Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

National law enforcement and Transportation Department officials released figures this month that show the number of women drivers arrested for driving drunk has increased dramatically over the last decade. From 1998 to 2007, the number of women drivers arrested for driving while under the influence increased by nearly 30%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each year, approximately 2,000 traffic fatalities involve women drivers.

The subject has recently been brought to attention after a tragic accident in Westchester County, New York, involving a female driver whose blood alcohol content was found to be 0.19 at the time of the crash, more than twice the legal limit of .08. The woman, who was killed in the crash along with her 2-year-old daughter, three young nieces and three men in the vehicle she smashed into, was also found to have smoked marijuana no more than an hour before the horrific crash.

Despite the new trend, drunken driving arrests remain dominated by men. In 1998, 676,911 men were arrested for being under the influence, compared with 626,371 arrests in 2007. More than 126,000 women were arrested for DUI in 1998, a number that increased to 162,493 in 2007.

Laura Dean-Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said it was unclear why there has been an increase in the number of women arrested for impaired driving. "There's no hard data on that. What you're hearing more is that women are under more pressure, they're now perhaps the breadwinner because of the unemployment rate," she said. "We need to make sure women understand that if you're a drinking driver, you're just as likely as a male to hit or kill or injure someone or perhaps even kill yourself, as we saw in the horrible Taconic Parkway crash," she said. Statistics also show that women are more likely than men to have passengers including young children in the vehicle when arrested for DUI.

Transportation officials said the number of impaired women involved in a fatal crash increased in 10 states from 2007 to 2008. The states are: Ohio, New Hampshire, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, West Virginia, Indiana, Washington State, Kansas and Tennessee. With the upcoming Labor Day holiday a time for a nationwide increased drunk driving enforcement campaigns, officials released the information in a concerted effort to curb drinking and driving over the long weekend. 11,000 police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country will be aggressively stepping up drunk driving enforcement through the Labor Day weekend.

"With the long Labor Day weekend approaching, our department will be continuing our aggressive enforcement of drunk driving laws", says Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott. "This is traditionally a period of increased offenses by both men and women, and it is our intention to make every effort to keep Lee County's roadways safe for all drivers." Over the Labor Day weekend last year almost half of the fatal crashes nationally involved a drunk driver.

Drunk driving is a serious problem in Southwest Florida and throughout the country. Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers sue drunk drivers and are focused on justice for those who may have been seriously injured or killed in an alcohol-related accident. Call 1-800-DIAL-BLS to speak to one of our attorneys today, and learn how we can help you attain the compensation you deserve.

Since the beginning of 2009 twelve passengers or crewmen have gone overboard from cruise ships or ferries. Two of those instances happened during June in the Gulf of Mexico. This prompted investigatory reporter, Ben Montgomery of the St. Petersburg Times to study how individuals wind up in the Gulf or ocean.

Part of the answer is in the abuse of alcohol on board cruise ships. In 2008 13 million Americans (some inspired by the former TV show Love Boat) took cruises, and although the number of deaths while cruising is a relatively small percentage, excessive drinking on board causes accidents both to the individual drinking and other passengers or crew members.

Well-known travel writer and TV producer, Peter Greenberg finally convinced one of the cruise lines, NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) to allow him, without restriction, to film a television show on-board NCL’s Norwegian Pearl . This television special originally aired on CNBC March 24, 2009, and it has been so popular that it has re-run a number of times. We urge you to check your local television schedules to find out when you can see this very compelling show which is called Cruise Inc. It is part of CNBC’s popular specials which have looked at the airline industry, fast food industry, WalMart and others in a series they call A Week in the Life Of…

In Mr. Greenberg’s interviews on-board the Norwegian Pearl he found out that on-board revenue is a critical part of providing a cruise line its profit. The Norwegian Pearl has a capacity of 2200 passengers and each day, just to break even against costs, the cruise line needs to sell $112,000 worth of beverages. Although some beverages purchased are non-alcoholic, the others are. It is clear that some people on board don’t know when to stop. They are taking advantage of the fact that they don’t need “a designated driver” to get home.

The Norwegian Pearl has a good record of protecting its passengers and crew, but it too has had a “man overboard” problem in the past. They have installed a very comprehensive video safety surveillance system. Details of this are provided by Mr. Greenberg in his show.

