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

Taking a Stand to Stop Drunk Driving

Published on: April 7, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

The month of April is Alcohol Awareness Month. This month, the National Institutes of Health wants to warn you about the dangers of alcohol to your health and safety. It’s a good time to sit down and talk about drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and the other dangers that drinking can cause. If you have children, this is a good time to develop a “drive sober” strategy for the whole family.

Here are a few tips for ensuring that alcohol use doesn’t cause a tragic car accident in Hollywood that could affect you and your family:

Continue reading →

DUI Checkpoints: How They Are Used to Keep Drunk Drivers off the Roads

Published on: March 12, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

DUI checkpoints are meant to help protect drivers from inebriated drivers in Miami and other cities. And there is reason to be concerned: According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in 2014 there were 40,677 arrests for DUI in the state. Drunk drivers cause many more serious injuries, including career-ending head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries that are permanent and affect a person’s quality of life for the rest of their life.

The idea behind DUI checkpoints is that police randomly stop drivers to see whether they should be further tested for inebriation. If a police officer stops a driver at a DUI checkpoint and the driver exhibits poor motor control or there is an odor of alcohol, the police can further investigate and administer field sobriety test to determine whether the driver is indeed under the influence.

Continue reading →

How effective are Efforts to Curb Drunk Driving?

Published on: January 8, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you were out on the streets of Hollywood and other parts of South Florida this past holiday season, you likely saw the efforts that local authorities instituted to prevent drunk driving. Since drunk driving in Hollywood and other communities can increase during the holiday season, Florida police and advocacy groups respond with awareness and education campaigns and stronger enforcement of DUI laws.

Do Traffic Stops Work?

You may have wondered whether these efforts work. According to Jim Fell and other researchers at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the answer seems to be yes. Fell and his researchers looked at six different efforts used by police in 30 different communities to stop drunk driving and other violations. The results suggested that the efforts worked and that communities relying heavily on traffic stops saw the lowest levels of drunk driving. Communities that did not use traffic stops or had few of them had rates of drunk driving that were up to three times higher, by comparison. Communities with many arrests for DUI charges also saw less drunk driving than areas with less enforcement.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Do You Have a Drive Safe Plan for the Holidays?

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

During the holidays, drunk driving accidents in Homestead and other Florida communities may be more of a risk as many holiday events include alcohol. In addition, the stress of the holiday season can sometimes lead to fatigued or distracted driving. To stay safe this season, you will need to have a plan in place to get home safely if you have been drinking. Your drive safe plan should include:

1) A list of numbers you can call.

Have a list of numbers you can call in the event that you cannot get home safely. Your list should include taxi companies, friends and family, and local hotels where you can stay for the night until you can get home safely. Consider keeping a paper copy in your wallet in case something happens to your cell phone. On your phone, consider installing an app that lets you contact local hotels or taxis for a safe drive home. There are apps specifically designed to prevent drunk driving.

Continue reading →

Does Marijuana Cause Car Collisions in Davie and Other Communities?

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

There are many research studies showing that drunk driving is dangerous and leads to car crashes. There are also studies showing that some drugs are dangerous and can cause collisions. The research about marijuana, however, seems to be less clear. Now that Florida residents are considering Amendment 2 and other states are considering legalizing medical marijuana or decriminalizing marijuana, the debate has gained new ground.

Opponents of Amendment 2 have stated that legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana would lead to drugged driving. According to one coalition, Don’t Let Florida Go To Pot, one fourth of all fatal motor vehicle collisions can be linked to marijuana. The statistic comes from a 2011 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy report based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The data is based on fatal accidents between 2005 and 2009. According to that research, there were approximately 127,000 fatal car accidents across 50 states between those years and about 78,000 motorists were tested for drugs in these collisions. The research at the time showed that drivers who tested positive for marijuana use increased between 2005 and 2009, rising from 22.6% to 26% before declining to 25.3% in 2009.

Continue reading →

Avoid DUI Accidents During the Last Few Weeks of Summer

Published on: August 21, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

The last few weeks of summer often mean extra social events. There’s the final weekend of the summer, going-away parties for high school grads, closing-up-the-cottage barbecues; as the weather cools, people will take just about any excuse to host a get-together. All of the extra events can mean more opportunities for alcohol to be served, though, and that can mean more drunk driving collisions in Coral Gables and Florida. To avoid being involved in a drunk driving accident during these last few weeks before autumn, you will want to:

1) Make an agreement with a friend.

Positive social pressure can be a good way to prevent drinking and driving. Have friends looking out for you at a party or hand your car keys to the host to ensure that you have someone else helping you make a safe decision. The reality is that after drinking most people find not only their driving ability but also their decision-making ability impaired. Driving home after you have been drinking may not seem like a “big deal” to you if you are affected by alcohol, so having someone else looking out for your well-being can be invaluable.

Continue reading →

Your Sober Driving Plan for Labor Day Weekend

Published on: August 19, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and for many people that means end-of-year barbecues and parties. For police authorities in Hollywood and other Florida communities, however, it means extra vigilance. Unfortunately, DUI accidents in Hollywood and across Florida are quite common during the Labor Day weekend, and these preventable accidents claim far too many lives. To protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday, you will want to stake steps to prevent drunk driving. To do that, you will want to:

1) Have a plan, even if you don’t intend to drink.

