Golf Cart Death of 7-year-old in Fort Myers Reportedly Caused by 3-year-old Driver

August 5, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The recent death of an adolescent struck by a golf cart driven by a 3-year-old boy has highlighted the risk of golf carts and other vehicles often operated in our Southwest Florida neighborhoods.

CNN reported the 7-year-old was struck on private property in Fort Myers as the 3-year-old rounded a curve.

Florida has recently passed a law that will take effect October 1, requiring drivers of golf carts to have a permit or driver’s license, although the law will apply to public property.

Across the country, more than 6,500 children are hurt by golf carts every year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Just more than half those injured are children under 12.

SWFL Drowning Prevention in Focus

August 1, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida has more than 1.5 millions swimming pools. Many of these are residential pools, but many resort, hotel and public pools and hot tubs are available for year-around enjoyment.

Our Florida swimming pool accident attorneys have noted small children are among those most at risk. This is particularly true for visiting family members and youngsters who do not have regular access to pools and may not have had proper swimming, safety and drowning-prevention training. Unfortunately, a recent report on the risks of young children drowning in the New York Times revealed the risks have not waned in recent years, despite frequent publications of the risks.

The Times reports that the impact of 30 years of drowning prevention efforts appears to have plateaued, and in fact risks have increased for some racial minorities, including blacks and Hispanics.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May 5, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

It’s time for motorists to renew efforts to watch for motorcycle riders as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month signals the beginning of the summer riding season.

Motorcyclists too, should keep safety awareness top of mind by having their bike serviced, riding responsibly, taking a basic or advanced rider safety course, and wearing appropriate safety gear. While most adult riders are not required to wear a helmet under Florida law, our motorcycle injury lawyers in Fort Myers recently wrote about legal changes that could limit or even eliminate a rider’s ability to collect damages when serious head injuries result in a collision with an at-fault driver if the rider was not wearing a helmet.

However, we know most riders keep safety at the forefront and want nothing more than to enjoy South Florida’s summer riding season and to make it home safely to their families. The reality is that the vast majority of motorcycle collisions involving other motor vehicles are the fault of the vehicle’s driver.

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.