Car Accidents

Be a Better Driver in 2020

January 20, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions?

Regardless of whether you are finding challenge or success in your personal goals for 2020, quietly resolving to be a better driver is a commitment that could save your life and will pay dividends for you and your family for years to come.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers have been representing injury victims throughout Southwest Florida since 1971 and we remain active in promoting traffic safety throughout the community and in supporting a number of causes to prevent senseless accidents, including combating drunk driving and raising motorcycle safety awareness.

The News-Press reports 95 people were killed in traffic collisions on Lee County roads in 2019.

Media Blamed for Downplaying Liability in Traffic “Accidents”

December 18, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A recent report published by City Lab highlights the role media plays in downplaying the fault of drivers for causing auto “accidents.”

Safety advocates have long complained that media outlets tend to blame pedestrians and cyclists who are hit by cars. Research suggests they’re right. But our Fort Myers injury lawyers know the issue also includes motorcycle accidents and a significant number of vehicle-on-vehicle collisions.

The term “accident” is almost always a misnomer; the vast majority of serious and fatal traffic collisions in Southwest Florida are caused by avoidable driver error. Media coverage, and official crash investigations may tell part of the story. But an immediate and thorough review of the evidence by an experienced personal injury law firm can serve to uncover additional factors of causation, and may even uncover error or bias on the part of the investigative agency or one or more involved parties.

Lee County Focuses on 4D Traffic Safety

December 17, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Lee County first responders are banding together in a joint effort to reduce holiday travel risks.

FOX4 News reported local safety crews joined together for a 4D press conference. In addition to focusing on drinking, drugs and distracted driving, the effort will also highlight the risks of drowsy driving.

There have been 89 deadly accidents on Lee County roads as of late November.

Southwest Florida Traffic Fatalities Highlight Holiday Travel Risks

December 16, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The deaths of two Fort Myers sisters in a traffic accident is a sobering reminder of the risks of driving in Southwest Florida as we head into the height of the holiday travel season.

The sisters, ages 56 and 52, were killed when their car struck an oncoming vehicle while making a turn at the intersection of Daniels Parkway and International Drive, according to NBC-2.The Florida Highway Patrol reports the driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The sisters were beloved in the community and were involved in numerous charitable organizations and fundraising efforts.

Drivers will face increased risk through the remainder of the holiday season. As our injury lawyers in Fort Myers reported, the shortened holiday season will likely lead to frayed nerves as it coincides with the beginning of the long winter tourism season.

Impairment a Risk this Holiday Travel Season

November 28, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The National Safety Council is urging motorists to consider all forms of impairment this holiday travel season.

For more than 20 years, drivers with alcohol concentrations at or above 0.08 have remained involved in about one-third of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. That’s about 10,000 lives lost every year. Our car accident lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have made fighting for the rights of drunk-driving collision victims a primary focus since 1971.

We remain active this holiday season in supporting the Lee County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and have long supported DUI checkpoints and increased patrols conducted by local law enforcement agencies, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Cape Coral Police Department.

Early Darkness Creates Injury Risks in Southwest Florida

November 3, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

The end of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday Nov. 3 means many motorists can expect darkness during their morning and afternoon commutes. It will get light a bit earlier, but seasonal darkness will eliminate most of that advantage, meaning morning motorists must remain alert, particularly for pedestrians in residential neighborhoods and along main thoroughfares. Motorists will face early darkness in the afternoon as their commute actually takes place an hour later.

Once used to give farmers extra summer daylight, and used extensively during the World Wars to conserve energy, Daylight Savings Time is either loved or hated, depending upon your perspective.

But what is not up for debate, our injury lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know, is the role visibility often plays in traffic collisions. Rain can make for particularly hazardous driving conditions, especially during the height of rainy season. But with seasonal rains quickly dissipating, it is the early darkness descending upon Southwest Florida that will increase traffic risks through the remainder of the year.

Year-End Holidays Signal Approach of Seasonal Traffic Risks

October 31, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

With early darkness approaching and the year-end holidays just around the corner, local road-safety advocates are warning residents and visitors alike to make safety a priority.

Our injury lawyers in Fort Myers see an increase in crashes each autumn. We have written recently about the collision risks associated with back-to-school, as well as Halloween pedestrian safety. However, early darkness brings with it its own risks, not the least of which is the return of snowbirds and other winter residents.

Florida saw a record 126 million visitors last year. But the record is expected to be short-lived, with even more people expected to visit the Sunshine State this year. More than 1 million of those will visit Southwest Florida during the year-end holidays, according to the Lee County Visitors and Conventions Bureau.

Amazon Next-Day Delivery Causing Havoc in Neighborhoods

September 30, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Internet juggernaut Amazon is under increasing fire for traffic collisions involving its next-day delivery service.

Media reports, including this one on BuzzFeed.News, continue to illustrate how the company works to escape liability. In one instance, a 3-ton delivery van, working a neighborhood during the holiday rush a few days before Christmas, barreled into an 84-year-old grandmother, nearly killing her. In another case, an Amazon driver working a Chicago neighborhood was charged with reckless homicide.

Our Fort Myers injury lawyers blogged recently about liability Amazon faces for selling dangerous or defective products. In those cases, Amazon is also working to escape liability, by blaming third-party vendors.

Intersection Collision Risks Abound in Southwest Florida

September 29, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Intersection accidents have been in the news a lot this month. Too often motorists see intersections as delays and bottlenecks in their commute, even running yellow lights to quickly get past some of Southwest Florida’s most notorious hot spots for congestion and motor-vehicle collisions.

WINK News reports a recent reader survey identified U.S. 41/Colonial Boulevard, Six Mile Cypress and Gladiolus and the Midpoint and Cape Coral bridges as among the worst traffic locations in Southwest Florida.

With tourist season just around the corner, it’s critical motorists remember that these high-traffic locations are also the most likely location for serious and fatal motor vehicle collisions. Allowing frustration or distraction to prevail when caught in traffic, will only further increase your risks. Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers know intersections are the most common location for urban car accidents and pedestrian accidents. These natural points of traffic conflict involve bumper-to-bumper traffic, walkers and cyclists, and harried and distracted drivers.

Football Season Increased Drunk-Driving Collision Risks in SWFL

September 4, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

College and pro football season are underway, bringing thousands of tailgaters to stadiums in some of Florida’s largest cities, and prompting millions more to host watch parties in their homes.

The Florida State University Police Department is among the many agencies urging revelers to stay safe and celebrate responsibly. Our Fort Myers injury lawyers know football weekends are prime time for serious and fatal motor vehicle collisions involving intoxicated drivers. Universities at highest risk include Florida State and Miami.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has teamed up with the National Football League to encourage fans to designate a driver.