Car Accidents

Parents urged to teach their teens to be safe on Florida roads

July 8, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

School is out, and the beach and other recreational activities are beckoning Florida’s teenaged drivers. Florida injury lawyers are reminding parents that they are the best source of safe driving advice to help keep their children, and other motorists, safe behind the wheel.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has just launched a newly updated website – www.flhsmv.gov/teens – to provide parents with important safety information aimed at teen drivers. Traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for the nation’s teen drivers, and many of those crashes are caused by actions that are easily avoidable. In Florida, a 15 year old teen may obtain a restricted driver’s permit, often referred to as a “learner’s permit”, and drive a vehicle only while accompanied by a licensed adult driver over 21 years old, and under certain other restrictions.

“Oftentimes, the excitement of receiving a new license can overshadow the common sense safety practices of Florida’s younger drivers”, according to Bruce Scheiner of Associates & Bruce L. Scheiner Personal Injury Lawyers. “The new section of this website is an excellent resource for parents who want to keep their kids safe on Florida roadways.”

Florida’s new seat belt law aimed at saving lives

July 6, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Drivers in Florida are now subject to a citation for not being buckled in by their seat belts – and law enforcement officers can now pull a driver over for that specific reason alone. The fine is higher if a minor under the age of 18 is not correctly restrained within the vehicle. Additional county fines and penalties are also applicable.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the new law into effect in an effort to keep motorists safe, and reduce the injuries and deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes in the sunshine state. Crist noted, “The most important function of government is to protect – this law will save lives.” With that said, he signed into law the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law named in memory of two Florida teens that were involved in separate traffic accidents, and died as a result of not wearing their seat belts. The Florida Highway Patrol predicts that at least 124 individuals will be saved each year as a result of the state’s new seat belt law.

Statewide seat belt usage in 2008 was 79.1%, making it 35th in the nation and below the national average of 83%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there is an average of just over 700 motor vehicle accidents on Florida roadways every day. In 2008, 2,983 people lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents in Florida, and 199,658 people suffered some type of injury. Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles, (DMV), also notes that in 2004, Florida experienced 2,179 traffic deaths of drivers and passengers in Seat Belt Equipped Vehicles (SBEV). The tragic note of this is that 62.1% (1,353) of the people killed were not wearing seat belts. Additionally, 69% (109 of 159) of the children ages 0 to 17 years old killed were not using safety equipment. These startling statistics make it clear that the odds are high that you or someone you know will be involved in some type of auto crash at some point in your lifetime.

Florida injury lawyers concerned about the relationship between vehicle crashes and Fibromyalgia disease

June 24, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

“While the onset of Fibromyalgia can be triggered by a number of factors, medical professionals concur that a traumatic incident like a vehicle crash can trigger the disease in people who had no previous problems with ongoing pain and were in perfect health prior to the trauma”, said Starr Joyce, Medical Consultant to Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers.

In a study of 2,000 Fibromyalgia patients, it was discovered that 65% of those patients had some form of traumatic incident. Of that percentage, 52% of the cases were caused by a vehicle crash.

There are likely very few medical conditions as misunderstood as the one known as Fibromyalgia. Medical practitioners from rheumatologists to psychologists to the family MD have long been studying and debating the causes and treatments for this mysterious condition.

Florida injury lawyers remind motorists to move over for emergency vehicles and help keep our officers safe

June 10, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The injury of two Cape Coral police officers in separate crashes this week is a tragic reminder that motorists need to use extra caution in yielding to emergency vehicles in Southwest Florida.

Officer Damien Garcia, 26, suffered head injuries and a broken leg, according to media reports, in an on-duty motorcycle accident when Garcia’s police motorcycle hit a vehicle that pulled out in front of him as he traveled south on Cultural Park Boulevard.

And a 29-year-old Cape Coral woman is facing DUI charges for a car accident that injured Cape Coral Police Officer Robert Reese, 46, over the weekend. Both the accused driver and the passenger also suffered injuries.

Florida car accident lawyers urge parents to talk to teens about safe driving

June 9, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A seatbelt could keep you out of an ambulance Two Fort Myers-area teenagers remain in critical condition at Lee Memorial Hospital and another has died following separate car accidents this week in Estero and Bonita Springs.

Florida injury lawyers at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, urge parents to have a comprehensive talk with their teenagers as the summer driving season gets underway.

