Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

About a year ago, authorities nixed the statewide system that allowed teens to take their learner-permit driving exam online. Well, the tests are to be back online in an attempt to appeal to the keyboarding generation, to provide more convenience to the customer and to reduce the wait at some of our local Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offices. But will these online tests encourage cheating and increase our teens risk for a car accident in Fort Myers and elsewhere in Florida?

The program was initially pulled from the Internet because officials discovered that roughly 40 percent of teens who passed the exam online failed it in person at the DMV, according to the News-Press.

Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys understand that teens require every bit of driving training available to prepare them for the dangers they'll inevitably face on our roadways. Rep. Irv Slosberg of Boca Raton isn't too thrilled about the decision. He has become an advocate for teen road safety ever since his teenage daughter died in a car accident. He believes that the decision to put these tests back online is a move that no parent in their right mind would approve. Gov. Rick Scott recently signed it into law.

"This sets road safety back 10 years," Slosberg said.

Teens will no longer have to study and memorize important road rules for fear of failing the test. Online testing allows for these tests to be an "open book" opportunity.

It's estimated that roughly 70,000 teens each year apply for a Florida learner-permit.

The online written exam includes 40 multiple-choice questions. Half of them cover road rules and half cover road signs. Teens can only miss 5 questions on each half.

"I've had students fail it repeatedly right up to the last day of class," said Lake Worth High driver education instructor Sam Howell, who has taught the class for 34 years. "The thing I don't like about it is there's nobody monitoring the test, so we truly know who took it, or that they didn't get any help."

The DMV understands teen's temptation to cheat and asks that parents do their best to stop it from happening. To help enforce this, the new testing system will hold parents more accountable. The DMV warns that if an applicant is found to have cheated, the parent's license could be suspended.

Teen drivers are typically more vulnerable on our roadways for the simple fact that they possess less driving experience. Teen drivers have recently been placed on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) "most wanted" list. This is a list that targets those who present the most dangers to motorists on our roadways, or those who are most at risk. The campaign aims to raise awareness about these drivers and encourage ways to better improve their skills.

According to the NTSB, car accidents are the number one cause of death for teens in the U.S. It is estimated that we lose nearly 10 teens on our roadways every day. The risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher among teen drivers than among any other age group of drivers. Even though licensed teen drivers make up only 7 percent of the entire driving population, they account for nearly 15 percent of drivers involved in all fatal accidents.

Parents should enforce these rules to help protect their teen driver on our roadways:

-Limit the driving times, destinations and the number of passengers allowed in the car when your teen is driving.

-Make sure to set and enforce check-in rules for your teen. Require them to call or text when they arrive at their destination and when they are heading home.

-Know who your teen is with and where they’re going.

-Be sure to discuss your expectations for celebrating special occasions like prom and graduation responsibly. It is important to discuss these behaviors even when your teen is not the one behind the wheel.

-Talk to your teens about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Talk to them about drunk driving. Even though they're not old enough to consume alcohol, it doesn't mean that they can't or won't.

Continue reading " Teen Driver Tests Back Online in Florida - Officials Worries about Cheating " »

Not only are Florida drivers able to use their cell phones while operating a motor vehicle, but they can also shuffle through their iPod play lists, surf the internet, send text messages and find their destinations without ever taking their eyes off the road. Although our driver's eyes may still be on the road, their mind may be somewhere else and therefore experience increased risks of being involved in a car accident in Fort Myers and elsewhere in Florida.

"Consumers are wanting, expecting and you could say demanding more technology in their cars," said said Tim Jackson, president and chief executive of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. "As their lives have become more technologically driven, they want those same creature comforts in their cars."

Florida is still one of the few states left that has yet to pass a law regulating any type of distracting driving habit. A number of studies have reported that these driving devices, many of them hands-free, require that a driver take some of their attention off the road. Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that drivers pretty much have free reign when it comes to electronic devices in our vehicles, but it's not recommended that we use these devices while driving as the results can be serious, if not deadly.

"The most important thing we've found in our research and various studies is keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel," said Jim Buczkowski, director of Ford electronics and electrical systems engineering.

Because of the growing number of distracting devices now available in vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started conducting studies on just how dangerous these devices can be. Nearly 5,500 people died on U.S. roadways because of car accidents that involved a distracted driver in 2009. The number one distraction reported in these accidents was the use of a cell phone.

