working teachers for their efforts, especially during Covid, in molding good citizens. Now more than ever, we need to applaud teachers for all they do.

The AAA examined safety systems from a number of vehicle manufacturers by driving more than 4,000 miles in their vehicles and found problems and issues with those vehicles on an average of one malfunction every eight miles. The most frequently seen problems revolved around keeping cars in their own lane of travel and in those vehicles being able to identify and avoid vehicles which were stalled or stopped in front of them, with many of those cars with supposed self-stopping systems actually crashing into a stopped vehicle nearly 66% of the time, at speeds in excess of 20 m.p.h.

In AAA on-road tests, each system had difficulty keeping its cars in its own lane, often times coming dangerously close to another car. Simulated track driving showed all vehicles, even those with self-acclaimed safety awards, were not able to consistently recognize a broken-down vehicle. Other manufacturers’ vehicles were not able to be tested as their systems were only designed to be used on specific roads, like highways divided by guardrails – meaning they are not helpful in many real-world driving situations.

The AAA researchers were surprised at the lack of advancement and reliability in the proclaimed safety features, noticing little change in reliability since their last round of testing in 2018. The researchers have gone so far as to recommend that manufacturers not overstate the ability of their system’s capabilities. The study also found that systems which oversee acceleration, braking and steering, frequently stopped working without notifying drivers; meaning, motorist had no idea that a system they are relying upon has actually stopped working. The tests included vehicles equipped with systems called “Highway Driving Assist,” “EyeSight,” “Co-Pilot 360,” “Super Cruise,” and “Active Driving Assistant Professional.” Names which are created and marketed to instill driver confidence. Not surprisingly, the disclaimers, that is the language which explains the limitations of each system, are usually buried within the voluminous pages of vehicle manuals.

AAA believes that because these safety systems have now found their way into the majority of new vehicles being sold, no longer just as options in luxury vehicles, that most drivers have a misplaced sense of security in the help afforded by the technology which causes them to disregard their own senses to avoid crashes. Those assumptions and reliance present a deadly and dangerous mix for unknowing drivers.

AAA urge manufacturers to design a uniform method of notifying drivers that a vehicle safety system is not working properly or has disengaged. The current varying mix of methods, which changes from manufacturer to manufacturer, makes vehicle driving too difficult. Because some vehicles use lights and others use a vibrating steering wheel, motorist are not always sure what any particular notification means.

We at the Law Offices of Joseph Lipsky certainly hope our fellow drivers realize that they cannot hand off their responsibility to drive safely to a car’s safety system, even one which is publicized as always working. Every driver has a duty to be on the look out for hazards and to drive their vehicle safely. For the safety of our fellow motorist in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, we urge all drivers not to ignore their responsibilities just because they paid for some technology safety system which may not work.

The study found that over the past year, seventy-five percent of rear seat passengers used a seatbelt, which was a decrease from prior years. The crash wrongful deaths were not limited to cars, which accounted for half of the unbelted fatalities, an equal number involved rear-seat passengers in trucks and vans. The study concluded that if those rear-seat passengers were using a seatbelt, more than half would have survived the car accident.

The study was based upon an investigation of police reports and the damage from thousands of car and truck accidents and compared them to federal statistics. Those federal statistics confirm that rear-seat shoulder/lap seatbelts do prevent wrongful deaths in nearly fifty percent of crashes. When analyzed for those traveling in the rear of light trucks and vans, seatbelts were more than seventy percent effective in preventing wrongful deaths. Despite the fact that those states with mandatory rear-seat seatbelt laws have a significantly greater survival rate in serious car accidents, Florida still does not have a mandatory rear-seat seatbelt law for passengers older than 18 years of age.

As a result of Florida’s failure to require rear-seat passenger belt usage, less than sixty-seven percent of rear-seat passengers actually use an available seatbelt, which puts them at a significantly greater risk of being injured or killed in a crash. In light of the advances in safety and accident prevention being developed by car manufacturers with regards to front-seat passengers, who at nearly ninety percent usage, are more prone to buckle up; the same attention to safety has not taken place regarding rear-seats and the passengers who use them.

Considering the inability to install airbags for rear-seat passengers, those riding in the second and third row of vehicles need to take greater control of their own safety by using available seatbelts. And while most vehicles have audible alarms which chime when a front seat passenger does not use their seatbelt, most vehicles do not have the same warning notifications regarding rear-seat passengers. While such alarms may not cause all rear-seat passengers to use their seatbelts, it will at the very least cause drivers to remind their rear-seat occupants to buckle up. As Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers, we can only hope that those advances and greater driver awareness will cause rear-seat passengers to use their seatbelts and be spared serious injury.

