Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

As the school year begins, we encourage Cape Coral and county officials to act quickly in installing school zone lights at Trafalgar Parkway and Skyline Boulevard.

The Lee County School District reports that about 2,000 students attend Trafalgar elementary and Trafalgar middle school. Skyline Boulevard is one of the city's busiest. The News-Press reports local officials have given installation of school zone lights the go-ahead now that the price has dropped from $270,000 to $45,000.

We think it’s unfortunate that they were not installed long ago. Thousands of young children flood this area everyday and their safety should never be compromised by an attempt to keep costs down.

As school begins, please take extra care in watching for young children, either walking or riding their bicycles, as well as school buses that are loading or unloading passengers. Students are at increased risk of a Fort Myers bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when commutes can compete with the fringe of rush hour.

Last week we wrote on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog that teenagers are at increased risk of a car accident as the school year begins. And that is true. But the truth of the matter is that all children are at significant risk of being involved in a traffic accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for those ages 3 to 20.

Back to school means the law of averages simply is not on the side of a motorist. More than 80,000 students will flood one of the nation's 50-largest school districts. It's a safe bet that 79,900 would otherwise be in bed at 8 a.m. The coming weeks are among the most dangerous time of the year as students and motorists relearn the art of safe travel and coexistence.

Many accidents happen around school buses or crosswalks. Dangers include:

-Children are most likely to be hit while hurrying to get on the bus.

-Act before they think and have little experience with traffic.

-Assume motorists will see them and wait for them to cross.

-Don't always stay within a bus driver's site.

-Try to reach under a bus to pick something up.

We urge you to speak with your child about safe walking and cycling habits. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services provides excellent learning tools, including downloadable presentations.

You may also view the Kids Walk-to-School Brochure.

With the popular movement to “go green” and help reduce their impact on the environment, many people in Southwest Florida are embracing the more pedestrian methods of transportation – literally. High gas prices and the effort to leave a smaller carbon footprint in their wake are pushing many to seek out alternative ways to get from point A to point B – most notably, by riding a bicycle or simply walking.

However, with the urban sprawl and heavy traffic found in Southwest Florida, the mix of motor vehicles with bicyclists and people on foot can prove to be dangerous, if not deadly. While people may get satisfaction from trying to be more eco-friendly, they are often putting their lives at risk by walking or riding their bikes around our area.

The problem is that very little forethought went into the road planning and real estate development rush of years past when it comes to bicyclists and pedestrians. The lack of sidewalks, underpasses and other thoroughfares designed specifically for bikes and walkers forces them onto the streets, where the interaction with cars and trucks turns into a high-risk cat and mouse game. Those who advocate the use of bikes or walking locally are pushing for new ideas in urban planning, aimed at addressing the need for safer ways to get around, and saving lives in the process. In 2007 and 2008, 32 pedestrians and 10 bicyclists were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles in Lee County alone. The National Safety Council estimates that the cost of such an accident, when factoring in the cost of the accident itself and the economic impact of the loss of a productive life, to be around $4 million. City and County planners and engineers point out that designing and building new roads and sidewalks for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians is expensive, and even retrofitting our current infrastructure can carry a hefty price tag. Clearly, the cost of not doing so needs to be fully understood.

Local advocacy groups like BikeWalk Lee are stepping up their efforts to bring their cause to the forefront. According to their website, BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County - streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. In early December, the group presented letters to Governor Charlie Crist and to the Lee County Legislative Delegation asking that the State enact specific efforts to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on Southwest Florida roadways. Among their requests is that the Florida Department of transportation designate 22% of state funding on road design and construction to more pedestrian-friendly planning. The organization points out that 22% of all traffic fatalities in Florida involve people on foot or on bicycles.

“Drivers just don’t watch for people walking or riding their bikes as they should”, says PJ Scheiner of the Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers law firm. “We see the tragic results of these accidents in our practice, and applaud the efforts of all the local organizations working to promote a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians”.

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious injury while biking or on foot, our experience in fighting for justice can prove invaluable in seeking the financial restitution you deserve. We devote our entire expertise and resources to your individual case, and you are obligated to pay us nothing unless we are successful on your behalf. Contact us at 1-800-Dial-BLS, or visit our website www.focusedonjustice.com.

