Harvey D. Friedman Automobile Accidents Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles produces an annual report on motor vehicle related fatalities in Florida, Miami accident statistics, and stats on all the major urban centers in the state pursuant to statute 316.069.  Some of the statistics are encouraging and some are particularly alarming. Here are some recent Florida crash statistics:

• In 2006, the state’s auto accident fatality rate dropped for the first time in a decade, to 3,365. The death rate per one hundred million miles traveled plummeted from 1.76 to 1.65. This rate has since continued to drop; recent estimates suggest that it’s down to around 1.57 today.
• Pedestrian and alcohol-related deaths also dropped from 2005 to 2006. Pedestrian deaths decreased from 576 to 546; alcohol-related deaths dropped from 1,236 to 1,099.
• At the same time, motorcycle and bicycle fatalities have soared. In 2006, seven more bicycle deaths and 127 more motorcycle deaths occurred than in the previous year. 
• More recent Florida DHS reports suggest that, since 2006, these trends have become more pronounced and exaggerated.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also publishes statistics on Miami and Florida accidents. Fatal auto crashes in Florida cost over $400 million a year. Injury accidents in general cost over $14 billion annually. Other NHTSA findings include:

• U.S. Highway 1 in the Florida Keys (just south of Miami) has become increasingly dangerous. Fatalities along this stretch have more than doubled since the start of the decade.
• Since the Florida legislature’s 2002 decision to repeal mandatory helmets for motorcycle riders, more than four out of 10 bike fatalities have involved a non-helmet-wearing rider.
• The number of motorcycles on Florida roads has nearly tripled since the start of the decade. In 2000, there were 255,000 bikes. Today, there are around 750,000 motorcycles on Florida’s roads.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Florida slip-and-fall, truck, car, motorcycle, boating, or drowning accident, you should contact an experienced Miami car accident lawyer right away. A good attorney can gather critical information from the accident scene, police records, and eye-witness reports to help you make your best case. When insurance companies get involved, they can complicate matters. The insurance companies fight harder when the accident and injuries are more serious. For example, when a fatality occurs and it's due to negligence on the part of another driver or another company, experienced Miami wrongful death attorneys are highly recommended. The insurance company is going to spend a lot of money and resources in an attempt to minimize their liability in terms of what they are going to pay. If you make a statement to an adjustor, you could accidentally compromise your settlement leverage. An experienced Miami accident attorney can help you deal effectively with insurance companies and protect your rights.

The South Florida accident and injury law firm of Friedman, Rodman & Frank helps victims get the compensation they deserve and provides assistance to coping families to help them move forward with their lives. There is nothing in the world that can compensate you for the serious personal injuries you or a member of your family have suffered due to carelessness or reckless behavior on the part of another, but we can help you to seek justice and the compensation you deserve.