Despite public outcry, Florida’s legislature has yet again failed to take needed action make texting while driving a primary moving violation. A recent evaluation of nearly three million car accidents by the Sun Sentinel demonstrated that car accidents involving a driver who was texting at the time of the crash is rising steadily. A distracted driver was found to cause many types of car accidents which resulted in personal injuries and death. The most frequent types of crashes associated with a distracted driver were: swerving out of a lane of travel, running a stop sign, ignoring other traffic signs and signals and veering into oncoming traffic.

As police officers will attest, too often they pull over a driver whom they believe to be guilty of drunk driver, only to find that the driver is actually lost in a conversation on their cell phone. Yet despite the known danger, Florida’s legislature continues to prevent police officers from being able to stop a driver because they are texting while driving, requiring them to have another valid reason to first stop the car. This inaction keeps Florida in the minority, with only six other states, of not allowing texting while driving to be a primary traffic violation.

The lack of needed enforcement of distracted driving may be the reason why car accidents in which pedestrians and cyclists are injured are not dropping at the rate experts hoped, given the advancement in autonomous driving safety, including automatic emergency braking and impact alerts.

Driver distraction is not limited to cell phones, as cars become more technologically advanced, their in-vehicle infotainment systems are also causing greater driver distraction. Although we represent injured victims of car accidents, it is our greatest desire that through technology and tougher laws, that the number of seriously injured in such car or truck accidents will continue to drop.

While the report, generated by EverQuote, is eye opening for many government regulators; we driver know too well the growing number of inconsiderate motorists who disregard other’s safety and drive while using their phone – any trip down I-95 or I-595 will result in seeing dozens of drivers with a phone in one hand. In fact, Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported nearly fifty thousand car accidents involving distracted driving upon our roads over the last year which resulted in nearly 4,000 personal injuries and more than 200 wrongful deaths.

According to EverQuote, although most drivers believe they are safe drivers, they don’t even realize how frequently they use their phone, to read a text or tweet, while their car is in motion. The company used an app which monitored vehicle operations to determine how poorly distracted drivers operate their vehicles. Considering that even reading or sending a text message results in a driver’s eyes leaving the road for nearly 5 seconds, a car traveling at 45 m.p.h. will actually travel more than 300 feet before the driver is able to get their eyes properly back on the road upon which they are traveling.

Yet despite the obvious dangers associated with distracted driving, Florida remains one of only four states that does not make texting while driving a primary traffic offense, meaning police officers are not allowed to write a ticket just because they see a motorist texting while driving.

To combat the likelihood that a distracted driver will cause a car accident, many insurance companies suggest their customers place devices in their car, so they can “monitor’ driver behavior and “reward” good drivers. Unfortunately, most drives don’t realize that the insurance companies really want to punish drivers whom they believe are not driving safely. This is why we, as Florida Car Accident lawyers, believe educating ourselves and, particularly younger drivers, of the dangers of texting while driving, is a better route to take, rather than allowing insurance companies unfettered access to our driving behavior.

We remind everyone that using a smartphone while driving is anything but smart. As the slogan goes “it can wait.”

The actual statistics are truly concerning. The AAA’s study revealed that sixty percent of Millenial drivers actually admit to sending a text or email while operating a motor vehicle. That admitted rate is nearly twice as high as all other age groups of drivers. Also, almost 50% of Millenials admitted to running a red light, one they could have easily stopped for, a rate that is almost 25% greater than other age groups.

Millennials also admit to regularly driving more than 10 m.p.h. over the posted speed limits in school zones. That behavior which endangers children and demonstrates a disregard of some of the most costly traffic ticket consequences is a rate which is more than double that of all other age groups of drivers. We, as Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers, share the same concerns as the AAA; that a large population of drivers is willing to regularly take unnecessary risks which needlessly increase the chance of being in a deadly car accident. Considering fatal car accident deaths rose more than 7% over the last year, this accepted recklessness should be truly concerning to Florida drivers.

The most frustrating part of the AAA’s study is that while almost all drivers agree that aggressive and distracted driving is not acceptable behavior, they themselves regularly drive in such a reckless manner. In fact, while 80% of motorists feel that texting while driving is completely unacceptable, more than 40% of those same drivers admit to sending a text while driving within the past month. A similar percentage holds true regarding drivers’ feelings about those who operate a vehicle while sleepy, with 80% of those in the study calling the behavior unacceptable; but, nearly 30% of those same drivers admitting to driving while having trouble keeping awake within the last month.

