NOYES LEGAL NEWS

Largo Pedestrian Suffers Head Trauma After Being Hit by Car

Another pedestrian is critically injured after being hit by a car in Largo.

As reported by Bay News 9, the pedestrian was walking with a group of friends along the south shoulder of Ulmerton Road near 38th Street. The pedestrian attempted to cross the road but then doubled back. As a result, a Porsche driven by B Gray Gibbs hit the pedestrian.

It makes sense that when it comes to pedestrian vs. car, the pedestrian always loses. Walkers need to be smart when walking on busy roads. Pedestrians need to cross at crosswalks or at intersections. In the same respect, drivers of cars need to be on high alert for pedestrians. When a driver sees a pedestrian or a group of people walking, the driver should slow down, switch lanes if possible, and use added caution until they pass the pedestrians. This way, serious injuries may be avoided.

Drive and walk safely and watch out for those who don't. Before talking to the insurance companies after your car accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle accident or other personal injury matter, talk to a lawyer about your rights. Remember, insurance companies have lawyers protecting their best interest after your accident, so should you. For a free case consultation about your rights after a Florida car accident, click here to arrange a conference with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes.

School Bus Accident Sends 11 Students to Hospital

It’s one of a parent's worst nightmares. You see your child off to school, she gets on the bus and you go off to run your busy day. Your morning is interrupted by a call from the school advising that your child was taken to the hospital after her school bus was involved in a car accident. That is what happened to 11 parents this morning in Ruskin.

According to deputies, the school bus was headed to Beth Shields Middle School when it crashed into a Terminix truck at an intersection on 21st Avenue South East. Deputies say the driver of the bus violated the right of way and turned into the path of the truck driver. 39 children were on the bus and 11 of them are being taken to area hospitals.

If your child is injured in a car accident (whether on a school bus or in a car), it is crucial that you get him or her checked out by a doctor. If he or she is complaining of belly pain, there may be internal bleeding from the seat belt that could result in death if not caught. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Drive safely and watch out for those who don't. For answers to questions after a car accident, click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Insurance companies have attorneys working for them, so should you!

Where You Wear Your Cell Phone Could Result in Future Problems

We know that using the cell phone while driving can cause car accident. Now, a study shows that how you wear your cell phone may lead to complications from neck or back surgery needed because of that car accident. According to a study in the September issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, wearing a cell phone on your hip area may lead to decreased bone density in the area of the pelvis that is commonly used for bone grafts.

 

The researchers measured bone density at the upper rims of the pelvis (iliac wings) in 150 men who were cell phone users and carried their phones on their belts. Bone density was compared on the side where the men wore their phones (the right side in 122 men and the left side in 28) versus the opposite side. The men carried their phones for an average of 15 hours per day, and had used cell phones for an average of 6 years.

 

The results showed a slight reduction in iliac wing bone density on the side where the men carried their phones. The difference was not statistically significant, and did not approach the reductions seen in osteoporosis. However, the researchers point out that the men were relatively young average 32 years and that further bone weakening may occur with longer follow-up.

 

The researchers emphasize that their findings are preliminary. Coming generations of mobile technology may lead to the development of new cell phones with lower exposure to electromagnetic fields. Meanwhile, Dr. Atay and colleagues conclude, "It would be better to keep mobile phones as far as possible from our body during our daily lives."

 

Personally, in order to prevent someone causing a car accident with someone I care about, I would rather drivers keep the cell phone on their hip while driving than on their ear. I don't know what about using a cell phone makes someone drive slower and keeps them from staying in their lane, but you can spot the cell phone users on the roads.

 

Drive safely and watch out for those who don't. If you or a loved one is injured in a Florida car accident, click here to contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Remember, insurance companies have lawyers looking out for their best interest after your automobile accident, so should you!

Turning Your Clocks Back Results in More Accidents

Remember, after all the trick-or-treaters are gone and the Halloween parties are over, you have one more thing to do Halloween night--turn your clocks back an hour because daylight saving time ends.

As we move the clocks back an hour, car accidents, pedestrian accidents and other personal injury claims are more likely to occur on the roads. According to CNN.com, researchers at Stanford and Johns Hopkins universities analyzed a 21-year period and found a significant spike in traffic accidents on the Sunday that ended daylight-saving time.

The sudden loss of daylight in the evenings sends a pedestrian's risk skyrocketing, according to a seven-year study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. They found that after daylight-saving time ended in a typical October, the risk of pedestrian fatalities (per mile walked) jumped 186 percent. The researchers chalked this up not just to darker roadways, but also to drivers having a difficult time adjusting to the end of daylight-saving time.

So, enjoy the extra hour sleep, but on Sunday and days thereafter, keep an extra eye out for pedestrians. Also, be prepared for the change of sunlight glare on your way to work and home.

If you or a family member is injured in a Florida car accident, it is important that you talk with an attorney before talking with the insurance companies.Insurance companies have attorneys working for them--so should you! Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Lawyer Matthew Noyes. Attorney Noyes' personal injury law firm has been caring for clients for over 54 years.

