Articles Posted in Drunk Driving Victims

In 2010, more than 30 percent of all fatal car accidents were alcohol related.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many of these accidents happen during November and December — especially during the holiday season. As a matter of fact, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are three of the four deadliest times for car accidents. In 2009, there were close to 100 fatal car accidents during those holiday periods. About half of those accidents involved a drunk driver. In the months of November, December and January, the state of Florida sees about 200 fatal car accidents each month.

Our Fort Myers injury attorneys understand that this isn’t only a Florida problem, it’s a problem nationwide. So, whether you’re staying local through the holidays or you’re venturing out on a winter holiday vacation, we’re asking you to stay safe and sober behind the wheel. It could turn out to be a lifesaving move.

We’d even like to remind you that “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving,” according to officials throughout the state. You may not think you’re drunk, but the truth of the matter is that each drink hinders your ability behind the wheel. Because residents are more likely to be out drinking over the holiday season, law enforcement officers throughout the state plan to conduct more enforcement efforts to help to bring down the risks. It’s all an effort to prevent property loss as well as the loss of life. Intoxicated drivers are much more likely than sober drivers to get into an accident.

The best way to avoid a costly arrest or a potentially fatal accident is to avoid drinking. Realistically, we know that there’s going to be drinking though, and that’s why we’re asking you to celebrate the holidays with a plan. Please review and share the following safety tips, from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), to help ensure safe travel over the holiday season.

Holiday Drunk Driving Prevention Tips:

-Don’t drink. Staying sober will help to keep you out of jail, money in your pocket and our roadways safe.

-If you’re going to be drinking alcohol, make sure you have a full stomach and you’re keeping an eye on how much you’re consuming.

-Remember that you don’t have to be showing severe signs of being drunk to be over the legal limit of .08 percent BAC (blood alcohol content).

-If you think you spot a drunk driver out there, make sure you call and report them. You can call *347 or 9-1-1.

-Before you even start the night, make sure you have an agreement with a designated driver. This driver is to pledge to get you home safely and to stay 100 percent sober.

-You should always keep the phone numbers of local cab companies with you, especially at holiday parties. This is an easy way to get a sober ride. And trust us, it’s a lot cheaper than a drunk driving conviction.

-If you can’t get a cab or can’t find public transportation, you should either call a friend or a family member to come pick you up or you should stay over at a friend’s house.
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Officials with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are warning drivers to stay sober behind the wheel through the remainder of the year. We are heading into the two deadliest months for drivers on the road.

Our drunk driving accident lawyers understand this time of the year comes with plenty of opportunities for residents to go out and celebrate. Unfortunately, these opportunities come with some serious risks. We’ve got football season, an end to daylight savings time causing early darkness and we’ve got three holidays in a row. Together they make the last 8 weeks of the year some of the most dangerous.

Each and every year, there are about 10,000 people killed in car accidents that involve a drunk driver. These kinds of accidents actually account for about a third of all roadway fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 700 people killed in these kinds of accidents in the state of Florida in 2010. We were ranked as the third most dangerous state in the country for alcohol-related car accidents.

Florida officers proudly support the nationwide drunk driving campaign “Drive Sober Get Pulled Over.” Residents are reminded to stay safe out there. Make sure that you always have a designated driver. When you’re left without one, don’t worry, there are other ways to get home. You can call a cab, contact a friend or a family member, use public transportation or stay in a hotel or a loved one’s home. The only option you should not consider is getting behind the wheel. It could be the last mistake you make.

“FHP troopers will aggressively look for impaired drivers during the crackdown,” said FHP Director Colonel David Brierton.

Drunk Driving & Football Season:

Football games are among some of the heaviest days of the entire year for alcohol consumption. In Florida, we have 25 NCAA sports teams. Many local campaigns aim to remind sports fans to add a designated driver to the team. Sober drivers are the best way to stay out of jail and out of a potentially fatal car accident.

Underage Drinking and Driving:

Just because your teenager isn’t old enough to legally consume alcohol, it doesn’t mean that they won’t. Did you know that it’s some of our youngest drivers that have the highest rates for drunk driving car accidents? The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) reports that about 30 percent of the young drivers we lose in car accidents return positive test results for alcohol in their system.

