After the Accident: Finding the Right Doctor

September 21, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Anyone who has been in a car accident knows just how frightening the experience can be. When the peaceful thrum of the road is suddenly replaced by a violent jolt, squealing tires, and twisted metal, anyone who walks away unscathed is apt to feel relieved—and rightly so. Many collisions in Florida result in serious injuries that force the victim into immediate and long-term medical care, often at very high cost. Once the smoke has cleared, therefore, one of the first decisions to make is which doctor to trust for your necessary treatment.

Confidence in your medical providers is always important, but in the aftermath of a jarring wreck, feeling comfortable and safe with your doctor is a prerequisite for proper recovery. Since most general medical providers don’t treat crash victims, it’s important that you understand the capabilities of your primary care physician and their policy regarding accident-related injuries. To receive optimal and timely care, you may have to seek out practitioners who specialize in treating your specific array of symptoms. If this is the case, due diligence is key: Verified online reviews, primary care referrals, and recommendations from friends and experts can augment your research into which practices are best suited for your needs.

Keep in mind that you should get treatment for your injuries even if they feel insignificant at the time of the crash. The body’s shock response to trauma can leave you numb to acute pain at the scene, and many symptoms from common accident injuries—particularly those involving soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments—can take days to fully manifest. This means you may “feel fine” right after a collision and opt against seeking the medical attention you actually require.

Trucking Accident Risks on the Rise in South Florida

September 18, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Motorists in 2022 are facing a perfect storm of factors that make collisions with semis and large commercial trucks more likely than ever before. This is a particularly critical safety issue because of the extreme risks faced by occupants of passenger vehicles, many of whom are seriously injured or killed when a collision occurs with a tractor-trailer or other large commercial truck. Bicyclists and pedestrians are even more imperiled, as their size disadvantage and lack of a safety cage leave them especially vulnerable during impact.

Despite the well-known risks, trucking collisions are occurring at record levels. Several elements are to blame:

The supply-chain constraints caused by the coronavirus pandemic have put record numbers of overworked truckers on the road.
A nationwide shortage of 100,000 truckers continues to grow as industry consolidation reduces pay and degrades working conditions.
Emergency orders meant to ease supply chains have permitted younger, less experienced truckers to cross state lines.
Large trucking companies are attempting to address the shortage by offering their own training programs and forcing new truckers to work off the debt.
Regulators in the United States have failed to keep pace with some life-saving safety mandates already enforced throughout much of the developed world, including the use of improved underride guards, side underride guards, speed limiters, date recorders, and electronic log books.
The internet economy continues to push an increasing number of large delivery vehicles into local neighborhoods, where streets are not designed for such traffic and bicyclists and pedestrians face additional risks.

Pedestrian Safety in Focus as School Year Begins

September 3, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Increased focus on pedestrian safety is critical to reducing the risks as the school year gets underway, especially with the year-end holidays and the height of tourist season just around the corner.

South Florida has long been among the deadliest areas in the nation for pedestrians, thanks in large part to its combination of perfect year-round walking weather and imperfect infrastructure planning, the latter of which has resulted in a lack of streetlights and sidewalks in many local neighborhoods. More than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in 2021, compared to 4,000 in 2009, according to Smart Growth America, which publishes an annual report that has been particularly critical of Florida in recent years. Four of the nation’s 10 deadliest cities, and six of the 20 deadliest, are located in the Sunshine State.

Unfortunately, little progress has been made: Each of these cities has seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities in recent years.

Fall Brings Increased Drunk Driving Risks

August 31, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

As fall sports season gets underway, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

More than 11,000 motorists are killed each year in traffic collisions involving drunk drivers, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. Almost half of all crashes involve a driver who has been drinking. Impaired drivers, speeders, and distracted drivers now account for the vast majority of serious and fatal accidents on the roads.

The nation’s leading road safety organization reports someone dies in a drunk driving collision every 45 minutes.

Pandemic Heightens Traffic Accident Risks

August 28, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted our world in surprising ways. Beyond the immediate effects of the virus on public health, other consequences are now being observed and documented. Early estimates show 2022 is likely to be among the deadliest years for drivers on the road in recent memory an unexpected data point in the stay-at-home era.