Cruise industry experts, just as we do as personal injury lawyers, strongly urge you to encourage everyone on board a cruise to drink responsibly If you or someone you love has been injured on a cruise ship by, or the a result of, an irresponsible drinker (CWI – cruising while intoxicated), or by any other means, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers at 1.800.Dial.BLS.

We’ve all seen it happen – the driver who is attempting to make a turn or change traffic lanes, but neglects to use their vehicle’s turn signal. Although it seems like a simple, common sense rule of the road, a surprising number of auto accidents are caused by careless drivers who fail to exercise even the most basic of safety practices. Response Insurance Company, a nationwide insurance firm, hired a polling company, Leflein Associates, to conduct a statistically valid survey of 1,000 adult drivers. The goal was to find out how many drivers do not use turn signals and, of those who don't use them, why they don't. The company wants to bring awareness to issues people don't think are problems, such as turn signal use. The survey found 57 percent of respondents don't use turn signals when changing lanes.

Jay Anderson, Executive Director of the “Stay Alive – Just Drive” motorist education program in Southwest Florida says not using your turn signal is one of the most important, yet overlooked, safety precautions a driver can use. “Sometimes you wonder if people even know they have turn signals installed in their cars”, says Anderson. “If your hands are in the correct position at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock on the wheel, the turn signal is only an inch away. Yet so often people are just frankly too lazy or complacent to use them.”

Florida personal injury lawyers remind motorists that there is a Florida law on the books that was implemented to help ensure the use of turn signals. Florida Statute 316.156 details when using your turn signal is required:

(1) No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.

(2) A signal of intention to turn right or left must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning, except that such a signal by hand or arm need not be given continuously by a bicyclist if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.

(3) No person may stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear, when there is opportunity to give such signal.

(4) The signals provided for in s. 316.156 shall be used to indicate an intention to turn, to overtake, or to pass a vehicle and may not, except as provided in s. 316.2397, be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear.

(5) A violation of this section is a non-criminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

Some general safety guidelines for turn signal use are:

• Drivers should always use turn signals – the signal should be turned on about half a block before the turn in a residential area, and 500 feet before the turn on a highway or a country road.

• Drivers should always use the turn signal before applying the brakes - always. * Slowing down should occur before the turn, not in the turn. As a driver turns the steering wheel, he should remove his foot from the brake. For safety purposes, a driver wants power to the wheels in a turn, and pressing the brake prevents that.

• If for some reason a driver questions whether he can make a turn, he should not even try. He should turn off his turn signal while letting off the brake, keep going until he can find a suitable place to turn around, and do so. Then he should come back to the road he needs to take, and make the turn safely. A driver should not press hard or "slam on" his brakes; he should not try to make the turn if he is going too fast. It’s not worth having a crash.

The turn signal can also be used to signal the driver’s intentions:

• When changing lanes: Drivers should signal before changing lanes, not after, and not while straddling the line between the lanes. The purpose of the turn signal is to let everyone know what the driver is going to do before the driver does it.

• When using a turn lane: A driver should signal, then get into the turn lane, and then put on the brakes. A driver should not slow down before entering the turn lane – that forces every motorist behind that driver to slow down, and others shouldn’t have to slow down – that’s why there is a turn lane.

Bearing these points in mind will make for a safer, and more responsible driving attitude, and help to reduce traffic accidents by making sure all road users are aware of the driver’s intentions. According to Anderson of Stay Alive – Just Drive, “We’ve all seen examples of someone not using their turn signals, causing hesitation and confusion among the drivers around them, particularly at intersections. A person is killed on America’s roads every 13 minutes – a simple thing like using your signals can really help save lives.”

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed due an automobile or motorcycle crash, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to aggressively fight for your legal rights, and seek the financial compensation you deserve. Our family of lawyers and support personnel are highly trained in the intricacies of motor vehicle and accident law, and have been focused on justice since 1971.

When it comes to being vigilant about reducing the number of drunk driving-related deaths and injuries, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers knows that actions speak louder than words.

With almost four decades of experience fighting for the legal rights of people victimized by drunk drivers, the family of attorneys and support staff at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers is painfully aware of the devastating effects of this serious crime. “Every day, we deal with the tragedy facing victims and their families, helping them put their lives back together after a drunk driver has turned their world upside down”, says Bruce Scheiner.