With the abundant sunshine and pleasant outdoor weather in Florida, the number of people on foot here makes our state one of the most dangerous when it comes to pedestrian safety. It’s no surprise to realize that a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle will likely suffer serious injuries, most often to the head, neck and spinal column. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has identified Florida as a target for increased resources and educational efforts in an effort to reduce the numbers of pedestrians injured or killed on our roads. FHA works closely with state and local governments to administer programs aimed at keeping Florida’s pedestrians safe.

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department, there were 502 pedestrian fatalities statewide in 2008. This means that 16.8% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrians. Additionally, there were 7,878 pedestrian injuries in the same year.

While most people might assume that alcohol is involved in only those accidents where the vehicle driver is impaired, drinking is a major problem with pedestrians in traffic crashes. 10.3% (922) of all pedestrians in crashes (8,951) had been drinking, and 36.25% (182) of all pedestrian fatalities (502) had been drinking. According to the statistics compiled by the State, the majority of pedestrians injured or killed in 2008 were either crossing the road in mid-block, walking alongside the road, working on their vehicle while in the road, working on the roadway itself or standing on a pedestrian island.

Of course, many pedestrian accidents occur in seemingly safe environments, such as in parking lots or walking along a sidewalk. In most cases, driver negligence is the cause of these types of accidents, as drivers often fail to use proper caution, or engage in unsafe driving practices, when encountering a pedestrian. The bulk of pedestrian accidents occur at night, when poor visibility plays a major role in the crash.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, some of the most common types of pedestrian accidents include:

• A pedestrian is hit while a vehicle was turning or preparing to turn at an intersection.

• A pedestrian is hit in a mid-block collision where the pedestrian entered the driver's field of view leaving little or no time to react.

• A pedestrian is struck in a parking lot or other non-roadway area.

• A pedestrian is struck while walking or jogging along the side of the road, going with the traffic.

• A pedestrian is running through an intersection (as opposed to mid-block).

• A backing vehicle strikes a pedestrian.

Florida personal injury lawyers remind you of these safety tips to keep you from becoming a pedestrian accident victim:

• Cross at designated intersections and crosswalks only. Many pedestrians are injured because they try to cross the street without using crosswalks.

• Walk on sidewalks and pedestrian bridges where possible. These areas are no-car zones and are therefore the safest places to walk.

• When crossing streets at intersections, look left, right and left again to ensure that you have a safe way to cross. Even if you have right of way, not all cars will stop.

• Stay visible. Wear clothing that is easily visible to drivers for the weather conditions. If you are walking at night, make sure your clothes have reflective material or bring a flashlight.

• Stay alert. Walking after drinking can be deadly. You can veer into the road or make mistakes when crossing the street. Even wearing headphones can prevent you from hearing horns and other warnings.

• Don’t let children play on streets or near them. Children often can’t judge car distances, and may not be able to understand safe pedestrian practices.

“Our firm has represented many victims of pedestrian accidents, and the majority of them could easily have been avoided, had the correct safety precautions been used”, says Senior Attorney Bruce L. Scheiner of the Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers law firm. “Here is just an example of the cases we’ve handled.”

$200,000: Recovered for a 53-year-old Naples woman who was backed into by a newspaper delivery vehicle while walking with her husband.

$100,000: Recovered for a 51-year-old Tennessee woman who was walking her dogs in Sebring, FL when she was struck by a vehicle. This client suffered a fractured back and other injuries. Both dogs were killed.

If you or someone you love has been struck by a vehicle while crossing the street or walking through a parking lot, please visit www.focusedonjustice.com, or call 1-800-DialBLS to learn more about our 38-year history of helping those involved in pedestrian accidents.

Florida injury lawyers is posting the Top 10 lethal driving mistakes, as compiled by MSN Autos, to remind motorists that safe driving habits are the best defense to prevent you or a loved one from being seriously injured or killed in a car accident or other traffic fatality.

Nationwide, 37,313 died in traffic crashes in 2008 -- more than 1,200 in Florida. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.

