Bicycle Accidents

2,558 Florida Traffic Deaths in 2009, Says NHTSA

October 8, 2010 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,558 people were killed in Florida traffic accidents last year. Alcohol was a factor in 770 of the fatalities. On one hand, these latest figures show positive progress. In 2008, NHTSA reported 2,980 Florida traffic fatalities-887 involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The number of Florida traffic deaths have gone down. That said, our Miami car accident law firm looks forward to the day when there are even less traffic injuries and deaths occurring each year in Florida.

Nationally, there also has been a decrease in motor vehicle traffic crash deaths and injuries. NHTSA reports that there were 33,308 motor vehicle fatalities in 2009-a 9.7% drop from the year before and the lowest number of deaths since 1950. Even the number of US motorcycle crash deaths went down from 5,312 fatalities in 2008 to 4,462 deaths in 2009.

More 2009 US Traffic Deaths and Injuries Facts:
• 2,217,000 traffic crash injuries
• 503 truck crash deaths
• 17,000 truck accident injuries
• 90,000 motorcycle crash injuries
• 4,092 pedestrian deaths
• 59,000 pedestrian injuries
• 630 pedalcyclist deaths
• 70,000 pedalcyclist injuries

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that the government is committed to making the roads safer.

NHTSA also has just released its 2009 Distracted Driving Fatality and Injury Numbers:
• 5,474 US distracted driving-related deaths
• 448,000 distracted driving-related injuries

Mr. LaHood has referred to distracted driving as an epidemic. Talking on the cell phone, texting, eating, playing computer games, fiddling with an iPod or stereo, surfing the Internet on a laptop, watching a movie on a portable DVD player, putting on makeup, and reading a book or magazine are just some examples of activities that people have been known to engage in while driving that have distracted them to the point that traffic crash injuries and deaths have occurred.

Although many states have imposed at least some (if not a full) restriction on texting and cell phone use, currently Florida has no such restrictions.

Distracted Driving 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Florida Department of Transportation

US Department of Transportation

Distraction.gov
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Palm Beach County Truck Crash Kills 8-Year-Old Bicyclist

September 8, 2010 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

An 8-Year-old West Palm Beach school boy died this afternoon in a Greenacres, Florida truck accident. The Palm Beach County bicycle accident happened as Elian Rojas and his father were going home from school.

According to police, Elian, who was riding his bike, and his dad were on the sidewalk on Jog Road and getting ready to cross 13th Road South when a delivery truck hit him. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was not known whether the trucker is facing criminal charges. Investigators are trying to determine exactly what happened.

Our West Palm Beach personal injury law firm wants to remind you that if you or your loved one was seriously injured in a South Florida car accident, you must explore your legal options as soon as possible. Although Florida requires that all motorists carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, some injuries are so serious and costly that you will need to file a Palm Beach injury lawsuit against the responsible motorist and any other liable parties. Also, the opportunity for your Palm Beach injury lawyer’s team to examine vehicle and road damage while the evidence is still fresh, as well as talk to witnesses while the accounts are still vivid in their minds, can prove invaluable to your case.

Florida Cab Driver that Struck Bicyclists in Miami Beach Fell Asleep at the Wheel

August 28, 2008 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

Police say that the taxi driver that drove into a group of bicyclists in Miami Beach on Sunday fell asleep while driving. The traffic accident, which happened around 8am in the morning on the MacArthur Causeway, knocked many cyclists onto the ground.

Six of the bicycle accident victims were transported to the hospital. Five riders sustained serious road burns that were treated at the crash scene.

The taxi driver was Checker Cab company driver Herbert Morais, who admitted to falling asleep while on the road. He did not have any passengers riding in his cab when he hit the riders from behind.

Traffic records show that Morais has received several tickets for traffic violations in Miami-Dade County over the last five years. Just last month, he was ticketed for failing to halt at a stop sign. He also has received tickets for speeding and not obeying HOV lane requirements.

Common crash scenarios that can lead to accidents between bicyclists and motorists:

• A driver merges into a bicyclist’s lane.
• The bicyclist rides into a motorcyclist’s path.
• The driver tries to ride past the bicyclist.
• The driver or bicyclist does not yield the right of way.

Sleepy Drivers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says over 1/3rd of drivers have fallen asleep or nodded off while driving at least once in their lives. The National Sleep Foundation says 32% of adults say they’ve driven while sleepy at least once a month.

Most fatigue and sleep-related auto crashes occur between 12am and 6am, but 1pm to 4pm is also a time when there are drowsy drivers on the road.

Driver Fell Asleep At Wheel Before Hitting Cyclists, Police Say, Local10.com, August 25, 2008
Cab barrels into bicyclists in Miami Beach crash, PalmBeachPost.com, August 24, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program

Bicycles, NHTSA Continue reading

Two Florida Teen Bicyclists Killed in Separate Motor Vehicle Accidents

June 3, 2008 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

In Florida on Saturday, two Florida teenagers died when their bicycles were struck by motor vehicles in two separate accidents.

17-year-old Justin White, a Masaryktown resident, died at 9pm when a 1998 Ford pickup crashed into his bike near State Road 50. An hour later, 17-year-old Scott Avery, was killed in a hit and run accident in Brooksville. The driver, Spring Hill resident Leo Salvato, was later apprehended.

According to the Helmets.org Web site:

• 85 million people ride bicycles in the United States.
• 773 bicyclists died in 2006..

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by a careless driver or another negligent party, you should contact our South Florida bicycle crash law firm immediately.

Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries for pedalcyclists. Injuries may include, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, road burns, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

It is important that drivers pay attention when on the road. While it may be easy to keep an eye on cars, trucks, and buses, motorists must remember that they share the roads with motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists-the ones that are most susceptible to serious injuries when they become involved in a motor vehicle crash.

Common causes of bicycle accidents caused by other motorists or negligent parties include:

• Driver inattention • Drunk driving • Speeding • Driver inexperience • Motor vehicle failure or defect

You may be entitled to personal injury compensation for your injuries, medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.

Teen boy’s death on bicycle puzzles mother, Tampabay.com, June 3, 2008
Hundreds Mourn Death of NCTHS Student, 2TBO.com, June 1, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Bicyclinginfo.org

Bicycle Safety Facts & Statistics, Federal Highway Administration
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