Handy Traffic Guide for Holidays in Polk County: Drive with Caution This Week!

Thanksgiving week is here, and that means people from all over the country will be heading to see their family and friends. Whether they’re coming here to Central Florida, or are Polk County locals headed out of town, the roads will be filled with heavier-than-usual traffic, and that means a much higher chance of accidents (and…

Accident with HART Bus Takes Life of Local Bicyclist in Tampa: How Can You Protect Yourself?

Bicycles are a common mode of transportation for residents in and around Tampa. Our year-round mild weather, large downtown scene, and many areas with lanes dedicated to those traveling on bicycles make it a prime place to spot people out on bikes… and a prime location for bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, where you have bicyclists and…

Polk County Ranked in Top 10 Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians

Polk County seems idyllic in so many ways. For those of us who live here, we’ve fallen in love with the many lakes and waterways, the delicious, local dining options, the amazing sunsets, the close proximity to the coast and major attractions, and of course, the beautiful downtown areas where you can browse markets and shops. Unfortunately, many locals…

Put Down the Keys and Pick Up The Phone: Call a Designated Driver

As we prepare to welcome 2023, we want to put out an important reminder for those who plan to ring in the new year with a few drinks with friends or family: Don’t forget to plan for a designated driver! Whether you’re heading to a friend’s home right here in Winter Haven to celebrate the…

Where Do Most Pedestrian Fatalities Occur?

Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to suffering severe and fatal injuries in traffic-related accidents. Unlike motorists, who are protected by safety features such as seat belts, airbags, and the steel cage of their car, pedestrians take the full force of impact in a crash. Even if a vehicle isn’t traveling at a particularly high speed when…

Rule the School: Safe Driving in School Zones

It’s hard to believe that another school year is already starting in Hillsborough and Polk County. Many of us have been enjoying emptier roads on our commute as traffic dropped during lockdowns. But as school opens again, more families will be on the road to and from school. It’s very important that all of us…

Pedestrian Safety Rules Everyone Should Know

It’s very scary to think about getting hit by a car when you’re walking down the street. But this is a possibility that we have to prepare for, especially with how common it’s been recently. Just last week, a pedestrian was hit by a driver near the Tampa area when he failed to yield to…

December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Well, December may be almost over, but the importance of this month isn’t limited to just December. This month is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month. It’s also called National 3D Prevention Month. If you’re a frequent reader of the Brooks Law Group blog, then the topic of impaired and distracted driving will be…

Is Central Florida the Nation’s Most Dangerous Place for Pedestrians?

Who doesn’t love a good walk? With our Florida weather, we can go outside to enjoy the warm weather for most of the year. Outside of our unpredictable rain, we live in a perfect place for walking in our communities. Or so it seems. A recent study calls into question that belief when it comes…

Running Red Lights Follow-Up: Tampa Drivers

A couple of weeks ago, I looked at the shocking new study that had come out from the AAA Foundation that discussed the record high in deaths caused by running red lights. We’re back with a bit of a follow-up on that original blog article. Taking the information from the study and looking at Tampa…

Drivers Running Red Lights: Most Deaths in a Decade

If there is one thing that we’ve continued to preach throughout our blogs, it’s that nothing is more important than arriving alive. I know how tempting it can be to press the gas a little bit harder or to drive a bit more recklessly when you’re running late. In our line of work, we see…

5 Tips for Staying Safe as a Pedestrian

This week, a Winter Haven man lost his life after being struck by two cars while trying to cross U.S. 17 on foot. Tragedies like this remind me of how dangerous being near motor vehicles can be for pedestrians and how important it is to always stay safe and alert. It’s no surprise that your…

Electric Scooters Hit Tampa Sidewalks: Awesome or Accident-Prone?

In the past few years, electric scooter rental companies have been making their way through metropolitan areas across the country. This weekend, the scooters arrived in Tampa. While easy access to scooters makes transportation a breeze, is it worth the potential risks? Today we’ll take a look at how these scooters work and examine the tradeoffs…

Large Truck Accidents: The Dangers of Dump Trucks

We’ve written a lot about the dangers of large truck accidents. When you hear the phrase large truck, you probably think of semi trucks. That’s not the only large truck to watch out for on the roads, however. Waste management companies across the country employ big, heavy dump trucks to clean up local municipalities’ trash….

Smartphone Use: More Dangerous Than Drunk Driving?

Driving under the influence isn’t only for drunk drivers anymore. There is a new dangerous killer in town: driving under the influence of phone use. For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we’re taking a look at many of the distractions that make our roads unsafe. If there’s any doubt in your mind about how dangerous using…