Swerving: The No. 1 mistake drivers make is not staying in their own lane, running off the road, or drifting into another lane. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 15,000 people were killed in crashes in 2007 as a result of a driver who didn't stay in the proper lane.

Driving Drowsy: The NHTSA estimates more than 1,400 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2007 as a result of driver fatigue. Visit www.drowsydriving.org for more information.

Drinking and Driving: Every 40 minutes someone dies in a drunk-driving accident. Young drivers ages 21 to 34 are responsible for well over half of alcohol-related fatalities. According to the NHTSA, 60 percent of drivers who died after dark in 2007 were legally drunk. Alcohol is also a factor in half of pedestrian traffic deaths -- both drivers and pedestrians are culprits.

Overcorrecting: More than 4 percent of automobile fatalities occur because of driver overcorrecting, particularly while behind the wheel of an SUV driving on the highway at high speeds.

Speeding: Speeding is the second-highest cause of death in fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Thirty percent of fatalities occur at 55 mph or above. The worst case scenario is speeding without a seat belt or motorcycle helmet. Fatality rates for speeding motorcyclists are shockingly high -- 36 percent of motorcycle fatalities were caused by speed in 2007.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way: For drivers over the age of 70, failure to yield is the top cause of crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports drivers over 80 simply fail to see the vehicle, while drivers 70 to 79 misjudge the time and distance. Failure to yield the right of way was the 5th leading cause of fatal crashes in 2007.

Erratic or Reckless Driving: More than 1,850 fatalities in 2007 were the result of reckless driving, including weaving, tailgating, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph or doing more than 80 mph.

Running red lights: Three out of every four automobile accidents occur in cities -- the most common cause is hitting the gas when the light turns red.

Not Wearing a Seat Belt: Despite the fact that wearing a seat belt is far more prevalent than even a decade ago -- not to mention legally required -- one-third of traffic fatalities result from unbuckled occupants. Without a seat belt, car drivers and passengers put themselves at risk of being ejected and 76 percent of the time ejection results in death.

Inattentive Driving:
Eating, talking on a cell phone, text messaging and fumbling with the car stereo all result in inattentive driving, which was responsible for 4,704 deaths in 2007. Talking on the cell phone has become the number one bad habit, with an estimated 1 million drivers talking on the phone at any given time and an increasing number of states, including Florida, considering outlawing the practice.

Continue reading "Florida injury lawyers urge motorists to review Top 10 lethal driving mistakes to avoid fatal car accidents, serious injury" »

Riders and Other Advocates for Road Safety (ROARS) is mounting a community action campaign aimed at reducing road accidents in Southwest Florida.

"We stand behind any cause that seeks to reduce accidents on our roads," said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of accident victims in South Florida since 1971. "Groups like ROARS can make a real difference, particularly in a tough economy when local and state governments often reduce public-safety spending for education and other awareness programs."

The group will seek to educate the public in an effort to reduce the number of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and bicycle and pedestrian accidents throughout Southwest Florida, including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Bonita Springs.

"Though there are many reasons for fatalities on our highways, it is truly the belief of this advocate that an alarming amount of these crashes can be avoided," said Frankie Kennedy, founder and chairman of ROARS.

When it comes to motorcycle fatalities, Kennedy said 85 percent are the result of a vehicle's failure to yield the right of way.

"Most people do no see the motorcycle and, because of its size, they nearly always misjudge its speed," Kennedy said. "Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, has supported the motorcycling community for many years and with their help, we are working very diligently to get our message out."

Kennedy said the group will focus on all forms of road safety as it seeks to educate the public and maintain safety awareness.

ROARS also is active in educating young drivers.

"We will bring our program anywhere we can get a gathering of interested drivers," Kennedy said. "We currently bring a motorcycle safety and driver-awareness seminar to all the local high schools in Lee County and we have touched thousands of student drivers since we started the program. It is of the utmost importance to reach as many people as possible."

Citizens are encouraged to join with ROARS and engage in programs and activities designed to raise public awareness in their communities. The coalition strongly advocates grass roots efforts in the areas of voter registration and the development of proactive relationships with the state's legislators to promote innovative ways to make streets, roads and highways safer for Florida residents and visitors.