In addition to our aggressive representation of drunk driving crash victims, we are steadfast supporters of key organizations that are dedicated to reducing and eliminating the threat caused by drunk drivers on our roadways. Our firm is a key supporter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, (M.A.D.D.), in Southwest Florida, having worked closely with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to restart a local chapter in 2008-09. Additionally, we found a donor for local office space and renovation of M.A.D.D.’s Cape Coral offices.

Supporting Law Enforcement’s Fight Against Drunk Driving
One of the most effective ways to reduce the number of impaired drivers on our streets and highways is through the help of all responsible motorists. One such program, called "Mobile Eyes Against Drunk Driving”, is a joint partnership between the Lee County Sheriff's Office, M.A.D.D. and Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers. Any 9-1-1 caller reporting a suspected drunk driver and acknowledging the "Mobile Eyes" program becomes eligible for a $100.00 reward if the impaired driver is stopped, and the responding officer makes an arrest for DUI.

Other ways Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers works to keep local drivers safe behind the wheel:

• Pays for more than 20 “Don’t Drink and Drive” billboards that are posted on main roads throughout Southwest Florida over the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays.

• Supports the efforts of local law enforcement by bringing catered meals to officers who are staffing weekend sobriety checkpoints throughout Southwest Florida.

• Works with the media and other advocacy groups to increase awareness of the tragedy endured by individual families, and the continuing carnage caused by drunk driving crashes.

Lee County Sheriff, Mike Scott says, “Mr. Scheiner has long been a valued ally in helping us alert the community about the dangers of drunk driving, and my office is pleased to partner with his firm’s efforts, and those of the local M.A.D.D. chapter.”

For more information, log onto the Sheriff’s Office website at www.sheriffleefl.org, or contact the Lee County Sheriff Department’s Traffic Unit at (239) 477-1000.

Trucking company owners are pushing their drivers to exhaustion. In the United States, driver fatigue causes up to 40% of all truck crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To help reduce the estimated 56,000 sleep-related crashes in the USA, the federal government limits the time a trucker may drive to 10 consecutive hours. A minimum 8 hours rest is required after driving for 10 hours. The rules permit truckers to spend 16 hours driving during any 24-hour period.

Trying to circumvent the rules, however, some owners have falsified company logbooks to conceal that their drivers exceeded the maximum allowable number of daily driving hours. The crash risk doubles from the eighth to the tenth hour of driving, and doubles again from the tenth to the eleventh hour. According to one judge who sentenced a trucking company owner to a year in prison, by falsifying records he “created a conscious risk of death or serious bodily injury.” After any crash involving a truck that injures a client, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers will examine the driver’s records to determine whether fatigue played a factor.

Whether a truck or a car, if you’re behind the wheel for long periods, combat fatigue as follows:

• 
  • Plan for breaks and layovers

  • Take frequent rest stops, at least every 2 hours.

  • Limit driving between 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., an especially dangerous time.

  • Avoid driving when you’d normally be asleep.

  • Beware of medicines causing drowsiness.
  

If you’ve been injured in an accident, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers at 1 (800) Dial.BLS or log on to www.dialbls.com Fighting for justice since 1971; you pay us nothing unless we win.

On July 30, 2009, the motorcycling community lost one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Bruce Rossmeyer, the largest Harley-Davidson dealer in the World, died at 66 years of age due to injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming. In route to the 69th Annual Sturgis, SD Motorcycle Rally from the Harley-Davidson Summer Dealer Meeting in Denver, CO he was traveling with five friends on a two lane road in a remote area of Wyoming.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol report: “They were trailing a Ford pickup pulling a double axle camper-style trailer. The truck driver, Robert L. VanValkenburg, 73, of Rock Springs, WY, slowed down and began making a left turn when Rossmeyer tried to pass him. Rossmeyer, who was not wearing a helmet, struck the driver’s-side door. VanValkenburg’s turn signals and brake lights were working at the time of the crash.”

This is a tragic loss. Perhaps too early to discuss so soon after his death; but, it does present an opportunity to look at what can be learned from this accident. This isn’t about helmets or no helmets. And, it isn’t about placing blame on either party to the accident. It is about how to avoid situations because as riders we are ultimately responsible for our own safety.

