Information from Your Kissimmee Auto Accident Attorney

The National Sleep Foundation reports that more than 50 percent of drivers have admitted to driving while tired or fatigued within the last year. The Foundation also reports that roughly 30 percent of drivers admitted to driving while drowsy at least once each month, and they acknowledged falling asleep while driving at least once.

Another study from AAA showed that more than 16 percent of fatal car accidents were caused, at least in part, by tired drivers. The study also indicated that approximately 1 in 8 car accidents necessitating a hospital visit involved a fatigued driver. Likewise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that about 100,000 traffic accidents occur due to drowsy driving. As your Kissimmee auto accident attorney knows, these statistics clearly illustrate the dangers of drowsy driving.

Medical professionals say that overly tired or sleepy drivers have impaired judgment and heightened levels of distraction, both of which create a hazard for everyone on the road. Delayed reaction times often make a drowsy driver unable to stop in time to avoid an accident, and a driver who falls asleep for only one second may travel as far as 88 feet during that time, which is plenty of space in which to cause an accident. Because of the dangers, some compare the effects of driving while sleepy to the effects of driving under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, your Kissimmee auto accident attorney is all too familiar with the potentially disastrous results of drowsy driving.

Because of a bill recently signed into law, the first week each September is now designated as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in the state of Florida. The passage of the bill stemmed from the efforts of a Florida family to honor their 8-year-old child, Ronshay Dugans, who was killed in a school bus accident when a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. The initiative was a joint effort of the Morton Plan Mease Hospital, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of a car accident involving distracted driving, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. Contact your Kissimmee auto accident attorney at Reifkind & Thompson today for assistance with your personal injury claims.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. It is extremely important to retain a personal injury accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident as we can protect you against improprieties and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Call us today for an appointment. It’s free. We work on a contingency fee basis.

We are Reifkind & Thompson, PL, Personal Injury Lawyers focused on providing the best representation to accident victims for nearly 30 years. If you have a question or concern, or have been involved in an accident, you can reach an attorney directly on our 24-hour Florida Injury Hotline (1-800-HURT-NOW) , our Nationwide Injury Hotline (1-800-329-8701) or telephone us during the day at 954-370-5152.

We have offices in Davie and Kissimmee but will come to see you if you cannot come to see us.

Personal watercraft vessels, such as Waverunners or Sea-Doos, are characteristic of the sun and fun that Florida has to offer tourists and residents alike. In fact, Florida has more watercraft registrations than any other state, which can cause significant congestion in Florida’s waterways. Unfortunately, personal watercraft can be extremely dangerous due to their speed, often inexperienced operators, and other boat and watercraft operators. When these types of accidents occur, your Broward personal injury lawyer knows that serious injuries or even death can easily result.

One of the obvious hazards of personal watercraft is the risk of collision. Many operators of boats and personal watercraft are inexperienced and have little or no training. Therefore, the operator of any type of personal watercraft must watch out for other watercraft in his or her path, as well as for careless, reckless, or even intoxicated operators. Even if the operator of a personal watercraft has the appropriate training and experience, a single collision with a carelessly operated larger boat can be deadly.

Moreover, a personal watercraft handles differently than motor vehicles or even most boats. For instance, steering a personal watercraft is dependent on using the throttle, or gas, and aiming the watercraft’s pump jet’s nozzle. The natural response of most drivers is to ease off the gas in order to turn and slow down. However, a personal watercraft operator must accelerate in order to properly turn and perhaps avoid an accident. This is just one example that your Broward personal injury lawyer has seen that shows how inexperience in operating personal watercraft can lead to a collision or another type of serious accident.

A personal watercraft is also capable of being operated at very high speeds. These excessive speeds can result in loss of control, reckless behavior, and collisions with other watercraft. Additionally, congested waterways, such as those that often exist in Florida, can contribute to collisions and accidents, especially when multiple watercraft are traveling at high rates of speed.