Drinking with the Holidays:

There were close to 500 drivers arrested for drunk driving in the state of Florida from the 16th of December through the 3rd of January last year. Another 40,000 drivers were cited during this time as well.
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At Associates & Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, cheering on the Miami Hurricanes is not exactly mandatory — but doing so is highly encouraged since it’s the alma mater of both Bruce and Preston Scheiner.

However, Personal Injury Attorney Dan Dalesandro received his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and his law degree from Florida State University. Come the weekend, it’s anyone’s guess whether he’s tuned to the Gators or the Seminoles.

The beginning of fall in Southwest Florida means a number of things: It means motorcyclists are gearing up for the fall and winter riding season, it means snowbirds and tourists will soon be hitting the roads in force, it means school buses and children on the streets in the early morning and mid-afternoon and it means many of us are gathering with friends and family on the weekend to watch college or NFL football.

This confluence of circumstances each autumn increases our risks of being involved in a serious or fatal traffic accident in Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Cape Coral or elsewhere in Southwest Florida. Drinking and driving never mix – so don’t exacerbate your risks by cheering on your favorite team with too much of your favorite beverage before the ride home.

In fact, we encourage you and your family to make a promise not to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol this fall and through the upcoming trio of year-end holidays. It’s a pledge that could just save your life or the life of someone you love. Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner continues to support the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the efforts of local law enforcement, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. We will also once again be the headline sponsor of Cape Coral’s Bike Nights, the largest family-friendly motorcycle event in Southwest Florida.

Together, we really can make a difference.

For the third year in a row, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is joining with officials from the National Football League to encourage fans the tailgate responsibly and not drink and drive. MADD’s Power of You(th) Facebook page also encourages teens to pledge to not drink until age 21 and to never ride in a car with someone who’s been drinking.

To be sure, fans attending the game are at increased risk. And Florida is among the states with the most college and professional football teams. At times in the fall, it seems as though everyone is going to a game. A study by the University of Colorado, which looked at arrest records on game days in 26 college towns, found a 13 percent increase in drunk driving arrests and a 76 percent increase in alcohol violations. An upset win or loss at home proved most dangerous.

But you certainly don’t have to attend the game in person to be at increased risk. Those hosting private football parties can also do their part to keep friends and loved ones from drinking and driving.

-Provide plenty of non-alcoholic beverages.

-Have plenty of food, particularly non-salty foods (salty food promote drinking).

-Keep the name and number to a taxi service handy.

-Stop serving alcohol before the end of the game.

-Be prepared for overnight guests.

-Make sure everyone has a sober ride home.
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Residents have to be 21-years-old to legally consume alcohol in the United States. Recently, we celebrated the 28th anniversary of the passing of that law! Still, there are many arguments against it, despite the fact that it has saved thousands of lives.

Some say that if you can be 18-years-old and fight a war then you should be able to drink a beer at 18-years-old. Others say that we should follow Europeans and make the legal drinking age 18 — they have less alcohol-related problems than we do.

There’s nothing farther from the truth, according Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

It takes more than a law to keep our teens safe. Parents have the power to help keep kids safe. As matter of fact, parents are the key influence in getting their teens to make smart decisions. To help parents to get the conversation started, officials with MADD kicked off the Power of Parents program.

This program helps to educate parents and teens about the risks and the dangers that are associated with underage drinking. The program also helps to guide parents in their talk with their young driver.

Associates and Bruce L .Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has spent decades supporting MADD’s mission and fighting for the rights of drunk driving accidents victims throughout Southwest Florida. It’s a three prong approach and takes a little bit of help from everyone. Better education efforts. Better enforcement. Better care of victim’s rights.

Speaking of victim’s rights, MADD is asking residents to take a step toward better victim rights. What’s being targeted here is a new amendment for victim’s rights, House Joint Resolution 106 (H. J. Res. 106).

Officials with MADD are asking you to email or call your United States Representative today and ask them to co-sponsor the amendment.

What would happen under this amendment is that the rights of crime victims would be better protected and they would be able to stay more in-tune with legal proceedings. They would also be permitted to attend proceedings and to hear about some of the most important decisions regarding these cases. As is stands now, each state has statutory laws on the books that protect these rights for victims but most of them are unfortunately ineffective.