Lyle McCreary a.k.a. “El Padre”, Motorcycle Consultant for Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, commented, “I hear so many people talk about the traffic in Florida being so terrible and that the automobile drivers here have no concern for motorcyclists. Keep in mind that the Rossmeyer accident happened on a two-lane road in remote Wyoming. In rural Wyoming you may not see another vehicle for miles…going either way. Matter of fact, in Wyoming, there are more motorcycling injuries and deaths due to collisions with animals than other vehicles.”

What can we learn…

There is much that we do not know about the accident because, at this point, we have not heard from any of the other riders. But, when something like this happens, it is normal to ask, “Could it have been avoided?”

In April a little boy almost drowned in a swimming pool near his aunt’s house in the Ft. Myers area. Family members say that all of the doors were locked and the only way this young child could have gotten out to the swimming pool area was through an 8” x 11” doggie door. They found the little boy face down in the swimming pool, immediately started CPR and called 911. He was taken to Health Park Hospital where, after one day of intensive care, he was released in good condition.

Incidents such as this have now caught the attention of various drowning prevention groups and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) which believes young children watch their family dogs and cats going in and out of these doors and copy them. Although accidents of this type are comparatively rare, there is documentation of over 100 reported cases in the last 10 years. Last week the Wall Street Journal determined that this was a significant enough topic to cover in their “Health&Family” feature.

In August, 2006 another family in Florida lost their 2-year-old son, Matthew, when he died 13 days after getting outside through a pet door and falling in the pool. This family has been instrumental in making people aware of this little known danger. They have created an advocacy organization to get the word out. Information can be found at: www.petaccessdangers.org

Safety experts hope that pet doors will be required to have warning labels. There are also some new electronic doors that can only be opened by a pet’s collar.

Personal injury attorneys suggest that if you have a pet door, you immediately deal with this important issue.

If you or a loved one has been injured because of pet doors or any other reason, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers today. We will fight for your legal rights, and stand by your side. We’ve been focused on justice since 1971. You will benefit from our experience and pay us nothing unless we win.

An automobile accident can be a devastating, life-altering experience. But when the accident causes injury to a child, it is often due to the improper use of child safety seats in vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), estimates that deaths and injuries to children caused by car crashes could be reduced by 50% if every child passenger were properly buckled up. Sadly, many parents think their child safety seat is properly installed when it is not. Florida personal injury lawyers remind you that there are professional community resources available to help you ensure that your child safety seat is secured in your vehicle correctly.

The American Automobile Association, (AAA), has published some guidelines and tips to protect your children by making sure they are properly restrained in a child safety seat, according to their weight and age:

South Trail Fire and Rescue
2112 Crystal Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Phone: 239-936-5281 or 239-433-0080
Contact: Christie Knudsen

The Children’s Hospital
9981 Health Park Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-432-4491
Contact: Elizabeth Moreno
(By appointment only.)

Collier County Sheriff’s Office
3301 Tamiami Trail, Bldg. J
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: 239-793-9155
(or)
3123 Terrace Ave.
Naples, FL, FL 34104
Phone: 239-793-9155
Contact: Susan Vivonetto

Charlotte County Fire/EMS Department
22429 Edgewater Dr
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Phone: 941-743-1367
Contact: Denise Hawkins
(Please call for an appointment Mon.- Fri 8:00 a.m.)

DeSoto County Health Department- Healthy Start
34 South Baldwin Ave.
Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863-491-7518
Contact: Bonnie Hoffer

Since 1971, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers has been concerned about your safety and your children’s safety. This time of year, when parents are rushing around to get older children off to school, they sometimes don’t take the safety precautions they should for their younger children. Please take the time to have your child seats checked out.

Dog bites and attacks are in the news again in Ft. Myers, FL. On August 6, 2009 the Ft. Myers Police responded to a call where a Pit Bull inflicted serious injury on a 5-year-old child. The dog had just been purchased the day before and has been turned over the Animal Control Services. Before and after purchasing a dog you should be informed. Look at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) web site http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/biteprevention.html
for helpful information that may prevent more dog bites from happening.

