Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Increased patrol will be aimed at reducing car accidents and drunk driving crashes this Thanksgiving holiday as authorities seek to reduce serious injury and wrongful death on Florida highways.

“The Thanksgiving Holidays are typically a time of heavy traffic as people travel to spend time with their families so we urge everyone driving on our highways during the holiday period to drive carefully,” said Colonel John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination safely, drive sober and buckle up on each and every trip. The holidays are a time for celebration, but we cannot forget safety behind the wheel.”

The patrol cites failure to drive carefully and wear safety belts, along with drunk drivers, as primary causes of accidents through the holiday.

“Since Thanksgiving always produces a high volume of traffic, the Florida Highway Patrol will increase its presence on Florida roadways during the upcoming five-day holiday period,” Czernis announced.

The patrol said it will use troopers normally assigned to administrative duties as well as auxiliary and reserve troopers to patrol high-volume roadways.

Continue reading " Preventing holiday traffic accidents goal in Southwest Florida " »

Drunk Drivers in Southwest Florida face an increasing array of penalties this holiday season as a full-scale law enforcement crackdown aims to prevent serious injury or death caused by drunk drivers.

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving is stepping up efforts to reduce the number of people tragically killed and injured by drunk drivers by partnering with law enforcement in a high-visibility crackdown this holiday season,” said Brenda Gellinger, a family support coordinator for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and local MADD representative.

“From now through New Year’s Day, law enforcement will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to make it clear that if you drive drunk, you will be arrested,” Gellinger said.

A local MADD chapter will be operating in Lee County this year to assist local law enforcement in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach and elswhere. After several years without a presence in Southwest Florida, Gellinger recently reopened in office space provided by Bruce and Cheryl Scheiner of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which also has purchased dozens of "Don't Drink and Drive" billboards for the holidays and provides support for local sobriety checkpoints.

Continue reading " Southwest Florida drunk drivers targeted to prevent accidents, wrongful death " »

A surprise fact and a cautionary message for Florida motorists: The Thanksgiving Holiday is the year's deadliest for car accidents and other crashes on Florida roads, according to a five-year average of fatalities compiled by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Everyone at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday and urges you to use extra caution while traveling to spend time with friends and loved ones.

On average, 53 motorists are killed -- 21 of those as victims of DUI crashes or other alcohol-related accidents -- on Florida roads each Thanksgiving.

"It's an extremely busy holiday period and the beginning of the holiday season," said Capt. Mark Welch of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Welch noted the length of the Thanksgiving Holiday (120 hours measured Wednesday through Sunday) is the big reason for its high tally of fatal accidents. But heavy traffic and the long-weekend's place at the gateway to the holiday season should make motorists extra cautious.

"Our message to the motoring public is to give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, drive the speed limit, wear your seat belt and don't drink and drive," Welch said.

Christmas and New Year are at the bottom of the list of deadliest holidays, with 34 and 31 deaths respectively. However, New Year is often the shortest holiday period measured at 48-72 hours. It's fatality rate puts it at the top of the list along with Memorial Day for the holiday with the deadliest rate -- one road fatality every two hours.

"We all like to get together with our friends and our families but just do it responsibly," said Brenda Gellinger of the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "Have a designated driver, or stay put or call a cab."

Click here for advice about what to do after an accident.

Continue reading " Thanksgiving Holiday is year's deadliest on Florida Roads " »

A 15-year-old girl suffered head and back injuries after she fell off a horse.

A 13-year-old girl burned her arm, leg and abdomen cooking noodles.

President-elect Barack Obama’s aide, Valerie Jarrett, fell off a curb in Chicago and sprained her ankle.

The culprit? Text messaging.

There is increasing evidence that text messaging is contributing to serious injury, according to retired EMS Captain Jay Anderson, who cited the examples above in a recent paper released by the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition.

Anderson, who also is the executive director of “Stay Alive ... Just Drive,” said the first public awareness of the dangers of text messaging came in June 2007 on a rural highway in upstate New York, when five young women just out of high school died in an accident. Records indicate a text message was sent from the driver’s phone 38 seconds before the first 911 call.

The American College of Emergency Physicians recently warned that being distracted by text messaging at inappropriate times, such as while cross the street, can result in serious injury or death.

“People assume that driving while text messaging is the most dangerous,” Anderson said. “(But) physicians from around the country now cite rising reports of injuries involving texting while walking, bicycling, boating, rollerblading or jogging.”

Two deaths have been reported in California as a result of people walking into traffic while texting.

"We tend to believe we’re capable of multitasking, but in fact we are not,” Anderson said, noting it only takes a split second at 45 mph for everything to change. “Awareness is the key to understanding how one second can change a life forever.”