Finally, while a majority of drivers agree that the legal limit for drunk driving should be reduced from .08 to .05%, almost three percent of those same drivers admitted, unbelievably, to smoking pot or drinking and the getting behind the wheel of a car.

As a Miami car accident lawyer who helps seriously injured victims of distracted driving crashes, we hope our fellow motorist start to practice what they preach, but not doing the dangerous driving behavior they believe and know they should not.

The updated Arrive Alive campaign is a statewide safety program which brings together the resources of all police departments and the Department of Transportation, who with the use of real-time data hope to stem the residing tide of deadly car accidents. The State moved forward with its initiative after recent statistics demonstrated a rapid rise in Florida car accident caused wrongful deaths, increasing from 2500 in 2014, to more than 3000 in 2016. Incredibly, nearly 150 people have needlessly lost their lives on Florida’s roadways this year.

Not surprisingly, Florida is not alone in experiencing a rise in deadly car accidents. Nationally, car accident wrongful deaths increased more than 7 percent of the same time period. Yet, multiple studies show that Florida’s roads, due to a lack of safety laws, remains a leader in dangerousness. Some of the needed safety laws include police enforcement of passenger seat belt usage, mandatory motorcycle helmet use and a ban on texting while driving.

The Advocates report says Florida is missing a rear primary enforcement seat belt law, all rider-motorcycle helmet law, booster seat law, five of the seven teen driving provisions it recommends, an ignition interlock law, and an all-driver text messaging restriction. Although the Arrive Alive program is not advocating for these needed safe driving laws, as a Miami personal injury lawyer, Joseph Lipsky suggests the Florida legislature take action in passing laws which will save lives.

As for the Florida’s Arrive Alive campaign, Florida law enforcement intends to spend their resources and efforts on increased police presence, driver education and road improvements. According to the statement from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “The Arrive Alive initiative will incorporate law enforcement presence, media outreach and road safety assessments in high crash and high crime areas through a strategic and data driven approach. This approach will be shared with partners and will guide all activity throughout the initiative to ensure resources are targeted in the appropriate areas.” We certainly welcome any statewide effort to reduce car accidents and wrongful deaths, and hope our fellow drivers recognize the dangers which are present on Florida’s roads, and Arrive Alive.

Last year over 5,300 pedestrians died after being struck by a car or truck, an increase of more than 500 from the prior year. This increase was greater than the percentage of all traffic/driver or passenger fatalities, which rose just more than seven percent. Incredibly, Fort Lauderdale was the 6^th most dangerous city for pedestrian deaths. This rise in roadway wrongful deaths reversed an almost 10 year drop in the number of annual traffic related fatalities. In fact, 2014 saw a nearly 10,000 drop in deaths from just 8 years earlier. The rise in pedestrian deaths tied in with a similar rise in wrongful deaths of motorcycle and bicycle riders, of almost five percent over the past 10 years.

While government sponsored safety efforts and rapid increase in vehicle accident prevention technology, have had a beneficial effect upon vehicle occupants, by increasing seat-belt use and lowering the rate of drunk drivers, the same advances and efforts have ignored pedestrian safety.

With the economy continues to improve, the number of vehicles on the roadway, and the number of miles being driven are also on the rise; with last year showing more than a 3% increase in miles driven over the prior year.

The NHTSA has finally begun to focus on why pedestrian fatalities are increasing at a rate greater than other car accident related deaths. As the early data for next year’s study has already come in, and is showing another 10 percent rise in pedestrian fatalities, Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer Joseph Lipsky hopes the NHTSA and the cities of Fort Lauderdale, in particular, begin working sooner rather than later in installing pedestrian cross walks, waiting areas and extending the time pedestrians have to cross roadways.

Research shows that the less sleep a driver gets, the greater likelihood they will be in a car accident. In fact, drivers who have slept less than 4 hours a night have four times the number of car accidents, a ratio approaching the dangers of drunk driving. As the AAA states, anyone who has slept less than 7 hours over a 24 hour period should not drive a vehicle.

Earlier research demonstrates that nearly 20 percent of wrongful death car accidents in the United States involve a drowsy or sleepy driver. Last year, a total of over thirty-five thousand people died in car accidents across the United States according to research collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This was more than a seven percent increase in car accidents resulting in wrongful deaths over the prior year. The information used by the NHTSA came directly from car accident police reports which were limited to crashes in which at least one vehicle was towed from the crash location or where an ambulance responded to provide medical care to an injured driver or passenger. The drivers involved in those car accidents informed investigators about the amount of sleep they had in the prior twenty-four hours.