Now You Can Blame Your Bad Driving on Your Parents. Really?

Can we really blame bad driving on genetics? A recent study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex says we can. 

Researcher Steven Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, found that people with a certain gene variant performed more than 30 percent worse on a driving test than people without it. Apparently, about 30 percent of Americans have the variant.

The research looked at a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that is secreted to the area of the brain that is associated with particular activity. The protein helps facilitate communication among brain cells and helps retain memory.

In Cramer's study, people who have the gene variation he focused on have limited BDNF secretion. "These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away," Cramer said in a statement.

Cramer and his team of researchers brought their research to the road by recruiting 29 people to drive 15 laps on a simulated course with difficult curves and turns. Twenty-two of the participants did not have the gene variant; seven did. The researchers wanted to see how effectively the participants learned to navigate the twists and turns in each subsequent lap.

Four days later, they repeated the test. The participants with the variant did worse both times. They also retained less the second go-round. The researchers concluded that these poor results were because of the limited BDNF secretion.

I don't know if I buy into this or not. There must be a lot of limited-secreted-BDNF-drivers on U.S. Highway 19 every morning. Let's hope that we don't see this as a defense to fight a traffic ticket!

If you or your friend has been injured because of a bad driver (despite their BDNF secretion level), you should talk with an attorney before talking with the insurance companies. Insurance companies have lawyers working for them-so should you!

Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. With offices throughout Tampa Bay, Attorney Noyes can easily accommodate your schedule after your car accident, motorcycle crash, or other personal injury matter.

Have You Seen the Truck Involved in this Fatal Hit-and-Run?

We know that Tony Allen Sorenson of Fort Myers was killed after being hit by a truck as he walked north across Ulmerton shortly after 8 p.m. on Thursday. We don't know who killed.

The driver of a silver Ford F-150 continued westbound on Ulmerton and fled the scene. Mr. Sorenson was pronounced dead at Largo Medical Center. Officials are still searching for the driver of the truck. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact the FHP at (813) 631-4020.

Maybe you travel down Ulmerton Road regularly or its surrounding roads. Look for a silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck with front end property damage, get the license tag number and call 911.

It is beyond me to know how someone can hit a pedestrian and then speed away. Any guilt? Any internal need to see if the person you hit will be ok? Any desire to give answers to the family of the pedestrian?

I hope they find the driver of the truck that killed this man. If you are ever in the situation, pull over and check on the pedestrian and stay. The consequences of fleeing the scene--both legally and morally--are too great to simply leave.

Seven Ways a Teenage Driver Can Lose Their Florida Driver's License

We are right in the middle of National Teen Driver Safety Week. We can spit out stats that should scare any teenage driver, but most teenagers will never consider that they could be a statistics. So, maybe the consequences of the bad driving may make them think twice. Here are a few of the consequences under Florida law:

1. Too many points for bad driving will result in a license suspension. For teen drivers, Florida law statues that six points in twelve months will result in a restriction to driving to work and school only.

2. Under Florida law, teenage racing will result in their license being suspended for one year.

3. Anyone under the age of 21 driving with a BAC of .02 (not the adult's .08 level) or greater will get an automatic six months suspension of the license.

Other ways a teenager can lose their driver's license in Florida include:

1. Under Florida law, if a teenager skips 15 days of school in a 90-day period, he loses his license.

2. A third conviction (or two within twelve weeks) for possessing tobacco products like cigarettes, chewing tobacco or snuff, will result in a suspension of their license.

3. Using a fake ID to obtain alcohol results in losing a license for six months.

4. A conviction of possessing drugs will result in a minimum suspension of six months.

Now for the statistics that teenage drivers seem to ignore:

• In Florida in 2008, 68.3% of children ages 0-17 killed in vehicle crashes were not using either a child passenger seat or a safety belt.
• In 2008, 18-year-old drivers in Florida had the highest rate of crash involvement in all car accidents, while 19-year-old drivers had the highest rate of fatal car accidents.
• Nationwide in 2008, 37% of 15-20 year old drivers involved in fatal car accidents were speeding.
• Nationwide in 2008, 4,054 teens between the ages of 13-19 years of age died in car accidents.
• In the United States, teens account for only 6.3 percent of the population but are involved in 14 percent of the total number of traffic fatalities.
• Distractions are deadly for teen drivers. Distractions are the No. 1 reason new drivers’ crash.
• While all teens are at a high-risk of experiencing a fatal crash, young males, pickup truck drivers and passengers, as well as people living in rural areas are among those least likely to buckle up.
• 60% of teens know inexperience heavily influences safety, but only 15% correctly view their peers as inexperienced drivers.

Knowledge--whether it be the law or the statistics--can prevent some teenage car accident. With this knowledge, teenage drivers can be safer on the road this National Teen Driver Safety Week and throughout the year.

