| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | AUTO ACCIDENTS | , ,

Traffic Fatalities – The Most Dangerous States for Driving (We’re #12)

Most people who have lived in or traveled to several states have an opinion on the state with the worst drivers. “Boy, those New York drivers are the worst,” I’ve heard several people exclaim over the traffic fatalitiesyears. Or, “Don’t go to Florida, they are terrible” is another. Of course we live here, so we have to drive in Florida. What are the numbers on serious, fatal accidents?

Traffic Fatalities – The Numbers

Florida is number 12. That’s not the twelfth best, it’s the twelfth worst. The worst 12 states as far as fatal accidents for 2015 are listed in the table to the right. Overall, there were 35,092 traffic fatalities nationwide in 2015.

Why Wyoming has such a high rate of fatal accidents is hard to figure, so we Googled it and found this from the Casper Star Tribune – “Nearly twice as many people have died on Wyoming highways this year compared with 2013, and increases in oil field traffic and drunken driving may be to blame.”

Back to Florida. County-by-county, the rural counties in Florida have experienced higher rates of fatal accidents per person, and the worst 10 counties are:

Read more “Traffic Fatalities – The Most Dangerous States for Driving (We’re #12)”

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Truck Accidents, Uncategorized | , ,

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents Involving Migrant Workers – A Sad History

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents: Overloaded, Unsafe Trucks and Buses are Often to Blame for Migrant Worker Injuries and Fatalities

If you have lived in Florida for several years, you have probably heard about serious accidents involving migrant workers so often that you become almost used to them. They always seem to happen out in the middle of nowhere, and while you feel saddened by these tragedies, the news coverage is brief because the dead and injured people are not established members of the community. The victims are usually forgotten, and the accidents continue to happen.

Florida Bus and Truck AccidentsThe truth is that these accidents are often the result of careless and negligent companies and their employees who cut costs by placing human beings in harm’s way when they transport them in unsafe trucks and buses.

Nationwide, more than a dozen accidents have left at least 38 migrant workers dead and nearly 200 injured just since January 2015. The casualties included a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old, traveling with migrant worker parents.

According to the Associated Press, on July 2, 2016 police say a 1979 school bus carrying dozens of Haitian farm workers and family members blew through a flashing red light near the town of St. Marks, Florida, and was struck by a tractor-trailer. The truck driver and three on the bus were killed.

Unsecured seats were among 25 violations cited in post-accident inspections of farm labor contractor Billy R. Evans’ fleet. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration called the Belle Glade, Florida, contractor “an imminent risk of serious injury or death,” and ordered him off the roads.

Often, the farm companies or the contractors they hire to transport workers do not have adequate liability insurance, operate unsafe vehicles, or hire under-trained drivers, and the workers are afraid to say anything because they don’t want to rock the boat.

Florida Bus and Truck Accidents

Surely the State of Florida can do more to regulate transportation for migrant workers, inspect vehicles, and make sure that there is adequate insurance to compensate the victims and their families when accidents do happen.

Florida Accident Attorneys

Florida Accident AttorneysWhen a single accident involves many people in large commercial vehicles the process of sorting everything out is an extremely complex process and requires experienced attorneys and investigators. The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus specializes in helping victims of Florida bus and truck accidents. Our focus is on getting people the medical and financial help they need to recover.

We are pleased to meet with anyone who has questions about a serious accident, and you can reach us by calling 954-356-0006 or click here to fill out a contact form and we will respond to you promptly and confidentially.

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Accident Attorney, Uncategorized | ,

What’s Causing the Biggest Spike in Highway Deaths in 50 Years?

Florida Accident Attorneys Lazarus and Lazarus are Concerned for Florida Drivers and Passengers

florida accident attorneysYou may not believe this, but when you take a picture using the mobile app Snapchat you can overlay onto the photograph a digital representation of your speed. In miles per hour. When I first heard about this so-called feature, with my understanding of human nature I immediately determined that this was a very bad idea.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating an October 26th crash near Tampa that killed five people. Just prior to the collision one of the passengers recorded a Snapchat video showing that her vehicle was traveling 115 miles per hour.

Is it any wonder that mobile apps and distracted driving in general is being blamed for a substantial increase in traffic collision deaths? We have advanced technology far enough to add a myriad of safety features into our cars, trucks, and motorcycles to make them safer, but then mobile app technology erodes the progress when irresponsible people misuse it to cause horrific traffic crashes.

In the first 6 months of 2016, highway deaths jumped 10.4% to 17,775, from the comparable period in 2015.

What can be done about this alarming trend?

The U.S. Department of Transportation has embarked on a program to toughen enforcement of seat belt laws for cars, helmets for motorcyclists, and for drunk and distracted drivers. But the only real change will likely come from……technology.

florida accident attorney

Driverless cars continue to be improved to the point where they may be a widespread reality in the next 15-20 years. In the interim most auto manufacturers are adding software that connects to smart phones and allows drivers to make calls, text, and navigate and use apps through hands-free interfaces.

The problem is that just because someone’s hands are free, doesn’t mean their concentration is on the road. Many researchers believe that drivers engaged in any external activity are distracted from what should be their only focus: driving. Hands-free options have been available for many years, and yet the statistics continue to show that something is causing more tragic crashes.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus

Serious automobile accidents are going to be too frequent an occurrence until fatalities reach zero. Until that day, we have to deal with them as best we can, and the Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus is committed to providing superior representation to victims throughout the state of Florida. We are experienced and qualified Florida accident attorneys who specialize in helping victims deal with their injuries, their expenses, and their recovery. Your rights under the law are our primary concern.

You may reach out to us any time by calling 954-356-0006 and asking for a confidential consultation.

Lazarus and Lazarus

Florida Accident Attorneys

Ft. Lauderdale
Wells Fargo Tower, 1 E Broward Blvd #700
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Weston
1625 N Commerce Pkwy #225
Weston, FL 33326