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Broward Injury Lawyer Blog

August 9, 2012

Bicyclist Hit Twice on Same Broward Road, Second Accident Fatal

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Each and every day, bicyclists and pedestrians are hit by irresponsible drivers. Unfortunately, many of these accidents forever change the life of the rider.

There are those cases though, in which a victim is lucky enough to survive. Take the case of Christopher McConnell for example. According to the Sun Sentinel, he was hit by a passing van while he was riding his bicycle down Sheridan Road. The collision left him with various injuries to his shoulder and his pelvis, with a number of broken ribs and with a gash in his head that needed 30 stitches. McConnell wasn’t going to let the accident stop him. He’s pushed through rehab and made it back onto a bicycle in just a matter of weeks.

“He was lucky to be alive,” said John Jones, McConnell’s long-time friend. “But he loved bicycling and he loved the guys he rode with. It was a big part of his life.”

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorneys understand that McConnell wasn’t done facing the risks of bicycling in the area though. Unfortunately, encounters with motor-vehicle traffic aren’t a one-time experience for cyclists in the area. McConnell’s life was taken when he was hit a second time on Sheridan Road. This time he was hit by a car that was being driven by a burglary suspect. According to Broward Sheriff’s homicide investigators, the driver of the fleeing car was driving at speeds near 110 miles per hour.

McConnell wasn’t the only victim in this accident. One of his riding friends, Dean Amelkin from Coral Springs, was killed in the collision as well. These gentlemen rode their bikes every weekend and pedaled to the beach for breakfast.

The fatal bicycle accident happened just after 7:00 a.m. when the fleeing driver sped through a red light at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Sheridan road. The car slammed into another vehicle, sending it right into the path of the cyclists.

The two killed in the accident died on impact. The other two bicyclists that they were with were not injured.

The runaway driver jumped out of his car after the collision and was later found by officials. He is currently facing two counts of first-degree murder along with charges from the burglary that started the whole chase.

The entire community is feeling the loss of these beloved residents. Both of the men were owners of small business in the area. To recognize their lives and their contributions to the community, friends and family members help a memorial service for the two.

Drivers give riders too little respect, often with deadly results. The truth of the matter is that cyclists need to fend for themselves on our roadways. Make your presence known and steer clear of vehicular traffic whenever possible.
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July 31, 2012

Near 15 Percent Increase in Accidents, Be Safe Out There

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Safety officials may have been trumpeting the decrease in fatal accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere through the economic donwturn, but the truth of the matter is that the decrease was short lived. According to CNN, there was a near 15 percent increase in the number of roadway fatalities during the first quarter of 2012, in comparison to the first quarter of 2011.

Manufacturers are trying to produce safer vehicles and transportation officials are pushing safe-driving campaigns that caution motorists about the dangers of not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Still, we are seeing more accidents this year than last. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians around the country are all at some serious risks for an accident.

Our Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers understand that there were nearly 8,000 people who were killed in traffic accidents during the first four months of 2012. There were 6,700 people who were killed during the same time period in 2011. That’s a near 15 percent increase and it’s worrying transportation officials. Risks are only expected to get worse here in the state of Florida as we prep for season and snow-bird traffic.

Some people believe that the increase is because of the weather we’ve seen in the recent months. Locations throughout the country have seen some unseasonably warm weather lately. With warmer weather, motorists are more likely to head out on those summer vacations they’ve been awaiting all year. With more vehicle miles traveled overall among residents, we can bet on higher accident risks.

“Warmer-than-average winter weather may have contributed to higher vehicle miles traveled, and ultimately more fatal crashes,” said Jacob Nelson, who is the director of traffic safety advocacy with the Automobile Association of America.

What might be most frightening about these stats is that each and every year there is an increase in fatality rates after the first quarter. Yes, that’s right. The risks are supposed to increase.

Nelson says that it’s obvious from the release of this data that more needs to be done to help to reduce the risks and to bring down these fatality counts. He says that a few safe driving campaigns aren’t going to cut it.

The first quarter of 2012 come in at the second biggest year-to-year quarterly increase in traffic deaths since the feds started recording them in 1975.

In 2012, the number of vehicle miles traveled increased by more than 9.5 million. That’s nearly 1.5 percent more than 2011. As we round out the rest of the year, we can only expect the number of vehicle miles traveled to increase.