These facts show that all persons must take steps to have proper training and handling experience before operating personal watercraft. If, however, you or a loved one suffer injuries as a result of a personal watercraft accident caused by another’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. Contact your Broward personal injury lawyer at Reifkind & Thompson today for assistance with injuries sustained in personal watercraft accidents, or in any type of accident.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. It is extremely important to retain a personal injury accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident as we can protect you against improprieties and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Call us today for an appointment. It’s free. We work on a contingency fee basis.

We are Reifkind & Thompson, PL, Personal Injury Lawyers focused on providing the best representation to accident victims for nearly 30 years. If you have a question or concern, or have been involved in an accident, you can reach an attorney directly on our 24-hour Florida Injury Hotline (1-800-HURT-NOW) , our Nationwide Injury Hotline (1-800-329-8701) or telephone us during the day at 954-370-5152.

We have offices in Davie and Kissimmee but will come to see you if you cannot come to see us.

Florida is a popular tourist destination most months out of the year, so it comes as no surprise that many RVs, motor homes, and campers frequently travel South Florida roadways. The prevalence of these massive vehicles on the roadways, especially when driven by inexperienced drivers, increases the likelihood of serious accidents and injuries to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. As South Florida car accident lawyers, we see the injured victims of RV, motorhome, and camper accidents on a regular basis.

RV Accidents and Personal Injury Claims

RV accidents can result in very serious accidents and injuries, especially when the RV collides with a much smaller vehicle. Keep in mind that a RV is the size of a semi or 18-wheeler, yet drivers are not required to have any special licenses or training in order to drive a RV. This fact may very well increase the number of accidents on Florida roadways involving RVs.

Some of the most common RV accidents include the RV sideswiping other vehicles while passing or changing lanes; rear-end collisions; and the RV striking pedestrians or other vehicles when turning. Defective vehicle parts, especially tires, can also contribute to accidents, as many RVs are parked for long stretches of time in between trips. An inexperienced driver may have difficulty safely operating any unfamiliar vehicle, let alone one the size of a semi. Your Kissimmee auto accident attorney knows all too well the serious injuries that can result from an accident between a RV and a smaller vehicle.

Your South Florida Car Accident Attorney and RV Accident Claims

Making personal injury claims arising from RV accidents may present legal challenges because the accidents are more likely to involve drivers from outside of the state of Florida. Tourists from distant states may be more difficult to track down and hold responsible for the RV accidents that they have caused. Although personal injury lawsuits can be filed against non-Florida residents, having an out-of-state defendant often makes a case more complex. Fortunately, your South Florida car accident attorney has years of experience handling RV accidents, no matter how complex the case may be.

If you have been injured in a RV accident, do not hesitate to contact your South Florida car accident attorney today at Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., for assistance with your legal claim.

 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. It is extremely important to retain a personal injury accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident as we can protect you against improprieties and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Call us today for an appointment. It’s free. We work on a contingency fee basis.

We are Reifkind & Thompson, PL, Personal Injury Lawyers focused on providing the best representation to accident victims for nearly 30 years. If you have a question or concern, or have been involved in an accident, you can reach an attorney directly on our 24-hour Florida Injury Hotline (1-800-HURT-NOW) , our Nationwide Injury Hotline (1-800-329-8701) or telephone us during the day at 954-370-5152.

We have offices in Davie and Kissimmee but will come to see you if you cannot come to see us.

Accident fatalities have dramatically decreased in the six years following the state’s installation of guardrails in the median of the Florida Turnpike, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Accidental deaths caused by motor vehicles crossing the unprotected median and barreling into traffic head-on have dropped by more than half since the guardrail installation, statistics show. Unfortunately, while the portions of Florida Turnpike that run through urban areas in South Florida have had guardrails in the median for years, the remainder of the Turnpike historically has had no guardrails. Your South Florida car accident attorney has regularly seen the often-fatal aftermath of Florida Turnpike accidents.

In 2005, the state of Florida spent over $65 million to install guardrails in the median of approximately 166 miles of the Florida Turnpike. The Orlando Sentinel examined state and federal accident fatality reports before and after the guardrail installation project and found an immediate and drastic drop in accident fatalities. For instance, in 2003 and 2004, the two years prior to the guardrail installation, reports showed a total of 142 fatal crashes claiming 187 lives. In 2008 and 2009, however, there were just 73 fatal turnpike crashes and 82 fatalities. Statistics show that the greatest improvements occurred in a very remote stretch of turnpike in Osceola County. In 2003 and 2004, 39 people died in fatal turnpike crashes. In 2008 and 2009, there were only two turnpike fatalities. Your South Florida car accident attorney sees these statistics as a positive sign of progress in combating fatal turnpike accidents.