The United States has almost 75 million dogs, including many that bite people. According to the CDC each American has a 1 in 50 chance of getting bitten by a dog in any given year. During an average year, 4.5 million dog bites occur in the USA and more than three-quarters of a million people require medical care.

Posing an extra risk, three breeds cause 74% of the most serious injuries: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Presa Canaries. In a three-year period 2006 through 2008 Pit Bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. More information about this will be found at the National Dog Bite Victims Group web site: http://www.dogsbite.org/

At least 500 U.S. cities have adopted bread specific laws. Ohio is the only state so far which regulates Pit Bulls. The only county in Southwest Florida which currently has breed specific laws is Miami-Dade County. It is illegal in Miami-Dade County to own or keep Pit Bull Dogs, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any other dog that substantially conforms to any of these breeds’ characteristics. Acquisition or keeping of a Pit Bull dog: $500.00 fine and County Court action to force the removal of the animal from Miami-Dade County.

Although Pit Bull advocates don’t blame the dog itself, but blame the owner for not training the dog properly, fatal attacks persist. To help prevent children from being bitten by dogs, the CDC recommends teaching the following basic safety tips:

* Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
* Do not run from a dog or scream.
* Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
* If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
* Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
* Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
* Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
* Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
* Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
* If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn more about how we will fight for your legal rights, and stand by your side during what can be a traumatic life event. We’ve been focused on justice since 1971. You will benefit from our experience and you pay us nothing unless we win.

The efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, (M.A.D.D.), among other factors, seem to be working in reducing the numbers of traffic fatalities caused by drunk drivers. According to National Department of Transportation, the number of overall traffic fatalities reported in 2008 hit their lowest level since 1961, with 37,261 deaths, and fatalities in the first three months of 2009 continue to decrease.

In Florida, however, the news is not so encouraging. According to a report from the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov, published in June 2009, the number of overall traffic fatalities in the Sunshine State was 3,213 in 2007. Of those, 917, or 29%, were alcohol or impaired driver-related. For the year 2008, while the overall number was lower at 2,978, those caused by alcohol or impaired motorists remained at 29%, or 875 fatalities. As the numbers indicate, there is still much work to be done in eliminating drunk drivers from Florida’s roadways.

Personal injury lawyers have long supported organizations like M.A.D.D., and their grass roots efforts to keep responsible drivers safe behind the wheel. In Lee County, for example, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers worked closely with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and M.A.D.D. personnel to re-establish a M.A.D.D. Chapter here, with Bruce and Cheryl Scheiner personally donating office space for the M.A.D.D. Cape Coral location. “There is nothing accidental about a DUI - it is a crime that can have significant, life altering consequences for the victims of a DUI crash,” says Donald Murray, M.A.D.D. Florida State Executive Director. “Death and serious bodily injury can destroy a family. While Mothers Against Drunk Driving does not and cannot endorse any particular law firm, we are very grateful to Bruce and Cheryl Scheiner for their history of supporting MADD in their community, and for serving the victims and survivors of DUI crashes.”

In their continuing effort to eliminate the chances of Florida drivers being involved in an accident caused by a drunk or impaired driver, M.A.D.D. offers some tips on what one should do if they think they see a drunk or impaired driver on the road:

WHAT TO DO:
Cell phone users should call *FHP. Others should call their local police agency or 911. Once connected with a law enforcement agency, provide them with the following information:

With the beginning of another school year right around the corner, Florida personal injury lawyers urge all Florida parents of school-aged children to make sure their kids avoid potential safety hazards on the road to higher education. From school bus and traffic safety to exercising caution while on the school grounds, parents and kids need to practice some basic safety habits to help avoid serious injury.

AAA School Safety Patrol Program
The American Automobile Association, (AAA), has supported their School Safety Patrol Program for 87 years, with over 550,000 students participating in over 50,000 schools nationwide. Parents and school administrators can count on student patrollers to be stationed at various posts on and near school facilities, ensuring that their classmates get to and from their classes safely. AAA provides schools with all the tools and resources necessary to operate the Patrol program, and school administrators and Patrol Supervisors enlist the help of local law enforcement to develop a successful Patrol system. Not only does the Patrol program provide the means to keeping kids safe, it also teaches participating students life-long leadership qualities, important traffic safety rules, pedestrian safety, school bus safety procedures and how to identify potentially hazardous situations on or near the school property.