Everyone is urged to be careful, cautious and courteous drivers. That includes motorcycles, pedestrians and bicyclists. When accident rates increase, everyone is at risk.
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July 20, 2012

Miami-Fort Lauderdale Ranks in Top 5 Most Dangerous Areas in Nation to Drive

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area was recently named one of the most dangerous areas to drive in the United States. You are more likely to die in a car accident in Florida than most other states in the country. A recent government report looked at accident and fatality rates in some of the nation’s most populated areas and comprised a list of some of the most dangerous. The state of Florida holds two of the top 5 most dangerous areas in the country, according to WebMD.

Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers understand that car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for Americans. In just 2009, there were nearly 34,500 people killed in these accidents. More than 20 percent of the people killed in these accidents were between the ages of 15- and 24-years-old. Many of these fatalities are completely preventable. Drivers and other motorists are urged to keep safety as a number one priority and take all of the necessary safety precautions to help to avoid one of these tragedies. You’re to abide by all road laws, make sure you’re buckled during ever car ride and avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The overall rate of accident fatalities in the U.S. was just more than 11 per 100,000 residents. Some of Florida’s ranks tallied in at nearly 19.5 per 100,000.

Some of the most dangerous areas to drive in:

-Orlando, Florida
-Memphis, Tennessee
-Glendale, Tennessee
-Miami, Florida
-Las Vegas, Nevada
Researchers also made a list of the safest areas to drive in. Unfortunately, the state of Florida didn’t make it in the list.

Some of the safest areas to drive in:

-Boston, Massachusetts
-Buffalo, New York
-Cleveland, Ohio
-Hartford, Connecticut

-Newark, New Jersey
In the state of Florida, there were nearly 235,500 accidents in 2010. This means that there were about 650 accidents every day. In these accidents, there were nearly 1,500 people who were killed and another 195,100 people injured. There were also another 108,355 property-only accidents in the state. Some of the most common causes of these accidents were alcohol-impaired drivers, drug-impaired drivers and speeding drivers. There were also about 400 motorcyclists killed and nearly 100 teen drivers lost in these accidents, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

It wasn’t only motorists who were at risks in these accidents either. Pedestrians accounted for nearly 500 of these fatalities in 2010 and bicyclists accounted for another 100.

Drivers are asked to be cautious out there. As we head into season we’re going to see an increase in vehicular traffic. Risks for accidents are only going to climb during this time.
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July 15, 2012

Bicycle Accidents in Miami Likely with New Bike-Sharing Program

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

There’s going to be a new bicycle-sharing program here in Miami. According to the Miami Herald, the city’s commissioners voted 3-0 to give preliminary approval to a new ordinance that would allow for advertising on the side of these bicycle rental stations. Under the current city code, ads are prohibited from being displayed on most of the public right-of-way or city-owned fixtures.

The advertising will help to fund the project, says the director of capital improvements, Albert Sosa. Unfortunately, many safety officials believe that the project will be increasing the risks of bicycle accidents in Miami and elsewhere.

“Our program is intended to be revenue generating for the city and to be self-sustaining,” said Sosa.

Our Miami bicycle accident lawyers understand the Miami-Broward area is among the most dangerous in the nation when it comes to cycling accidents. Our areas continue to be the most dangerous spots for both pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in the entire state year after year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Officials are working to get more bicyclists on our roadways, which safety advocates are predicting will increase the risks for these kinds of accidents. Now, all officials have to do is finalize the details. The city of Miami has also solicited a number of proposals from bike-sharing companies. There’s one company that has the lead spot for the job, but officials are not releasing the name of the bidder until the process is done.

Sosa says that this program will be setting up nearly 50 bicycle-sharing racks throughout the area. They will first be placed in the most populated areas. These bikes will help to get residents and visitors to their destinations while helping to reduce vehicular congestion on our roadways.

With more bikers along our streets, we’re warning everyone about the increased risks for accidents. We’re reminding bicyclists to be on their best behavior when traveling near motor vehicle traffic. Sosa says that the goal of the program is to get vehicles off of the road and to help residents to get healthy. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to stay safe. Make sure that you make yourself as visible as possible when riding in the area. Motor vehicle traffic and bicyclists travel in close quarters with one another. Travel harmoniously and help to keep everyone safe.