ROARS recognizes the inherent dangers associated with every mode of transportation and understands the need for a purposeful and united effort by all drivers, riders and pedestrians to reduce loss due to injuries and death.

For more information about ROARS, please contact Chair and Founder Frankie Kennedy at 239-849-9065 or e-mail swchief2000@yahoo.com.

Continue reading "Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, supports prevention of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents in Southwest Florida" »

The Florida injury lawyers at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, begin 2009 with a new toll-free phone number, 1-800-Dial-BLS.

Whether you are injured in a car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident or are the victim of a drunk driving crash or other personal-injury or wrongful-death situation, representatives are available 24 hours a day at 1-800-Dial-BLS to review your case.

The firm has four decades of experience handling car accidents and other personal injury cases throughout Southwest Florida, including Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Arcadia, Port Charlotte, Venice and Sebring.

Started in 1971 by Bruce L. Scheiner, the family-run firm is dedicated to representing Florida residents who have been injured by the negligent or careless acts of other individuals, businesses or insurance companies.

The firm has never worked for big businesses or insurance companies and practices exclusively in the area of personal injury law. Unlike many other firms, which split their attention between personal injury cases and other types of law, like divorce, real estate and criminal cases, Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, is a team of almost 100 professionals dedicated to fighting for justice for those how have been injured or killed in Florida.

Bruce L. Scheiner still hand selects each case the firm represents. Together with his wife Cheryl, who runs the office, and son, Preston J. Scheiner, who is an associate attorney, the Scheiner team is dedicated to getting you and your loved ones the compensation you deserve.

After four decades of service in Southwest Florida, there promise to you is simple: at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, you'll pay nothing unless we win.

Look for the new toll-free hotline throughout Southwest Florida, on billboards, on television, in the yellow pages and online.

Continue reading "Florida injury lawyers debut 1-800-Dial-BLS, for car accident, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents and other personal injury questions in Southwest Florida" »

A new education program aimed at increasing awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is now available in Southwest Florida.

Florida injury lawyers and personal injury attorneys routinely handles crashes caused by distracted drivers and urge motorists to pay attention to the road for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Distracted driving often contributes to car accidents, motorcycle accident, trucking accidents, and accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians throughout Southwest Florida.

The program -- offered by "Stay Alive... Just Drive!" and its founder, retired Fort Myers-area paramedic Jay Anderson -- is available for purchase or for presentation to non-profit and other groups as an educational resource.

"It's a very comprehensive presentation aimed at raising the awareness of distracted driving in all forms," said Anderson, who likens distracted driving to driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

Anderson is supporting Heather's Law -- Florida Senate Bill 172, which will be debated in the upcoming spring session of the Florida legislature -- which would make it illegal to talk on the phone or text message while driving.

"Results of various studies have proven the dangers of distracted driving and obviously people are not going to make an attempt by themselves," said Anderson of the law. If passed, Florida would join half-a-dozen states with similar restrictions.

The law is named for a Florida teenager who was killed in a crash with a truck driver, who was allegedly text messaging at the time.

The distracted driving presentation "LOL I"M NT BSY I'M ONLY DRIVING," takes about 60 minutes.

Anderson said the typical driving distraction lasts three seconds -- enough time for a car going 45 mph to travel more than half the length of a football field.

A 2006 study of 100 drivers by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found driver distractions are the cause of 80 percent of vehicle crashes and 65 percent of near misses.

Those wanting more information can call "Stay Alive ... Just Drive!" at (239) 340-8693.

Continue reading "Distracted driving prevention program aimed at reducing car accidents in Southwest Florida" »

Some 148,000 people suffer a car accident each year without ever getting behind the wheel: They are injured by a closing car door in what the federal government has announced is the most common non-moving injury inflicted by automobiles.

For the first time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has collected data for non-traffic related death and injuries and non-crash related death and injuries to the ways in which people are seriously injured or killed in or around automobiles.

"It shows you don't have to be in a moving vehicle to be seriously injured," said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers.

