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National Teen Driver Safety Week: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Remember the excitement you felt the day you got your driver’s license? No more relying on mom and dad to be your chauffeur.
Teenagers, with their youthful zest and newly minted driver’s licenses, often overlook the serious responsibilities that accompany the freedom of driving.
Car crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for U.S. teenagers, according to the National Safety Council. In Florida, teen drivers were involved in 84,167 crashes resulting in 369 fatalities and 1,927 serious injuries in 2021.
A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found:

Teens were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in potentially risky behavior when driving with a teenage peer versus driving alone.
The likelihood increased to three times when traveling with multiple passengers.
Safety belts were not worn in one-third of the fatalities and serious injuries involving these teen drivers.

National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 15-21, 2023) focuses on promoting responsible driving habits to prevent tragedies from happening on our roadways.
It’s crucial for parents to instill safe driving habits in teenagers from the very beginning.
Talk to your teens and emphasize the importance of:

Avoiding Distractions: Texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup – all distractions that can lead to accidents. It’s vital to teach teens to always keep their eyes on the road.
Obeying Speed Limits: Speeding is a common cause of accidents among teen drivers. We must stress the importance of adhering to speed limits and adjusting speed according to the road conditions.
Never Driving Under the Influence: The dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot be overstated. Teens need to understand that even a small amount can impair their ability to drive safely.
Wearing Seat Belts: Encouraging the habitual use of seat belts can significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries in the event of an accident.

Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer
Even if your teen drives safely, we know that accidents happen. If your teen sustains injuries in a car accident, get in touch with our team of experienced attorneys to learn more about seeking financial compensation. Contact us at 561-655-2028 to learn more about how we can help you.

Palm Beach County’s Most Dangerous Intersections

What are the most dangerous intersections in Palm Beach County? County statistics show that the intersection of Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard in Palm Springs holds the dubious honor of having the most crashes of any intersection in Palm Beach County. The top 20 crash-prone intersections of 2022, according to Palm Beach County’s Traffic Engineering and Public Works department are:

Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard, Palm Springs
Military Trail and PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens
Military Trail and Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach
(tie) Atlantic and Congress avenues and Atlantic Avenue and Interstate 95, both in Delray Beach

Military Trail and Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach
Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Robbins Drive, West Palm Beach
Military Trail and Northlake Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens
(tie). State Road 7 and Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, and Congress Avenue and 45th Street, West Palm Beach

Military Trail and Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach
Palm Beach Lakes and Village boulevards, West Palm Beach
(tie). Linton Boulevard and Congress Avenue, Delray Beach, and 10th Avenue North and Congress Avenue, Palm Springs
Military Trail and 45thStreet, West Palm Beach
Military Trail and Lantana Road, west of Lake Worth Beach
Boynton Beach Boulevard and Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach
State Road 7 and Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach
Military Trail and 10thAvenue North, Greenacres
Indiantown Road and Central Boulevard, Jupiter

In our practice, we see many intersectional accidents. A car turning left in front of oncoming traffic is a common scenario. A particularly dangerous situation occurs when a vehicle speeds up to “make the light.” When a crash occurs, the increased speed can result in a major collision.

Florida law requires a driver to slow down when approaching and crossing an intersection, as intersections are considered a “special hazard.” Section 316.185, Florida Statutes, states as follows: “The fact that the speed of a vehicle is lower than the prescribed limits shall not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazards exist or may exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or other roadway conditions,…”

Many people are unaware of the requirement to slow down at intersections. The large number of intersectional accidents confirms the wisdom of the law labeling intersections a “special hazard.” An accident reconstruction expert once told me that he always waits one second after his light turns green before proceeding, as so many of his cases could have been prevented by that delay. Palm Beach County employs a one second “all red” at intersections; he was referring to one additional second thereafter – once the light turns green. This advice is sound and is worth following. Slowing down at intersections is not just good advice, though; in Florida, it’s the law.

Please be mindful that all intersections require diligence. Stay safe, but know we are always here to help if you or a loved one are injured by the negligence of another.

This blog was written by Partner Mickey Smith.

Lesser Law Firm Crash Investigation Leads to $1 Million Settlement

Due to their size, tractor-trailers can cause massive damage when their drivers are careless.
Our client was the victim of such carelessness when a tractor-trailer cut in front of him and violated his right of way in Osceola County. The resulting collision was tremendous.
Firm partners Gary Lesser and Mickey Smith undertook an immediate investigation of the crash. They also retained an accident reconstruction expert so that no stone was left unturned.
Presented with evidence of their insured’s negligence and the seriousness of our client’s injuries, the insurance company tendered the $1 million policy limits.
Our client and his family were especially appreciative of our responsiveness and compassion. It was our honor to represent this deserving client.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash with a tractor trailer, call us at 561-655-2028 or chat with us online at www.lesserlawfirm.com.