Bicycle-sharing programs have been successful in other South Florida area. This includes in both Palm Beach and Broward counties in addition to Miami Beach. With these programs comes a heavy focus on traveler safety, accompanying bike safety advertisements and awareness campaigns. Help to make our area safe for all travelers. Be safe and alert regardless of how you choose to get around.
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July 10, 2012

Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Lauderdale & the Wave Streetcar Project

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Broward County and Miami-Dade continue to be the most dangerous areas in the state for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

With the beautiful weather year round and the proximity of all of the local hot spots, pedestrians are welcomed on our roadways nearly 365 days a year. Vehicular traffic doesn’t always offer the same welcome to our on-foot friends. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in the area might see a quick spike as the city recently received approval and funding for the long-awaited Wave Streetcar Project.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the city was recently informed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) that it will be getting nearly $20 million to fund the launch of the project. Wave Streetcars will provide streetcars for riders to get around the city.

“It’s a pretty exciting development for us,” said John P. “Jack” Seiler, Mayor or Fort Lauderdale.

Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz spent a number of years trying to get the grant. With this money, streetcars will be permitted in the area to help to get pedestrians through a near 3-mile corridor in the downtown Fort Lauderdale area. Not only is it supposed to help get residents and visitors to where they need to be, but it will also help to create a plethora of jobs both during the construction of the project and well after. It’s also expected to help to lure in nearby residents and tourists to the downtown area. With more visitors, the city is expecting a growth in economic development. Unfortunately, safety officials are also predicting a spike in pedestrian accidents throughout the area.

If more people will be using these cars to get around then we can expect less vehicular traffic. Congestion will be eased significantly, say transportation officials. The current proposed streetcar routes will connect to existing public transportation routes. We hope planners keep pedestrian safety a top priority.

Seiler says that he is thankful that the city of Fort Lauderdale has been presented with this kind of opportunity to launch a project like this in the current economy. He adds that the sooner that it starts, the better.

As of now, the design and the development phases are scheduled to start in 2012. When those plans are completed, transportation officials estimate that construction will wrap up by the end of 2015. Transportation officials are hoping that this system will help to increase connectivity and mobility for everyone in the city, reducing fuel emissions and improving the quality of life for everyone.

Also involved in this project are the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Florida Department of Transportation, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Broward County, the city of Fort Lauderdale and the DDA.
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June 29, 2012

Fourth of July and Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere a Likely Pair

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Nearly 140 people are expected to die during the Fourth of July holiday period in car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere. Another 17,000 people are expected to be injured in the same roadway mishaps, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

There’s supposed to be more travelers during this year’s holiday than during any Fourth of July holiday in the last 20 years. Experts are saying that nearly 42.5 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their home during this time. Some say that it’s the gas prices that are making families more comfortable spending at the pump and venturing out. According to CNN, travel throughout the country is expected to be up by nearly 5 percent

Nationwide, our gas prices sit at an average of less than $3.50. That’s in comparison to the more than $4.00 a gallon we were paying just this past April.

Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers are asking drivers to be careful behind the wheel during this year’s Fourth of July holiday period. As you know, many residents from around the country will be hitting the sandy Florida shores to celebrate their Fourth of July. Our state’s amenities bring in people from all over the world. Unfortunately, they bring in some serious risks for accidents, too. With more people on our roadways we see some of the highest risks for accidents across the nation. When traffic is especially heavy during the Fourth, we’re asking all drivers to be alert and prepared behind the wheel to help to avoid a potentially fatal car accident.

Some people think that the expected increase in this year’s travel has a close tie with the calendar. You see, most Fourth of July holiday periods are only a long weekend. Since this year’s Fourth falls on a Wednesday, many residents are using the mid-week holiday as a reason to take a good portion of the week off, allowing for more time to vacation.

Officials with AAA took a recent poll and determined that more than half of travelers are planning to kick off their holiday vacation travels before the work week even starts.

Of the 42.5 people who are expected to travel this holiday, nearly 40 percent of them are expected to do so by car. That’s an increase in vehicular traffic by nearly 5 percent from the year before. The rest of the travelers will be getting around by planes, buses and boats.

Before you head out for this year’s travels, we ask that you plan it out and plan ahead. Make sure that you know where you’re going and that you allow yourself plenty of time to get there. You don’t need to be fumbling with a map or rushing at the wheel. Make sure you get plenty of rest and that you keep your full attention on your surroundings. Safe and responsible driving habits may be your best defense against becoming just a statistic.
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June 26, 2012

Risks of Bicycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere Increase as Cities Grow

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

For the first time in 100 years, the cities in the United States are growing at a faster rate than the surrounding suburbs. According to MSNBC, the growth can be credited to the young adults who are looking for work in a struggling job market. Nowadays, they’re shifting away from purchasing homes and staying in their urban areas.