Sometimes, people make bad decisions about drinking and driving because they don’t plan to drink. Even if you have every intention of not drinking, though, you may end up accepting a beer or may realize too late that the punch you have been drinking was actually a sangria with plenty of wine in it. Having a plan in place to get home safely if you have been drinking is important, no matter what your plans are.

2) Have at least two back-up plans.

Now is the time to decide how you will get home safely from any Labor Day activities, but it’s not enough to have just one plan. Plans change. Your designated driver may end up drinking after all, or you may not be able to find a taxi when you need one. Make sure that you have a few options to avoid drinking and driving, so that you are never tempted to get behind the wheel.

Continue reading →

Drugged Driving in Homestead and Florida is Claiming Lives

Published on: June 12, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Statistics show that drunk driving in Homestead and across the country already claims far too many lives. Many organizations and educational campaigns are dedicated to helping people make better decisions after drinking to help slash the rates of these accidents. However, researchers and police say that more needs to be done to alert the public of the dangers of drugged driving as well.

A new study from West Virginia University has found that between 1999 and 2010, prescription painkillers became an increasing cause of traffic collisions. The same time frame saw a drop in the number of fatal accidents caused by illegal drugs, possibly in response to anti-drug policies and educational campaigns.

Researchers in the West Virginia University study looked at fatal U.S. traffic accidents reported in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The study looked at drivers who tested positive for drugs — including hydrocodone, barbiturates, methadone, oxycodone, benzodiazepines and cocaine – as part of the accident investigation.

The study’s authors concluded that between 1999 and 2010, the rate of fatal collisions where a driver tested positive for drugs increased by 49% overall. The biggest increases involved drivers who tested positive for painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. These prescribed medications can cause confusion and drowsiness.

In contrast, cocaine use among drivers involved in fatal collisions grew until 2005 and then dropped. Researchers concluded that prescription drugs, rather than illegal drugs, are becoming an increasingly common cause of car crashes and suggest that authorities need to address the issue.

Since prescription drugs are legal, however, legislation to prevent DUI/DWI accidents in Homestead and other communities involving these medications will be a challenge. Rather than simply turning to legislation, it’s possible that a better solution might be to focus on education. An education campaign should focus on teaching drivers:

•That there are risks associated with both illegal drugs and prescription medication
•That they need to check with their pharmacist and doctor before taking a new over-the-counter or prescribed medication to see whether the medication will affect driving ability
•That they need to find alternative forms of transportation if they feel dizzy or disoriented after taking medication
•That they may need to give their bodies time to adapt to a new medication and during this time they should be prepared to take alternative forms of transportation if they notice serious side effects
Doctors and pharmacists, too, need to be part of the solution to help prevent more motor vehicle crashes in Homestead and other Florida cities. Doctors and pharmacists can help by:

•Alerting patients when a medication or group of medications used together could affect driving ability
•Warning patients about side effects or allergic reactions and make it clear when patients should seek help or stop driving after a reaction
•Encouraging patients to report any symptoms that could affect their driving
•Helping patients change medications if a drug causes serious side effects
•Telling patients when they need to hang up their keys (permanently or temporarily)

Continue reading →

Getting Serious About DUI Accidents in Our Communities

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

Even though the dangers of inebriated driving have been known for a long time, far too many DWI/DUI crashes continue to happen in Homestead and other Florida cities. Experts recommend many things that can be done to help prevent these types of crashes from occurring. For example, many drunk driving accidents in Homestead and other cities involve repeat offenders and some experts recommend making laws tougher in order to prevent these drivers from continuing to drive inebriated.

Of course, a major problem is that even with a suspended license some people will continue to drive anyway. In these cases, technology can be useful in deterring drunk driving. For example, some states already require repeat DUI offenders to use devices which prevent them from starting their vehicles unless they can pass a breath alcohol test. While not perfect – drivers can avoid the technology by using a different car – it can help cut down on instances of drunk driving.

It is also clear that more needs to be done to clarify the message about “drunk driving” overall. While all motorists are told that drunk driving is dangerous, less is said about the dangers of driving when using certain prescription or over-the-counter medications. More could be done to send home the message that any substance that affects mobility or judgment – even something as seemingly benign as flu medication – can lead to a broadside or head-on collision. Already, there is more information out there about the dangers of “buzzed driving,” or driving after having only a few drinks. This is a move in the right direction and could help prevent more injuries and fatalities.

A big factor that continues to cause car collisions in Homestead and other communities comes down to attitudes. Some motorists make the wrong choices after drinking or taking medication because they think they aren’t drunk or because they assume that they can drive safely. Unfortunately, the poor judgment that causes car accidents also causes drivers to make the wrong choices when drinking and driving. In other words, some drivers under the influence misjudge their own ability to drive safely. In other cases, motorists simply excuse their own decision to drink and drive – often with terrible consequences.

The reality is that someone who has been drinking has many options to get home safely. They can:

•Call a taxi or use public transportation to get home
•Call a friend or family member to get home safely
•Designate a driver before drinking
•Surrender their keys before drinking
•Get a hotel room for the night
•Avoid drinking if they know that they will be driving
Now that it is summer and more people are taking advantage of their vacation time to take part in barbecues and other events where alcohol will be served, it’s a great time to get serious about DUI driving. If you are a motorist, please take some time to come up with a strategy to get home safely after events this summer. If you have new or teen drivers in your household, this is a good time to review options and ideas for getting home safely after a party or event. A frank talk now could help your teen make the right decision later in the summer.

Continue reading →