Some opponents of the guardrail installation project allege that the guardrails actually increase turnpike accidents. The theory is that when a barrier such as a guardrail exists, a motor vehicle is more likely to strike it. Nonetheless, no statistics have been analyzed showing an increase in turnpike accidents involving injuries, so there is no evidence that this theory is actually accurate. Furthermore, as one proponent of the project points out, it is likely better to have a minor accident involving minor injuries than a fatal head-on collision.

In any case, your South Florida car accident attorney applauds the efforts of the state of Florida in trying to make the Florida Turnpike safer for motorists. However, if you or a family member has been involved in a cross-over motor vehicle accident causing injuries, or in any type of vehicular accident, contact Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., for legal advice and representation regarding your rights to compensation.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. It is extremely important to retain a personal injury accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident as we can protect you against improprieties and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Call us today for an appointment. It’s free. We work on a contingency fee basis.

We are Reifkind & Thompson, PL, Personal Injury Lawyers focused on providing the best representation to accident victims for nearly 30 years. If you have a question or concern, or have been involved in an accident, you can reach an attorney directly on our 24-hour Florida Injury Hotline (1-800-HURT-NOW) , our Nationwide Injury Hotline (1-800-329-8701) or telephone us during the day at 954-370-5152.

We have offices in Davie and Kissimmee but will come to see you if you cannot come to see us.

Although some schools have designated drop-off zones for children, not all parents have the ability to drive their kids to school. As a result of the busy schedules of working parents, as well as the mild climate in South Florida and reduced funds for school buses, many school-aged children must walk a considerable distance to school or to their bus stops. Unfortunately, the time when most children are walking to school or to their bus stops is also the prime time for commuters rushing to their workplaces. Some students also walk when it is still dark out as the days become shorter and school start times become earlier. Unfortunately, your South Florida car accident attorney knows all too well that this atmosphere of increased traffic, distracted drivers hurrying to work, darkness, and higher numbers of pedestrian students creates the perfect situation for a tragic accident.

Children are largely unaccompanied by responsible adults when walking to school, even at relatively young ages. As a result, no parent is typically present to caution children about handling oncoming traffic or about safely crossing at intersections. Children often disregard the dangers of nearby vehicles and drivers may not see a quickly moving small child, especially when it is still dark outside. It only takes a single instance of a child darting out into the street or a driver momentarily distracted by a ringing cell phone for an accident to occur.

Your South Florida car accident attorney advises that a safer solution might involve developing carpools with other parents so that children can be driven to school and dropped off. This can help kids avoid the dangers of traveling on foot. Parents may also wish to remain with their children at a designated bus stop until the bus arrives, thus lessening the possibility of an accident occurring involving a child pedestrian and an oncoming vehicle. If walking to school is the only available option, parents should at least ensure that their children know basic safety rules for crossing intersections and for avoiding nearby vehicles.

If you have a child who has been injured in an accident while walking to school, you should immediately contact legal counsel for advice about your rights to compensation for your child’s injuries. Contact your South Florida car accident attorney at Reifkind & Thompson as soon as possible following any accident in order to get answers to all of your questions and to obtain a formal evaluation of your legal case.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. It is extremely important to retain a personal injury accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident as we can protect you against improprieties and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Call us today for an appointment. It’s free. We work on a contingency fee basis.

We are Reifkind & Thompson, PL, Personal Injury Lawyers focused on providing the best representation to accident victims for nearly 30 years. If you have a question or concern, or have been involved in an accident, you can reach an attorney directly on our 24-hour Florida Injury Hotline (1-800-HURT-NOW) , our Nationwide Injury Hotline (1-800-329-8701) or telephone us during the day at 954-370-5152.

We have offices in Davie and Kissimmee but will come to see you if you cannot come to see us.