Some argue that voice-operated devices allow the driver to keep their eyes on the road. While this may be true, their mind and focus can be somewhere else.

"We have found any sort of distraction increases the likelihood of being in a crash, even with hands-free options," Hobbs said. "We encourage people to eliminate as much distraction as possible."

Merecedes offers a brand new technology, the SplitView. This is a device that lets the drivers continue to access directions or other navigation data while his of her passengers enjoy a DVD on the same monitor, according to the Denver Post.

"The standard has been set by the consumer devices (such as smartphones)," said Henry Bzeih, head of Infotainment and Telematics at Kia Motors America. "The expectation is that the car should behave the same way."

Not everyone agrees. David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aims to put a stop to a number of these distracting devices. He recently spoke to a crowd at the Telematics Detroit 2011 conference and told them about his plans to oppose unsafe technologies. He believes that these new "convenient" technologies do nothing more than contribute to distracted driving, according to Government Computer News.

"I'm just putting everyone on notice,” Strickland said, “A car is not a mobile device."

Strickland isn’t opposed to all new technology. He does note that cars can come equipped with useful IT-based technologies, including Global Positioning System navigation, automated emergency notification and internal diagnostics.

“I'm not in the business of helping people tweet better,” he said. “I'm not in the business of helping people post on Facebook better.”

According to a number of studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, hands-free devices do help to eliminate physical distractions but do nothing to reduce cognitive distractions. A driver on the phone, by any means, increases their risk of an accident.

Continue reading " New Vehicle Technology -- Contributing to Car Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere? " »

Thankfully, the United States has not witnessed a fatal large commercial aviation accident since 2009. Unfortunately, the rest of the aviation world has not been so blessed General aviation accidents in Florida and elsewhere took the lives of nearly 500 people in 2010. Thousands more were injured in these accidents.

Our Florida aviation accident attorneys understand that these accident rates are the highest within civil aviation. At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, we have the knowledge and experience to assist clients in the wake of aviation accidents. Both Bruce and his son Preston have earned their pilot license; Preston is a licensed multi-engine commercial pilot.

Those who participate in general aviation are typically 6 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those in small commuter or taxi operations. Even worse, they face a risk 40 times higher than the risks of larger transport categories. Believe it or not, the causes of general aviation accidents are almost always a repeat of the circumstances of previous accidents.

To help reduce the number of these fatal accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board has placed these pilots on their "most wanted" list. This is a list that aims to raise awareness in the community about these accidents and to propose possible solutions to help reduce the number of fatalities.

According to the NTSB, about two-thirds of all general aviation accidents that happened in instrumental meteorological conditions (IMC) are fatal. It is recommended that prospective pilots have a better understanding of aviation weather before obtaining a pilot certificate or rating to help reduce the risks of these accidents. Pilots who have recently been in an accident are nearly 3 times more likely to be involved in a weather-related accident than a pilot who has not been involved in any prior accidents.

Currently, there is no formal requirement for tracking and reviewing a general aviator pilot's performance history. The NTSB encourages the development of such programs to help identify the risks of accident involvement and then to develop a program to reduce these risks for pilots.

The NTSB also recommends the following to reduce the risks of general aviation accidents:

-Ensure that all pilots receive weather-relate recurrent training.

-Establish a specific number of weather-related questions that must be correctly answered to pass the Federal Aviation Administration airman knowledge test.

-Develop a way to identify flight history.

-Enforce better fuel requirements and alternatives for flights that cannot be completed because of delays encountered.

-Enforce a better and more effective way to present flight service stationary weather information briefings.

-Revise the current material regarding pilot weather briefings so that they include guidance for pilots use of satellite, Internet, and other data sources for collecting weather information.

The NTSB encourages improvements to the aircraft, flying environment, and pilot performance. All maintenance personnel should be routinely trained with current and updated information and techniques regarding key systems, such as electrical systems. General aviation aircraft should also come equipped with the best and most effective occupant protection systems. All aircraft should have emergency locator transmitters to ensure a timely discovery and rescue by emergency responders in the event of an accident.

As aircraft become more and more sophisticated with glass cockpits, general aviation pilots need to how the technology functions and how it can malfunction. There's no time to check the manual in the event of an accident.