Drive safely and watch out for those (not matter what age they are) that don't! If you or a friend is injured in a Florida car accident, click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Insurance companies have attorneys fighting for their best interest after your automobile accident, so should you!

Wanna Be Able to Control a Teenager's (or a Spouse's) Driving?

Should parents have control over their teenager's driving? With car accidents being the leading cause of death among teens, I think so. In fact, since 200 drivers ages 15 to 19 died last year in Florida car accident, it is almost a must. Ford Motor Company agrees and is unveiling its MyKey Technology in an effort to curb teen road fatalities.

Ford's MyKey technology will limit the car’s maximum speed and stereo volume when a teen is behind the wheel. Using the technology, parents are able to give their teens a special car key that caps the car’s maximum speed at 80. The MyKey technology can also limit the stereo’s volume to 65 percent. In fact, the radio won't even play if the driver isn't wearing a seat belt.

The MyKey cars also display messages on a dashboard screen, signaling to drive safely or buckle up. Cars with the MyKey technology are available at Ford dealers throughout the state. It is considered a standard feature in most 2010 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles.

Ford can only do so much though. Ultimately, educating teenage drivers is the key to keeping them safe. Parents have a responsibility to spend time with their teenager to show them the safe way to drive. Teenage friends also have a responsibility to tell their driving counterparts not to drive carelessly. Teenage friends should get out of the car when their friends are driving recklessly. I am sure their parents wouldn't be angry about having to pick them out somewhere for this reason.

Through technology and education, we may be able to reduce the number of teenage car accidents. Remember, teenager drivers don't only crash into other teenage drivers. All drivers (and their families) are at risk if a teenager is driving recklessly.

Drive safely and watch out for those who don't. If you or a friend is injured in a Florida auto accident, click here to contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Remember, insurance companies have lawyers looking out for their best interest-so should you!

Can YOU Beat This Record?

I tip my hat to Virginia "Ginny" Odom! This UPS tractor-trailer driver has logged more than 3.5 million accident-free miles and she recently marked her 35th year of safe driving – tops among female UPS drivers worldwide.

“Ginny is a classic example of how dedicated our drivers are to safety,” said Don Gately, Central Florida District Manager. “Her achievement is something that should inspire both veteran and new drivers.”

According to the press release, this 59-year-old Winter Park resident began her career with UPS in 1973 delivering packages. She delivered packages for her first nine years before switching to the big rigs. Since 2000, Ms. Odom has driven a tandem tractor-trailer rig on a daily 600-mile round trip hauling thousands of packages between Orlando and Cordele, Ga. Ms. Odom starts her day at 4 a.m.

Driving in the Orlando area makes it even more challenging because according to a survey by the Texas Transportation Institute, the Orlando metro area is tied for sixth worst in the nation for traffic gridlock.

Ginny Odom is the top female driver in UPS’s Circle of Honor, an elite organization honoring current drivers with 25 years or more without an accident. Nationwide, more than 4,600 active UPS drivers are members; collectively they’ve racked up more than 5 billion miles of safe driving. Way to go, UPS for acknowledging these good drivers

It feels good to write about safe drivers. I am sure that some of the readers can also attest for years of being accident-free. I salute you too! Continue to drive safely and watch out for those who don't.

If you or a friend has questions after being involved in a car accident, you should consult with a lawyer before talking to the insurance companies. Insurance companies have teams of attorneys working for them, so should you. Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes.

Are the Police Looking for You This Week?

Yesterday the Florida Department of Transportation kicked off a week long effort to crack down on unsafe driving in an attempt to make the roads a little safer. The Florida Department of Transportation says last year alone more than 200,000 people were injured in car accidents in Florida. Many of those automobile accidents were specifically caused by unsafe or aggressive driving and that's exactly why officers are going to spend this week targeting those drivers.

"The last thing you want to do is lose your loved one in a traffic crash because someone did not take the time to be responsible in their vehicles," says Sgt. Larry Kraus with Florida Highway Patrol.

Law enforcement will also be looking for people who violate Florida's "Move Over Law". The law requires drivers to move out of the way when they see a stopped emergency vehicle on the road. Because one driver failed to follow this law, Trooper Rhonda Hendree nearly lost her life after being hit during a traffic stop last year. "It still bothers me today. I don't have a day that I don't have pain. Basically, it's totally changed my life," explained Hendree.

The campaign started yesterday and will run through next Saturday. The FDOT says officers will be in both marked and unmarked cars. Tickets for a moving violation start at about $165 and go up from there depending on what county you live in and what the violation is.

Drive safely and not aggressively--not because you can avoid a ticket, but because you can save a life. Also, watch out for those who still drive aggressively. Many good drivers get in bad car accidents because of other aggressive drivers.

If you or a friend is injured because of the actions of an aggressive driver, talk to an attorney before talking to the insurance company. Remember, insurance companies have attorneys looking out for their best interest after your automobile accident, so should you!

For a free case consultation with a lawyer who cares, click here to contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Attorney Noyes and his team will fight for you after your car accident, motorcycle accident, or other personal injury matter.