Florida Injury Lawyers point out such cases can involve legal questions surrounding car accidents, bicycle and pedestrian injuries, property and premise liability law, slip and fall issues, injuries to children, vehicle defect, defective product law and other legal issues.

"The bottom line is, if you are seriously injured you should contact a lawyer to examine whether you have a case," Scheiner said.

Such dangers are now being tabulated by the federal government, including: falls from vehicle, battery acid and antifreeze burns, jack accidents, tire explosions, window strangulation, and those injured or killed by being locked in the trunk.

"I don't think anyone until now had an accurate sense of the extent of vehicle-related injuries and fatalities that did not occur on a public highway," NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson told Forbes Magazine. "It certainly underscores the risks that exist in a vehicle whether it's on the road or off, and I hope it will call some attention to some of those issues."

The new statistics also shed light on what the government terms Nontraffic crash fatalities and injuries, including single-vehicle crashes on private roads, collisions with pedestrians on driveways and two-vehicle crashes in parking facilities.

Bicyclists and pedestrians account for about half (614 of 1,159) of non-traffic crash fatalities and about a third (34,000 of 98,000) of non-traffic injuries.

Backovers, where drivers injure or kill a non-occupant by reversing over them, account for another 19 percent of fatalities and 14 percent of injuries.

Annual average of non-crash fatalities by type:
Struck by falling vehicle: 168
Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from exhaust: 147
Fall from vehicle: 88
Vehicle fire: 57
Struck by Object: 44
Hyperthermia (excessive heat): 37
Hypothermia (excessive cold): 14
Poisoning: 9
Exploding Tire: 7
Vehicle window asphyxia: 5
Electrocution: 4
Drowning: 3
Closed in trunk: 3
Radiator fluid burns: 2

The government reported that 22 percent of injuries (164,000 of 743,000) occur as people enter or exit a vehicle: falls (84,000), striking a door or door frame (36,000) and in other situations such as sprains or strains while exiting (44,000).

Continue reading "Florida motorists warned of car accidents waiting to happen" »

The dangerous and deadly business of running red lights at Southwest Florida intersections is increasingly caught on camera – a costly, if not fatal error for the driver and evidence increasingly used in court by criminal and accident lawyers.

Lee County is testing a camera at Colonial Boulevard and Summerlin Road, The News-Press reports, and cameras at other intersections could be on the way.

Orlando and Collier County, including the City of Naples, already use the cameras and have written local laws to get around a state prohibition against ticketing offenders based on video evidence (current state law only allows such ticketing for toll cheaters).

The accident attorneys and staff at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers urge motorists to use caution at intersections. The firm has handled hundreds of cases where motorists are seriously injured or killed in an intersection accident because an offender was in a hurry and failed to stop at a red light or stop sign.

Lee County will use the camera to determine how many tickets it could issue and how many extra staff members it would take to process violators. State lawmakers are likely to take up the cause of allowing tickets to be issued this year, even without a special ordinance.

Detractors point out that vehicle owners would get the ticket in the mail, regardless of who was caught on camera driving. And there is some data to suggest that rear-end collisions have increased at intersections where cameras have been installed.

But the deadly issue is getting increased attention. Several years ago, the state doubled the cost of red-light tickets and passed a substantial portion of the proceeds on to trauma centers, including Lee Memorial Hospital, which deal with the carnage left in the wake of someone in too big of a hurry to pay attention to one of driving’s most basic safety requirements.

More than 13,000 crashes were reported at Lee County intersections during the last three years.

A recent nationwide study of deadly crashes at traffic signals found nearly 1 in 4 failed to obey the light, injuring more than 144,000 people nationwide in 2006. Nearly half the fatalities caused by red-light runners are pedestrians and vehicle passengers, according to information gathered by Jay Anderson, a retired Fort Myers-area paramedic and founder of "Stay Alive ... Just Drive," a campaign that urges motorists to concentrate on driving and avoid distractions like cell phones.

A 2007 California study found red-light runners were three times more likely to have multiple speeding convictions, were less likely to use seatbelts and drove smaller and older vehicles, further increasing their chance of serious injury or death.

Continue reading "Southwest Florida points cameras at red light violators, aims to reduce accidents" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »