• This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk driving crashes – one every 50 minutes

• An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest

• Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash

• Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol related

• Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year

• One in three will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime

• The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion

• Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver

These statistics were aggregated from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you or a loved one has suffered from a drunk driving accident, call the West Palm Beach lawyers Larmoyeux & Bone for a free consultation.

Bill Bone is the chairman of the Do the Write Thing Challenge local steering committee. His involvement in the program speaks to the importance of his role in the Palm Beach County community. Through his support, students are able to express themselves not only with the opportunity to write an essay or poem about violence, but also for the opportunity to grow and learn as maturing middle school students. According to Bone, “the goal of the program is to reduce youth violence in schools, at home and in neighborhoods. Many young teens have been bullied or stigmatized by the way they look or talk or act and that can be very traumatic sometimes resulting in enormous pain and even suicide”.

In the hopes to garner even more attention around this phenomenal program, NFL superstar Anquan Boldin, a Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver, was present at the luncheon to honor the writing contents’ winners. The luncheon also featured a video with the Challenge’s recipients giving their view on how to stop bullying and violence with teens. Giving the students a voice to discuss their take on how to reduce youth violence propels Do The Write Thing’s mission. As the students continue to express themselves through writing, a glaring light is shed on bullying and violence. This light is a remarkable platform for violence recognition and reduction.

Take a look at the most recent Pro-Am flyer here!

For more information about the race, visit the Bill Bone Pro Am website!

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is also called Florida No Fault Insurance. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance covers you – regardless of fault (i.e. whether or not you cause the crash) – up to the limits of your policy. Your PIP will also cover your child, members of your household, certain passengers who lack PIP Insurance as long as they do not own a vehicle.”

In addition, the FHSMV outlines the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law as follows; “the law requires all owner/registrants of a motor vehicle with four wheels or more to carry a minimum of $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) if you own a motor vehicle in Florida. Florida law requires you to maintain PIP/PDL insurance continuously throughout the licensing and registration period.”

By limiting fraud in PIP insurance, Floridians who drive an automobile will be benefit. Changes should start to begin anytime after January 1st, 2013. Taking a hold on insurance claims, personal injury protection, and auto accident regulation will help to keep the Florida roads safe and secure.

Pet owners are deemed responsible for their pets and their pets’ interactions with others. Unfortunately, many pet owners themselves cannot foresee a potential dog attack. As a parent, clearly explaining the hazards of petting an unfamiliar dog is imperative. Even further, as your children gets a little older, warning them of particular dogs to look out for can prove advantageous.

The following is the list of the top 10 most dangerous breeds of dogs. Before reading this list, it is important to keep two things in mind. First, while these specific breeds have reputations for aggression and danger, obviously not all dogs of this breed are unsafe. Secondly, it is critical to understand that the dog breeds not listed below should still be met with concern, especially in the hands of a child.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds

1. Pit Bulls

2. Rottweiler

3. German Shepherd

4. Huskies

5. Alaskan Malamute

6. Doberman Pinscher

7. Chow Chow

8. Presa Canario

9. Boxer

10. Dalmatian

If you or a loved one has been involved in a dog bite accident, please contact the lawyers of Larmoyeux & Bone for a free consultation.

As one of the greatest athletes in Florida history, Anquan Boldin has always been known for his physical abilities. On the football field, the Pahokee native continues to excite fans as a wide receiver with the Baltimore Ravens, and will certainly thrill the audience as special guest at the Do the Write Thing Challenge luncheon at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts May 7.

Boldin, who has seen his share of violence growing up in Pahokee, also knows the value of mental and spiritual toughness.

“He was raised in the church, but he knew about the violence,” said Rick Lammons, defensive coordinator at Pahokee Middle Senior High School. “He was a humble kid. But everybody knew he wasn’t a kid to pick on. He was strong and strong-minded.”

In fact, Boldin was more inclined to diffuse situations. “He would stick up for the little guy; that was his M.O.,” Lammons said. “He was one that would say cut the foolishness. If he saw something was wrong, he wouldn’t sit back. He would say, ‘Why are you doing that?’”

Boldin has continued to be proactive through college at Florida State University, where he was an All-American, and during his three-time All-Pro career with the Arizona Cardinals and the Ravens. In 2004 and 2010, he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which recognizes NFL players for their community service and on-field performance. And just a month ago, he was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.

His involvement became international in March when he and Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald traveled to Ethiopia to draw attention to the drought that has left millions starving in eastern Africa.

Boldin, however, hasn’t forgotten Pahokee. Every year, through his Anquan “Q81” Foundation, he hosts Q-Fest, three days of community events featuring sports and entertainment personalities to raise money and awareness for educational and recreational programs in the town.

“I grew up in a less fortunate area where opportunities were more challenging to achieve,” Boldin said. “The acts of violence and crime were visible. So for me, it was more about staying focused on school and sports, and surrounding myself with positive activities as much as I could.”

The Do the Write Thing Challenge program gives Palm Beach County sixth, seventh and eighth grade students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives through written essays or poems reflecting on what they can do as individuals to reduce youth violence.

