Car Accidents

Fort Myers Fourth of July Traffic Could Be Hectic, So Avoid Car Accidents

June 30, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyers wish you and your family a safe Fourth of July holiday weekend. We know many of you will take to the roads to get away for a couple days — please be careful.

As AAA estimates, more than 39 million people will be traveling this Independence Day holiday weekend, which is actually slightly down from 40 million last year, USA Today reports. The national driving organization believes that high gas prices — up about $1 on average from last year — contribute to the dip in traffic.

But 39 million cars still represents a high volume of vehicles traveling our highways and byways. And with Southwest Florida representing a vacation hot spot and destination for many travelers, our local roads may see an uptick in traffic. While that may be good for the local economy, it could be devastating if people get into car accidents in Fort Myers, Naples and elsewhere during the holiday weekend.

According to 2006 data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 702 motor vehicle accidents occur every day in the state and thousands of people die each year on Florida roads.

These accidents can be minor fender-benders that cause little damage to the vehicle and no injuries to drivers and passengers. But that isn’t always the case. Especially on busy highways.

Common Fourth of July Accident Causes:

Drunk driving accidents: According to 2009 data from the non-profit Century Council group, more than 53,000 arrests were made in Florida for DUI. That year, 770 people died in alcohol-related accidents.

Drunk driving accidents claim many lives each year and cause unparalleled devastation to families throughout Southwest Florida. And for those who survive, their recovery can last months or years or it’s possible they can’t fully recover from injuries sustained in these senseless wrecks.

Motorcycle accidents: You’ve likely seen the bumper stickers “Motorcycles are Everywhere” and “Look Twice For Motorcycles.” Because Florida has such inviting weather, motorcycles are, indeed everywhere. And because they provide less protection than vehicles, riders are particularly susceptible to injury and death.

Florida has nearly 500,000 registered motorcycles, which ranks second only to California, another state with warm weather. And motorcycles are typically out and all times of the year because it is warm nearly year-round in the Sunshine State. Motorcyclists often have difficulty avoiding vehicles that pull out quickly without properly looking both ways. So, always be attentive while driving.

Pedestrian accidents: Like motorcyclists, pedestrians are at the mercy of drivers because they have very little protection. Distracted drivers often cause serious injuries to pedestrians in Collier County and elsewhere in Southwest Florida. Thousands of pedestrians are injured each year in Florida.
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Teen Drivers Likely to be involved in a Motor-Vehicle Accident with a Truck in Fort Myers and Elsewhere This Summer

June 29, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Teen drivers recently met at our Nation’s Capital to focus on the importance of safe driving habits during the summer months, especially when sharing our roadways with large trucks. Teens were involved in an interactive event to discuss the risks and consequences of a serious car accident in Fort Myers and elsewhere this summer. Each teen pledged to avoid the blind spots of large trucks and signed a “No Texting Promise” during this truck safety demonstration.

This demonstrations was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Officials from each organization spoke with these teens about the dangers of large trucks. For example, a fully loaded tractor-trailer requires approximately twice the stopping distance as a passenger vehicle. They also discussed their “No Zones,” or blind spots.

Our Cape Coral personal injury attorneys understand that most of our young drivers do not have enough driving experience or driving knowledge to fully understand how these larger vehicles operate. They also lack the knowledge of how to properly and effectively accommodate their travel on our roadways. For these reasons, it is important to speak with our newly licensed drivers to make sure they understand the risks and consequences of accidents that involve such large vehicles. With proper knowledge, skill and experience, a serious — or fatal — accident may be prevented.

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the deadliest days for teen drivers, ages 15- to 19-years-old, on our roadways are during the months of May through August. Twice as many teens die each day on our roadways during these 4 months as compared to the rest of the year. During this time, nearly 16 teen deaths occur on our roadways compared to an average of roughly 9 teen deaths a day during the year as a whole.

“Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, President of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented.”

Individuals aged 16- to 24-years-old make up the age group that has the highest traffic accident death rate in the United States. Between the years of 2005 and 2009, approximately 4,000 people from this age group were killed in traffic accidents that reportedly involved a large truck.

