You’ve just been in a car crash. You’re climbing out of your car and no one appears seriously injured in either vehicle. What should you do now? Call for emergency help. If possible, take notes of the exact location and position of the vehicles involved in the crash. Exchange insurance contact information with the other driver. Give the investigating officer(s) as much detail as possible about the accident. DO NOT discuss the details with the other driver. NEVER discuss with the other driver who caused the accident. Never admit fault even if you think you might be at fault. This is frequently a legal determination and should be made later when all teh facts are known. Your own admission at the scene that you might be at fault could mislead investigators into overlooking other factors. If you have visible injuries, get photos of them. Seek medical attention even if you feel ok immediately after the crash since the onset of health issues may take awhile to reveal themselves. Contact a good attorney for legal advice.

In their newsletter, AAA has some very good tips all Florida car owners should have at their fingertips.
Most people do not understand what coverages they purchased and what they need for their current risks (i.e., value of car they are in, value of car you may hit, what someone else’s coverage pays for versus your own, etc.). It is important to make sure you know what you are paying for so you do not find out at the wrong time–that is, after an accident. Following are the five parts of each auto insurance policy.

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The truck driver had little sleep in the 34 hours prior to the fiery crash that killed 7 children in Lake Butler Florida on January 25. According to National Transportation Safety Board investigator, David Rayburn, “Except for a short nap, he was awake for 34 hours. . .”

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Statistics tell us that 770 Americans out of 100,000 will be injured in a rear impact auto crash this year. While insurance companies equate minor vehicle damage with minor bodily injury, medical evidence doesn’t bear this out. It is very often the case, that those involved in rear end or so-called low impact auto crashes sustain permanent and disabling injuries to their spine, neck and head. Such accidents can impair neurological functioning as well. While cars are often designed for such crashes, the human body is not so designed. In such a crash, the body is often twisted and violently thrown back, even when wearing a seat belt restraint. This shearing force can cause muscle tears as well as spinal fractures. If you’re involved in such a crash, seek good, quality medical care and don’t listen to the insurance adjuster who wants you to settle your claim as quickly as possible.

Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP coverage, can be a complex maze for those involved in auto accidents. Here are a few tips to remember when dealing with this type of auto insurance coverage:
According to Florida law, if you own a motor vehicle with four or more wheels you must carry $10,000 of personal injury protection insurance (PIP) and a minimum of $10,000 of property damage liability insurance. You may have a deductible of up to $2,000 for PIP coverage and $500 for Property Damage Liability.
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers you regardless of whether you cause an accident (are “at-fault”) — up to the limits of the policy. PIP is designed to reduce the necessity of suing for reimbursement of medical and related bills from auto accidents. PIP pays:
— 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses
— 60 percent of lost wages
— $5,000 for death benefits
For accidents that happen in Florida, PIP covers you and relatives who live in your home, certain passengers, and others who drive your car with your permission. Pedestrians and bicyclists are also covered if they are Florida residents.
For accidents that happen outside Florida but inside the U.S. or Canada, PIP covers you and relatives who live in your home. In this case, you must be driving your own vehicle. Persons other than you or your relatives are not covered.
Property Damage Liability Insurance pays, for damage you or members of your family cause to another persons property while driving. The term “property” includes, for example, a fence, telephone pole or building, as well as another car.
Coverage applies even if you drive someone else’s car. Depending on the terms and conditions of your policy, it may also include anyone else who uses your car without your permission.

In spite of the fact that Florida has a tough seat belt law, only 50% of drivers in the state wear seat belts. The lack of compliance with this important law has devastating consequences. Let’s look at some facts:
1) A child unrestrained in a 30 mph crash is the equivalent of that same child falling from a three story building.
2) In one survey, over 59 percent of drivers who were fatally injured were not using available restraint systems.
3) Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties are in the “Top Ten” in auto accident fatalities.
4) During a crash, properly fastened safety belts distribute the forces of rapid deceleration over larger and stronger parts of the person’s body, such as the chest, hips and shoulders. The safety belt stretches slightly to slow your body down and to increase its stopping distance.
The difference between the belted person’s stopping distance and the unbelted person’s stopping distance is significant. It’s often the difference between life and death.
So, be safe, protect your loved ones, and wear that seat belt!

The COLD, HARD, SOBERING FACTS about alcohol and drunk driving in the United States:
Fact: A total of 16,694 alcohol-related fatalities were recorded in 2004. That’s one death nearly every 1/2 hour in this country at the hands of someone who was drinking and driving.
Fact: Approximately 275,000 persons are injured or disfigured yearly by alcohol-impaired drivers. One third of these are children.
In 2004, out of all traffic fatalities, 32% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.
We’ve gotten MADD, SADD, and BADD but the craziness continues. Drunk driving kills! It’s time to stop the insanity.

Seven children were killed in North Florida. According to law enforcement authorities, The truck hit the car from behind and pushed it into the bus, causing the car to burst into flames. All seven of the people riding in the car were killed. Their ages ranged from 15 years to 21 months, police said.
CBS News correspondent Peter King reports that the victims are all from one family with small children.
It was unclear why the children were unaccompanied.
Evidence from the scene showed that the truck, which was carrying bottled water, did not brake before hitting the car, Burroughs said.
The bus ended up 200 feet from where the car struck it, and the cab of the truck lay overturned near the scene, Burroughs said. The bus was at an approved bus stop, but it was not immediately clear whether children were getting on or off.

ORANGE COUNTY — A Kissimmee man on a motorcycle died Wednesday afternoon on International Drive in what witnesses told investigators was possibly a street-racing accident.
Gabrail Montanez, 28, was riding a 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle south on International Drive south of Central Florida Parkway about 4:45 p.m. Beside him, Christopher Jones, 27, of Orlando was riding a 2005 Yamaha.
Montanez tried to move left to pass a Ford pickup driven by 41-year-old Matthew Burns of Orlando but clipped the back of the truck, said Trooper Kim Miller, a Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman.
Montanez was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a helmet.
Jones and Burns were not injured.