Another native son, noted trial lawyer, Bill Bone, is the volunteer chairman of Do the Write Thing Challenge. He has personally spearheaded the development and growth of this program and made it Palm Beach County’s largest and most comprehensive effort to reduce youth violence.

The luncheon will honor 210 finalists from more than 19,000 Palm Beach County middle school students who wrote essays about teen bullying and violence. The Challenge was developed by the National Campaign to Stop Violence.

The luncheon, underwritten by Florida Crystals Corporation, North America’s largest sugar producer, will host more than 600 guests who will hear various speakers, including Palm Beach County School Superintendent, E. Wayne Gent. They also will view a video documenting the experiences of the writers of the top essays and the ways they are reducing bullying and teen violence.

The William H. Pitt Foundation will provide $500 grants to the principals whose schools have the highest participation in the program. The cost of publishing all of the writings of the 210 students from the 21 schools who fully participated in the program is underwritten by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

For more information about the Do the Write Thing Challenge or the luncheon, call Alan Gallardo, director of client services at Larmoyeux & Bone and the DTWT program coordinator at (561) 832-0623.

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The Championship race is for a series of ten adrenaline-packed cycling races. For information on the specific race schedules, times, and categories, please visit the Bill Bone Pro Am website for details.

The race is on Saturday, May 19th at 6:00 am until 4:00 pm. The event will take place at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. We would like to thank our sponsors, Celsius Drinks for their continued support of bicycle races in Florida!

Commonly, it is difficult for people to wrap their heads around an issue that has not personally affected them. CNN’s recent bicycle injuries article points out a specific story regarding bicycle riders and the perils of inattentive drivers. Michelle Matson’s story is a perfect example of how a split second can change one’s life forever. Casually riding home after a concert, Michelle was hit by a speeding car and her life would never be the same. The issue lies in the lack of emphasis placed on NYPD’s focus on bicycle safety.

Even worse, the NYPD did not investigate this hit-and-run accident. According to Matson, “there were no legal repercussions for the driver whatsoever, because the NYPD chose not to investigate the hit-and-run…it blows my mind that this is even possible … people get in worse trouble for double-parking.” As the number of deaths and serious injuries rise, we all must band together in an effort to highlight the risks of bicycle accidents, driver negligence, and bicycle safety.

Following in the footsteps of a few other big cities in the United States, New York has finally made a move to recognize the growing number of bicycle riders in New York. While this may not curb the death rate, Bike-Share is a phenomenal step to supporting cyclists. Bike-Share is a network of thousands of bicycles accessible at self-service docking stations at the city’s 3 largest transit hubs: Penn Station, Grand Central and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Bicycle safety is a serious matter. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, call the offices of Larmoyeux & Bone for a free consultation.

Did you know that South Florida is home to what MSNBC says “may be the most dangerous road in the U.S.”? US 19 in New Port Richie, Florida had over 100 pedestrian deaths in a five-year span last decade. Not only that, but in one stretch between Pasco and Pinellas Counties, there were 262 deaths due to auto accidents in that same five-year span.

Florida is also home to two of the top five most dangerous U.S. highways. I-95, which we all know runs along the east coast of Florida, has the worst rate of deaths per mile in the country, according to the state Department of Transportation. This is right in our backyard! I-4, which runs from the east coast to the west coast of Florida, has the third worst rate of deaths per mile in America. When driving on I-95 or I-4, be extra vigilant and follow the advice given in our previous blogs.

Some of the most common causes of accidents are actually not the most obvious. The number one most prevalent cause of distraction is actually rubbernecking. So, while you’re driving down I-95, gawking at all of the mangled cars and trucks littering the roadside, keep your eyes on the road! The number two reason drivers get distracted is because they are looking at the scenery! Sounds pretty simple, but again, keep your eyes on the road! Every time you look away from what is in front of you, imagine the car ahead of you slamming on their brakes and you bulldozing into them. That should help keep you focused. So, unless a tarantula finds its way into your pants, stay focused on your immediate surroundings and the road ahead.

Florida offers sunshine, beauty, great personal injury lawyers, and palm trees, but it also presents some of the most dangerous roads and highways in the country. Stay vigilant on these dangerous roads and always keep your eyes peeled. If you do find yourself a victim of an auto accident, call Christopher Larmoyeux and Bill Bone to get the best personal injury lawyers in South Florida on your side.

What another intense weekend of fierce cycling competition. The Bill Bone Pro-Am is back for its second season of action packed pedaling. The races consist of ten adrenaline packed cycling races from February to June, throughout South Florida. With six classic and four regular races, participants had the opportunity to win a hefty race purse up to $7,500. The race continued throughout the day and was held at the Bank Atlantic Center, the home of the Florida Panthers.

The Celsius team had arrived early Sunday morning to hand out samples of their flavorful fitness drink and energy boost to cyclist participants. After sampling many flavors, the La Ley crew all agreed that the new Outrageous Orange flavor was the best. They were now prepared to make it through the long day ahead.

Definitely, an exciting community event for cycling enthusiasts!

The article above was provided by Celsius. To view pictures from our most recent event, please see the Bill Bone Pro Am Series original article.

We would also like to give a special thanks to some of our local bloggers who have posted pictures about the Bill Bone Pro Am Series. Take a look a Duffy’s blog, as well as Stradalli Cycle Insider.