Continue reading " NTSB: Private Pilots at too High a Risk of General Aviation Accidents in Florida " »

Authorities arrested a 24-year-old man after he drove his SUV head-on into a tree on San Carlos Boulevard last week, according to NBC 2. Officers conducted a field sobriety test on the driver and concluded that he had a blood alcohol content level or .167 -- more than twice the legal limit. He was arrested and is facing charges of DUI and DUI property damage for the Fort Myers drunk driving car accident.

The accident happened as the driver lost control of his vehicle, crossed into the southbound lanes and crashed into both a trailer and tree in the parking lot of Pincher's Crab.

Our Naples personal injury attorneys recognize the dangers that alcohol-impaired drivers present to innocent motorists on our roadways. Luckily, no one was injured in this accident. That's not always the case; accidents involving these drivers are often fatal. For this reason, alcohol-impaired drivers have been placed on the National Transportation Safety Board's "most wanted" list.

The most wanted list is part of a program that aims to increase awareness of these incidents and to increase support for safety steps that can help to prevent these types of accidents and help to save lives.

Nearly 11,000 people were killed on U.S. roadways in accidents involving drunk drivers in 2009. Roughly a third of these fatal accidents involved an alcohol-impaired driver. It is estimated that someone dies every 48 minutes in an accident with one of these irresponsible and careless drivers. What's even more alarming is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that a person makes nearly 90 impaired driving trips before being arrested.

The NTSB encourages state government to consider the following regulations to help decrease the number of drunk driving accidents:

-Limit the use of diversion programs. Once convicted, it is important that drunk drivers are served the proper punishment.

-Stick to proposed sentences. Plea bargains do nothing to reinforce the seriousness of these incidents.

-Conduct sobriety checkpoints often. Not only are checkpoint important during holiday weekends, they can also be used randomly throughout the week to help bust drunk drivers.

-Enforce administrative license revocation for drivers who refuse to take or fail a sobriety test.

-Assess all offenders for underlying alcohol problems. This will help to reduce the risks of a driver becoming a repeat offender.

-To reduce recidivism, use jail alternatives, including dedicated jail/treatment facilities, home detention with electronic monitoring, or intensive supervision probation.

-Consider ignition-interlocking devices to those who have been convicted of a DUI.

In 2009, Florida witnessed nearly 1,000 deaths resulting from traffic accidents that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. The number of these fatalities can be reduced with stricter enforcement efforts and more public awareness about the dangerous driving habit.

Continue reading " San Carlos Drunk Driving Accident Lands 24-Year-Old behind Bars " »

The National Transportation Safety Board has placed motorcyclists on its "most wanted" list. This is a list that aims to raise awareness about the dangers that these drivers face and to encourage safer driving habits by all to better protect them.

The yearly number of motorcyclist deaths has doubled from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,462 in 2009. It is estimated that 12 motorcyclists are killed on our roadways every day. Even though these two-wheeled motorists only make up about 3 percent of the number of vehicles in our country, they account for nearly 15 percent of all highway fatalities. Florida, California and Texas lead the nation in the number of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents recorded each year.

FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) reports the following trends in fatal motorcycle accidents:

-A majority of motorcycle accidents occur on rural roads.

-Roughly half of these fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the accident.

-A majority of motorcycle fatalities happen on undivided roadways.

-Roughly 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night.

-Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor.

-Head injury is the number one cause of death in motorcycle crashes.

Motorists can make all the difference in the safety of a motorcyclist on our roadways. With safe, alert and cautious driving habits, passenger-vehicle drivers can accommodate these drivers and help to save lives.

Tips for motorists to share the road more effectively and safely with motorcyclists, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

-Be sure that you make it a point to look for motorcycles when entering an intersection.

-Motorcycles may look farther away than they actually are. This is because of their small size. For this reason, it can also be difficult to judge their speed. Always predict that a motorcycle is closer than it appears.

-Check you blind spots. Again, because of their small size, motorcycles can easily become lost in your blind spots. Make sure you always check, and double check, your blind spots before making a move in traffic.

-Remember that motorcyclists oftentimes slow their vehicle by downshifting instead of using the brakes. Downshifting doesn't activate a brake light. Follow with caution and allow them plenty of room.

-Motorcycles oftentimes have a difficult time stopping on wet and slippery pavement. Again, do not follow too closely.

-Turn signals on motorcycles are not always self-canceling. Make sure that a motorcyclist's signal is for real when traveling near them.

-Always think of a motorcyclist on our roadway as an actual person, not just as a motorcycle.