Anderson and the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition provided the following 5 safety tips:

Continue reading " Car accidents, pedestrian and bicycle crashes can be caused by distracted text messaging " »

Targeting drivers contributing to Florida semi crashes and large truck and bus accidents will be a priority heading into the holidays, authorities announced this week.

“During this operation, FHP troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance officers will be watching for unsafe drivers, especially those who contribute to collisions between passenger vehicles and large trucks or school buses,” said Colonel John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, noting the agency believes most commercial drivers act responsibly. “However, because of vehicle size, weight and the type of cargo hauled by commercial vehicles, the potential for causing significant damage to other vehicles or property is very real. Therefore, it is imperative that commercial truck drivers obey state and federal laws and regulations meant to protect their safe passage and that of the motoring public.”

Trucking companies have an obligation to put safe trucks and safe drivers on the road. When they don’t, innocent people can be seriously injured or killed. Dump trucks and semis can weight 70,000 to 80,000 pounds – 20 times the weight of a 4,000 pound passenger car.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in an accident with a commercial truck, there are certain things you can do to help protect your rights. Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, offers free appointments with an attorney to discuss your rights.

State traffic statistics show commercial vehicles were involved in more than 18,000 crashes that resulted in 365 deaths in 2007.

“Drivers of smaller vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at a considerable disadvantage when involved in collisions with large trucks,” the patrol reported in announcing this week’s initiative.

The patrol said the operation will include all available patrol personnel using laser, radar, video cameras, motorcycles and unmarked patrol cars as well as pilots in the air directing troopers on the ground to violators.

Continue reading " Florida semi accidents, bus, large truck crashes targeted to reduce risk of serious injury and death " »

Florida’s 119 fatal bicycle accidents led the nation in 2007, according to statistics released this week by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

Only one other state, California with 109, had more than 100 people killed on bicycles last year.

The attorneys at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, are dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured or killed in Southwest Florida while promoting safety and the rights of everyone on our roadways.

At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, our message to riders is simple:“Whatever you ride, ride safe!”

NHTSA issued the following safety reminders:
- All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets. Helmets are the single most effective way to prevent head injuries resulting from bicycle crashes.
- Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators and are required to obey the same rules of the road as other operators. When cycling in the street, bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
- Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous. Allow at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out of a parking space. Yield to cyclists at intersections.
- Bicyclists should increase their visibility by wearing bright or florescent clothing, even during the day. To be noticed at night, use front and rear reflectors and lights and use reflective tape or markings on clothing and equipment.

The government report shows only one-seventh of bicycle deaths involved kids ages 5 to 15. Average age of death increased from 31 in 1997 to 40 in 2007.

Continue reading " Florida bicycle deaths lead nation " »

Dog bites and dog attacks in Southwest Florida made news again this week when Cape Coral authorities announced they were searching for two Rottweilers that attacked a 74-year-old man walking his two Schnauzers.

The dogs have not been located, making it likely the man will have to undergo a 30-day period of rabies shots at a cost of $1,500 unless the dogs can be quarantined for 10 days, according to an article in The News-Press of Fort Myers.

The dogs apparently attacked the man on Nov. 6 as he was walking his mini-Schnauzers at 10:30 p.m. They carried off one of the small dogs and the man was knocked down and bit on the left hand and leg while retrieving his pet.

While many of us have loving pets that are like members of the family – nationwide, more than 1,000 people each day suffer dog bites serious enough to visit the emergency room and three times that number require some lesser form of medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Being a dog owner also comes with responsibilities. If you or someone you love is bitten by a dog, there may be things you can do to protect your rights.

Continue reading " Cape Coral dog bite victim faces costly, painful recovery " »

Scooter drivers beware with a summer of record-high gas prices and the pending tourism season, more little motorized bikes and motorcycles on the road increases the danger of scooter and motorcycle accidents.

Tourists in cities across Southwest Florida – including Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral, Naples, Port Charlotte, Sebring and Venice – will be taking to the road on rented scooters and motorcycles where they will join new riders prompted by skyrocketing gas prices.

"If in a car, that victim likely walks away," said John Moore of the Denver Post in a recent Naples Daily News article of the prospect of being rear-ended on a scooter. "But on a scooter, he dies. It's a risk every scooterist assumes."

Scooter sales are up more than 24-percent in 2008, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

"The beautiful state of Florida offers many free and exhilarating riding opportunities," said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which has been representing Southwest Florida motorcycle accident victims for four decades. “But remember, whatever you ride, ride safe!”

