Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent article in the Florida Record highlights an issue far too few victims of personal injury stop to consider when choosing a law firm: Your law firm must understand as much about your medical condition and treatment history as it does about litigating your case in court.

The advent of electronic medical records has further complicated the issue. Florida Record reported medical consultants made their case recently at a Florida Justice Association convention, as deciphering and understanding electronic records becomes increasingly critical to proper representation of clients in personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death litigation. While most might correctly assume complex medical malpractice cases will require in-depth medical knowledge, the truth of the matter is expert medical knowledge is necessary in almost every personal injury case. 

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers have focused exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death litigation since Bruce L. Scheiner founded the firm in 1971. This singular focus has allowed us to build decades of knowledge and experience. We routinely hire and contract with doctors, registered nurses and other medical experts, many of whom we’ve worked with for years. It’s an area we take very seriously, and intently focus on, as proper understanding of your medical case can be just as critical to winning an appropriate damage award as knowledge of the law.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has released its annual state rankings for 2017, and Florida scored 14th nationally based on a number of fronts in the battle against drunk drivers. 

MADD reports drunk drivers continue to be responsible for nearly 850 road deaths a year in Florida, accounting for more than one-fourth of all traffic fatalities. The agency gave Florida 2.5 of 5 stars, compared to 3 stars for Georgia, 3.5 for Alabama and 4.5 for Mississippi. Florida scored similarly to other states with large populations, including New York (2.5) and Texas (2.5). California scored better at 3.5. Most of the lowest-scoring states were in the upper midwest, including Michigan (1), Wisconsin (2) and the Dakotas. 

For decades, our drunk driving injury lawyers in Southwest Florida have sponsored MADD and local law enforcement efforts to crackdown on drunk drivers, including roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints. We are working hard at the local level, but the MADD report reveals there is more work to be done at the policy level. MADD notes that since its founding in 1982, the number of fatal drunk driving accidents has been cut in half, from a high of more than 20,000 deaths a year. Much of this success has been due to legislative and policy changes at the state and federal level, and high-visibility enforcement at the local level.

Tropical storm Beryl dissipated this week, long before reaching the Caribbean. But there was tropical storm Chris to takes its place, becoming the third named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. Like storms named for the letters of the alphabet, Florida safety advocates are encouraging motorists to brush up on their ABCs when it comes to driving in poor weather. Regardless of whether mainland Florida sees any hurricane activity this year, the tropical storm season is a time of heavy rains that can make driving dangerous, and leave standing water, which can be deadly.

Driving in inclement weather usually means rain in South Florida. However, it can also mean reduced visibility from fog or wild fires. High winds can also create risks; Florida is so flat that wind can be especially strong on long stretches of road at highway speeds. Here are some of the summer road risks in Southwest Florida and how to avoid them.

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The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is urging motorists to “Slow Down, Stay Cool” and avoid summer driving accidents.

While many Southwest Florida motorists don’t think of summer as being a time for heavy traffic and car accidents, our injury lawyers in Fort Myers know a lack of snowbirds and tourists does not mean the risks have abated. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers. And, summer or winter, Florida is dealing with crisis levels of motor-vehicle collisions, motorcycle collisions, and injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians. Per capita, or per mile traveled, local residents face alarmingly high risks in summer. It’s just that during winter tourist season there are more of us living here.

Additionally, you must be proactive when it comes to protecting your rights. Florida has the most uninsured motorists on the road, is a state with among the highest number of fatal hit-and-run collisions in the nation, and has rock-bottom minimum insurance requirements even for motorists who are carrying the lawfully required auto insurance.

It’s time to talk about your tires.

When is the last time you looked at them? Even a glance?

Have you checked your air pressure this month? This year? Ever? Are you driving around with your tire warning light on? 

A bicyclist was killed in a Fourth of July weekend bicycle crash after a motorist drove onto a sidewalk on San Carlos Boulevard, according to The News-Press. 

The Florida Highway Patrol was investigating the collision, which occurred shortly after 11 p.m. when a 1996 Toyota Corolla driven by a 23-year-old Fort Myers man failed to negotiate a curve. The car traveled onto the sidewalk and partially overturned. FHP reports the crash was alcohol related and charges are pending. 

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida continue to see an increasing number of these car v. bicycle accidents. As is typically the case, rather than an “accident” this incident appears to be the cause of one or more negligent decisions by an at-fault driver.

A Las Vegas woman has filed a civl lawsuit in Hillsborough County, Florida, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a pro football player while staying at a mansion in Lutz.

As these incidents continue to come to light, more and more victims are realizing they have a right to pursue civil damages in many of these types of cases.

As we recently reported on our Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, more than 100 Uber drivers have been arrested and accused of crimes involving sexual assault. CNN Money reported many of the cases have led to criminal convictions and/or civil liability, while many other cases are pending in criminal and civil court.

Florida Highway Patrol will be targeting aggressive drivers in advance of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend. FHP will enforce the “Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT)” program until June 28.

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Specifically, troopers will be looking to educate motorists about the dangers of aggressive driving around large trucks.

The U.S. Occupations Safety and Health Administration in investigating how a roofer fell from atop a Fort Myers truck dealership earlier this week.

The News-Press reports the accident  on Palm Avenue, where Fort Myers police, firefighters and Lee County EMS personnel responded, left the victim seriously injured. The 911 caller reported a man had fallen from the roof and was not moving.

OSHA reports fall accidents are second only to transportation accidents among U.S. workers. Construction workers, and roofers in particular, are among those at greatest risk.

Florida Highway Patrol is reminding motorists it’s that time of year again when driving in inclement weather becomes a life skill.

Slick roads, blinding rain, high winds, and standing water are among the primary threats. The FHP urges motorists to “turn around, don’t drown,” when encountering standing water in the roadway. 

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles notes Florida is known for extreme weather, and rapidly changing weather conditions, both of which can catch even veteran motorists off guard.