Continue reading " NTSB's Most Wanted List includes Motorcycle Accidents in Cape Coral, elsewhere " »

A tourist died recently after a parasailing accident in Longboat Key. The 31-year-old- from South Carolina was harnessed by an 800 foot rope to the parasailing boat, Almost Heaven, when the boat lost power, according to Florida Wires.

The Coast Guard reports that the tourist fell into the water, from as much as 800 feet in the air, at an unknown speed. The Florida parasailing accident happened about a mile off the shore of Longboat Key. The South Carolina man was pronounced dead at an Anna Maria Island boat ramp.

Our Fort Myers tourist accident attorneys understand that these types of attractions are very dangerous. Despite the number of fatal parasailing accidents over the past few years, parasailing remains unfettered by any safety rules or regulations enforced by state, federal or even local agencies. No one is even able to access accurate statistics regarding parasailing accidents because there is no one agency keeps track of these events.

Witnesses to this Longboat Key parasailing accident say that the man waived to indicate he was okay when he initially landed in the water. At that time, he was still connected to his parachute that allowed him to float in the water. He was wearing a life jacket.

Investigators said that the South Carolina man was unconscious when they finally pulled him out of the water.

"After all these incidents, I can't believe we haven't gotten smarter as an industry," said Mark McCulloh, chairman of the Parasail Safety Council, a nonprofit agency promoting parasailing safety and based in Maitland.

Eight people were on the 28 foot parasailing boat at the time of the accident. All witness statements were consistent. Officials have yet to determine what happened between the time the tourist waved that he was okay and when he became unconscious.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the boat was an uninspected vessel. The boat is currently in the hands of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission until the investigation is complete.

McCulloh, a former parasail operator, says that the parasailing industry needs strict rules for parasailing. He says that these rules should include maximum wind speed when parasailing, height restrictions and tougher regulations on equipment inspection and types of towlines.

In 2010, the state Legislature tried to strengthen parasailing safety rules and enforcement, but the effort failed after companies complained.

"They don't want anyone regulating them," said McCulloh. "They don't want to conform to some kind of safety parameters they think might interfere with profit or keep them from taking chances."

Currently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that there are about 100 commercial parasail operators in the state of Florida. The Parasailing Safety Council reports that there were nearly 400 known accidents that happened from 1990 through September of 2009. These accidents resulted in more than 20 deaths. Again, these statistics are not completely accurate since no one agency keeps track of these events.

If you're planning a parasailing trip, be sure to research the company. Ask how long the company has been in business. Make sure they're licensed by both the state and city or county and exist in a well-established location. Lastly, make sure that the boat’s captain is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain.

Continue reading " Florida Parasailing Accident Kills South Carolina Tourist " »

Florida is one of the few states left that has no law prohibiting or restricting drivers, of any age, from using a cell phone or from using text-messaging devices. That's right. Florida drivers are free to engage in a number of distractions while operating a motor vehicle on our roadways. These distracting devices only increase the risk of being involved in a car accident in Naples and elsewhere in the state.

Many times, in the last several years, the Florida legislature has made attempts to ban distracting driving habits through a number of bills that would regulate this dangerous habit. None of these bills have passed.

These driving habits make our roadways very dangerous. According to Distraction.gov, nearly 5,500 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2009 because of accidents that involved a distracted driver. Another 448,000 motorists were injured in these accidents. Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand the lack of a cell phone law affects the safety of all motorists. Drivers are urged to regulate their own cell phone usage until a law is put into effect to help save lives on our Florida roads.

The Florida legislature was able to pass a bill that would make all driver education classes include discussions and demonstrations on the risks associated with using wireless communications devices while driving. This bill, House Bill 689, has been sent to the Governor. He has yet to sign it, according to DrivingLaws.org.

Florida may not be in charge of making its own cell phone laws for much longer. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., recently proposed the Safe Drivers Act of 2011. This is legislation that would federalize cell phone usage while driving, according to Auto Trends Magazine.

“Driving while making a phone call, texting or using apps can be as dangerous as driving drunk, and much more common,” Rep. McCarthy said. “With some basic commonsense rules that are already in place in some parts of the country, we can reduce injuries and save lives in America.”

Under this proposed legislation, the U.S. Department of Transportation would be required to set up a nationwide standard that would prohibit cell phone use while driving for everyone in the country. Drivers would still be able to use voice-operated, vehicle-integrated devices and voice-operated GPS systems.