“Do not expect that having a driver’s license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk,” said Steve Keppler, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). “Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else’s.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 380,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. More than 4,000 of these trucks were involved in fatal accidents that resulted in nearly 4,500 deaths. Another 90,000 people were injured in these crashes. During 2008, there were nearly 300 large trucks that were involved in fatal traffic accidents in Florida alone.
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Teen Killed by Distracted Driver in Naples

June 28, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Everyone thinks they know how dangerous texing while driving is, but do you know just how deadly it can really be? Ask a Naples woman who recently lost her pregnant daughter because of a distracted-driving accident, according to WINK News. Now, to increase awareness of this dangerous habit, drivers are filmed while attempting to complete an obstacle course while texting. Supports hope to illustrate your increased risks for being involved in a serious car accident in Fort Myers and elsewhere because of distracted-driving.

“She was going to walk the block to finish packing her stuff and I was to meet her there, pick her up with her belongings, and drive her back to her apartment she just got,” said Kristin Murphy, the mother of the victim.

Our Naples car accident attorneys understand the dangers of distracted driving. But we would like all motorists to understand the dangers and risks that accompany these poor driving habits. As technology continues to advance, the number of distracting devices available to drivers increases. It’s not only technology though. A driver can be distracted by virtually anything, including other drivers, the radio, their current mood and even maps. It is important for all drivers to focus on one thing, and one thing only, while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle — driving!

Kristin’s daughter was in the process of moving out into her own apartment back in March of 2009 when the accident occurred. Her new apartment was only a block away from her mother’s house.

Her daughter was passing through the intersections of U.S. 41 and Airport Pulling Road, and never made it.

“18-year-old boy on his cell phone didn’t see them crossing the street and hit both girls,” recalled Kristin. “Chelsey was hit first. She took the brunt of the injury. She flew up on the hood, hit the windshield and was thrown 30-feet. Her friend was dragged a 105-feet by the car. Both girls were trauma-1 alerts, taken to Lee Memorial Hospital via the helicopter.”

Kristin’s daughter died a few days later in the hospital. The distracted driver never even knew he hit anyone.

“The police officer asked him what he was doing– said he was talking to his friend on the phone when the impact occurred,” said Kristin. “The police officer asked him if he knew what he hit and he said, ‘I think it was a water cooler.’ The dragging part was my daughter’s friend he drug here 100-feet.”

Kristin now advocates against distracted driving. She recently attended an event at the speedway at Disney. This is where Kristin watched parents take their teen drivers on an obstacle course that was set up by Allstate Insurance.

“The phone rings. You sort of feel bad if you don’t answer it. If someone sends you a text, your PDA buzzes, people feel like they have an obligation to respond to the person when they really have an obligation to themselves and other people on the road to keep them safe,” said Allstate CEO, Thomas Wilson.

Drivers at the speedway were to complete the obstacle course three times. First they had to go through it without any distractions. The second time they went through it one the phone and the third time they were to complete the course while trying to text and having passengers distract them. Cameras on the vehicle captured everything they ran over and even the driver’s reaction.

“When you’re talking on the phone you’re into your conversation you’re actually visualizing the person you’re talking to. You can see straight ahead, but you have tunnel vision; you can’t see what is on your sides,” Kristin explained.

Kristin now has a national PSA on YouTube that features her daughter’s face and a strong message about two lives that are forever changed.

“Chelsey’s dreams are buried with her and this boy’s dreams are gone. He can’t be a police officer. He can’t do that. He has two felonies now.” she said.

Distractions affect drivers in a number of ways. For one, it slows their reaction time to the same slow-reaction time of a driver who is legally drunk. Drivers who use a cell phone behind the wheel of a motor-vehicle are 4 times more likely to be involved in a serious car accident. For the safety of you, your loved ones and everyone else on our roadways, we ask that you hold off on the distractions until you’ve come to a complete stop on the side of the road. No life is worth losing over a phone call or a text message.
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Sunshine State Ranks in Bottom for National Drivers Test Scores

June 18, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The results are in.

According to the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, Florida has some of the worst drivers in the United States. Florida ranked 37th out of the 50 states for knowledgeable drivers. The Sunshine State had an average test score of 76.5 percent. This means that nearly 20 percent of our drivers wouldn’t pass the written drivers test if they were to take it today.

After reviewing these test scores, it’s no wonder there are so many fatal car accidents in Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and elsewhere throughout the state of Florida.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers recognize that these results are a bit disheartening. According to the report, there are almost 37 million American drivers who would not be able to pass a drivers test. We hope these test scores will serve as a wake-up call for drivers to re-up their driving skills to help preserve what safety we have left on our roadways.