Authorities say scooters can be particularly dangerous in part because often inexperienced riders have a tendency to treat them as toys and can lack the proper rider training.

By law, scooters over 50cc are considered motorcycles and require a motorcycle endorsement and a rider-safety course. Directions on obtaining a motorcycle license and attending a rider-safety course can be found on our sister site, www.flbikers.com, a website dedicated to Southwest Florida motorcyclists and their safety.

The Naples article contained some standard safety tips for all riders:

Continue reading " Little Motorcycles no little danger as Southest Florida motorcycle season opens " »

Preventing motorcycle accidents and bicycle and pedestrian accidents is the aim of the “Give Others a Brake - Share the Road” campaign, launched this week by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Tragically, walking proved almost as deadly as riding a motorcycle in 2007. A total of 537 Florida motorcycle riders were killed in 2007, compared to 530 pedestrians.

Florida motorcycle deaths were the most in the nation in 2007. The “Give Others a Brake - Share the Road” program seeks to also remind motorists about pedestrians and bicyclists as the state heads in tourism season.

In Collier County, 120 bicyclists were injured or killed in accidents in 2007; in Lee County, 96 bicyclists were injured or killed in 2007; in Sarasota County 92 bicycle accidents caused injury or death.

Continue reading " Bicycle, Motorcycle, Pedestrian Accident awareness a goal of new Florida program " »

Florida motorcycle riders might cut the risk of death or serious injury from a motorcycle accident nearly in half by riding bikes with antilock brakes, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

While ABS usually adds about $1,000 to the cost of a motorcycle, the study found riders with anti-lock brakes had a fatal crash rate 38 percent lower -- 4.1 per 10,000 registered motorcycles, compared to a rate of 6.6 fatal crashes for bikes without ABS.

The institute said the brakes were standard or optional equipment on about 40 models for the 2008 model year, including BMW, Harley-Davidson and Honda.

"It's definitely a bonus," said Frankie Kennedy, president of the Southwest Florida chapter of American Bikers Aimed Towards Education. "It takes some getting used to from senior riders who have been riding for years without them, but the advancement of antilock brakes on motorcycles is definitely a good idea."

Continue reading " Motorcycle accident less likely with anti-lock brakes, study suggests " »

Florida motorists were more likely to die in a car accident or other traffic crash in 2007 than anywhere else in America except California and Texas.

But statistics recently released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did have some good news -- for the first time in at least a decade Florida's traffic fatalities declined for the second year in a row, from 3,357 in 2006 to 3,214 in 2007.

Nationwide, deaths declined to 41,059 in 2007 from 42,708 in 2006. The decline was attributed to proactive measures by law enforcement and safer vehicles.

It is important to take certain steps to protect your rights after an accident. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed, you can contact a lawyer with experience in representing Florida accident victims, like those at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, has been representing Florida accident victims for four decades and will meet with you free of charge to discuss your case -- in your home or hospital room or at any of the firm's offices in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Sebring, Port Charlotte, Venice and Arcadia.

The weekend -- Friday to Sunday -- continued to be the most dangerous time on the road with overnight Friday and Saturday (midnight to 3 a.m.) the most deadly time of the week, according to the data. Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. also saw significant spikes in fatal accidents.

Tourist season -- November to May -- saw a large increase in the number of accidents corresponding with increased traffic and congestion. March was far and away the most dangerous month on the road with 25,000 crashes and more than 300 fatalities.

Area accident statistics for 2007:

Continue reading " Florida Traffic Deaths third-highest in nation " »

Florida leads the nation in motorcycle deaths, according to statistics recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, based on 2007 motorcycle accidents.

Tragically, 537 motorcycle riders died in Florida last year -- far more than anywhere else in the United States. In fact, more than twice as many riders died in Florida than any other state in the country except California (495) and Texas (375).

Florida motorcyclists are encouraged to visit www.flbikers.com for information on motorcycle safety and Florida motorcycle licensing information, area locations for rider safety courses and area motorcycle events and other information dedicated to Florida motorcycle enthusiasts.

“We want you, as a rider, to experience the ride of your life each time you get on your bike, without any chance of an accident,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, the sponsor of www.flbikers.com and founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, a firm with four decades of experience fighting for the rights of motorcycle accident victims.

Florida motorcycle deaths have skyrocketed in the last 10 years – from 158 in 1998 to more than 500 in each of the last two years, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Nationwide, motorcyclist were about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, offers free consultations to injured riders and their families throughout Southwest Florida. The firm has offices in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Arcadia, Sebring and Venice and can even arrange to meet you in your home or hospital room.

National Motorcycle Crash Statistics:

Continue reading " Florida leads nation in motorcycle deaths " »