While cognitive distractions are still present with certain hands-free devices, it is a much less serious problem than using a hand-held device.

Requirements of the new bill include:

-The DOT would be required to conduct a study on distracted driving. This study would be required to focus mainly on the issue of cognitive distraction and the impact of distraction on young and inexperienced drivers.

-Within two years, the DOT would be required to report the conclusions of the study to Congress. They would have to accompany these conclusions with recommendations for revising the minimum distracted driving prohibitions and penalties states must comply with.

-Once the federal law is put into effect, states would have two years to comply with the law. If they fail to do so, they could face a 25 percent reduction in federal highway funding.

Cell phone use is the number one reported distraction in accidents that reported the involvement of a distracted driver. Of the nearly 5,500 fatal distracted driving accidents in 2009, nearly 1,000 of them reported a cell phone as the distraction. Motorists who use hand-held devices while driving a motor vehicle are four times as likely to get into an accident serious enough to injure themselves.

Continue reading " Still Allowing Distracted Driving Accidents in Florida - One of the Last States to Regulate Cell Phone Use by Drivers " »

Defective products in Fort Myers create substantial hazards for consumers. Holiday weekends can be a particularly dangerous time for both defective product injuries and premise liability injuries in Fort Myers and elsewhere in South Florida.

Our Fort Myers accident lawyers encourage you to check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission for defective product news when making a substantial purchase, such as a crib, gas grill or portable pool. And to use extra caution in supervising children around swimming pools this holiday weekend and throughout the year.

Recent defective product news in South Florida includes:

-A 1-year-old child drowned in the family swimming pool after getting out through a dog door in Deltona Beach, Pet Access Dangers reported. It was the sixth reported drowning in Volusia County so far this year. The site reports 70 percent of preschoolers who drown are in the care of both parents at the time and 75 percent are missing from sight for 5 minutes or less. Even portable pools may pose a significant risk. CNN reported recently that 244 submersion incidents have been reported involving small portable pools in the last decade -- in 209 cases the accident resulted in fatal injuries.

-Those concerned about defective vehicle injuries in Fort Myers should be aware that the Detroit News recently reported a recall of 50,000 Cadillac SRX crossovers, which need to have the airbag reprogrammed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the right side airbag won't deploy in a crash if no one is in the front seat -- as a result, backseat passengers may not be fully protected.

-The Consumer Products Safety Commission is warning about the risks of small fireworks, such as bottle rockets and firecrackers, whether defective or not. “From purchase to ignition, know how you and your family can stay safe and which fireworks are allowed in your state if fireworks are part of your July 4th celebration,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “Never assume that a fireworks device is safe based on its size and never allow young children to play with or light fireworks. By knowing the dangers of all types of fireworks, consumers can prevent tragedies.”

Last year testing of fireworks shipments found that 43 percent were not compliant with the Federal Hazardous Substance Act, meaning users could be at increased risk of serious or fatal injury.

-The government has also announced a recall of 460,000 bottles and jugs of Pourable NAPAfire and FIREGEL. The gel fuel distributed by Napa Home and Garden of Duluth, Georgia can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and nearby objects, creating the risk of Fort Myers burn injuries and of structure fires. The product was sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Shopko, Restoration Hardware, and other stores nationwide. Consumers should stop using the fuel and return any unused portion for a full refund.

Continue reading " Fort Myers Defective Products, Premise Liability Issues a Holiday Weekend Danger " »

With the Fourth of July holiday among us, Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyers wish you and your family a fun and safe weekend. But we urge you to stay safe from the injuries that often plague people during the summer months.

Kids are now out of school and clamoring for something fun to occupy their time. And as Florida Injury Lawyer Blog previously discussed, car accidents in Fort Myers and boating accidents throughout Southwest Florida are especially likely this time of year. There will be tens of millions of vehicles on the roads this weekend and thousands of boaters will be on the state's many rivers, lakes and coastline water, so stay safe.

But for those not planning any travel this Independence Day, there are even safety tips to stay free from injury at home. Common dangers, such as swimming pool accidents, risks to children and fireworks injuries are more common than many may think, so think twice about safety to avoid devastating and life-altering injuries.

Fireworks injuries: Many people like to buy as many high-action fireworks as they can get their hands on during holidays such as the Fourth of July. Others prefer to go to the several city sponsored fireworks shows and watch them light up the sky.