The GMAC test results concluded that one in five drivers on the road do not meet the basic requirements to get their driver’s license, but they still have one.

“The GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test has become the benchmark for America’s driving IQ,” said Scott Eckman, chief marketing officer, GMAC Insurance. “All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to rules of the road and it begins with education. We’re hoping this year’s GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results will inspire drivers to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe.”

Our country did see an increase of 1.7 percent from the 2010 test score average. Still, our average test score was only a 77.9 percent. According to the GMAC report, nearly 90 percent of tested drivers were unable to identify the correct action to take when pulling up to a steady yellow light. Only 25 percent of those tested were able to correctly determine a safe following distance.

Many drivers don’t even know they’re lacking proper driving knowledge and skills. This is why GMAC Insurance conducts an annual National Drivers Test in hopes of raising some awareness about our drivers’ lack of skills. The organization hopes these results urge drivers to improve their credentials before they’re involved in a serious — or fatal — motor-vehicle accident.

The GMAC Driver’s Test Highlights:

-Men returned better test scores that women did. One in four women failed the test. Overall, men averaged an 80.2 percent and women averaged a 74.1 percent.

-The Midwest region of the country may have the safest roadways to travel as they were ranked first with an average test score of 77.5 percent.

-You may not want to drive throughout the Northeast region of the United States. They ranked last in the country with an average score of 74.9 percent.

-Older drivers, ages 60 to 65, are reportedly the most knowledgeable drivers. They returned the highest average score at 80.3 percent.

-One of every three drivers in New York and Washington D.C. failed the test, but Wyoming had the most failing scores.

-After three years in a row, New York is no longer the state with the worst drivers. This year they jumped from dead last to 45th place with an average test score of 75.3 percent.

You can take the National Drivers Test yourself to see where your driving knowledge stands.
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DOT Warns Motorists of Under-Inflated Tires Causing Car Accidents in Naples and Elsewhere

June 17, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

As you know, judging by the heat and the humidity, the summer is officially here. Unfortunately, so is the increased risk of a tire-related car accident in Fort Myers, Naples and elsewhere throughout the state. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation consumer advisory, this is the time for you to check out your vehicle’s tires to help prevent one of these serious accidents.

Motorists are urged to check the air pressure in their tires. Drivers should also check out the condition of their tires, looking for bulges, uneven wear and general conditioning. The hot summer weather and under-inflated tires prove to be a deadly combination.

Our Naples personal injury attorneys urge residents to take the proper safety precautions this summer to help to prevent an accident. As the summer travel season begins, motorists will be hitting the road. The consumer advisory has been released to coincide with National Tire Safety Week and drivers around the country need to be aware of the condition of their tires, but especially those in Florida and other hot-weather states.

“As the weather warms up, it’s especially important for drivers to ensure their tires are properly inflated,” Secretary Ray LaHood said. “For your safety and the safety of others on the road, inspect your tires regularly and maintain the proper inflation.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 3,400 people died from 2005 to 2009 because of tire-related accidents. Another 116,000 people were injured from these incidents.

“While it’s true improperly maintained tires can contribute to a crash at any time of year, it is particularly critical for motorists to check tires during hot weather, when families and luggage often overload vehicles for long vacation trips,” NHTSA Administrator David Strickland warned. “Underinflated tires spinning on hot asphalt for extended periods of time can be a recipe for disaster.”

Motorists are urged to check their tire pressure often, but more importantly before venturing out on long trips. Aging tires and scorching pavement cause many more accidents for which the cause goes unreported. Your risk of an accident only increases if your old tires are under-inflated. You can check with the tire manufacturer or with the vehicle’s owner manual for recommendations on how often you should change your tires.

Keeping your tires inflated will also help you to keep a little extra cash in your pocket. The Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can lower your vehicle’s gas mileage by about 0.3 percent for every 1 PSI (pound per square inch) drop in pressure for all of your tires.

This is how it adds up: If a vehicle with a fuel-economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and tires with a 35 PSI tire pressure recommendation experiences a drop of 25 percent in tire pressure then the vehicle would lose about 8.8 percent in fuel economy. This means you’d be losing nearly 3 miles per gallon!
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SUVs Among the Safest Vehicles in Fort Myers Car Accidents

June 16, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Once thought to be prone to deadly rollover accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere, SUVs are now among some of the safest vehicles on our roadways, according to USA Today.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that newer SUVs are much safer than smaller cars because of their size, weight, and now electronic stability control.

