Car Accidents

Southwest Florida Roads Growing Deadlier

July 25, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

There is growing evidence that Southwest Florida’s roads are more dangerous than at any time in recent memory, as the nation struggles to emerge from pandemic isolation.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports 55 traffic deaths through the first six months of this year in Lee County, putting the area on track to surpass 100 road deaths in 2021. That’s 11 more than during the same period last year. In 2020, Lee County reported 101 fatal crashes, which claimed 109 lives. Despite the pandemic, last year’s fatalities were up 11 percent compared to 2019.

Lee County has surpassed 100 road deaths in 9 years since 2000. However, prior to the pandemic there was evidence that South Florida roads were getting safer. By comparison, Collier County has only reported more than 50 road deaths on one occasion since a record of 79 deaths in 2003.

In-Car Technology Impacting Personal Injury Claims

July 12, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

While there is no question that advanced safety features on new vehicles have the potential to save lives, there is increasing reports of confusion surrounding such technology leading to serious and fatal traffic collisions.

While Tesla’s auto-pilot technology is most often in the news, the reality is that new vehicles continue to hit the road with a startling array of technological features that are being promoted as safety improvements. Our car accident lawyers know these are some of the most complex cases a personal injury or wrongful death law firm can handle, pitting motorists against some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world and, increasingly, some of the world’s most profitable tech companies, including Apple and Google.

Walkers Face Highest Collision Risks in SWFL

July 10, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

There is new evidence that traffic deaths among pedestrians have reached epidemic proportions.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have continued to highlight the risks in Florida, which is the deadliest state in the nation for these preventable tragedies. While the overall number of road fatalities was declining steadily before the pandemic, many areas, including Southwest Florida, have continued to see an increase in fatalities among walkers and riders.

Now a new report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows the number of pedestrians killed increased 53 percent from 2009-2018, after steadily declining for three decades. Today, 1 in 6 fatal accidents involves a walker.

Florida Lawmakers Pushed to Pass Seat-Belt Law for All Passengers

July 9, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

It’s no secret that seat belts save lives. But new research highlights the real-world impact for front- and rear-seat passengers, prompting safety advocates to encourage states to adopt laws that address backseat seat-belt use.

Florida is among the states that only require seat belt use of front-seat passengers.

Our car accident attorneys on Fort Myers and Cape Coral have frequently noted Florida’s lax safety standards – from lack of adequate distracted driving laws to the state’s rock-bottom minimum insurance requirements of just $10,000, Florida is among the worst states in the nation when it comes to mandating good traffic-safety habits.

Road Construction a Summer Threat in SWFL

June 21, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Summer is road construction season in Southwest Florida. That is true every year as crews race to complete major projects during off-season, and before tourists and snowbirds start flocking to the area for high season.

But it’s particularly true this year as Florida and the rest of the nation emerges from the pandemic. Federal investment meant to stimulate economic recovery, and the yet-to-pass infrastructure package being debated in Congress, both mean road construction will be even more commonplace in the coming months.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know construction zones are high risk when it comes to serious and fatal accidents. Please do your part to keep work crews and fellow motorists safe on the road this summer.

Wet Weather Driving Safety in SWFL

June 10, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

With the welcome return of rain in the last week, Southwest Florida is entering rainy season.

Hurricane forecasters expect it to be a busy year, on the heals of a 2020 season that saw the most named storms in recent history. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-normal storm season with 13 to 20 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes in 2021.

Lee County offers a hurricane preparedness guide. While we encourage you to be prepared, our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know most of the weather risks in Southwest Florida come from blinding afternoon storms, flooding, and the risks associated with driving into a canal, retention pond, or other water hazard.

Beware: “100 Deadliest Days” for Teen Drivers

June 8, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Summer is the deadliest time of the year for young motorists, particularly the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day, which safety advocates call the “100 Deadliest Days” of the year on the roads.

Nationwide, more than 7,000 people died in teen driving-related summertime crashes from 2010 to 2019. According to previous research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, new teen drivers ages 16-17 are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash.

“There are more daily deaths in crashes involving teen drivers during the summer months than the rest of the year because teens tend to have more unstructured time behind the wheel,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know these can be tragic cases, with victims often being friends or relatives of the at-fault driver. Serious injuries, multiple parties, and numerous factors of causation can make these cases among the most complex handled by an experienced law firm. Such tragedies forever mark lives. We encourage you to take the risks seriously, lay ground rules, and talk frequently with the young drivers in your household.

Summer Travel Safety in Focus

June 6, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and Fourth of July a month away, there is every evidence that Southwest Floridians are hitting the roads in record numbers.

Despite high gas prices that are on average $1 gallon higher than a year ago, AAA is reporting travel is reaching pre-pandemic highs even as airlines are reporting a sharp rebound in travel bookings. Here in Southwest Florida, that means busy roads despite the departure of seasonal traffic, and greater risks as we head into the summer rainy season.

Our injury lawyers recently reported our streets have not become statistically safer during COVID, with more than 100 traffic deaths reported in Lee County in 2020. As the economy continues to improve and the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, there is every evidence that record summer tourists and guests will continue to visit, even as local residents hit the road for some much needed time away from home.

Traffic Safety Focus on Dangerous Intersections in SWFL

April 28, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Safety advocates are warning motorists of the dangers of intersection traffic collisions.

Our car accident attorneys in Cape Coral and Fort Myers opened the year with our Safe Driving series, which looked at the heightened risks of a collision at intersections. These natural points of traffic conflict are especially dangerous for walkers and cyclists. But motorists also have a high risk of colliding with another motor vehicle.

WINK News is among the organizations reporting the rise in traffic collisions since the start of the pandemic. As we reported here on our injury blog, more than 100 traffic deaths were reported in 2020 despite the drastic reduction in traffic congestion that resulted from pandemic restrictions. In September, as season opened, there were close to 1,000 crashes in Lee County.

Graduation Safety a Focus in SWFL

April 26, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Graduation season is upon us. Congratulations to each of the high school and college graduates in Southwest Florida.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know this is a joyous season full of pride, recognition and personal growth. But it is also a time of needless heartache and tragedy for families forced each year to deal with the serious or fatal injury of a loved one so full of life and promise.

The inherent risks of the season usually involve either graduation celebrations or road accidents involving teenagers. However, there is much parents and teens can do to help reduce the risks of being involved in a life-altering “accident.”