Given the well-known fact that 1/3 of all American get too few hours of sleep daily, below the 7 to 9 hours of recommended sleep time, drivers need to be aware of how tired they are, and understand the importance of taking a rest every hour while driving. In fact, the AAA advocates that individuals who have slept less than 7 hours over a 24 hour period should not drive, as they present a significant danger to themselves and their fellow motorists.

The crashes involving drowsy drivers generally result in wrongful deaths and serious bodily injuries, as the sleepy motorist is usually traveling at a high speed and does not take evasive or braking action before the crash; thereby causing significant property damage and serious personal injuries. It is for these reasons that Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney Joseph Lipsky reminds his fellow motorist to get adequate rest before heading out on any long car trip.

Most motorists are generally aware of the tests The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety do to determine the safety of cars involved in head-on and side impact crashes. Most people don’t realize that one of the most common types of car accidents involve so-called overlap crashes; that is, when the front corner of a vehicle crashes nearly head-on but actually closer to the drivers’ sides of passing vehicles, other types of overlap crashes happen when a vehicle strikes a pole or tree. These types of crashes account for nearly 25% of all serious car accident injuries. Given the increasing number of these overlap crashes and their resulting personal injuries and wrongful deaths, including nearly 1500 vehicle occupants who lost their lives in overlap crashes over the past two years.

Many of the small SUVs in the study sustained significant intrusion, over one foot, into the occupant compartment. Intrusion causes a vehicle’s instrument panel and parking brake to rapidly move toward the driver, impacting their knees and torso. Additionally, one of the vehicles even had a door during the test. If a vehicle door were to open during an actual crash, it is likely the occupant would be ejected, and killed. Death is sadly the most frequent outcome on an ejected occupant.

Miami car accident attorney Joseph Lipsky hopes those seeking to purchase a new SUV, particularly a smaller one, take a hard look at The Institute’s test results so that they purchase a vehicle which gives them the greatest chance of surviving an overlap or head-on collision.

A recent report demonstrates that ongoing efforts by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require back-up cameras as standard equipment in all new vehicles by 2018, may not be the miracle most believe. As back-up cameras have been in vehicles for many years, the government has ample data to evaluate as to their effectiveness in preventing car accidents.

As review of that data demonstrates that while the number of vehicles equipped with back up cameras rose nearly 100% over the past three years, that the number of personal injuries caused in backing up car accidents only dropped by under 10%. On a positive note, car accident wrongful deaths caused by backing up accidents did decrease by thirty percent, from 274 to 189, over the last four years.

The NHTSA believes that once back up cameras are in all vehicles, a process that will takes many years as all current non-equipped vehicles will have to come off the road, that 60 lives will be saved annually. Additionally, the government believes that the increased presence of back up cameras will help avert some of the most dangerous situations, those involving children playing at or near driveways. Because many young children are not tall enough to be seen by even attentive drivers, back up cameras can certainly help drivers avoid running over a playing child.

While evidence proves that back up cameras do reduce a driver’s blind spots by nearly ninety percent, drivers who rely solely on their technology by staring solely at their dashboard screen, and do not look backwards themselves, too often still strike pedestrians, other vehicles and property. This is why drivers must only rely on back up cameras as a tool to aide them in the safe operation of their vehicle, and not think it alone will allow them to avoid an injury causing car accident.

Automobile manufacturers have a financial interest in installing rear view cameras, as most consumers state they are willing to pay upwards of $1,000.00 for that technology in their vehicle. Miami personal injury attorney Joseph Lipsky reminds his fellow Florida drivers that having technology is a valuable asset, but relying solely on it can have life altering repercussions. We remind all drivers to use all of their senses, and make sure to look backwards as a supplement to using a rear view camera.

As Volkswagen is not expected to be able to repair these cars, owners will be entitled to a cash payment or negotiating a buyback of their vehicle.

Given the negative ramifications vehicle owners will have when they try to sell or trade-in their diesel vehicles in the future it is imperative that those owners seek legal guidance to make sure they make the best financial decision. We are the Law Offices of Joseph I. Lipsky are available for free no-obligation consultations with owners of Volkswagen diesel cars to discuss the depreciation of their vehicles. Feel free to contact us at our toll-free hotline 1-888-352-5298 (888-FLA-LAW8). We are here to help.