Too often, victims of drunk driving accidents lose track of the criminal legal proceedings — and are never afforded the opportunity to address the court or attend sentencing.

Even in states that have “strong protection” for the rights of victims, only about 60 percent of victims are every notified about the sentencing hearing and far less than half of them are ever told about the pretrial release of the defendant.

To get the amendment to move forward, it needs at least 100 co-sponsors.
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This weekend is Cinco de Mayo and we’re sure thousands of residents and visitors will be hitting the town in search of a fiesta, some tequila, a corona and a good time. Luckily, Fort Myers and the surrounding areas offer a plethora of events to celebrate the big holiday. Unfortunately, this is also a time when we see increased risks for alcohol-related car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere.

For that reason, our Fort Myers injury lawyers are encouraging visitors and residents to celebrate responsibly. Designating a driver or ensuring another sober ride home may be one of the best ways to help prevent a potentially fatal car accident. Holidays, including Cinco de Mayo, have some of the highest risks for alcohol-related car accidents. And Memorial Day is just around the corner.

So, before you head out for the big event make sure you’ve got your after party plans made and you’ve got a safe and reliable way to get home.

Before heading out to celebrate, you’re urged to make sure you’ve got a sober ride home if you’re planning on drinking. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is here to offer you a few simple tips to help keep you out of an alcohol-related car accident. Please review these tips and share them with your friends and family to help reduce the risks of an accident.

Safety Tips:

-Make sure you designate a sober driver before you head out to your Cinco de Mayo events.

-Be sure to eat during your evening’s events. Try enjoying some of your favorite Mexican foods. Eating will help you to avoid getting sick and over-drinking.

-If you’re left without a sober driver, it’s okay! Call a friend, call a family member or call a taxi to take you home. Whatever you do, stay away from the driver’s seat.

-Can’t find a ride? Stay at a friend’s house or grab a hotel room for the night.

-If you see someone you know who has been drinking and has their keys in their hand, step in and take them away. Never let someone you know and love to drive after consuming alcohol.
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently expressed its gratitude to the U.S. Senate and its passing of Move Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). This program helps to increase roadway safety and looks to reduce the risks of alcohol-related car accidents in Bonita Springs and elsewhere.

Within the MAP-21 program is the ROADS SAFE Act, which was first introduced by Senators Bob Corker and Tom Udall. With the passing of MAP-21, researchers may now be able receive more than $10 million, over a two-year period, to help with the creation and research of a device could detect when a driver is drunk before they even start the car.

The current research program, the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS), is being tackled by the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

“The safety provisions included in MAP-21 could truly set in motion the elimination of drunk driving and save tens of thousands of lives each year,” said Jan Withers, the National President of MADD.

Our Bonita Springs drunk driving accident lawyers understand that MAP-21 will also be helping to update some of our nation’s roadway safety programs. All around, MAP-21 is helping to make roadways a little safer for everyone. One of the most important contributions of the program is incentive programs for states that adopt all-offender ignition interlock programs. A number of studies have illustrated that the enactment of these kinds of laws and penalties results in fewer fatal alcohol-related accidents.

MAP-21 is also continuing to fund nationwide safety programs, including the Click it or Ticket and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

MADD also recently discussed the Crime Victims Fund and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) that was enacted by Congress back in 1984. Together they offer funds to organizations to help serve victims and help to provide support for these individuals. These funds are collected through criminal fines and other various cash penalties and don’t use any of our taxpayer dollars.

MADD chooses to recognize this program because they rely a lot on the VOCA funds to help them to offer their services to those who have been the victims of drunk driving.

In 2011, MADD was able to serve more than 60,000 victims of drugged and drunk drivers — at no charge. During the year, one person was killed in these kinds of accidents every 9 minutes. The organization is proud to say that the number of people killed in these accidents has, in fact, been cut in half since MADD’s inception. Still, there are more than 10,000 people killed and nearly 400,000 injured because of this violent crime every year.

According to MADD, funding through VOCA is critical in helping the organization to achieve its mission of serving the victims of these kinds of accidents. Now, MADD is asking Congress to up the VOCA cap to $1 billion a year to help victims of crime, but not to raid this money to pay for other programs.
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