Fort Lauderdale Road Rage Auto Accident Lawyer

With its dense population, outdated roadways, growing number of young drivers, large number or senior drivers and diverse communities, it should be no surprise that there is a large amount of road rage accidents that happen in South Florida. In fact, Miami often makes it to the top of the AutoVantage annual list of cities with most aggressive drivers.

Even though there is no national definition for the term, “Road Rage” is when a person driving a vehicle becomes angry or aggressive and decides to let out the frustration in the way they operate the vehicle. This aggressive driving puts them and other motorists at risk of getting into an accident where they may be seriously injured.

Road rage can be triggered by one or more factors. This could include hostility towards other drivers, problems at home, frustration towards the current traffic on the road, drugs, alcohol or personal problems.

Road Rage actions that cause accidents can include:

  • Tailgating a vehicle
  • Cutting off a motorist
  • Running a traffic light
  • Stopping traffic
  • Changing lanes in an aggressive and unsafe way
  • Driving aggressively while arguing with other motorists – rude hand gestures, swearing

Road Rage and Smart PhonesIt is unfortunate that such amazing technology can be so dangerous and negative behind the wheel. Distracted driving campaigns and awareness programs are in full force – and for good reason with all of the accidents that happen. Road rage is another negative effect that smartphones can have on drivers. It could be an argument with a partner, someone “blowing up” your phone with text messages because they “need” a response now or maybe an upsetting email from work. Even though any attention to a cellphone behind a wheel can be dangerous, an upsetting message or call can fuel rage that can lead to dangerous driving and an unfortunate accident.

Road Rage and Aggressive DrivingEven though aggressive driving and road rage are very similar, there is a difference and it is important. How important is the difference? Aggressive driving is a traffic offense. Road rage is a criminal offense.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as when a person commits a combination of traffic violations to endanger other people or property. Road rage is when the driver or passenger of one car uses the vehicle or another weapon to assault the driver or passenger of another car.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to another person’s road rage or aggressive driving, then you need to contact a law firm that understands these types of cases and what it takes to win them. Road rage and aggressive driving is everywhere in South Florida. It doesn’t matter if you live in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or the Palm Beach area. Even though most of us know to keep an eye out for reckless drivers, it may not be enough when we find ourselves sharing the road with the wrong person. Contact the accident attorneys at Madalon Law today for your free consultation and we will gladly go over your case with you.

Roadside Accidents

Pulling over to the side of the road can be deadly in the state of Florida

Roadside accidents happen. It does not matter if you are a cyclist, pedestrian taking a walk, a jogger, someone on their motorcycle or a driver who had to pull over to the side of the road. Anyone can find themselves the victim of a roadside accident. When this happens, the victim is almost always caught off guard and does not have enough time to get out of the way.

Due to heavy population, it only makes sense to find Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Orlando area on the top of most accident lists in the sunshine state. Unfortunately, accidents on the shoulder or roadside of a highway or street can happen anywhere in the state of Florida – not just high traffic areas.

Shoulder of road or highway – false safety

The shoulder or road of a highway is there for vehicles when they need to pull over. A driver can pull to the side of the road due to mechanical issues, a possible flat tire, putting up the roof of a convertible if it begins to rain or a traffic stop by law enforcement. A shoulder is even required to have a certain amount of room for a driver to be able to get out of their car safely without being struck by oncoming traffic – anything less could be considered a road design flaw. Yet, even with these safety requirements, people are often hit and killed by cars that are driving by. Roadside accidents are often fatal because of the speed the vehicles are traveling when they strike the people on the side of the road or highway. Victims of roadside accidents can also include construction workers, roadside workers, tow truck drivers and police officers.

You need to move over. It’s the Law!

Because of so many police officers killed by roadside accidents, Florida law enforcement is serious about the Move-Over-Law. Here are some things to remember and make sure you are doing your part to keep officers (and everyone else) safe:

  • If you are on a two lane highway and see an emergency vehicle or police vehicle on the roadside, you need to slow your speed to 20 mph under the posted speed limit.
  • If you are in the same situation but are driving on a multiple lane highway like I-95, then you must vacate the lane that is closest to the puled over vehicle(s) as soon as you safely can. If you are not able to move over, then you must slow down till you are traveling 20 mph under the posted speed limit.
  • Violating the Move-Over-Law can put others at risk, as well as result in a fine or points on your license.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in roadside or shoulder accident, then you need to hire a law firm that handles these types of cases so you and your family can receive the financial compensation that is deserved. The Fort Lauderdale injury attorneys at Madalon Law have been helping roadside accident victims and serve the Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach areas, as well as the rest of the state of Florida. Contact our office now for your free consultation.

Steps To Take After a Car Accident on the Highway

YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE TURNPIKE, I-95 OR ANY OTHER FLORIDA HIGHWAY

Anyone that is accustomed to driving in the sunshine state will tell you that traveling on a Florida highway takes a certain level of skill. Accidents happen on Florida highways for a number of reasons. Some of the more common reasons include:

  • Going well over the speed limit when there are clear roads. This is seen often on the Florida Turnpike, Interstate 75 and the Sawgrass Expressway.
  • Accidents in traffic or highly congested roads. This is continuing to become a dangerous scenario due to the increase in people driving distracted and taking their eyes off the road for those few seconds to check their cellphone. Rear-end accidents are common when someone is not paying attention to stop-and-go traffic.
  • The outdated highways and the constant road construction to repair the roads can result in uneven lanes, detours and road debris.