Today, young adults are putting off getting married, creating families and launching their careers all because of our country’s alarmingly high unemployment rates. They’re now being referred to as “generation rent.” The growth of these young lives is at a standstill and they’re looking for every way possible to cut corners and to cut expenses.

By staying in our country’s cities, they’re hanging up their keys and looking for a less expensive and more eco-friendly way to get to where they need to be. Many of our young adults have turned to bicycles. Unfortunately, with more bicycle riders along our city’s roadways we’re also facing higher risks for bicycling accidents in Fort Lauderdale and in other large cities across the country.

The youth today is putting off suburban home ownership and they’re looking for less commitment in their living situations. They want cheaper rent. They want less commitment. They want better location. They’re also relying on public transportation and bicycles in search of potential jobs in larger cities. Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that with more people staying in the city we’ve got higher volumes of traffic and higher risks for accidents. Drivers are asked to be cautious of bicyclists of all ages. During this time of the year, our young adults are on summer break from school and are hopping on their bikes and pedaling their way to a brighter future.

The last time that the population growth of big cities was greater than their surrounding suburban areas was before 1920. This was also before automobiles were mass produced.

“I just like being connected to everything down here – concerts, work, restaurants, all of it. This is where everything’s at,” said Jaclyn King, a city resident who bikes six miles to her job every day.

Most large cities saw a growth of more than 1 percent in 2011, while suburban areas nearby saw much less. In all, city growth in 2011 equaled or surpassed that of suburbs in roughly 33 of the nation’s 51 large metro areas. That’s in comparison to only five during the last 10 years.

With the growth in large city populations, we’re seeing more congestion on our roadways. With that we’re seeing more and more fatal traffic accidents. While we’re all sharing the same areas we might as well do our part to make them safer. Motorists are asked to be cautious of one another and to keep an eye out for our more vulnerable travelers, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Safer roadways and a safer neighborhood start with you.
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June 7, 2012

Teen Car Accidents in Fort Lauderdale a High Risk with Relaxed GDL Laws

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Teenage drivers in the state of Florida don’t have many restrictions when it comes to our state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program.

Florida has one of the most relaxed programs compared to other states and teens in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere are at higher risks for a fatal car accident because of it. To help to get a better idea on how effective different state’s GDL programs are, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently analyzed each state’s laws and its rate for teen car accident. Conclusions drawn illustrate that our state could see a near 50 percent reduction in the number of teen car accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere if lawmakers were to just beef up our GDL laws, according to The Examiner.

Yet Florida is also one of the last states in the nation without a law against text messaging — another factor that puts pedestrians and bicyclists at high risk for a summer accident in Broward County and throughout South Florida.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day our teens face some of the highest risks for car accidents. In fact, summer has come to be known as the 100 Deadliest Days because of it. Twenty-one of the top 25 deadliest days occur during the summer months. Drivers between the ages of 15- and 19-years old are most at risk for a fatal accident during this time.

Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that there are about 3,000 teenagers who are killed in accidents every year. Another 350,000 of these young motorists are injured.

Drunk driving is a big problem when it comes to these young drivers even though they’re not old enough to legally consume alcohol. Drunk driving-related accidents have taken the lives of more teens than AIDS, heart disease and cancer combined.

Lucky for us, there are things that parents can do to help keep their teen from becoming a statistics. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is stepping in with its “Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence” program and is offering a few simple safety tips that parents and guardians are urged to go over with the teen drivers in their lives to help to keep them safe on our roadways.

Teen Safe Driving Tips:

-Make sure that teens are buckled in every time they get into a vehicle, whether they’re the driver or the passenger.

-Prohibit the use of all electronics behind the wheel. Florida’s law doesn’t do this for young drivers, make sure you do.

-Limit their time behind the wheel during the evening hours. Florida’s GDL law restricts teen drivers from driving during the late-evening and early-morning hours, but you can help to keep them safe by enacting even stricter household laws.

-Limit the number of passengers in your teen’s vehicle. Florida doesn’t limit this number for teenage drivers. More teens in the car mean higher risks for an accident.

-Never drink and drive!

-Abide by all posted speed limits, street signs and street laws.

