Hidden Holiday Risk: Dangerous and Defective Products

January 2, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

We bring more “stuff” into our homes throughout the long holiday season than at any other time of the year. Holiday decorations. Small appliances. Gifts. Clothing. Toys. Electronics.

While many of us make religious celebrations, time with loved ones, and volunteerism, a part of our holiday priorities, the consumerism is often an unavoidable part of our holiday celebrations.

But far fewer stop to think about the risk of bringing dangerous and defective products into our home. Yet our defective product attorneys know thousands of dangerous products are sold to consumers each year, and the risks continue to grow with the global, Internet economy.

Parking Lot Safety a Holiday Concern

November 30, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

After two holiday seasons marred by the coronavirus pandemic, there is early evidence that people are visiting the malls and big-box stores in record numbers as Black Friday officially opens the holiday shopping season.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral recently wrote about the risks of holiday shopping injury But a significant number of injuries occur in the parking lot, before shoppers even make it to the store. Being aware of the risks, and what you can do to keep you and your family safe, can go a long way toward avoiding injury this shopping season.

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Travel Smart, Travel Safe this Thanksgiving

November 13, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

There is every evidence this will be a record Thanksgiving travel season.

The week of Thanksgiving is always the busiest week on the roads each year. But this year is expected to be busier than most for a number of reasons: Gas prices, while still high, have moderated, families are determined to get together after two years of holiday plans interrupted by COVID, and flying is an expensive mess.

The Thanksgiving Travel Survey 2022 projects nearly half of all adults — some 112 million motorists — plan to travel for Thanksgiving.

Avoiding Hurricane Scams in SWFL

November 1, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The damage caused by Hurricane Ian was historic. By most estimates, the destruction will surpass Hurricane Katrina as the most costly storm in U.S. history.

At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, our attorneys and staff members live and work right here in Southwest Florida. For 50 years since Bruce L. Scheiner set up his first downtown office, we have been dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims and families in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.

While recovering from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian will be a monumental challenge, there is already evidence of scammers working the area to take advantage of the tragedy. Unfortunately, with tree-trimmers, roofers and general contractors in high demand, and residents desperate to make repairs and prevent further damage, too many homeowners will be vulnerable.

We Stand With SWFL after Hurricane Ian

October 30, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

When it comes to helping in the wake of Hurricane Ian, each of us at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner are committed to doing whatever we can.

For more than 50 years, Bruce L. Scheiner has fought for the rights of Southwest Florida residents. Our large staff of attorneys, paralegals, investigators and support personnel live and work right here in Southwest Florida. We are working shoulder-to-shoulder to help family, neighbors, co-workers and complete strangers with basic needs as we all begin the process of rebuilding our beautiful community, better and stronger.

In addition to organizing assistance efforts and working with organizations in our communities, we have partnered with law firms who focus on property damage claims to help ensure Southwest Floridians get the experienced legal help they need during this trying time. We are here to help devastated homeowners who need assistance with hurricane claims. As areas of Southwest Florida regain power and return to some measure of normalcy, let’s not forget some will be working toward recovery for years, while others will never recover from the devastation wrought by this generational storm.

Height of Hurricane Season a Risk for Drivers in SWFL

September 26, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

We are entering the height of hurricane season in Southwest Florida, and all eyes are on the big storms. Activity in the Atlantic has local residents bracing for catastrophic property damage, flooding, and power outages. However, residents should not overlook more commonplace threats while prepping for “the big one.” The near-daily thunderstorms that define fall in Florida make it one of the most dangerous times of the year for motorists.

Sudden storms are the norm in our state, often causing blinding rains, reduced traction, and flooding that can challenge even veteran drivers. Due to these hazards, we encourage you to service your vehicle and check your tires for adequate tread. Florida’s mild winters eliminate the early spring and late fall maintenance schedules followed by motorists in much of the rest of the country, and it is easy to be caught off guard by rapidly changing road conditions. In addition, intense summer temperatures and blistering asphalt can quickly degrade tires when tread and traction are most needed. Ensuring your car is ready for inclement weather is the best way to combat difficult road conditions due to Florida storms.

Weathering the Storm: Safe Driving in SWFL

While the winter months are most challenging for northern motorists, drivers in South Florida must cope with severe storm conditions from June until November, with some outliers striking in the off-season.

Safe Driving Best Protection from Summer’s 100 Deadliest Days

June 28, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 Deadliest Days for travel. While gas prices are at record highs, there are no indications that families are cutting back on travel plans this summer after two years of pandemic related isolation and restrictions.

Our car accident lawyers and Fort Myers have been representing families dealing with the serious injury or death of a loved one in Southwest Florida for more than half a century. In most cases, these “accidents” are entirely preventable. In fact, they are most often caused by the same dangerous driving behaviors we see over, and over, and over again. We have written about them often, but we encourage you to take a moment to read them and make safe driving a topic of family conversation. There are real, concrete steps each driver in your household can take to drastically reduce the chances of being involved in a life-altering motor vehicle collision.

Review your Homeowner’s Liability Policy

June 26, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers often remind motorists about the importance of auto insurance, particularly the need to purchase policies with significant liability limits of $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident at a minimum, and higher limits are recommended and typically available for a modest increase in premiums. Likewise, uninsured motorist/uninsured motorist coverage, which is optional in Florida, offers vital protection to you and your family in the event you are involved in a collision with one of the many uninsured or underinsured drivers on the road.

But we spend less time talking about your homeowner’s liability insurance, which is also a critical component when it comes to protecting the financial well-being of you and your family. The increasing challenges facing Florida homeowners when it comes to purchasing and maintaining homeowner’s insurance has been a frequent topic in the news lately. But those challenges are related to the storm damage portion of your policy as hurricanes become more common and power powerful along the coast each year.

Motorcycle Safety Month Opens Summer Riding Season in SWFL

May 31, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

May is motorcycle safety awareness month. It is also the start of the summer riding season in Southwest Florida.

While Florida weather permits year-around riding, it also exacerbates the risks, both because motorcycles are on the road all year, and because the never-ending ride breeds complacency among motorists who, because they see riders all year long, might not see them at all.

The truth is the vast majority of motorcycle accidents involving a motor vehicle are the fault of the vehicle’s driver. But that does not mean motorcyclists are powerless when it comes to reducing the risks. Our motorcycle injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have been representing riders and their families in personal injury and wrongful death claims for half a century. And there are a number of lessons we have learned over the years when it comes to safe riding on the roads of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.

Neighborhood Fatality a Reminder of Risks Close to Home

October 5, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A Cape Coral man died last week after being pinned between two vehicles along a neighborhood street, NBC-2 reported.

The man was putting tools into the back of his vehicle when a Nissan Sentra driven by a 26-year-old man struck him, pinning him between the two vehicles, according to authorities. The driver said he couldn’t see because of sun glare and condensation on the windshield. Neither speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in the crash, according to authorities.

Floridians do not have to deal with snow and ice. So there is little excuse for leaving the driveway with obstructed views. Take a few moments to clear fog and condensation from your windows. If your windows fog while en route, pull over to the side of the road and give your defrosters a chance to catch up.