Our Naples personal injury attorneys would like you to make note of these new ratings. The vehicle you choose can ultimately be the determining factor between life and death in a serious accident. SUVs may be a better choice, despite increased fuel consumption, as their death rate has dropped nearly 70 percent from the 1999-2002 models to the 2005-2008 models. Their rate went from 82 deaths per million vehicles to 28 million, making them some of the safest vehicles on our roads.

“The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that’s no longer the case,” says Anne McCartt, the institute’s senior vice president for research.

Many in the automobile industry credit the installation of electronic stability control for the increased safety ratings. This new technology uses the vehicle’s brakes and engine power to keep the large vehicles from skidding or flipping over.

“It’s a dramatic change and a testament to the incredible effectiveness of electronic stability control,” says McCartt.

The new technology is available on nearly every type of car, but is still more common in new SUVs. This is why drivers of 2009 model year cars are about twice as likely to die in a rollover accident than someone who is driving a 2009 model SUV. Stability control has helped bring down death rates across the board, though. The overall death rate for all vehicles from 1989 to 1993 model year vehicles was a little more than 100 per million registered vehicle years. Newer vehicles, or 2005 to 2008 model year vehicles, have a death rate of just under 50, according to CNN Money.

“This report explains why Americans equate size with safety, even though small cars today are safer than ever before,” says Wade Newton, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

The overall death rate for 1989 to 1993 model year vehicles was 110 per million registered vehicle years. For 2005 to 2008 model year vehicles, the death rate is 48.

About 11.5 million vehicles were sold in the last year. Vans, SUVs or pickups accounted for 5.9 million, while 5.6 million were cars.

When you group the vehicles by segment, minivans are by far the safest with a death rate of 25 driver deaths per million registration years. Following vans are SUVs with a rate of 25, pickups at 52 and then cars at an average of 56. It should go without saying that larger cars perform better than smaller cars, with a death rate of 46 versus 82.

“For years, small cars have represented the low end of the economic spectrum and received fewer safety and enhanced design features,” says Sean Kane of Safety Research & Strategies, which advises plaintiff lawyers, government and auto suppliers. “Undoubtedly, that has an effect.”
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Program Could Improve Medical Response in Wake of Car Accidents in Lee and Collier Counties

May 31, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A new program could help save motorists involved in car accidents in Fort Myers. This new program is designed with Baby Boomers in mind and aims to provide emergency responders with vital information in the event of an accident, according to USA Today. The program makes critical information of drivers readily available in the first 60 minutes, or the “golden hour”, of a crash. This is often the time period that can make a difference between life and death for an accident victim.

This is how it works: The state distributes yellow dot stickers to put on your vehicle’s rear window. This yellow dot alerts emergency responders that there is a folder in the glove box, with the corresponding sticker, that contains useful and personal information like prescription information, a photograph, medical conditions and other similar information.

Our Fort Myers injury attorneys understand that information like this can be vital to emergency responders in the event of an accident. It is even more important when a driver is suffering from serious injuries and may not be able to communicate. While Florida is not one of the 8 states that currently participates in the program, we realize the need for a similar system.

“It’s a promising approach,” says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Actually, this is one of the goals of automated crash notification systems. Eventually, when there is a crash, these key data such as medication needed will automatically be available to EMTs. The Yellow Dot program may be a system that can be helpful in the meantime.”

The first Yellow Dot program was introduced in Connecticut back in 2002. Other states that currently practice versions of the program include Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama and New York. Georgia is currently considering the program.

“It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes,” says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 motorists over the age of 65 were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2009. Another 187,000 of these motorists suffered serious injuries. The Yellow Dot program, influenced by these individuals, hopes to decrease these numbers as proper attention can be provided quicker with this information available in a motorist’s glove box. This age group of motorists made up nearly 20 percent of all traffic accident fatalities for the year and accounted for nearly 10 percent of all suffered injuries. Florida lost nearly 500 motorists belonging to this age group in 2009.
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New Report Ranks Florida Number One for Deadly Pedestrian Accidents

May 30, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Lee County Car Accidents a Memorial Day Weekend Danger

May 27, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The Fort Myers personal injury lawyers at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Whether on the road, on a boat or elsewhere with friends and family, please stay safe and celebrate responsibly.