On the one hand, professionals are handling the show and have years of experience operating high-profile fireworks. But in the other situation, it's often children who hear the calling to pick up fireworks. If there is ever an area where parents should be extra cautious, it is with fireworks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven people died and more than 7,000 people were injured by fireworks in 2008. And it's no shock that nearly 60 percent of those injured were teens and children under 20. More than 4 in every 10 people injured were under 15. Children injured by fireworks can suffer life-long effects that can be prevented with more attention to safety -- or simply by obeying the law and leaving the fireworks to the professionals.

Bottle rockets, and other fireworks can cause severe injuries to the eyes, hands, fingers, legs and other body parts. In a year-long span from June 20, 2007 to July 20 in 2008, there were 900 injuries associated with firecrackers, 300 attributed to rockets and 800 with sparklers. Sparklers burn at 1,000 degrees.

Swimming pool accidents: But while fireworks may take precedence this weekend, swimming will be a popular activity throughout the summer months.

Tragically, Florida ranks among the top of all states in child drownings, according to the Florida Department of Health. Toddlers are especially susceptible, with 356 dying between 1999 and 2003, tops in the nation.

It only takes a few seconds for a parent or guardian to take on another task, return to the pool and see that the child has sunk to the bottom. Even drowning-related injuries can affect children for the rest of their lives. Don't be another statistic. Use extra caution this summer and stay safe.

Continue reading " Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Wish You a Safe and Fun Fourth of July " »

Burn injuries in Fort Myers and elsewhere in South Florida are among the most painful and medically complex catastrophic injuries a law firm can handle.

Fireworks accidents in Fort Myers are just one cause. The Florida Department of Health reports children and teenagers are the most likely victims. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 400 children and teenagers are treated for burn injuries of all types in U.S. emergency rooms every day.

Two-thirds of firework injuries in Florida are to the face, hands and arms. Burns account for nearly 40 percent of injury cases. In 2005, more than 200 emergency room cases were reported involving fireworks in Florida -- nearly all of them around the Fourth of July.

Other common causes of Florida burn injuries handled by Fort Myers burn injury lawyers include:

-Scald Burn Injuries

-Electric Burns

-Chemical Burns

-Gas Grill Accidents

-Gas Explosions

-Car Accidents

Burn injuries may include injuries of the first-degree, second-degree, third-degree or fourth-degree:

First Degree Burns: Affect the epidermis -- or the outer layer of skin. Pain, swelling, tingling and hypersensitivity are common. The wound is typically red and dry.

Second Degree Burns: Affects both the epidermis and the dermis; thus called partial thickness burns. Extreme pain, redness, swelling and blistering. Weeping at the surface is also common, as is substantial scarring. Common causes include flash injuries (such as explosions), scalding liquids and flame injuries.

Third Degree Burns: Extreme burns, affecting the entire thickness of skin and underlying muscle tissue; destroys sweat glands and hair follicles. May not be as painful as second-degree burns, due to nerve damage. Burned skin may be brown, white, yellow, red or a leathery black. Extensive medical care required, and may involve skin grafts and lengthy hospitalization.

Fourth-Degree Burns: (May also be characterized as fifth-degree or sixth-degree burns) are life threatening. Burning reaches the bone and the skin is permanently lost. Sometimes associated with lost limbs and amputations. Often caused by high-voltage electric. Can also be caused by prolonged flame contact, as in a house fire.

Continue reading " Fireworks Accidents One Common Cause of Burn Injuries in Fort Myers " »

Drive safely and abide by all traffic laws this weekend because the Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force during the long weekend in an effort to reduce the number of car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere throughout the state.

The holiday weekend officially begins this afternoon and goes through midnight, July 4.

As we recently discussed on our Florida Injury Blog, it's estimated that nearly 40 million people will be traveling during the holiday weekend. We not only see an increased amount of traffic during this time of the year, but we also see and increased number of serious, and fatal, car accidents.

Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys ask that all motorists be safe and alert on our roadways throughout the entire weekend. Your risks of being involved in a car accident during these three days greatly increases, compared to any other weekend out of the year. As a matter of fact, the Fourth of July has consistently been ranked as the number one deadliest holiday weekend on our roadways. You are urged to drive safely and legally this holiday weekend not only to avoid a traffic ticket, but to avoid a traffic accident.