The News-Press is reporting none of teenagers were wearing seat belts.

Southwest Florida trucking accident lawyers hope law enforcement crackdown leads to fewer trucking accidents

June 2, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office opened June with a crackdown on unsafe commercial trucks in the Naples area in an effort to prevent serious and deadly trucking accidents.

Florida trucking accident lawyers and personal injury and wrongful death attorneys know getting unsafe trucks and truck drivers off our road will reduce serious trucking accidents in Southwest Florida.

We urge motorists to use extra caution around all commercial trucks. A semi or dump truck can weight 70,000 to 80,000 pounds – 20 times the weight of a passenger vehicle. At 70 mph, you don’t stand a chance.

Collier County deputies will be stopping commercial vehicles around the clock this week to inspect tires, brakes and other safety equipment in an aggressive enforcement effort of state and federal laws governing commercial vehicles.

“The road check gives law enforcement the opportunity to make sure these vehicles are safe to be out on the roads,” said Cpl. Tom Mullen, of the traffic enforcement bureau. “It also forces the owners of these trucks to keep up with the safety standards.”

Advocacy groups content 20 to 30 percent of trucks on Florida roads are running overweight at any give time — and fines in the range of $100 offer little deterrent compared to the profit to be made when large trucks run purposefully overweight.

One in every 10 fatalities is the result of a trucker-related crash — about 1,000 a year, according to federal statistics. And Florida is one of the most deadly — second only to Texas in the number of fatal trucking crashes.
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Smaller, fuel-efficient cars could increase risk of traffic fatalities in Florida car accidents

May 29, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida injury lawyers continue to monitor moves by the federal government to increase fuel efficiency, which in the past has led to smaller cars and more traffic fatalities in Florida car accidents.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, resulted in cars that were 500 pounds lighter and 75 percent more fuel efficient by 1990 but also increased fatality rates 25 percent.

Continued research by the council concluded in 2002 that 1,300 to 2,600 additional traffic deaths occurred because of weight reductions made to comply with federal fuel-mileage standards.

President Barack Obama’s announcement this month will require automakers to further increase fuel averages — to 35.5 miles-per-gallon by 2016. The council and other safety advocates are pushing for less horsepower, which in and of itself has been shown to reduce fatalities, as a better alternative to further reductions in vehicle weight.

“The deadlines are so tight that downsizing will be a tempting compliance strategy,” John Graham, a former rulemaking chief with the federal government, told the USA Today.

Safety advocates note that the mandates hit as automakers are in financial crisis.

“(If they) leave automakers the option of downsizing, clearly we’re going to have some safety consequences,” said Adrian Lund, the council’s president, of the final rules lawmakers draft for automakers. “Smaller vehicles do not protect their occupants as well as large ones.”

Florida injury lawyers urge car owners to do their research before purchasing a new vehicle. Fuel mileage is one factor to consider but safety performance can literally be a lifesaver.
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Florida Injury Lawyers urge teenagers to accept responsibility for their safety, avoid drunk driving car accidents during graduation season

May 27, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

While authorities are preaching to teens about safe driving and the perils of drunk driving, the message relies on teenagers taking responsibility for their own actions. Florida injury lawyers urge teens to do whatever they can to avoid the tragic consequences of drunk driving accidents, and car accidents this graduation season.

“Enjoy what should be a milestone accomplishment this graduation season,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers. “Do everything you can to avoid turning celebration into tragedy.”

In Lee County and throughout Southwest Florida, authorities will be monitoring the road for unsafe and drunk drivers.

Lee County traffic Sgt. Dennis Petracca noted drivers below the drinking age face a 6-month license suspension if they have a blood-alcohol test of .02. The normal limit is .08.

“The number one killer of teenagers is drinking and driving and during graduation we see an increase,” Petracca said. “If you get into an accident and injure or kill someone, there are lifetime consequences.”

In Ocala, a mock drunk-driving accident is being staged to make teen drivers aware of the potential deadly consequences of car accidents.

Florida authorities urge parents to talk to their teens, create a code of conduct and plan their child’s itinerary. But teens must also take responsibility for their own actions.

Earlier this month following his prom, an 18-year-old Boston-area teenager allegedly guzzled 10 beers and crashed into a mother and daughter walking their dog early Saturday morning. Prom participants had been given multiple breath tests at the school-sanctioned event and had their bags checked for drugs and alcohol.