YOU’VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY – NOW WHAT?

  1. Call the police and give them your location
  2. Watch for oncoming cars before you get out of your vehicle: Even though cars slow down and even stop if an accident happens in front of them, there are the few vehicles that are in a hurry and will barely slow down when driving by. Even after you check for traffic and get out slowly, you need to keep an eye on the oncoming cars and watch for possible distracted drivers.
  3. Take pictures of the vehicles in the accident and where they are before they are moved: The easiest way to do this is to use the camera on your cell or smartphone. Take pictures of the cars involved, the damage and the position the cars were in when the accident happened. If you have a cellphone that takes panoramic photos like an iPhone, Samsung or other smartphones, then also use the panoramic mode to take a photo of the cars and their position. Be careful not to walk into traffic when doing this.
  4. Now you can move the cars off the highway roads and onto the emergency lane: Taking the photos of how the cars are positioned can prevent the other driver from changing the story in order to deflect the blame onto you or another driver.
  5. Watch what you say to the other driver: Your adrenaline might be pumping. You might be startled. You might be confused. Having a long conversation in your current state might not be the best time to have a long conversation with the person who caused the accident. We are not saying you can’t ask if they are ok, but keep it to a minimum. Something as simple as “understanding” how they could have hit you can be easily twisted into the accident not really being their fault when they speak to the insurance company.
  6. Talk to the police and make sure they issue a citation to the other driver while they are filling out the police report. Show them the pictures you took if they have any hesitation or doubt of who caused the accident.
  7. Talk to eyewitnesses: Take down their names, contact info and statements. Write down the detail to your attorney. Remember, people tend to forget what happened as time goes by.
  8. Seek medical attention: Adrenaline is high after an accident. Whiplash, disk herniation and other car accident injuries can take hours, days and even months to feel. This is why you need to get yourself checked out. Don’t take any chances.
  9. Contact our Fort Lauderdale accident firm for a free consultation: There is no charge for this. Tell us what happened and we will gladly explain your options to you.

CONTACT A CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

The Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys of Madalon Law fight for the injured in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and throughout the State of Florida.  Contact us for a free consultation and get answers to your accident questions today.

Steps to Prevent or Survive Rollover Accidents

Statistics show that most U.S. drivers will be in an auto accident every 8 years. If you have ever been in an accident, then you know how traumatic even the small ones could be. A vehicle rollover accident is one of the scariest and deadliest types of auto accident. Only 8 percent of vehicles involved in an accident end up in a rollover, yet they are responsible for 20% of serious auto accident injuries and 30% of auto accident deaths.

Deadly Statistics

Data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows there are 4,000 fatal auto accidents every year in Florida.

  • Of the 4,000 fatal auto accidents, 350 are fatal large truck accidents.
  • An average of 55% of semi-truck fatalities occur during a rollover.
  • Of the people in single vehicle fatal rollover accidents, 78% were not wearing their seat belts.
  • 64% of people involved in rollover fatal accidents were partially or completely ejected from their vehicles.

Factors that can contribute to a rollover accident

Some of the primary factors that can cause a vehicle rollover include the following:

  • Tire traction
  • Your vehicle’s center of gravity
  • Curves or sudden turns
  • Speed
  • Poor weather or road conditions

What you can do to prevent or survive a rollover accident

  • Wear your seat belt: Nearly three quarters of people ejected during a rollover are killed. The other 25% would probably have preferred to stay in the vehicle.
  • Check your tires: Make sure your tires are in good shape and are properly inflated to the pressure that is recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Check the tire pressure at least once a month. When you replace your tires, make sure they are similar to the vehicles original set of tires.
  • Newer is better: Government data shows that newer vehicles have a much lower fatality rate than older vehicles. This could be because of Electronic Stability Control (ESC technology) in newer vehicles, stricter government testing, better vehicle design or other safety steps that car manufacturers are taking.
  • Don’t overload your vehicle: The more weight a vehicle has, the more its stability decreases. This is even more dangerous with SUVs and Pickups. Try to stay within the load ratings of the manufacturer. Try to place the heavier load of the cargo lower to the floor, closer to the center of the vehicle and as far away from the tailgate as possible.
  • Watch how fast you are going: The faster you drive, the more likely your vehicle will rollover. Around 40% or fatal auto accident rollovers involved excessive speed.
  • Beware of rural areas and undivided highways without barriers: Almost three quarters of fatal rollovers occur in rural areas on roads where the speed limit is faster than 55 mph or undivided highways that do not have barriers.
  • Avoid panic-like steering: When people have panic reactions they tend to overcorrect their steering – at highway speeds this can easily cause a rollover. If your vehicle leaves the roadway, gradually reduce your speed and then ease your vehicle back on the road.

If you are involved in an auto accident and are the victim of a vehicle rollover, then you need to contact a firm that understands and has a success rate with these complex cases. If we take your case, we will take care of all the legal fees and you will not be billed unless we win your case. Contact the vehicle rollover accident attorneys at MADALON LAW for your free consultation and get answers to your questions today.