School Bus Safety Tips
It is not uncommon to hear or read about school bus accidents in Southwest Florida. In an effort to keep your children safe while traveling to and from school, the Lee County School District offers these safety tips for students:

• Leave home early enough to arrive at your bus stop on time.
• Wear bright clothing and always walk facing traffic.
• Wait for your bus in a safe place - well off the roadway.
• Never stand, sit or play in or near the street.
• Enter your bus in an orderly manner, and take your seat.
• Follow the instructions of your bus driver.
• Remain in your seat while the bus is in motion.
• Keep your head and arms inside the bus at all times.
• Keep aisles clear at all times.
• Remain quiet and orderly.
• Be courteous to your school bus driver and fellow passengers.
• Be alert to traffic when leaving the bus.

Additionally, the child’s parent or guardian should always make sure they know the
bus route number and bus stop location information for their child. (The link will take you to the 2009/2010 school year.) Also, they should always be able to describe what their child was wearing when they left for school in the morning. This information is vital for the school-based and transportation staff in the search for a student who has not arrived home from school.

Safety at School is No Accident
The Consumer Products Safety Commission, (http://www.cpsc.gov), offers some additional safety tips to make sure your child stays safe while on the school grounds.

• Check the playground equipment at your child's school. Look for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. The surface around the equipment should be covered with wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls. Report any hazards to the school.

• Avoid any drawstrings on the hood or around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches long to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.

• Make sure that the school's athletic director or a custodian anchors soccer goals into the ground so they won't tip over and crush a child.

• Teach children proper playground behavior: no pushing, shoving, or crowding.

• Give your child some strategies for coping with bullies. He or she should not give in to a bully's demands, but should simply walk away or tell the bully to stop. If the bullying continues, talk to the teacher.

• Make sure your child's school has up-to-date information on recalled toys and children's products. Schools, daycare providers and parents can receive recall information by fax, email, or in the regular mail free of charge by calling the Consumer Product Safety Commission hotline at 800-638-2772, or visiting the organization's Web site.

Riding a motorcycle is a form of personal freedom, but can be dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 37 times more likely than car occupants to die in a traffic accident. Whether motorcycling across town or across country, use the following tips to help stay safe:

Slow Down
Give yourself more time to avert obstacles like animals, road debris, children, or pedestrians in the road. Be better prepared to stop when a teenager or drunk driver ignores a stop sign. Cornering on sandy pavement is treacherous if you’re riding too fast.

Know You Are Invisible
Assume that drivers don’t see you. In spite of the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” campaign, drivers continue to make left turns into oncoming motorcyclists. They proceed through stop signs as if you don’t exist because they don’t pay attention. Understand that drivers often fail to check their blind spots, and ride accordingly.

Look Both Ways When Crossing the Street
Even when you’ve got the right of way, and a green light, check intersecting traffic. Now, you’re prepared if the cross-traffic fails to yield.

Wear Bright Colors
Although you may look great in a black leather jacket, you’re difficult to see, especially at night. Consider reflective apparel, and at night, light up your bike like a Christmas tree.

Don’t Tailgate
Should the car ahead of you stop short, you could rear end him. Also, when you’re too close to traffic, you don’t get sufficient warning of road debris ahead. Give yourself a better chance to miss construction lumber, dead animals, mattresses, and untold junk littering the road.

Leave Yourself an Out
If you’re boxed into traffic and an SUV driver wants your lane, you’re in trouble. Unless passing, in general, stay in the right lane where you can easily pull onto the shoulder of the road.

Don’t Drink and Ride
After drinking beer, wine, or cocktails--your judgment is impaired. Don’t let alcohol trick you into a false sense of well-being. Under the influence, you are less likely to identify and avert hazards—the other drivers on the road who maim and kill motorcyclists.

Wear a Helmet
The NHTSA estimates an un-helmeted rider is 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury than a helmeted motorcyclist. Plus, helmets will protect your eyes and streamline your head. Put the odds in your favor!

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, P.A. at 1 (800) DIAL BLS. Fighting for your rights, the BLS firm has helped many cyclists over the past 25 years. Check out David Wyland’s Motorcycle Accident Survivor video at http://www.blslawyers.com. After a bad accident, “Wylie” explains how the trusted BLS law firm helped him and his family.