Lesser Law Firm Welcomes New Associate Attorney

Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, is proud to announce that Imani M. Williams has joined the firm’s West Palm Beach office as an associate attorney. A native of West Palm Beach, Williams is the 15th Circuit Representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women South Palm Beach County Chapter and an ambassador of Speak Up for Kids Palm Beach County. “Imani is a great lawyer and a great leader in the legal profession and our community,” Managing Partner Gary Lesser said. “We are so happy to have her on our team and look forward to working with her for many years to come.” Williams’ path to personal injury plaintiff work began at Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she studied Journalism and graduated with Honors a semester early. After earning her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center and passing the Louisiana Bar, she returned to West Palm Beach to help care for her ailing father. Watching her father struggle with Parkinson’s Disease fueled her passion for advocating for those who are injured and fighting for those without a voice. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with such a passionate team of attorneys,” Williams said. “I am looking forward to the journey and serving our clients and the community.” Williams is a natural fit on the Firm’s team, where she’ll focus her practice on personal injury cases and further her commitment to helping the community and our clients.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving: Tips to Avoid a Tragedy

Ronshay Dugans was a precious, innocent 8-year-old girl whose life was stolen when her school bus was hit by a cement-truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel.The Florida Legislature honors her memory the first week of September each year with Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. It’s a time to educate Floridians on the dangers of drowsy driving.Maybe it’s happened to you. You end up at your destination and don’t even remember much of the drive. You jerk awake when you hear the rumble strips and realize the vehicle was drifting toward the shoulder. Drowsy driving is impaired driving.The National Safety Council reports that each year, drowsy driving accounts for about 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities. According to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it’s estimated that 6% to 11% of all police-reported motor-vehicle crashes and 16% to 21% of fatal crashes likely involve drowsy driving.The two main causes of drowsy driving are lack of quality/quantity of sleep and driving at times of the day when you would normally be sleeping, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles. Young drivers, shift workers, commercial drivers and people with untreated sleep disorders or with short-term or chronic sleep deprivation are at an increased risk for drowsy driving crashes.FLHSMV recommends common sense tips to help avoid a tragedy:Do not consume alcohol and avoid medications that cause drowsiness.Get a good night’s sleep before driving. Good overall sleep habits will go a long way to prevent drowsy driving.Take a companion on long trips. Not only will you have someone to share the driving and help keep you awake, but you’ll be able to save energy by carpooling too.Schedule regular breaks, about every 100 miles or every couple of hours.Check out Florida’s network of rest areas, service plazas, truck comfort stations and welcome centers.Obviously, never begin a trip if you are drowsy.Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith has vast experience in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those caused by impaired drivers.This blog was written by Partner Mickey Smith.

Four Lesser Law Firm Attorneys named Palm Beach Illustrated’s Top Lawyers

Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith is pleased to announce that four of our attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers by Palm Beach Illustrated magazine.
Managing Partner Gary S. Lesser and Partners Joseph B. Landy, Michael S. Smith and Chad C. Hastings are among the Top Lawyers in Palm Beach County chosen by their peers for this prestigious honor.
“We are honored to be recognized as Top Lawyers by our peers,” Lesser said. “We look forward to many more years of serving our clients and the Court with professionalism and integrity.”
Nominees were evaluated based on professional peer reviews, the status of their licenses and their standing with The Florida Bar. Qualifying attorneys who received the highest number of votes were selected to be on this year’s list.
View the complete list here.

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Inquiries

National Teen Driver Safety Week: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Palm Beach County’s Most Dangerous Intersections

Lesser Law Firm Crash Investigation Leads to $1 Million Settlement

Lesser Law Firm Welcomes New Associate Attorney

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving: Tips to Avoid a Tragedy

Four Lesser Law Firm Attorneys named Palm Beach Illustrated’s Top Lawyers

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Newsroom

Media Inquiries

National Teen Driver Safety Week: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Palm Beach County’s Most Dangerous Intersections

Lesser Law Firm Crash Investigation Leads to $1 Million Settlement

Lesser Law Firm Welcomes New Associate Attorney

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving: Tips to Avoid a Tragedy

Four Lesser Law Firm Attorneys named Palm Beach Illustrated’s Top Lawyers

Categories

Palm Beach

Boca RATON

Stuart

Wellington

Send Us A Message

By submitting this form I acknowledge that contacting Lesser, Lesser Landy & Smith, PLLC, through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship, and any information I send is not protected by attorney-client privilege.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CASE REVIEW

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