With the size of Biscayne Bay and frequent boating off shore of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade had 96 boating accidents in 2015, which resulted in nearly $3 million in property damage and unfortunately with three wrongful deaths and seventy four personal injuries. The Florida Keys, comprising of both Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, accounted for 78 accidents, resulting in 5 wrongful deaths and nearly 50 injuries. The 57 boating accidents in Broward County during 2015, resulted in five deaths and over 40 injuries.

According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, about one half of all boat accidents were caused by operators failing to maintain a proper lookout and being distracted, just like the careless actions of distracted car drivers.

While the number of deaths dropped, serious boating accidents actually rose by more than 100 from 2014 to 2015, to a total of 737. This increase is not unexpected as there are more registered boats in Florida, over 900,000, than any other state. Of course, that number does not take into account the estimated nearly 1,000,000 unregistered watercrafts.

Considering drowning played a role in over half of Florida’s boating deaths, Key West boat accident attorney Joseph Lipsky reminds all boaters, no matter how experienced, that life jackets save lives, so make sure your watercraft is supplied with at least one such flotation device for each vessel occupant.

Google’s invention is essentially a strong adhesive type tape which will be placed on the front/hood of their vehicles. In the event of a car vs. pedestrian accident, the tape would “hold” the pedestrian onto the hood of the vehicle, preventing them from falling to the roadway. As many of the injuries pedestrians suffer after being hit by a car happen when that person is thrown onto the road after being hit by a car, the thought is the tape will help stop the so-called secondary impact.

The inventors envision the tape being covered by some type of shell which will break open upon impact with a pedestrian, but will keep the tape protected from road debris such as dirt and bugs.

While other manufacturers have attempted to develop pedestrian injury protection, including front exterior airbags and 360 degree radar self-braking detection, Google’s system may be one of the first to also try to prevent the secondary impact. Of course, there may be unintended negative consequences from having a pedestrian glued to the hood of your car, including a loss of vision which may cause another crash.

Florida personal injury attorney Joseph Lipsky commends Google and all cutting edge manufacturers with their efforts to remember that safety should remain a major concern when pursuing advanced technology.

Unlike alcohol use, which in Florida subjects a driver to criminal charges if he/she has a blood alcohol level of .08, marijuana uses has no such comparable test. As of yet, there is no test to determine when a pot smokes is too high to driver, although we would argue that no amount of marijuana use is safe, if the smoker is going to be driving. Considering THC affects different users differently, as of now there is no way to determine if a particular “level” of THC in the blood stream equates to being too stoned to drive safely.

Not surprisingly, legal marijuana supporters like to point to a Department of Transportation study which determined that drunk drivers present a greater danger than stoned drivers. This position deflects from the point, which is that both drunk and stoned drivers are a danger to other motorists and pedestrians. Considering the difficulties associated with testing for THC, which requires a blood test, rather than a breath test as is available for suspected drunk drivers; determining the amount of THC in a person’s blood, so that they may be arrested for being impaired, is not accurate. Law enforcement advocates recommend using a “road-side” test, similar to suspected drunk drivers, to try to ascertain the level at which a person is functioning while behind the wheel.

Miami personal injury attorney Joseph Lipsky strongly suggests both illegal and legal marijuana users avoid getting behind the wheel of a car anytime they are under the influence. While users make their own lifestyle choices, other drivers and pedestrians should not be subjected to the possible dangers associated with those peoples’ choices.

The study estimates that there is a 10% increase in the number of pedestrians wrongful deaths in 2015, in comparison to 2014. Pedestrian wrongful deaths have risen at a steady rate of thirteen percent annually since 2005. Incredibly, Florida is one of four states which account for over forty percent of all pedestrian vs motor vehicle deaths, the other states are California, Texas and New York.

The number of pedestrian fatalities continues to rise despite the ongoing efforts of states to use technological innovations, increased law enforcement and more pedestrian education. Of course, a decrease in cell phone use by pedestrians would certainly help decrease such deaths.

Not surprisingly, alcohol use, including drunk driving and intoxicated pedestrians not paying attention to their surroundings, continues to play a role in over half of pedestrian/motor vehicle wrongful deaths.

Of the most prevalent attempts to reduce pedestrian fatalities, some of the increasingly more frequently used methods include: pedestrian islands, roadway overpasses and increased usage of traffic signals. Miami Personal Injury Attorney Joseph Lipsky only hopes that our local governments have the foresight to begin implementing these life saving roadway changes sooner rather than later.

