05 August

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Increase in Large Truck Accidents

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

truck-accident

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks accounted for 3,964 fatalities in 2013. That is the fourth straight jump in annual large truck-involved fatalities, dating back to 2009. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that the top ten most common factors causing these accidents are fatigue, brake problems, distractions, traffic flow interruption, prescription drug use, drunk driving, traveling too fast for conditions, unfamiliarity with roadway, over-the-counter drug use, and inadequate surveillance. While many of the factors are attributed to the fault of the driver, there can be others who share in the blame such as the trucking...

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03 August

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The Villages is the #1 Small City in the U.S.

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

Forbes magazine recently ranked The Villages as the #1 Best Small City For Business And Careers. "Florida has been a retirement haven for decades thanks to its warm climate, recreational opportunities and lack of income or estate taxes. The state is annually one of the fastest-growing by population thanks to a steady influx of people 65 and older." "No area is capitalizing more on retiring baby boomers than The Villages, located 60 miles northwest of Orlando in central Florida. The metro area, which developed out of the large retirement community of the same name, was the fastest growing metro in the U.S....

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09 January

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Golf Cart Laws in Lady Lake, FL

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury, PIP Law

accidents on golf courses

In 2003, the Town of Lady Lake, Florida passed the following ordinances pertaining to Low-Speed Vehicles and Golf Carts: Sec. 17-2. - Low-speed vehicles. (a) Definition of low speed vehicle. Pursuant to F.S. § 320.01(42), a low-speed vehicle is any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than twenty (20) miles per hour but not greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour, including neighborhood electric vehicles. Said vehicles must conform to the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 and F.S. § 316.2122. For purposes of this section, "golf carts" as defined in F.S. § 320.01(22) or "speed modified golf carts" shall not...

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06 November

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Is Hands Free Driving Safe?

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

hands free driving

According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 3 out of 4 drives believe hands-free use is safe. However, the study found that hands-free systems in vehicles can distract drivers more than was previously believed. The results of the study revealed the following: The accuracy of voice recognition software significantly influences the rate of distraction; Composing text messages and emails using in-vehicle technologies was more distracting than using these systems to listen to messages; Use of Apple's Siri generated a relatively high level of mental distraction; Using an error-free speech-to-text system to listen to and compose emails or texts...

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31 October

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Bicycle Accidents Increasing in Florida

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

bicycle accident attorney

The number of bicyclists killed on roadways in the United States is trending upward, according to a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). In its report, the GHSA notes that yearly bicyclist deaths increased 16 percent between 2010 and 2012, while overall motor vehicle fatalities increased just one percent during the same time period. According to the report, Florida is now second (behind California) in the most bicycle deaths in the United States, with 329 accidents. Florida also ranked highest for most motor vehicle related cyclist deaths at 5% annually. There wave been some remarkable changes when analyzing current and historical...

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03 October

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Golf Cart Accident in The Villages?

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

golf course injuries

With the ever-increasing number of retirees moving to The Villages each year, we continue to see a rise in the number of golf carts being utilized on the streets. And with that, comes an increase in golf cart accidents. If you are involved in a golf cart accident in The Villages or surrounding areas, there are several things to remember: Do not leave the scene of the accident. Call 911 and get medical attention if you need it. It is also important to call the police even if there is are no serious injuries. You will likely need a police report to...

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22 July

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Florida’s Low-Speed Vehicle Laws

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

slow speed limits

In Florida, a “low-speed vehicle” means any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including, but not limited to, neighborhood electric vehicles. Below is a summary of some of Florida's low-speed vehicle laws: A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. A low-speed vehicle...

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14 July

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Governor Rick Scott Signs Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

Ocala car accident lawyer for accidents involving fatalities

On June 24, 2014, Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 102, which creates the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act relating to leaving the scene of an accident. This bill includes increasing the punishment for leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious injury to a person, imposing a mandatory minimum term for imprisonment of 4 years for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of a person, increasing the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment from1-4 years for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of...

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05 June

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New Requirement for Trucks

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

trucking injuries and crashes

It is estimated that the rule would eliminate approximately 1,115 fatal crashes and require minimal investment by carriers since most heavy trucks already have limiters on board. The first efforts for rulemaking on this subject came in 2006 when petitions were brought by the American Trucking Association (ATA) and Road Safe America (RSA). They said that a key strategy in preventing large truck fatal crashes is to reduce the top travel speed of the trucks. Studies were cited showing that large trucks moving at high speeds have much longer stopping distances than the same trucks operated at lower speeds. According to...

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19 February

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Teenagers & Distracted Driving

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

car accident attorney

"Novice drivers are more likely to engage in high-risk secondary tasks more frequently over time as they became more comfortable with driving." Traffic studies reveal that drivers from 15 years to 20 years of age represent 6.4% of all motorists on the road, but account for 11.4% of fatalities and 14% of police-reported crashes resulting in injuries. Cell phones and other electronic devices have garnered the most public and media interest, but even the simplest distractions can put a young driver at risk. In the New England Journal of Medicine study, titled “Distracted Driving and Risk of Crashes Among Novice and Experienced...

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20 January

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Couple File Suit Against Golf Cart Dealership

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

A lawsuit was recently filed by a Florida couple against a Perry, Florida-based golf cart dealership after the wife was left partially disabled after an accident. Danielle and John Pfeil of Arcadia, Fla., filed the lawsuit in federal court in Macon, Georgia against Mike’s Golf Carts, a company located in Perry, Florida. Danielle Pfeil was seriously injured in the golf cart accident on November 25, 2011, at Jewel Mint Plantation, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit alleges that a golf cart modified by Mike’s Golf Carts malfunctioned, resulting in the golf cart overturning on Danielle Pfeil (who was driving it). The lawsuit states...

