Latest Blogs

In 2021, Florida had 3,185 traffic accident fatalities. Hit-and-run accidents spiked in Collier County which followed Florida’s general trend, and over 100 people tragically died on Lee County roads.

In February, Cape Coral conducted an aggressive driving blitz that stopped 67 vehicles for aggressive driving. The blitz was funded by an aggressive driving grant under the FDOT grant program.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) established “Target Zero Fatalities & Serious Injury” as an initiative to achieve safety for all road users. As part of this initiative, FDOT provides grants to Florida counties under the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) discretionary grant program.

The USDOT periodically solicits applications for discretionary grant programs to fund construction-ready projects that align with the grant goals and eligibility requirements. Every grant has its own goals, eligibility requirements, and award amounts. The USDOT gives examples of federal discretionary grant programs that include infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants and the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE).

Subgrants are also awarded to state and local safety-related agencies as “seed” money to assist in developing and implementing programs in traffic safety priority areas. Subgrants are apportioned to the states from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) annually based on a formula including population and road miles. Following are examples of some of the program areas that can be awarded subgrants:

• Aging Road Users
• Community Traffic Safety
• Distracted Driving 
• Impaired Driving
• Motorcycle Safety
• Occupant Protection and Child Passenger Safety
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
• Public Traffic Safety Professionals Training
• Speed and Aggressive Driving
• Teen Driver Safety
• Traffic Records
• Traffic Record Coordinating Committee (TRCC)
• Work Zone Safety

“The subgrants awarded to counties by the NHTSA are important in reducing the fatalities and injuries in Charlotte, Collier, and Lee County vehicle accidents. At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. we see the devastation caused by drivers who are negligent and do not follow safety precautions,” said Florida Accident Attorney Randall Spivey. “Regardless of the circumstances, these accidents are very stressful. There is a ripple effect. When accident victims are injured and/or tragically die, the effects are felt by more than the victims themselves. Their families, friends, and employers are also affected in unimaginable ways.”

Rehabilitation for accident victims may last a lifetime. There may be many trips to physical and occupational therapists following surgeries that may be required. In addition to pain and suffering, accident victims may have other long-term effects from a moment’s negligence because of another driver’s actions or inactions.

The long-term effects for many Florida accident victims of severe injury may also be emotional. Immediately after an accident, victims may feel helplessness, anger, fear, and grief for the future they were envisioning.

A family’s financial stability is at risk when accident victims miss work, or their vehicles are totaled.  The instability can lead to significant stress during an already difficult time.

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. is available to assist Florida accident victims 24/7. We answer any questions accident victims, and their families may have, and assist them in starting the process of repairing their lives. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for the firm’s clients. Please contact Attorney Randall Spivey at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839 or contact us online at SpiveyLaw.