Florida’s Low-Speed Vehicle Laws
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 […]
Governor Rick Scott Signs Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act
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 […]
New Requirement for Trucks
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 […]
Teenagers & Distracted Driving
“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 […]
Couple File Suit Against Golf Cart Dealership
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 […]
Seatbelts Will Soon Be Required On Large Buses
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 […]
Texting While Driving–It’s Illegal in Florida
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 […]
Florida Motorcycle Accident Statistics
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: […]
Let’s Make Our Roads Safer
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 […]
Is a Modified Golf Cart a Motor Vehicle?
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 […]