Mr. Lipsky’s experience is apparently not a fluke. According to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, texting while walking is now one of the most often cited reasons for an injured person who is seen at an emergency room. The National Safety Council’s own research indicates that when someone is injured while texting or reading on their phone, those injuries are substantial, and include fractures, concussions and dislocations.

Texting while walking results in what scientists refer to as inattentive blindness. This lack of awareness to a pedestrian’s surroundings resulted in over 2500 emergency room visits. In fact, the study’s research demonstrates that cell phone use while walking results in more than ten percent of all pedestrian related injuries.

Some of the most frequently seen distracted pedestrian accidents occur when the person walks into an area which is uneven or has a change in height. Were the person paying attention to their surroundings, they may have seen obvious curbs, stairs and drops. But when a pedestrian is so focused on their phone, they miss even the most obvious things around them. Multiple studies have shown how distracted pedestrians are oblivious to over the top distractions, such as clowns and characters in costumes, which are purposefully placed along walkways. When asked if they saw these obvious distractions, the texting walkers usually say “no.”

Sadly, those who are most prone to text while walking are teenagers, who often think it is permissible to cross streets while using their phones. This behavior too often results in life changing accidents. As a father and personal injury attorney, Joseph Lipsky reminds everyone, just as if you are behind the wheel of a car, stop what you are doing and pull over if you need to use your phone to text, read or send an email.

If you would like to know more about choosing a potential Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney, please contact the Law Offices of Joseph I. Lipsky, P.A. or call 1-888-FLA-LAW8 today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

There are many factors to consider when choosing a personal injury attorney. You want to know that your case will be given the attention it deserves so that you can begin putting your life back together. Personal injury cases can arise from many diverse situations where someone has been negligent, including dog bites, disfigurement, burns, and many other types of situations, so you want to find a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale who has dealt with many kinds of cases and knows how best to proceed.

Beyond experience in your particular claim, you will also want to know if the attorney has a winning track record. How are they rated by Martindale-Hubbard? Will they be a hands-on attorney, who is available to answer your questions when you need them answered, as well as someone who can explain the law to you in a way you understand? Don’t be afraid to discuss legal fees and what happens if you lose the case. Fees should be talked about prior to allowing your prospective Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney to take the case.

To find out more about how to choose a personal injury attorney, please set up a consultation with our experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney today. Joseph L. Lipsky, P.A. serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, and all surrounding Florida communities.

Sadly, a larger police presence and an increased number of checkpoints will not deter everyone from driving drunk. Nor will they prevent some of those people from causing accidents and seriously injuring or killing other people on the road. In fact, there are about 1,100 DUI related wrongful deaths in Florida every year, and over 11,000 such alcohol related car accidents nationwide annually.

You Have Rights

When you are injured or a loved one is killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you have a right to hold that person accountable and seek damages well beyond the offerings of insurance companies. However, to secure this type of compensation, you will need an experienced and aggressive Plantation DUI attorney on your side.

With over two decades of experience, Florida personal injury attorney Joseph Lipsky has helped victims injured by the actions of drunk drivers get the compensation they deserve. He would be honored to meet with you free of charge to discuss your case and help you determine all that you may be entitled to.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact Joseph L. Lipsky, P.A. or call 1-888-FLA-LAW8 today to schedule a free consultation with our Plantation, Florida DUI attorney.

Despite the public perception of victims of motorcycle accidents, they deserve justice when they are injured due to another motorist’s carelessness. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or surrounding areas of Florida, attorney Joseph Lipsky is here to help ensure you get the justice you are due.

Keeping Safe

Summer heat in Florida can be oppressive, but safety while riding a motorcycle requires wearing proper clothing. Make sure you wear a helmet, even though Florida Law does not require one, and other protective gear, including bright colored clothing, to help avoid an accident.

In addition to safety gear, check your bike prior to taking it out for a ride. Always check blinkers, lights, breaks, and shifters prior to hitting the road. Also, a safety in numbers strategy, riding with other bikers, is a good way to make other motor vehicles aware of motorcycles.

Summertime, biker rallies, and alcohol all go hand in hand, but it is important that you do not, under any circumstances, operate your motorcycle while drunk. Making sure you are sober can help protect you, your passengers, other motorists, and your bike from unnecessary damage.

If you live in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida and have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact Joseph L. Lipsky, P.A. or call 1-888-FLA-LAW8 today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced motorcycle accident attorney.