Car Accidents

In-Car Technology Can Prevent Accidents – If Drivers Pay Attention

August 1, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Your car will be driving itself pretty soon; some are already doing it on the roads of Babcock Ranch.

While COVID has introduced many of us to a brave new virtual world of Zoom calls and work-productivity apps, the auto industry continues to push innovation after innovation onto the roadways.

The driverless future is far from science fiction. In fact driverless cars, completely autonomous vehicles, are already a reality here in Southwest Florida. The investment press is watching closely and has made a number of startling predictions:

Traffic Accident Risks Impacted by Driver Attitudes

July 30, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has issued its 22nd annual “Traffic Safety Culture Index,” which aims to measure the prevalence of common road risks, and drivers’ reactions to them.

The study measures drivers’ perceived danger, risk of getting caught, perceived social approval for risky driving, and their support for laws and policies designed to curtail such risks.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know the vast majority of traffic “accidents,” are in reality caused by one or more driver errors or poor driving behaviors. Measuring perception helps tell safety advocates where to best focus their attention and public awareness campaigns.

Elderly Drivers at Risk During COVID Lockdown

July 29, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know elderly driving accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including deteriorating eyesight, muscle stiffness and slowed reaction, prescription drug use, and declining mental acuity.

These risk factors counter a number of safe driving habits routinely adopted by older drivers, including obeying the speed limit, wearing seat belts and often driving during daylight off-peak hours.

Unfortunately, the impact of the COVID quarantine means we do not have the same opportunities to check on our older loved ones. They may also be cut off from social functions that would otherwise have kept them more active and engaged. While many businesses, including grocery stores, have adopted senior hours to help keep older populations safer, these are not enough to counteract the negative impact of months of isolation.

Fourth of July Travel Safety in Southwest Florida

July 3, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral wish each of you a safe Fourth of July weekend. Please be mindful of the pandemic restrictions and social distancing requirements, but find time to enjoy yourself with close friends and family.

July is typically among the quietest times of the year on the roads in Southwest Florida. But July 4th always brings peak travel and this year is expected to be no different. In many cases, people are hitting the road precisely because they have been quarantining at home since the spring and vehicle travel offers the best option to get out of the house while maintaining social distancing and minimizing exposure.

RV and camping resorts and sales centers are reporting record sales and bookings. Combined with hotel and resort closures, the COVID restrictions make planning your trip more important than ever. Know your destination. Make sure they are expecting you.

Summer Storms Create Driving Risks in SWFL

June 24, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

While the COVID pandemic has had a calming effect on Southwest Florida traffic, relaxing restrictions combined with summer rains will serve to increase the risks of the road.

The Fort Myers News-Press reported a death this week after the driver of a Corvette lost control in the rain and slammed into a truck. Police said the 53-year-old Cape Coral man lost control of his Corvette on State Road 82 near Lightard Knott Lane about 7:10 p.m. The vehicle went over the median, west of Buckingham Road, into eastbound traffic, where it hit a Ford F-350 King Cab.

Our experienced Fort Myers injury attorneys urge motorists to take the risks of driving in the rain seriously as we head into the height of storm season.

Florida Traffic Fatalities Drive 2019 Increase in Road Deaths

May 18, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The number of Florida traffic fatalities last year helped make the Southeast the only area to report an increase in road deaths. Reduction in traffic deaths resulting from COVID-19 aside, the new statistics show Florida still has a lot of work to do when it comes to keeping motorists safe on the road.

Jacksonville News Channel 4 was among the Florida media outlets to report an increase in Florida traffic fatalities was a leading driver in making the Southeast United States the only region to see an overall increase in traffic fatalities last year.

The preliminary report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 36,120 people died on U.S. roads last year. That would be a 1.2 percent decline compared to the 36,560 fatalities in 2018. The reduction comes after years of increase amid the growth and economic expansion following the Great Recession. However, in the Southeast Region, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, road deaths are expected to be up about 2 percent. Final figures will be available later this year.

It remains to be seen what impact COVID-19 and the “Safer-at-Home” order has on this year’s statistics, although it’s a given there will be a significant reduction during the second-quarter, when Southwest Florida typically experiences the height of tourism season. Continue reading ›

Preparing for your COVID Road Trip

May 15, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

As Florida and the nation move toward a re-opening amid the coronavirus pandemic, there is much that remains uncertain about what the “new normal” might look like.

Uncertainty is what the COVID-19 crisis has brought to every corner of the world. History shows us that the world adapts. Polio and the 1918 pandemic are just two 20th century examples. Hotels and motels are in the process of re-opening as we approach Memorial Day weekend. And, while traffic is expected to be lighter for the traditional holiday weekend kickoff of the summer travel season, many predict a sharp uptick in the number of families traveling by car this summer.

CNN reports European destinations are pushing to re-open in time for the annual summer tourism season. But uncertainty means many American families are likely to avoid international air travel. Airlines will try to combat the uncertainty with bargain rates, but that same uncertainty will make many cautious about booking and paying for airfare over the coming months.

Auto Insurers Issue Rebates, Pocket Profits During Pandemic

April 22, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Auto insurance companies have grabbed headlines this month by announcing save-driving rebates as the COVID-19 pandemic brings traffic to a standstill in many parts of the country.

In Southwest Florida, our Fort Myers injury lawyers know March and April are typically the deadliest months of the year on the roads. Baseball spring training, spring break and the Easter end of the winter tourism season all combine to create peak road risks for all types of road users.

But this year, the coronavirus pandemic has brought life to a standstill.

Florida’s Senior Face Nation’s Highest Traffic Accident Risks

March 6, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A number of new reports have the focus on seniors and the rising risk of car accidents.

The Florida Times-Union is among the media outlets reporting more drivers over the age of 65 are killed in Florida than anywhere else in the country. Last year, 682 fatal traffic accidents in Florida involved at least one senior driver, according to TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group in Washington.

Florida is second in the nation in the number (3,341,250) of drivers 65 or older. TRIP’s report says 23 percent of the 3.3 million licensed drivers in Florida are 65 or older, based on 2012 to 2016 statistics.

Legal Update: Florida Auto Insurance

February 2, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida motorists may face long overdue changes to auto insurance law, but whether proposed changes benefit drivers or the insurance industry is yet to be seen.

WINK News reports that a proposal moving through the Florida Senate wants to get rid of Personal Injury Protection, in favor of requiring drivers to carry mandatory bodily liability coverage. At least $25,000 in liability for the death or injury of one person in a crash and $50,000 if it involves two or more people.

The Insurance Journal reports several bills moving through the Florida legislature this session could impact how motorists purchase auto insurance coverage.