Amazingly, 11.1 percent of all pedestrians, and 17.4 percent of all bicyclists, killed in traffic accidents across the United States, die in Florida. The results, while shocking, are not surprising as this marks the ninth consecutive year that Florida has ranked in the top three deadliest states for pedestrian and bicyclist deaths.

As personal injury attorneys practicing in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, we certainly hope our legislators take a hard look at these figures and institute greater safety awareness programs to turn the tide against such tragic losses.

While no one knows who many accidents are caused by commercial driver texting while driving, it is a certainty that such behavior is dangerous and creates a high-risk of accidents. Considering drivers who text generally take their eyes of the road for more than 4 seconds, there a known likelihood of increased collisions.

The federal ban comes on the heals of the actions of many state laws which are being enacted to hopefully curtail this deadly practice. As personal injury lawyers practicing in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach, we are always glad to hear of laws which help protect fellow Floridians from deadly accidents.

The texting ban is supported by the American Trucking Associations and American Bus Association.

The study found that texting to be more dangerous than simply talking on a cell phone, determining that drivers can better split their attention between a call and driving, rather than texting, which causes the driver to concentrate more upon typing or reading a message. This research, from the journal Human Factors, ultimately determined that drivers increased their risk of being in a car accident by thirty percent when texting.

Most of these deadly car accident occur when a car slips off the edge of a road onto the shoulder, causing the driver to overreact and lose control. Generally these drop-offs are the result of roadway contractors negligent failure to smooth out the sides of roads they recently paved.

Sadly, there are few regulations requiring such safety measures along highway work zones. Consequently, few fines are levied against contractors, who, due to either their own carelessness or desire to save money, continually violate these guidelines.

Given the recently enacted Federal Stimulus Package, which is intended to promote additional highway construction, we certainly hope Florida Officials will take a hard look at these dangerous and too often neglected safety issues before more Floridians are hurt.

The study indicates that because our roads were designed to speed up traffic, people walking along any given road in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are most at risk of being involved in a car accident. People who do walk in Miami and Fort Lauderdale face a relatively high risk of being struck by a car and killed. Our pedestrian fatality rate is 3.04, with a danger index level, which consists of the average pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 residents over a two-year period and the percentage of residents who commute to work by foot, is 181.2.

Apparently suburban growth, with roads designed to assist vehicular traffic, many without sidewalks or adequate crosswalks, is the main reason for the increase in fatalities. Not surprisingly, more than half of fatal vehicle crashes occurred on wide, high-speed roads. We certainly hope that these statistics will convince future engineers to be mindful of the safety of pedestrians on our roadways.

Thankfully researchers are beginning to further study, through wireless sensors in carpets, clothing and rooms, older individual's activity. The continuous measurements allowed by simple devices, afford greater insight on the causes of fall, and how to prevent them.

Fall prevention also promises to be part of an emerging — and potentially large — worldwide industry of helping older people live independently in their homes longer. The hope is that activity patterns from the data can help identify ways to prevent falls.

Thankfully, in light of this unintended side-effect, vehicle manufacturers are apparently proposing to include a device in their vehicles which would generate noise under certain circumstances, such as the back-up warnings used on commercial trucks.

The study reviewed over 8,000 hybrid and 550,000 non-hybrid car accidents in 12 states, including Florida, and determined the collisions usually took place at low speeds, when the sound difference between a hybrid and traditional car engine is the most pronounced.

In the Hollywood car accident, police say a driver disregarded an extended school bus stop sign and struck a boy trying to get on the bus. The driver then fled the scene. The collision occurred at the intersection of Taft Street and 56th Ave., Hollywood. According to police, the victim, who attends South Broward High School, suffered serious but thankfully, not life-threatening, injuries for which rescue took him to Memorial Regional Hospital.

In the Oakland Park accident, police reported that a 16-year-old girl suffered serious injuries to her legs when a school bus struck her. The accident occurred at N.W. 21st Ave. and 39th St., Ft. Lauderdale.

As we are rapidly approaching the end of day light savings time, as personal injury attorneys handling car accident and pedestrian cases throughout Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach, we urge all drivers, including bus drivers, to be vigilant in watching out for innocent students trying to get to school or on their way home.

During the week long process, in which the Florida Highway Patrol Troopers cited 1,190 drivers who ran red lights, was, according to the head of the Florida Highway Patrol, “(a) campaign is a great reminder of the risks associated with red light running, as every day our troopers see the tragic consequences caused by running a red light."

Sadly, traffic crashes are the single frequent cause of preventable death and injury in the United States. Last year, Florida drivers running red lights caused 76 fatalities and more than 7,100 more accidents involving injury or property damage. The leading excuse offered by drivers for running a red light is “being in a hurry."

We certainly commend the Florida Highway Patrol's efforts to make our roadways safe.

The new law will take into consideration all car accidents and tickets issued since January of 2009, as prior car accidents will not be counted. Regardless, AAA believes the change necessary.

Although public perception is that elderly drivers are the most likely to cause car accidents, according to the State of Florida, those most likely to be affected by the new law are white men, younger than 40, in and around major cities. Not surprisingly, Miami and Broward Counties are both in the top five counties with the greatest number of dangerous drivers.

We too hope that this new law will act as a strong deterrent to prevent future car accidents throughout Florida.

This week the Florida Highway Patrol is increasing the number of troopers along the Turnpike and Interstates hoping to reduce car accidents by stopping aggressive drivers. The Highway Patrol intends on giving tickets to those who quickly switches lanes without warning, tailgate, runs red lights, or anything else they determine to be dangerous driving, including motorists who ignore Florida's "Move Over Law."

We are glad to hear that, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, this is the first in a series of enforcement efforts which will focus on special violations.

According to The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Ernest Howell, who took the precaution of wearing a traffic vest, was struck while working in a marked construction zone, when a driver disregarded traffic cones. Mr. Howell was working on a crew which was resurfacing the roadway. Mr. Howell's injuries required him to be transported by helicopter to a Delray Beach hospital.

In the spirit of the "move over" law which was enacted to protect emergency workers from injuries along the side of roadways, we encourage all drivers to pay particular attention to, roadside construction workers. For further information, please follow link to www.FloridaCarAccidentHelp.com.

Previously, police officers were only allowed to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat-belt, if they stopped that driver for another violation. The law, which Governor Crist signed, is named after Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti, both of whom lost their lives in car accidents while not wearing seat belts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the new bill will save 124 lives and prevent over 1,700 serious injuries every year in Florida. That statistic speaks for itself.

This evening, a multi-agency task force of police officers from throughout Broward County, will be traveling along I-95, in an effort to stop those motorcyclists who endanger themselves and others. The officers will be using unmarked, not typical, cars and air patrols to identify and stop aggressive motorcyclists and other drivers.

We can only hope that this step-up in enforcement will help keep everyone, including those motorcyclists who ride responsibly, safe.

The car accident occurred in Miami in the vicinity of N.W. 103rd Street close to I-95, while police were "following" a vehicle earlier seen driving at close to 100 miles per hour. The police cruiser, which was driving without any overhead lights or sirens engaged, went through an intersection slamming into the seat-belted victim. Police claim, that despite following the speeding vehicle for more than 11 blocks, they were not in pursuit, so that, as they claim, the did not have to have their lights and sirens on.

Considering the protection afforded police departments in Florida, we are disappointed that this family will be limited to the minimal recovery provided under Florida's sovereign immunity, that is, unless the Florida Legislature enacts a claims bill.