-Make sure your mind is right. Avoid driving while drowsy, angry, sad or sleepy.
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May 12, 2012

Run-Over Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere Concerning Locals

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Tourism is one of the largest businesses in the state of Florida. Recent calculations indicate there were nearly 86 million visitors from around the world who made it to the state of Florida in just 2011. These numbers make Florida one of the top vacations spots on the planet. These visitors brought in roughly $80 billion to Florida’s economy as well as helped to create about 1 million jobs, according to Tampa Bay Online.

Many of these visitors come to our area to visit the beaches and to check out Southern Florida. But beaches are top spots for big problems — beach accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere. One of the biggest problems is driving on the beach. Still, the state of Florida allows both the general public and beach officials to drive on many of our states beaches.

Our Fort Lauderdale injury attorneys understand that many supporters of beach driving argue that it’s a Florida pastime. As a matter of fact, NASCAR was founded on our beaches. It originally started from people who illegally transported alcohol. Their vehicles were designed to be faster than law enforcement officials. This all went down when alcohol was illegal in the U.S. Regardless, safe driving advocates argue that beach driving by anyone, professionals, officials or others, is extremely dangerous.

What might pop into your head when you think about beach driving are the recurring incidents in which beach patrols, lifeguards, police officers and other government officials have run over beach goers and sunbathers just lying there innocently on our beaches. At least a dozen women have been run over by these vehicles on the beaches of Florida.

What’s most alarming is that Florida’s government has some of the more stringent systems of legal hurdles and limits in the United States. This system has made itself pretty much immune to accountability for these types of accidents. Up until 2011, there were limits of liability at only $100,000. Yes, a lifeguard or another official could run over a person on the beach and regardless of how costly medical bills and other injury costs got, the county would only have to dish over $100,000. Officials have now raised that limit to only $200,000. The truth of the matter is that in many cases, these accidents cost much, much more.

Each Florida county or municipality is pretty much acting alone in these situations, too. They’re not learning from each other and they’re not looking for ways to help to prevent these kinds of accidents. They still arguing that beach driving is a necessity, even if it’s killing people. Miami made changes back to its policy back in 2003 after its third beach run-over accident. Not many others have followed.

Some History of Beach Run-Over Accidents:

-November of 1993 in Miami.

-April of 1999 in Miami.

-September of 2003 on Volusia County Beach.

-July of 2005 on Volusia County Beach.

-July of 2006 on Volusia County Beach.

-June of 2008 on Daytona Beach.

-May of 2011 on Dayton Beach.

-July of 2011 on Daytona Beach.

-April of 2012 in Fort Lauderdale.
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May 9, 2012

Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident: One Killed, One Injured

By Ansara Law Personal Injury Attorneys

In an early morning pedestrian accident in Fort Lauderdale, a woman and a man were hit by a passing vehicle as they attempted to cross, on foot, State Road 7. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the man died at the scene of the accident. The woman has been taken to Broward General Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The accident happened just after 3:00 a.m.

According to The Miami Herald, the accident happened as a driver of an SUV headed northbound on 7. The driver said he was following another vehicle when that vehicle moved out of the way to avoid the pedestrians and he didn’t have time to do the same. Before he could swerve to avoid the two walkers, he slammed into them. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with investigators. The accident is still under investigation.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that many residents rely on their feet and on bicycles to get around. Those who don’t have to rely on these forms of transportation often choose to walk and bike around the area as a fast, friendly, healthy and cost-effective way to get through the city. During this time of the year, more and more residents are setting out on foot and on two wheels. It’s important for drivers to keep an eye out for these vulnerable travelers. Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists oftentimes produce fatal results.

Pedestrian accidents are a huge problem in the state of Florida. We are continuously ranked number one when tallying pedestrian accidents for each year. Nationally speaking, drivers just aren’t paying attention to these vulnerable travelers. As a matter of fact, there were roughly 48,000 pedestrians killed across the U.S. from 2000 to 2009. In addition to that, there were nearly 700,000 pedestrians injured in traffic-related accidents during this time, according to Transportation For America. Statistics reveal that a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle every 7 minutes in the U.S.

What’s even more alarming is that areas in Florida make up the top 4 most dangerous spots for fatal pedestrian accidents in the country. These areas were the Orlando and Kissimmee area, the Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater area, the Jacksonville area as well as the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach area. From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 5,200 people who were killed in pedestrian accidents across the state of Florida, giving us the number one ranking for the most dangerous state in the country. During that time, our area saw the most fatalities, nearly 2,000.

Drivers are asked to be cautious out there and keep a conscious eye out for pedestrians along our roadways. Alert driving habits can help to curb fatal pedestrian accidents.
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