personal injury

Aggressive Drivers Targeted in Cape Coral

February 22, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

An enforcement blitz against aggressive drivers in Cape Coral last week, resulted in 67 traffic stops on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cape Coral Police Department conducted the grant-funded traffic saturation operation specifically targeting aggressive driving. Saturation patrols flood an area with officers, who are then able to stop motorists for infractions that might otherwise go unchecked.

The fact that more than 60 motorists were stopped during a 5-hour period on an otherwise lazy Wednesday afternoon in Southwest Florida, highlights the risks our car accidents in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know all too well: Aggressive drivers are a danger to innocent motorists on the road.

Bike Week Starts Spring Motorcycle Season in SWFL

February 21, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Daytona Bike Week has arrived.

Traditionally the start of the long spring riding season in Florida, motorists need to be extra vigilant in watching for riders in the coming weeks.

Our Motorcycle injury attorneys know riding season is year-around in the Sunshine State. There is never a time motorists should not look twice for riders, yield the right of way, and allow them to pass. However, summer rains and heat, and winter wind make the spring and fall the best times of the year for motorcycle riders to hit the roads.

Super Bowl Safety: Celebrate Responsibly

February 10, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Drunk drivers are responsible for nearly one-third of the nation’s fatal traffic collisions, claiming more than 10,000 lives each year.

Super Bowl LVI, between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams, falls later in February this year and will be quickly followed by the start of Spring Break in Southwest Florida. Our drunk driving injury attorneys urge you to take the risks seriously. Have a plan to keep you and your friends safe. Never drink after consuming any amount of alcohol or other mind-altering substance.

Defensive Driving Reduces Car Accident Risks

February 8, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

When it comes to staying safe on the roads, the old adage holds true: The best offense is a good defense.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have posted extensively about the three most common dangerous driving behaviors: Distracted driving, aggressive driving and impaired driving.

Southwest Floridians can substantially reduce their accidents risks in 2022 by resolving to not drive distracted or impaired. Never engage in aggressive driving – including speeding, tailgating, failure to yield- and always obeying traffic laws and traffic control devices.

Safety Ratings Vital When Choosing New Vehicle

January 13, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

An overlooked but critical component of your safety on the road is what type of vehicle you are in.

If buying a newer vehicle is in your 2022 plans, our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral urge you to make safety ratings a critical part of your selection process.

Safety has come a long way in just a few short years. Take automatic emergency braking (AEB), which is now standard on 2021 vehicles produced by 12 major automakers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The technology has already been proven to reduce collisions and force of impact by stopping or slowing a vehicle when a collision is imminent. Nearly all automakers have agreed to voluntarily include the equipment in nearly all new vehicles by Sept. 1, 2022.

IIHS estimates AEB could prevent 42,000 serious crashes in the next three years.

Make Better Driving a Focus in 2022

January 11, 2022 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Happy New Year from all of us at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured.

We hope 2022 brings a move toward normalcy and puts the worst of the pandemic behind us. The truth of the matter is that healthy adults are still most likely to be killed in a traffic collision, according to the National Safety Council, which puts your annual odds of being in a serious crash at 1 in 107.

As the New Year begins, our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral urge each of you to resolve to become a better driver this year. Some of us have further to go in this regard than others, but each effort will pay dividends, both in reducing your risks of being seriously injured or killed, and in reducing the likelihood that you will be found responsible for a serious or fatal crash.

Stay Safe This Holiday Travel Season

December 20, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

If statistics from Thanksgiving are any indication, one thing seems certain this holiday season: Not even a pandemic will stop many from visiting friends and loved ones this year.

After two years of Covid quarantines, many have been reluctant to cancel plans, despite the recent emergence of the omnicron variant.

AAA estimates more than 53 million Americans traveled over the Thanksgiving weekend, a jump of 13 percent over last year, when many plans were canceled during the first year of the pandemic. That’s about 6 million more people. While air travel was down slightly, 2.3 million passed through airport checkpoints the day before Thanksgiving,the busiest day since the start of the pandemic, according to the Transportation Safety Administration.

Still, most people will drive.

Older Drivers and Older Cars a Dangerous Combination

December 17, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Recently, our injury lawyers in Fort Myers urged you to Check on Elderly Loved Ones this holiday season. While loneliness and isolation are a struggle for many seniors, the coronavirus pandemic has increased isolation of many of our vulnerable older loved ones.

But it might also be a good time to check their garage.

Much has been written about the risks of older drivers on the road. It’s a critical issue here in Florida, which has more drivers over the age of 65 than any other state. Nearly five million seniors are on Florida roads — twice as many as 20 years ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlighted the risks during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week December 6-10. The nation’s leading watchdog agency noted driver assistance technology that is becoming standard in most new vehicles can be a great help for older drivers who are dealing with diminished hearing and vision, as well as stiff joints, delayed reaction times and cognitive decline.

But there is just one problem: Few older drivers have such technology in their vehicles.

Be a Responsible Party Host this Holiday Season

December 14, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Those serving alcohol this holiday season have an obligation to do so responsibly.

Drinking and driving kills 28 people a day in the U.S. More than 1 person an hour die in an alcohol-related crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drunk drivers kill 10,000 people a year, accounting for about one-third of all traffic fatalities.

While the legal limit is .08, nearly 2,000 people are killed each year by drivers who tested positive for alcohol below the limit. Alcohol levels as low as .02 affect mood, visual abilities and the ability to multitask.

Last year, 839 motorists died in alcohol-related crashes on Florida roads, more than anywhere except California. Winter brings higher instances of drunk drivers on the road, as do holidays, with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day being the deadliest of the year. Continue reading ›

Check on Elderly Loved Ones this Holiday Season

December 6, 2021 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

While the coronavirus pandemic has brought a sense of isolation to virtually everyone, senior citizens are experiencing extreme isolation in record numbers.

More prone to serious infection, and often with fewer surviving friends and family to support them, our elderly loved ones are most vulnerable as we enter the second holiday season of pandemic isolation.

The most common threats include nursing home neglect and abuse, fall injuries, and car accidents. Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have written extensively about the risks in nursing homes, where fewer family members are allowed to visit. But another serious threat awaits those seniors who are still mobile enough to be on the roads.