July 24, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Drivers are often told about the dangers of external distractions. We all known that cell phones and distracted drivers in Hollywood and Florida lead to collisions. And we are all told that drunk driving in Hollywood and other communities leads to pedestrian crashes and other types of accidents. The good thing is that there are things that can be done about external distractions – but what happens when those distractions come from within?

It turns out that our minds may be one of the biggest culprits behind motor vehicle accidents. A study by Erie Insurance Group found that Cognitive distraction was five times more common a factor in car accidents when compared with cell phone use. Daydreaming in particular was noted as a key reason behind many rear-end shunt accidents and other types of collisions.

Stopping daydreaming-related car collisions in Hollywood and other cities is difficult for a few reasons:

Many drivers may not even be aware that they are daydreaming.
There is no way to legislate daydreaming.
Daydreaming can occur in any situation. A driver can put away their cell phone, turn off their radio, and practice other good habits to avoid distraction, but they can’t get away from their mind.

Distracted Driving

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Heading on a Trip with Your Pet? Review These Road Safety Tips First

Published on: July 1, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Whether you are headed out to see family this July Fourth weekend or are taking advantage of the long weekend to go on a road trip, keep in mind that if you are traveling with your pet, you will need to take extra precautions. Many people who head out on road trips or to vacation homes at this time of year bring their pets along. Unfortunately, pets in the car can mean a greater risk of car collisions in Homestead or your community.

We all know that distracted driving in Homestead and other cities is a leading cause of broadside collisions, head-on crashes and many other types of accidents. Unfortunately, most of us think of distracted driving as something that involves mobile devices. In reality, anything that takes your mind or eyes off the road can be a distraction – and pets can certainly fit the bill.

Unrestrained pets in a car can be a big danger. In the event of a crash, a pet can become a projectile and can cause injury. An unrestrained cat or dog is also more likely to sustain life-threatening injury if you are in a crash. Despite these concerns, a survey conducted by Kurgo and the AAA in 2011 found that 84% of survey responders stated that they travel with unrestrained dogs in the car.

If you are traveling by car this summer and want to keep both you and your pet safe, be sure to:

1) Put your pet in a carrier. Choose a sturdy carrier that is appropriate for your pet’s size and weight.

2) Place carriers safely. Placing a pet carrier in the front seat is dangerous because if you are in a car or truck collision in Homestead or your community, your pet may be injured by airbags. Place pet carriers in the back seat. If the carrier is small enough, the safest spot may be between the rear and front seats, on the floor. Only use seatbelts with the carrier if you have a carrier meant to be secured with a seatbelt.

3) Take your pet with you when you leave the car. A hot car can easily prove fatal to a small dog or cat in just minutes. Cracking the window is not enough; take your pet with you.

4) Carry what you need for your pet. Make sure that your pet has collars and vaccinations. Have water, treats, and blankets available for your cat or dog and have a first-aid kit on hand as well as the number of your local veterinarian. If you are traveling with a cat, bring a litter box that is meant for use in the car or the carrier.

5) If your pet does not travel well, visit a vet before you travel. Even if your dog or cat is restrained, they can be a big distraction if they are in obvious distress. Severe stress can also be dangerous for pets. If you know your pet does not travel well, your vet can recommend medication or other solutions for a safer car ride.

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Could Technology Become the Solution for Distracted Driving in Miami and Other Cities?

Published on: May 29, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Experts have many possible solutions for distracted driving in Miami and other communities. Some suggest educational campaigns or texting bans. Could it be possible, though, that technology could be the solution that helps Florida avoid distraction-related car crashes in Miami and other cities?

Recently, Apple secured a parent for a device which would prevent drivers from texting while driving. The device, called the “driver handheld computing device lock-out” in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publications, would reportedly shut off the mobile device functions that could distract a driver if the device detected that a driver was both driving and using the device. According to Apple, about 80 percent of car crashes are due to distracted driving.

The trucking industry has also been considering technology which would place sensors and even cameras inside the driver area, allowing for automatic scanning of a trucker’s eyes to detect possible fatigue and distraction. Safety experts state that this type of technology could help prevent many trucking collisions in Miami and across the country. Truck driver fatigue in Miami and other regions continues to be a concern, as does distracted driving. However, there is no indication when this type of technology might become available or widely adopted in trucks. In addition to driver concerns about privacy, cost may be a barrier in this type of technology.

Another type of technology that could help reduce instances of traffic accidents is the autonomous truck and car. Driverless vehicles are being developed by Google and other companies and early indicators suggest that these vehicles could greatly reduce or eliminate the potential for accidents. These vehicles use sensors to automatically drive the vehicle, without input from the driver. It is estimated that in another 10 years, some of the cars and trucks on the road will be this type of driverless model. Proponents of autonomous cars claim that these cars can help resolve the issue of distracted driving. Regardless of the driver’s ability to navigate the vehicle, the car can essentially drive itself, avoiding human error and other issues that can cause traffic accidents.

While experts disagree about which technology options will ultimately end the danger of distracted driving, there is no disagreement about the fact that distracted driving causes car and traffic accidents in Miami and other cities each year. There is also no disagreement about the fact that distracted driving rules can only go so far. Even though Florida has instituted a texting ban, law enforcement admits that it is difficult to apprehend people who are texting because they can simply keep devices out of the way. In addition, safety experts state that there is simply no way to legislate against all possible distractions in the car, including eating, grooming, changing the radio, using hands-free devices, and the many other tasks that can distract from driving.

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Newest Studies Point to the Role of Cell Phones in Car Accidents in Hollywood and Across the US

Published on: May 6, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to a new report by the National Safety Council, cell phone use causes about 26% of the car accidents across the country. In most cases, these collisions seem to be caused by drivers who are distracted because they are talking on hands-free or handheld cell phones. While there have been many “don’t text and drive” campaigns, the report claims that about 5% of cell-phone related accidents occur due to texting, while most are caused by talking on cell phones.

This study corroborates information from a study concluded by Texas A&M research institute. Both studies found that talking on cell phones can actually be more dangerous than texting, in large part because the danger is distraction, not simply taking one’s eyes off the road. Both studies also found that using talk-to-text applications or hands-free devices does not help because the issue at hand seems to be distraction, not the specific technology itself. The National Safety Council studied the effect that cellphone tasks have on a motorist’s mental workload and how the devices affect cognitive distraction.

According to the Texas A&M research institute study, traditional texting took less time than texting voice-to-text technology. During both kinds of texting, driver performance was negatively impacted to a similar extent. The National Safety Council study also concluded that the worry is less how people are using their cell phones while driving but rather the fact that they are using cell phones, which can increase reaction time on the road. According to the researchers, the increase in reaction time is similar even when drivers use hands-free technology.

So what do the studies mean for preventing cell-phone related car accidents in Florida and Homestead? In a word, they suggest that turning off devices entirely when driving is the best option. While drivers may feel that hands-free devices and technology can help them avoid car and truck accidents in Homestead or their community, the study shows that any cell phone use can be dangerous on the road. Safety experts have been saying the same thing for years: the phone call or text can wait.

Unfortunately, distracted driving in Homestead and Florida continues to be a problem and it is extremely difficult to legislate. As these studies show, a large part of the problem is that car accidents are caused by where the driver’s mind is focused and there is really no way to check to make sure that drivers are focusing on their driving correctly.

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