Law enforcement officials will be executing a number of traffic operations over the long holiday weekend. The Fort Myers Police Department will be focusing on those who drive while impaired as well as motorists who are not wearing their seat belt. The department also will be conducting vehicle safety checkpoints in an effort to reduce the risks of injury and car accidents in Fort Myers.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office joined the nationwide “Click it of Ticket” campaign that encourages all motorists to travel with their seat belts fastened. Their increased enforcement efforts began earlier this week and will continue on through the first week of June, according to Fort Myers Beach Talk.

“Your safety is paramount,” said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, “I just can’t urge driver’s enough to fasten that seat belt and make sure every occupant in the vehicle is properly secured, as well.”

Statistics for the Sunshine State reveal that we were ranked 26th in the nation for seat belt usage in 2009. Local officials believe that we will improve, particularly in the wake of the passage of the state’s primary seat belt law last year. The law now allows law enforcement to pull you over if you’re not wearing a seat belt. Currently we sit at a usage rate of just over 87 percent.

A recent survey of 12 Florida counties, showed that Lee County ranks second only to Collier County which current has more than a 90 percent compliance rate.

Florida saw more than 900 motor vehicle accident fatalities because of motorists not wearing their seat belts in the event of an accident last year. Nearly 20 of these deaths happened in Lee County alone.

This seat belt enforcement will be coupled with traffic stops aiming to crack down on drunk drivers, according to the News-Press.

The Fort Myers Police Department will be conducting a number of sobriety checkpoints at various undisclosed locations throughout the city.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the United States saw nearly 11,000 fatalities resulting from accidents that involved an alcohol-impaired-driver in 2009. These accidents accounted more than 30 percent of all of the traffic accident fatalities for the year. Florida alone witnessed more than 900 of the fatalities for that year.

In a last effort to crack down on the rules of the road this Memorial Day holiday weekend, Lee County deputies will be conducting vehicle safety checkpoints during the entire week. These checkpoints are aimed at checking for valid driver’s licenses, registrations and vehicle insurance. These stops are part of their initiative to inform and educate motorists about traffic safety rules and regulations.

Again, we urge all residents to be safe and cautious this Memorial Day weekend regardless of where you may be celebrating. Be sure to practice defensive driving skills, buckle up, do not drink and drive and make sure your vehicle meets all state and federal regulations.
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Sanibel Car Accident Kills Fort Myers Bicyclist on Sanibel Causeway

May 21, 2011 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A fatal bicycling accident in Sanibel is still being investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident, which occurred last week, killed a 46-year-old Fort Myers cyclist and caused the Sanibel Causeway to close for several hours, according to the Sanibel-Captiva Islander.

Police report that a Fort Myers couple was riding their bikes along the causeway a little before 11:00 a.m. last week when a truck drifted into the bike lane and struck the couple. One of the bicyclists flew into the guardrail and into the San Carlos Bay.
Our Fort Myers bicycle attorneys would like to remind bicyclists that Florida is among the most dangerous states for riders. The spring and summer months bring out bicyclists of all ages, both residents and tourists. Motorists may not be the only threat to bicyclists as bike rental companies have been known to rent out defective equipment that can show signs of poor maintenance and put your safety at risk.

After being tossed into the bay, the victim was pulled from the water by boaters traveling nearby. Unfortunately, attempts to revive the bicyclist were unsuccessful.

The truck driver was not injured in the accident.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Owen T. Keen says that the patrol unit is still investigating whether or not the driver fell asleep at the wheel. It has also yet to be determined if the driver was under the influence of medication or suffered from any medical condition which may have triggered the accident.

“Something terribly went wrong and caused this crash,” said Keen.

Charges against the driver have not been filed.

In honor of the fallen bicyclists and the two bicyclists from Estero who were killed in late February, the Caloosa Rider and the Bonita Bay Bicycle Club will dedicate their annual their “Ride Of Silence” to these four local residents.

The “Ride of Silence” is used to memorialize riders that have been injured or killed as it aims to draw motorist’s attention to the legal rights of bicyclists. They strongly urge motorists to keep a watchful eye for all cyclists.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 700 bicyclists were killed, and 52,000 injured, in traffic-related accidents in the United States in 2008. Bicyclists make up 2 percent of all traffic fatalities and 2 percent of all traffic-accident related injuries each year. In 2008, Florida witnessed nearly 150 bicyclist fatalities because of traffic-related accidents. As Florida provides beautiful weather all year long, motorists are urged to keep a look out for bicyclists at all times on all roadways.
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