"The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to making Florida’s highways safer, and we plan to do that by bolstering our forces to reduce the number and severity of crashes," said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. "Our troopers will take appropriate enforcement action on those drivers who put themselves and others in danger. We want everyone to have a safe traveling experience in our state as they enjoy the holiday weekend. I encourage motorists to do their part by complying with all traffic laws and making sure everyone in their vehicle is buckled up.”

Everyone on the force will be patrolling the interstates and other major state roads over the weekend. FHP Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will be volunteering their time to augment the Patrol’s forces during the holiday enforcement period, too. The force aims to increase their presence throughout the state in an effort to deter traffic violations and accidents. They're also available to help motorists who break down or who may need other assistance.

The FHP would also like to take this time to ask motorists to check their tires before venturing out this holiday weekend. We've discussed the consumer advisory, released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, recently on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog. The hot summer weather and under-inflated tires can be a deadly combination. Driving long distances in our Florida heat can cause a vehicle tire to deteriorate, which can lead to blowouts and tread separation.

Here are some safe driving tips for your Fourth of July weekend:

-Check your tires. Check your tire pressure and the condition of your tires before you leave for a road trip.

-Check your battery. If your battery is old, toss the jumper cables in the trunk before you leave. or better yet, invest in an little preventive maintenance and a new battery.

-Turn on your lights. Check your headlights, taillights and turn signals before you start a trip. Have a friend walk around the car while you test the car lights and signals from the inside.

-Bring along a first aid kit and roadside assistance kit.

-Don't drink and drive. Designate a driver or call for a cab if you're drinking.

-Wear your seat belt. Seat belts help to save lives.

-Obey all traffic laws.

-Make sure you've got your proof of car insurance. Whether you are traveling close to home or out-of-state, you should always have your proof of car insurance in your glove box. It's also a good idea to keep a disposable camera, note pad and pen in your car, just in case you get into an accident.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys would like to wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July and ask that everyone be extra careful on our roadways throughout the entire weekend.

Continue reading " All FHP Officers Will be Patrolling our Roadway this Fourth of July Weekend to Prevent Car Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere " »

Nearly year-round in Southwest Florida, boaters take to the waters to enjoy fishing, swimming or just to get out on the Gulf of Mexico or Caloosahatchee River.

But with Fourth of July fast approaching, it's likely that more boaters will be out and Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyers encourage everyone to be safe in their boats this weekend to make sure your holiday weekend is fun for everyone.

According to statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, July is the most accident-prone month in the United States. In 2010, there were 1,032 non-fatal accidents, which made up about 1/4 of the total 3,999 reported accidents. There were also 108 fatal accidents last July, tops for the year.

In Florida, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 39 boating accidents involving alcohol in 2010, up 18 percent from the 33 that happened in 2009. There were 15 alcohol-related deaths and 27 injuries caused by drinking and boating.

All these statistics are scary and as people prepare to have fun along Florida's coasts or in rivers and lakes, this information should be taken seriously. On the water, it takes longer for the U.S. Coast Guard, local law enforcement marine units and other emergency crews to respond, which makes drowning an inherent risk. If someone is injured and rendered unconscious, very quickly they can hit the water, making it tough for others to save them.

Also because of the large number of watercraft that will be out this holiday weekend and other incidents, emergency marine units may not be able to keep up with the demand of various medical incidents compared to land-based EMS crews. While boaters are trained in safety procedures and medical procedures, it is no replacement for professionally trained crews who can apply quick and extensive care to someone who is having a traumatic medical emergency.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that in 2010, Lee County ranked fifth in the state in boating accidents with 33. Most of the reported accidents occurred near Fort Myers Beach. Four fatal boating accidents occurred and 12 accidents involved people getting injured.

Collier County ranked ninth among Florida counties with 20 accidents and one fatality. In both counties, operator inattention was the number one cause of accidents among boaters.

Sadly, Florida leads the country in fatal boating accidents with 68 in 2009. But it's not completely unexpected because there are nearly 950,000 registered vessels statewide. Still, these accidents are preventable. Alcohol use was the number one reason for fatal accidents in Florida, with operator inattention and wild behavior among the other chief reasons.

More than 60 percent of all deaths on the water are drownings, with about 34 percent identified as trauma. Late afternoon and evening seems to be the time each day when accidents are most likely to occur.

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