While far fewer miles have been traveled in recent years due to the rise of remote work during the COVID pandemic, traffic safety advocates continue to grapple with the increased risk of serious and fatal auto collisions on US roadways.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 9,560 people died in the first quarter of 2022. Considering the last three months of the year are typically the deadliest, the nation could see 40,000 traffic deaths for the first time since 1963. Continue reading ›

Speeding Targeted Amid Lack of Pandemic-Era Patience

August 21, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

COVID has caused widespread change throughout all areas of our society. The way we work and interact with others may never return to pre-COVID norms. Despite the stress, upheaval, and uncertainty, some pandemic consequences have actually improved our quality of life: More time with families, increased emphasis on work-life balance, and new tools for collaboration emerged in the midst of the virus’ tragic toll.

However, there is ample evidence that shorter attention spans and reduced patience have emerged as negative consequences of pandemic isolation. Traffic statistics, for example, show high collision rates, despite a reduction in miles traveled. And specific traffic behaviors, such as road rage, aggressive driving, and speeding, have reached new pandemic highs in 2022.

In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new safety campaign warning of the dangers of speeding, which is now involved in nearly one-third of all serious and fatal traffic collisions. It seems we have fewer places to go, and more time to get there—but we have less patience than ever before.

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.

Motorists: It is YOUR job to prevent motorcycle accidents

May 30, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Here is the hard truth: If you are involved in a collision with a motorcycle, it is probably going to be your fault.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month. Too often, when we think about motorcycle safety, we think about things riders can do to protect themselves from being involved in a serious or fatal accident. In other words, most motorists do not understand we are talking to them. Yet our motorcycle injury lawyers in Cape Coral and Fort Myers know most motorcycle accidents involving a motor vehicle are determined to be the fault of the vehicle’s driver.

Motorcycles are on the road all year long in Florida. That can build complacency among drivers, who simply stop paying attention to them. Know that even a low-speed collision with a rider has every chance of resulting in very serious or fatal injuries. Motorists must avoid the heartache of being involved in a tragedy, as well as the very serious liability, by respecting their rights and always giving riders the right of way. The few extra seconds it takes to avoid a tragedy is well worth it.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Drivers

As veteran motorcycle injury lawyers, we have been representing riders and their families in personal injury and wrongful death claims in Southwest Florida for more than half a century. Here is our best advice for you, the driver:

Yield: Always, always yield to a rider. Let them pass. Let them turn in front of you. Give them time to get going after a light turns green. Essentially, avoid any potential conflict or contact.

Beware turning riders: Motorcycles take longer to stop and generally slow by downshifting, not applying the brake. Turn signals are not self-cancelling and may not activate, so should not be relied upon. Let a rider complete a turn by slowing down well before they make their move.

Look twice: Riders are difficult to see. They can be easily missed or hidden in a blind spot. Whether turning, or changing lanes, always look twice for riders.

Be careful at intersections: These are a leading spot for accidents. Look for cross traffic. Riders sometimes cannot stop in time to avoid a yellow light. Make sure the roadway is clear and don’t jump the light. Understand a motorcycle takes a moment to start from a dead stop, as a rider gets his balance. Don’t tailgate. A surprising number of accidents occur when a vehicle rear-ends a rider.

Don’t try to judge speed: Because of their small size, motorcycles are often traveling faster than it seems. Don’t try to turn in front of an oncoming rider, which is the leading cause of collisions. And slow well before you come upon a rider.

By doing your part this summer, you can avoid being involved in a tragedy. Every motorist has an obligation to do whatever they can to make sure these riders make it home safely to their families.

If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210. Continue reading ›

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April 15, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Driver distraction is the leading cause of serious and fatal traffic collisions in the United States. By some estimates, nearly half of all collisions involve some form of driver distraction. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and is a great time to resolve to avoid distraction while driving as we head into the summer travel months.

Safety advocates continue to preach the message but there is concern that drivers have grown weary of listening to it. There is little evidence that the risks of distraction are decreasing. On the contrary, the growing prevalence of in-car technologies, and the increasing capabilities of the smart phone, have only combined to increase the risks.

Heat Illness a Summer Risk in SWFL

April 13, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

As we head into the summer months in Southwest Florida, safety advocates are reminding employees, parents and residents about the risks of heat stroke.

While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recently issued an alert aimed at employees and employers, the most recent high-profile examples of the risks in Southwest Florida involve local athletes, several of whom have suffered serious or fatal injuries resulting from working out during Florida’s brutal summer months.