“There’s not much more you can do,” Paul Wetzel, a school spokesman, told the Boston Globe. “In this case, the prom was over. The school can’t take them home and put them to bed.”

Brenda Gellinger, of Lee County’s chapter of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving,” said such tragedies are an all-too-common occurrence.

“Alcohol related crashes involving youth are very high around graduation time,” Gellinger said. “Have a plan ahead of time so you’re not just going around trying find something to do on graduation night.”
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Click it or Ticket aims to reduce serious injury from car accidents as Florida’s new mandatory seatbelt law begins this summer

May 26, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Southwest Florida motorists will see increased seat belt enforcement as the Florida Highway Patrol conducts special Click-It or Ticket patrols in advance of the state’s new mandatory seat belt law, which begins July 1.

Florida injury lawyers remind motorists seat belt use is one aspect of a comprehensive safe-driving program that also includes avoiding distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving and other unsafe practices that lead to serious injury or death in Florida car accidents.

The Florida Highway Patrol estimates 15,147 lives were saved in 2007 because of seat belt use and another 5,024 could have been saved. Local troopers will be dispatching extra patrols to areas with high rates of speeding, complaints, crashes and fatalities, according to a report from NBC-2.

Beginning July 1, failure to wear a seat belt will be a primary offense for which you can be stopped and ticketed. Florida’s current seat belt law allows for adults to be ticketed only if they are stopped for another offense.

Both laws allow law enforcement to stop and ticket minors who are driving or riding as an unbelted passenger.

On Thursday, May 28, the Florida Department of Transportation, local law enforcement and the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team are teaming up to encourage motorists to wear their seat belt as part of the state’s annual campaign to reduce traffic fatalities.

Fans at Hammond Stadium will receive promotional items and receive other information about the importance of driver education and safety.

According to Click-It or Ticket, the 1 in 5 Floridians who did not buckle up in 2007, accounted for 3 in every 5 traffic fatalities. The state’s seat belt use has risen 26 percent to 81.7 percent since the campaign began in 2001 — just shy of the national average of 82 percent.
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Florida motorcycle lawyers promote message of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to reduce motorcycle accident deaths and injury

May 7, 2009 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida injury lawyers urge bikers and motorists to review safe driving habits to help prevent motorcycle accidents and fatalities as Florida proclaims May to be Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

“Motorcycling is a year-round activity in Florida and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month does not come around often enough,” said Bruce L. Scheiner, founder and senior attorney at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers, which has been fighting for motorcycle rights and representing motorcyclists injured or killed in Florida motorcycle accidents since 1971. “Motorcycle crashes are always very serious and are most often not the fault of the biker. We urge all motorists to watch out for motorcycle riders and wish everyone a long summer of safe riding.”

Research shows that motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than a car occupant to die in a traffic crash. Between 2002 and 2007, U.S. motorcycle fatalities increased by 57 percent, from 3,276 to 5,154. There were 103,000 motorcyclists injured in 2007.

In Florida, motorcyclists account for 6 percent of the motoring public, yet account for 17 percent of all traffic fatalities.

“Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than other motorists in the event of a crash,” said Colonel Chris Knight, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Research shows that approximately 80 percent of motorcycle crashes injure or kill the motorcycle rider.”

Safety Tips
* Remember motorcycles are vehicles with all the rights and privileges of any vehicle on the road. Always allow a motorcycle a full lane — never try to share a lane.
* Motorcyclists should never ride between lanes of slow moving or stopped traffic.
* Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
* Motorcyclists should assume they are invisible to other motorists and operate their motorcycle accordingly. Position yourself to be seen.
* Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging into traffic.
* Don’t be fooled by flashing turn signals on any vehicle. Be aware that motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to make sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.
* Remember that road conditions which may be minor annoyances to passenger vehicles can pose major hazards to motorcyclists.
* Allow for sufficient following distances. When following a motorcycle, make certain the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. Never tailgate.
* Motorcyclists should know and obey traffic laws, be alert to other drivers, never drink and ride and always wear protective gear.

“All too often after a crash, the drivers of other vehicles involved say they never saw the motorcyclist and were unable to respond in time,” the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said in proclaiming safety month. “This is no excuse. Too many lives are being lost. The message to all driver is: make this the first year in recent years when motorcycle fatalities do not increase. Remeber that May is Motorcycle Safety Month. Do your part — share the road with motorcycles.”
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