Guest Blogger – Steven S. Farbman

DISTRACTED DRIVER AWARENESS MONTH

Posted on by khaniauerbach

As we have mentioned before, we are delighted to share articles that may be of interest to our clients. This article, by our friend Steven Farbman, caught our attention and we felt it was worthy of your review.

Distracted Driver Awareness Month
by Steven Farbman, Esq.

For more than 30 years, The Law Offices of Steven S. Farbman, P.A. has been helping people who have been seriously injured due to the careless driving of others. Due, to the advent of the cell phone (texting) and display screens added to cars (GPS, radio, and even internet!) we have seen even more people of our community injured as a result of car crashes with distracted drivers. According to one recent survey distracted driving crashes in Florida increased 25 percent since 2012. Not surprisingly, April has become known as Distracted Driver Awareness Month.

While teens represent only 5 percent of licensed drivers, they were responsible for 12 percent of distracted-driving crashes. Drivers aged 20 to 29 were responsible for 31 percent of crashes.

There are three main categories of distraction: visual, taking your eyes off the road; manual, taking your hands off the steering wheel; and cognitive, thinking about anything other than driving.

Some of the most common types of distractions include:

*An object, person, or event outside the vehicle that diverts a driver’s attention away from the road
*Texting (put the phone away!!!)
*Reaching for a device, such as a GPS
*Interacting with passengers
*Eating or drinking (and never have alcohol in the car!!!)
*Unsecured pets
*Grooming (stop putting on your make up, shaving and brushing your hair while driving!!!)
*Adjusting stereo or climate controls
*Lighting a cigarette
*Daydreaming

Therefore, if you believe you may be guilty of some of the above distractions, make a concerted effort not to do them. Never take your eyes off the road! If you have young drivers in your family, go over the list and have them put the cell phone away until they reach their destination. Besides protecting others on the roadway, you just may be saving your loved one’s life and even your own.

The Law Offices of Steven S. Farbman are always interested in the safety and well-being for the people of our community. As always please feel free to contact my office with any legal questions you may have. For more than 30 years, Steven S. Farbman has been helping members of this community who have been seriously injured due to the carelessness and negligence of others.

Legal Tips and Important Topics: Air Bag Recall

Posted on by khaniauerbach

AIR BAG RECALL
By: Steven S. Farbman

The government has recently recalled more than 2 million Toyota, Chrysler and Honda vehicles because of a second fix needed for air bags that may inadvertently inflate while the car is running. The recall includes some Acura MDX, Dodge Viper, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Odyssey, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Avalon models made from 2002 to 2004. Carmakers had originally tried to fix the defects by partially replacing the electronic control unit, made by TRW Automotive of Livonia, Mich., but that fix didn’t always work. The new remedy – full replacement of the unit – will be available to all affected vehicles by the end of the year. However, the NHTSA is urging consumers with cars under the first recall to have the partial unit installed despite the fix’s failure rate, even if they have to return to the dealer under the second recall. “Even though it’s a temporary solution until the new remedy is available,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said, consumers “and their families will be safer if they take the time to learn if their vehicle is covered and follow their manufacturers’ instructions.”

Approximately 39 air bags that had been replaced under the previous recall have deployed inadvertently again. The agency says about 1 million Toyota and Honda vehicles involved in the new recalls are also subject to a separate recall related to defective air bags made by Takata of Japan. Those air bags can deploy and rupture with enough force to cause injury or death. In nine cases, cars had problems that included both the inadvertent deployment and the Takata rupture. Three of those cases resulted in injuries, including eye injuries, scratches and burns. No death or injuries related to non-Takata air bag failures have been reported.

The Law Offices of Steven S. Farbman are always interested in the safety and well-being for the people of our community. As always please feel free to contact my office with any legal questions you may have. For more than 30 years, Steven S. Farbman has been helping members of this community who have been seriously injured due to the carelessness and negligence of others.

Law Offices of Steven S. Farbman, P.A.
Regions Bank Building
450 North Park Road
Penthouse Suite 800
Hollywood, FL 33021
954.923.3603
www.farbmanlaw.com