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15 January

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Seatbelts Will Soon Be Required On Large Buses

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

New tour buses and buses that provide service between cities must be equipped with seatbelts starting in late 2016 under a new federal rule, a safety measure sought by accident investigators for nearly a half century. Beginning in November 2016, all new motorcoaches and some other large buses must be equipped by manufacturers with three-point lap-shoulder belts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. The rule will not apply to school buses or city transit buses. Every year, an average of 21 people are killed in large crashes, and almost 8,000 others are injured annually, according to the NHTSA. It’s estimated...

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16 December

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Texting While Driving–It’s Illegal in Florida

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

distracted driving accidents texting while driving

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that made texting while driving illegal in the State of Florida. This law represents a significant step to further ensure that our loved ones are safe on the roads. The bill, SB 52, which Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on May 28, prohibits motorists from using their cellphones to text or email while driving, with some exceptions. Drivers are allowed to use their devices while reporting criminal activity, listening to music or using text-to-talk systems such as Siri. They may also text or email while stuck in traffic or at red lights. The...

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31 October

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Florida Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

Generally In 2000, motorcycle fatalities accounted for about 8% of all traffic fatalities in Florida, but by 2008 the percentage had increased to 17.8%. By 2010, motorcycle fatalities dropped to 14.3% of all traffic fatalities. In 2011, motorcycle fatalities have returned to 2008 levels, accounting for 17.0% of all traffic fatalities. Alcohol and Motorcycle Accidents: In 2011 in Florida, impaired motorcyclists with blood alcohol content (“BAC”) of .08+ accounted for 26% of motorcycle fatalities, while impaired motorcyclists with a BAC of .01+ accounted for 32% of motorcycle fatalities. Nationally, in fatal crashes in 2011 a higher percentage of motorcycle riders had...

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24 October

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Let’s Make Our Roads Safer

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

truck crashes

Nearly four thousand people were killed in truck crashes in 2011. While fatal truck crashes often cost over $4.3 million, federal law only requires cargo truck drivers to maintain insurance policies for $750,000 dollars. Injured motorists and taxpayers are left to pay the difference. If trucking companies are not accountable, the safety and financial security of all drivers is at risk. Congress has not updated this minimum insurance requirement in over 30 years and as a result unsafe trucking carriers are prevented from being held fully accountable. H.R. 2730, the Safe And Fair Environment on Highways Achieved through Underwriting Levels (SAFE HAUL)...

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01 October

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Is a Modified Golf Cart a Motor Vehicle?

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury, PIP Law

florida personal injury attorney

In the recent case of Angelotta v. Security National Insurance, the 5th District Court of Appeal addressed the question of whether a golf cart can be considered a “vehicle.” Facts In 2008, a resident of The Villages was operating a modified golf cart on a public roadway when he “sideswiped a car and then crashed into a lawfully stopped golf cart operated by John Angelotta.” Mr. Angelotta was severely injured and sued to recover for injuries he sustained as a result of the collision. Unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance company, Security National, denied the claim and asserted that the policy covered “autos”–defined as...

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25 September

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Slower Golf Cart = Reduced Insurance Premiums

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Legal Blog, Personal Injury

On July 1, 2013, Governor Scott signed a law that will give Florida residents the option of reclassifying their “low-speed vehicles” as golf carts in order to save on registration and insurance fees. The law allows the conversion of a “low-speed vehicle” to a golf cart by reducing the maximum speed to 20 mph. Specifically, it establishes procedures to allow a vehicle titled or branded and registered as a “low-speed vehicle” to be administratively converted to a golf cart upon verification of the conversion by the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, which is accomplished by the owner’s submittal of an...

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18 September

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Legislative Proposal Seeks Tougher Penalties for Drivers Who Leave the Scene of an Accident

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

A recent proposal in the Florida Senate, known as the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, seeks to create tougher penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a hit and run bicycle accident. The proposed legislation is named after Aaron Cohen, a triathlete and father who was killed when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Michael Traverso in February 2012. Investigators found evidence suggesting Traverso had been drinking before he struck Cohen. However, they were unable to test his blood alcohol level because he drove away. Traverso was sentenced to 364 days in jail for leaving the scene of...

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09 August

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What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury

personal injury attorney

After being involved in a car accident or injured as a result of the negligence of another person, you probably want to know how much you should expect to recover. Although each case is different, below are some factors we take into consideration when attempting to determine the value of a personal injury case: <li Severity of the Injury - The type of injury you sustained, as well as its severity, is by far the most important factor. The more severe the injury, the higher the value. Yet, many injuries are not noticeable until days or weeks after an accident. By...

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29 April

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Common Auto Accident Questions

Posted by Attorney Gordon Glover

in Car Accidents, Legal Blog, Personal Injury, PIP Law

When you are involved in an auto accident, you are bound to have many questions. Below is a list of commonly asked questions people have after being injured in an auto accident. If you do not find the answer to your question here, contact Attorney Gordon Glover for a free case evaluation today at our The Villages 352-205-4495 office or Ocala office 352-484-0775 or contact us online. Attorney Gordon Glover is available 24/7 for home and hospital visits, and charges no attorney’s fees unless he recovers money for you! Q. What do I do if I’m involved in an auto accident? 1. ...

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